All posts in category Ankur’s Thoughts

The Road to Success… The current K12 system – a case study

28th Sep 2013.

It was the second day of national summit on quality in education conducted by CII. We were in one of the last sessions of the summit. It was a well planned and executed event by CII team headed by Mr Senthil Kumar.

As the next speaker was introduced there was widespread aura of appreciation among the 550+ audience comprising management heads of schools and education service providers from across the country. This young and accomplished speaker had achievements and recognition, at least one a year in his short career this far. The audience was wondering about the list of achievements and recognition he would gain in future.

As he rose to speak, Suhas was welcomed with a big round of applause. He offered salutations to his school principal who was in the audience. It was surprising for the audience to hear that this young and intelligent achiever was dubbed a failure while in school. His marks and hence his future was a great cause of concern for his parents and teachers alike. He did not hide his concern, as a student, that his leadership skills and computer skills were not recognised and accounted for in his academic records. Hence he was dubbed a failure. He however expressed happiness that the current education system, especially CBSE has started addressing this need.

The attention was drawn to the real concern when a principal rose to ask, “Suhas, What do you attribute your success to  in life. How far do you think has your school education played a role in your success?” She went on to explain that the motivation behind the question is to understand the core ideas of discussion for the past two days – How to educate and nurture socially responsible and corporate citizens for the 21st Century? How to inculcate values and life-skills in children? How to develop the humane part in an individual apart from academics and marks in various curricular activities?

In total, the discussion that followed was lively and thought-provoking emphasising on the need-gap that is to be filled in the education system and the work ahead of school management in addressing this. The discussion also validated the direction of work at Ankur, which complements the efforts of schools in fulfilling this huge need gap.

(We shall share in a future post Life Goals and Life Skills for Success in 21st Century)

The two-day event which focused on measurement, assessment and evaluation of subjective aspects of learning; scholastic and co-scholastic skills; life-skills education and evaluation; case studies and sharing of experiences by institutions in recording and administering huge volumes of records and data was appropriate, focused, educative and lively.

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by Ankur on October 12, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Ankur's Thoughts, Current Trends, Education System, News and Events, Oct 2013, The Educator, Uvacha
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Posted by Ankur on October 12, 2013

https://ankurlearningsolutions.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/the-road-to-success-the-current-k12-system-a-case-study/

Intent, Action, Result and Responsibility

Scenario 1

A surgeon makes a cut on the patient’s body. Blood starts oozing out. The assistant helps with cotton. Anesthetist does his job to keep the patient free from pain. After an hour’s process the surgeon rectifies the problem inside and sews the wound.

Scenario 2

A surgeon makes a cut on the patient’s body. Blood starts oozing out. The assistant helps with cotton. Anesthetist does his job to keep the patient free from pain. After an hour’s process the surgeon sews back the wound. A week later, the patient succumbs to the illness and breathes his last. The surgeon makes his best effort to save the patient, but fails.

Scenario 3

A surgeon makes a cut on the patient’s body. Blood starts oozing out. The assistant helps with cotton. Anesthetist does his job to keep the patient free from pain. Suddenly the doctor realises – he had not reviewed certain important parameters from the tests made previous day. No one is aware of this lacuna. He is afraid of repercussions of revealing it now and decides to keep it a secret. After an hour’s process the doctor sews back the wound he had made. The surgeon feels very bad and guilty. He genuinely wished and prayed to God to save the patient and free him from the guilt. Unfortunately, two days later the patient breathes his last.

images (5)

Scenario 4

A surgeon makes a cut on the patient’s body. Blood starts oozing out. The assistant helps with cotton. Anesthetist does his job to keep the patient free from pain. While on job, the surgeon is rejoicing within. He has now found a rich scapegoat. He has in his mind a list of needless surgeries / treatments to recommend to this patient. He also has in his mind the exclusive piece of jewellery he intends to present his wife for her next birthday. After an hour’s process the surgeon rectifies part of the problem and sews the wound.

images (6)

In scenario 1, the surgeon’s actions were well intended, well-informed and well performed. Both the patient and surgeon are happy. This is an ideal scenario, one which everyone want to be in.

images (3)

In scenario 2 also, the surgeon’s actions were well intended, well-informed and well performed. However, for reasons beyond the surgeon’s scope, the patient succumbs to illness. The surgeon feels sorry for the patient’s family. Many a times this happens to us. We perform actions with good intent and to the best of our abilities. However, the results will be to the contrary mostly for reasons beyond our control. We have to let that pass and keep moving forward, like this surgeon.

In scenario 3, the surgeon’s actions were well intended but not well-informed hence, under performed. The patient succumbs to the illness. The surgeon suffers due to guilt. It is not enough, if our intentions are genuine. As responsible people, we need to obtain complete information required to fulfill our responsibility and take appropriate actions. Shifting the responsibility on God, hiding our lacunae, etc., are not answers for overcoming the lacunae we have created by being irresponsible. No one may be aware of such mistakes. However the sense of guilt will make the person suffer. Thus, one cannot escape the result of wrong actions, irrespective of the intention.

Good intentions need to be empowered and fortified with well-informed, timely actions. Owning up of actions and suffering silently are sure signs of escapism and not that of responsible behaviour. Being aware of our shortcomings, accepting them and working to improve upon are the recommended steps in such situations.

images (2)

In scenario 4, the patient is not aware of the loot he is being subjected to. He believes, his doctor is doing the best to cure him. The doctor’s actions are well-informed and well performed, but the intent is flawed.

There may not be any repercussions for such actions in the immediate. However the results of bad intent will eventually show up in some form or the other at a later stage. Most of the suffering we see around today are a result of these types of actions. Cheating, Win-Lose deals, Self-centred actions, (may be obvious or sugar-coated) etc., provide someone with pleasures and security for the immediate future, but they are short living and sure prescriptions for long-term suffering and worry.

Ancient Indian Scriptures declare that results of intentions are experienced as luck or un-luck. We have discussed this in detail in an earlier post on a strategy to build luck… Now some questions to reflect upon…

Do you have the patience, will and resolve to build luck?

Are you aware of your intentions? Who and what determines your intentions?

What kind of actions do you undertake? Who is in control?

What is your attitude towards actions and results?

Do you own up your actions and its results? What does owning up mean to you?

Do you feel responsible for the consequences of your actions?

Do you take responsibility for the consequences of your actions?

What does being responsible mean to you?

What are you responsible for / What should you feel responsible for?

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by Ankur on May 19, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Ankur's Thoughts, Intellectual, Mental, Practical Aspects from Scriptures, The Educator
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Posted by Ankur on May 19, 2013

https://ankurlearningsolutions.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/intent-action-result-and-responsibility/

Proven Strategy… To Build Your Luck

He is a Lucky Guy…

If only LUCK favoured me…

I work very hard. But Luck never favours me…

Why doesn’t Luck ever favour me?

If only there is a strategy to build LUCK into my life…

These are some common statements we hear about LUCK.

Someone described Luck as the meeting point of Opportunity and Awareness.

LuckFormula

This is not far from the truth. Ancient Indian scriptures have logically and scientifically established the presence of what is commonly described as Luck. They have gone a step ahead, described a strategy and provided us with tools to build Luck. One need to use the power of WILL to build his LUCK. There is no free lunch in this world. Anything requires an effort. Luck is not an exception. 🙂

When the results of our action are proportionate to our efforts and action, we do not call it luck.

Sometimes results of our actions are disproportionately favourable or unfavourable. If it is favourable we call it Luck or Grace of God. If it is unfavourable we call it unfortunate or unlucky and term it lack of God’s Grace.

To gain God’s Grace people run around temples or other holy places according to their faith. They offer prayers and try to lure God (?!?) with attractive offers. Scriptures explain that God’s Grace is impartial and equally showered on all. Running around Holy places may provide temporary mental relief.

Prayer

Permanent solution… Luck or unluck; fortune or misfortune are purely dependent on our willful actions. Let us see how…

Actions always take place at two levels – Gross and Subtle.

We know a building or a creation first happens at the mental level before getting physically translated. Similarly intentions are later manifested into physical actions.

Intentions are thoughts happening at the mental level, subtle in nature and not visible to the naked eye. Physical actions happen at the gross level and are visible to the naked eye.

Just like results of our physical actions are dependent on the actions of others around as well (Read: foot ball story), result of our intentions are also influenced and manifested based on other’s intentions. The difference being, results of physical actions are visible to the naked eye (Drushta – Visible) and manifested immediately. However results of  intentions are not visible to the naked eye (‘A’Drushta – not Visible, Sanskrit translation for Luck) – in the sense they are not manifested immediately.

Scriptures declare that our intentions (thoughts) draw upon and interact with the universal thought energy or universal consciousness (presence of which is now being widely acknowledged even by modern psychological studies. Quantum physics also has now come to accept this long-established truth) and manifest much later.

Cosmic Energy_2

When these manifest, the results of our physical actions are disproportionately affected. Since these are not visible (not apprehend-able  when they manifest, we attribute it to Luck (ADrushta) or Unluck (Dur-Adrushta).

To enhance this non-visible (Luck) factor’s effect to positively influence our actions…

Simply put, to welcome Luck into our life we need to…

  1. Develop and become aware of our thoughts and intentions
  2. Categorise the thoughts
  3. Weed out the negative thoughts and beautify our thought garden
  4. Enhance our Will-power to translate these thoughts/intentions into actions

Techniques for developing thought awareness, mind-purification (Chitta-Suddhi) and concentration (Chitta-Ekagrata) are provided to us in the form of Pranayama and Pratyahara practices like Yoga Nidra, Antarmouna, etc.,

Cosmic Energy

Effect of our earlier actions and thoughts – when we have been inadvertently and through lack of awareness undertook actions will continue to influence our present. This is called Destiny. The good news is that we are not puppets in the hands of destiny, as is commonly believed.

Born as Humans, we are gifted with the power of WILL and Awareness. Unlike animals, we have the ability to respond and not react to situations. Let us gracefully accept the current life-situation and resolve to chart the course of our future by filling it with LOTS OF LUCK.

Let us enhance our awareness, live mindfully and meet our opportunities more often…

LuckFormula

Changes do not happen overnight. Willful thoughts have to be consistently translated into persisting actions.

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by Ankur on May 17, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Ankur's Thoughts, Intellectual, Mental, Practical Aspects from Scriptures, Spiritual
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Posted by Ankur on May 17, 2013

https://ankurlearningsolutions.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/proven-strategy-to-build-your-luck/

A Perspective on FAILURE

When there is something called success, there needs to be its dual opposing factor – failure. But, is there a failure in real sense. If so, what is it?

A scientist postulates a hypothesis. He conducts experiments to validate his hypothesis.

If the results are in sync with the hypothesis, it is validated.

Scientist1

Else, it simply means that the hypothesis is wrong.

Scientist2

At the end of an experiment, the scientist finds out what is right and wrong. He takes the next step depending on the learning from his previous step.

The result of an experiment does not make a scientist successful or failure. His ability to interpret and analyse the results intelligently does.

We live in a society… We make choices. Others also make choices. All act according to their choices.

Every action has a result. Since several choices and actions happen simultaneously, the results of one action will have an effect on the results of other actions. If these results match our expectations, we consider ourselves successful, else failure. If we think we have failed, we become stressed and vent it out through emotions.

The flaw here is in identifying ourselves with the results. The results are only a reciprocation of our choices vis-à-vis choices of others – which we may or may not have control upon.

If we develop the attitude to intelligently interpret the results of our actions, learn our lessons and respond appropriately, there is neither success nor failure, only growth – through intelligent learning and applying it in subsequent actions.

“Paramapada Sopanam” is a traditional Indian game, which is the precursor or inspiration to the popular dice game – snake and ladder.

Paramapada Sopanam

Paramapada Sopanam

In a typical game one keeps moving up and down the ladders and snakes before reaching the end-point. There may be occasional leaps and downfalls – ups and downs along the journey.

However, as long as we stay put and persevere it through, we are bound to reach the end point.

Being assured of reaching the end-point, one needs to happily pursue the journey with all vigour and enthusiasm.

It does not matter how soon we have reached the destination. Staying put on the journey is important… Of course, as seen in an earlier post, making RIGHT CHOICES will help hasten the journey…

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by Ankur on May 12, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Ankur's Thoughts, Aug 2013, Intellectual, Mental, Practical Aspects from Scriptures, Social, Uvacha
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Posted by Ankur on May 12, 2013

https://ankurlearningsolutions.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/a-perspective-on-failure/

The Story called “SUCCESS”

Rajesh (name changed), an IIM graduate, six digit earning per month, having absolute clarity about where he wants to be in life, 27 years of age, things going quite well… What else does one aspire for? Wouldn’t the parents be happy for having nurtured such an individual? This is success indeed.

Alas! Not.

This guy is facing severe stress these days. Not due to work load at office, but due to health reasons. He complains of bleeding each time he passes out feces. On diagnosis, it was identified that there are ulcers in his colon and it has been damaged very badly. He had very poor eating habits for close to a decade – to achieve academic excellence. While in college he frequently gave long gap between meals apart from regularly skipping breakfast and/or meals. Sleep also has been a casuality. A successful and sought after professional is afraid to get into the toilet. What a Paradox ?!?

This is a common denominator for most youngsters of the current generation – a lifestyle prevalent among children once they enter class nine. The same intensifies on entering prestigious institutions like IITs, IIMs and the likes. They get so much used to that kind of life-style, the trend is carried to their professional life as well. Select few are fortunate enough to not fall into this kind of lifestyle trap. The effect of poor lifestyle on physical and hence mental and emotional health is very trivial in the initial stages. The compounding power of money is taught in the school, but they fail to mention that the same principle applies to health as well.

Is academic excellence alone the deciding factor for success in life ?!?

Fill the following grid to verify the truth behind this notion. Some are done for you…

 

Successful

Un-Successful

   Educated 

Abdul Kalam

—————–

—————–

—————–

—————–

Osama Bin Laden

—————–

—————–

—————–

—————–

School/College

drop outs

or Uneducated

Rajni Kanth

—————–

—————–

—————–

—————–

 

 

Who notes them?

This exercise is not to undermine the importance of academic education. The idea is to give academic excellence its right position, in the overall excellence and balance that needs to be achieved. It also is intended to give an appropriate definition to education – which should be man making and life-fulfilling. It is definitely not simply literary or intellectual understanding about scientific facts and figures.

In pursuit of success (Read: money) people increasingly ignore one or more of the following – health, relationships, ethics, values, environment, etc., It was shared in an earlier post, how eight wealthiest individuals ended their life in a pathetic manner. Instances like Rajesh, which we come across more commonly these days, also stand testimony to the fact – financial success is not true success.

Ancient Indian Wisdom prescribes that, at the worldly level, goal of life is to achieve wealth and security (Artha), enjoy rightful pleasures (Kama) in a harmonious manner (Dharma) and remain free from pain and stress (Moksha). The focus here is on the term harmonious manner – Dharma. It is only when we earn wealth and enjoy pleasures in harmony, do we find peace and happiness in life.

Harmony should first be achieved at the individual level and then extended to the societal level. Individual victory can only lead one to collective or inter-personal victory. At the individual level there needs to be harmony between intentions, thoughts, words and actions. The head, heart and hands need to integrate. One way to achieve this is to use the vital force (Prana) to regulate the physical, mental, psychic and intellectual domains of an individual.

Like the cells in a physical body are harmoniously and organically integrated, the members of a society need to be organically integrated to achieve harmony in the society. At the outset, this may seem Utopian or philosophical statement. But, a close observation of the history of civilizations will reveal the truth.

One cell in the body may or may not decide the functioning of its neighbor cell. But it definitely can and does respond in an appropriate manner based on the functioning of the neighbouring cells. Such response alone helps a physical body to remain fit and healthy.

Similarly, we may or may not be able to decide the actions of other elements around us. But we definitely have the ability to make a choice, to prevail upon the choice and decide our response to every situation we are faced with. These choices determine our level of happiness and hence our level of success.

This is the unique blessing of humans… the power to prevail over a choice with the help of WILL.

What are the choices we are making?

How informed are we in making our choices?

How discrete are we in making our choices?

A Happily Successful person is one who makes the RIGHT CHOICES, before exercising his WILL over the choices.

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by Ankur on May 11, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Ankur's Thoughts, Aug 2013, Finance & Career, Intellectual, Mental, Practical Aspects from Scriptures, Social, Uvacha
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Posted by Ankur on May 11, 2013

https://ankurlearningsolutions.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/the-story-called-success/

Your Brand USP – Unique Selling Proposition

Corporate Marketing buzz word is USP, Unique Selling Proposition.

Marketing Gurus talk about market segmentation and market positioning to match with the organisation’s USP. USP is all about why their brand is different from others in the market and why their product or service should be preferred to the competition.

After corporate branding, Marketing Gurus have now started to talk about Individual branding. Personality development programs and Career development programs talk about Individual Branding. Sachin is a brand by himself. So is Kalam, Late Mangeshkar or even Gandhi and Lincoln.

The recall effect of the Value for which the Brand stands, determines the Brand Identity.

The relatability of the Brand identity with the majority populaces’ Core Needs determine the Brand’s Success.

A person with least interest in cricket also relates to brand Sachin.

A person with criminal back ground also relates himself to brands Gandhi, Vivekananda, Mother Teresa and the likes.

Recall how many brands do you relate to… not based on your needs and wants, but based on your core beliefs and values…

Try this simple exercise…

List out ten personalities and commercial brands you relate to…

Now, next to each brand and personality, write down three values they help you recall…

How many of these values are your core values?
How many of these values do you live by?
How many of these values do you aspire to live by?

….
…
..
.

Psychologically speaking, we buy products, watch ads, read books and news about people we identify with, as these acts help us to be close to our core values. We repurchase those products or services again and again, to get closer to those values again and again. The best way to quench this thirst is to make those values inherent part of us.

An organisation or Individual to become a popular brand…  or a successful brand…

the value they stand for… they get to identify with…

should match with those core values and needs of people, which are most common and are everlasting.

Such Brands live beyond their lifetime…

Such Brands gain perpetuity…

What are the core values you would like to identify with?

What are the core values you would like to be nurtured in your child?

What is the brand identity you want for yourself?

What is the rate of success you want for your personal brand…  “Brand                             “ (fill your name here)?

What steps are you taking to ensure that the values you want to be identified with… to become a successful brand… is nurtured or developed in you/your child?

What is your USP… which reserves a permanent place for you in their hearts?

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by Ankur on April 4, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Ankur Philosophy - 7 Factes, Ankur's Thoughts, Education System, Finance & Career, Sep 2014, Social, The Educator, Uvacha
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Posted by Ankur on April 4, 2013

https://ankurlearningsolutions.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/your-brand-usp-unique-selling-proposition/

Story Writing

Stories are the most effective means to connect to the inner layers of an individual. Story reading can move one to a higher plane of awareness and learning apart from being a source of entertainment. Story writing as a pedagogical tool has an integrated effect on various dimensions of a child’s personality.

Self Awareness and Interpersonal relationships: Stories not only introduce one to his own self, but also brings him closer to those around. Encouraging children to write stories will bring us closer to them because it will give us access to their wonderfully complex inner life.

Writing will give children a sense of themselves, as a person in the world and will give them a voice that they will be proud to share with the world.

As a social being, we all want to belong and feel connected. We want to be able to share our stories meaningfully and to hear other people’s stories in a way that resonates with our own lives. Giving our children the gift of expression at a young age sets them on a path of purpose, intention and engagement.

Story Writing is one of the best ways to not only improve our child’s academic progress in school, but to also improve his self-expression and self-reliance.

images

Thinking & Communication: In this age of computers, internet and cut and paste, children hardly get opportunities to hone their thinking skills. They miss out on the opportunities to give expression to the beautiful world within. Story writing helps in bringing out a child’ s creative thinking.  It helps them create and strengthen their identities. Writing helps a child develop his critical thinking skills. It helps them understand and communicate complicated ideas.

Children are especially drawn to the incredible power of stories and words, and they are already so naturally living a writer’s life – one of observation, wonder, memory and imagination. A life where, by simply writing something down, you can make it happen.

When children learn to express their thoughts in writing they often display better organizational and communication skills.

Mental and Emotional well-being: The pressures of 21st century have multiple effects on child’s mental and emotional status. Unaware, they often suppress their feelings and emotions. These suppressed emotions often get vented out in a violent form of aggression or move them into a state of aloofness and depression.

By encouraging children to write stories, we can help them vent out the suppressed feelings and develop a more balanced matured approach towards life.

Awaken the Writer within

Ankur is eager to make more friends and give them an opportunity to write stories… and publish them as a book…

If you are studying in school in India… or

If you have a child studying in school in India… or

If you know someone in India studying in school…

Watch out this space closely for more details about this opportunity… Ankur Katha 2013…

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by Ankur on March 20, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Ankur's Thoughts, Intellectual, Mental, News and Events, Social
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Posted by Ankur on March 20, 2013

https://ankurlearningsolutions.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/story-writing/

Education is The Manifestation of The Perfection Already in Man – Swami Vivekananda

This is a famous and most often quoted quote on education by Swami Vivekananda. It clearly demonstrates the clarity and crispness with which Swami Vivekananda delivered his messages.

As I was contemplating on this quote this morning, three important messages popped out from this statement – Manifestation, The Perfection, Already in Man…

Manifestation – It is not assimilation, but Manifestation Swamiji is talking about. The learning has to be manifested. Something is said to be manifested only when it finds an expression. Mere intellectualisation of concepts and ideas do not suffice. True education is to see that the learning has manifested in us and our works.

Agreed! One cannot change overnight. But, there is no purpose going on learning hundred things, without giving them scope to find expression in our life. It is advisable to take one thing at a time and incorporate it into our system, before we say we have learnt that. This holds true, especially for life lessons.

Perfection – Whatever we learn should be manifested. But the question arises… what should we learn? What should be manifested? Swamiji talks of manifestation of perfection. As it is the case with most of Ancient Indian Scriptural Concepts – Perfection, as used by Swami Vivekananda needs to be viewed from two levels/perspectives.

At the spiritual level, it denotes the divinity or completeness of an individual. The perfection or divinity in man should find expression as a result of education. In Swamiji’s own words…

“The Light Divine within is obscured in most people. It is like a lamp in a cask of iron, no gleam of light can shine through. Gradually, by purity and unselfishness, we can make the obscuring medium less and less dense, until at last it becomes transparent as glass”

Here Swamiji talks not only about the Divine within, but also the means by which that Divinity has to be brought out. More on this in a later blog.

At the practical, worldly or empirical level, perfection denotes the ability to address various problems human beings encounter in society. Again in Swamiji’s words…

“The education which does not help the common mass of people to equip themselves for the struggle for life, which does not bring out the strength of character, a spirit of philanthropy, and the courage of a lion – is it worth the name? Real education is that which enables one to stand on one’s own legs.”

Education must provide “life-building, man-making and character making” assimilation of ideas so as to develop an integrated person – one who has learned how to improve his intellect, purify his heart, handle his emotions and stand firm on moral virtues and unselfishness.

Already in Man – This is the key principle in the above quote. The perfection which has to be manifested, Swamiji declares – is already in man. When we already have it, what is the role of education? What are we learning? The process of education is actually a process of purification. A process by which we realise the perfectness within. A process which brings out the strength within and makes us courageous like a lion and help us stand on our own legs in this society.

Here lies the critical role of an educator – be it a parent at home or a teacher at school.

Here lies the importance of making education student centric.

It is an educator’s responsibility to throw light on the strengths of the student and facilitate ways and means to bring out those strengths, so as to nurture a confident and courageous adult. His/her role is that of a farmer, not a sculptor.

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by Ankur on March 19, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Ankur's Thoughts, Education System, Experts Speak, Intellectual, Mental, Physical, Sep 2013, Social, Spiritual, Swami Vivekananda, The Educator, Uvacha
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Posted by Ankur on March 19, 2013

https://ankurlearningsolutions.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/education-is-the-manifestation-of-the-perfection-already-in-man-swami-vivekananda/

Living the SWAN way…

Swan… The Elegant… The Pious… The Charming Bird…

Swan_1

Swan finds a unique place in various cultures across the world.  In India, swan is considered pious.

Apart from the pure white and pleasing features, it is considered special due to two of its unique characteristics…

1) Clarity – It knows clearly what it needs and needs not… It can separate milk from water… This characteristic of discrimination is called as Viveka by the learned.

Viveka or intelligence is one’s ability to differentiate good from the bad, right from the wrong, appropriate from the inappropriate, strength from weakness, like a swan differentiates milk from water. Once we have the above ability, half the goal is achieved.

Swan feeds on the milky sap present in the lotus stem.  The moment it punctures the stem, the sap flows out and gets mixed up in the water.  Swan is able to differentiate what it needs (milky sap) and take that leaving away what it does not need (water).

images (1)

Likewise, we need to know our aspirations and the needs to fulfill those aspirations.  Once we are aware of our strengths and weaknesses as also our aspirations, we can easily identify the needs to fulfill those aspirations. One should also be able to differentiate between a need and a want. This is called as SWAN approach.

S – Strength – It is what we are good at and is different from what we like

W – Weakness – It is what we are not good at and need to cultivate. It is not what we don’t like

A – Aspiration – It is what we need to aspire for in life

N – Needs – It is what we need… to fulfill our aspirations and of course it is different from what we want in life.

2) Letting Go – The other unique feature of Swan is to Let Go… It stays in water but never gets wet, much like the lotus plant, on whose sap it feeds on. This ability to let go of the water without becoming wet is called as detachment or more specifically detached attachment or vairagya.

…  As we move forward in the journey to accomplish our aspirations by fulfilling the needs, we are bound to be faced with various obstacles.  Sometimes we may even have to make an amendment to our ideas or even drop them.  This is possible only when we are not strongly attached to our ideas / aspirations / needs.

Like a swan living in water and not getting wet, we should be in the midst of our work doing it enthusiastically, at the same time be able to drop it the moment we find it does not fit into our scheme of things.

This kind of detached attachment is required not only to the work we are involved in, but also to other obstacles we come across.

If we get ourselves engaged with the obstacles, our energy and attention is dissipated and we lose focus on our goal. We need to give just enough importance to the obstacle, so that we are able to handle it efficiently and grow in the process, nothing more and nothing less.

This is better demonstrated through the “Game of Football” Story shared earlier…

Similar should be the approach towards our likes and positive happenings in life. If we get too much obsessed and attached with the positiveness in our life, we again tend to get stuck and the journey comes to a halt.

However great company we may have in our train journey, we need to bid goodbye and get going when our station to depart arrives….

Let go… Grow… Elegantly and Happily like a swan

Let Go... Grow... Happily

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by Ankur on March 6, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Ankur's Thoughts, Intellectual, Mental, Practical Aspects from Scriptures
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Posted by Ankur on March 6, 2013

https://ankurlearningsolutions.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/living-the-swan-way/

Why Children Yoga Festival? Not a competition?

This has been a question posed to me in the last few days. I wasn’t surprised. We are so much used to competitions, anything other than that doesn’t  appeal to us. But, we chose a festival instead competition with a specific purpose. The idea is to drive the message that competing is not a healthy way to grow, festival and expression of joy and happiness within is.

When you are competing, you are comparing yourself with others. You aim to better others’. Your focus is on the other person and hence your performance is limited to something better than the other guy. But, your own potential is not only much more than the other person’s but also unique to yourself.  When you focus on yourself… meaning your potential within, you actually do much better than when you are comparing with others. The very principle of Yoga is to unite. To unite with your Self and thus to unite with the rest of the world. When you are competing with someone in Yoga, you are moving away from others.

In a non competing environment, in Ankur Children Yoga festival, the child is provided with an opportunity to give an expression to his creative self and bring out the best in him. Performing in teams of 10, children complement their creativity to bring out a theme or concept that is uniquely different to their individual thoughts. They learn to work in a team environment accepting, adapting and uniting with the uniqueness of each other. They learn that Yoga is not just about asanas and introduce to themselves and other friends in their schools that Yoga also includes various other modes of uniting with the divine within through chanting, keertan, music, etc., They share information about different elements and branches of Yoga, its disciplines,etc., They learn about the contribution of great Souls like Swami Sivananda, Swami Satyananda, Swami Niranjan, etc., in bringing this unique gift of our ancient sages to the reach of common man in general and children across the globe in particular.

All this happening in a constructive and complementing atmosphere over a period of 6 months where more than ONE LAKH children know about the benefits of Yogic Lifestyle, is definitely a Festival of Joy and Bliss, A Festival of Yoga.

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by Ankur on February 12, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Ankur Philosophy - 7 Factes, Ankur's Thoughts, Current Trends, News and Events
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Posted by Ankur on February 12, 2013

https://ankurlearningsolutions.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/why-children-yoga-festival-not-a-competition/

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