Abraham Lincoln's - Incredible Journey

Here's Abraham Lincoln's Incredible Journey To Become

The 16th President Of The United States!

Event	Year
He had to work to support his family after they were forced out of their home.	1816
His mother died.	1818
Failed in business.	1831
Was defeated for legislature.	1832
Lost his job and couldn't get into law school.	1832
Declared bankruptcy, and spent the next 17 years of his life paying off the money he borrowed from friends to start his business.	1833
Was defeated for legislature again.	1834
Was engaged to be married, but his sweetheart died and his heart was broken.	1835
Had a nervous breakdown and spent the next six months in bed.	1836
Was defeated in becoming the speaker of the state legislature.	1838
Was defeated in becoming elector.	1840
Was defeated for Congress	1843
Was defeated for Congress.	1846
Was defeated for Congress again.	1848
Was rejected for the job of Land Officer in his home state.	1849
Was defeated for Senate.	1854
Was defeated for Vice-President -- got less than 100 votes.	1856
Was defeated for Senate for the third time.	1858
Was elected President of the United States.	1860

---

Are you a little bit discouraged right now because you have tried and tried and still haven't achieved your dreams? If so, please don't be. Worthwhile goals and aspirations will always take time to accomplish. It took Abraham Lincoln 30 years to achieve his dream of becoming the President of the United States. Although he faced countless insurmountable obstacles, he did not give up. He didn't quit. While it may seem impossible for you to overcome your current challenges or problems, promise yourself that you will NOT give up. We trust that President's Lincoln's road map to the White House has inspired you to hold onto your dreams when the going gets tough, and to keep working on them until you've turned them into reality. Here are two fabulous quotations by this great man to motivate you to persist until you've achieved your goals:

"The sense of obligation to continue
is present in all of us. A duty to strive
is the duty of us all. I felt a call to that duty."

"The path was worn and slippery.
My foot slipped from under me,
knocking the other out of the way,
but I recovered and said to myself,
It's a slip and not a fall."

These two quotations are very inspiring, aren't they?

Source: http://www.cybernation.com/lincoln/persistence.php

The birth of Sukla Yajur-Veda

One day, the sage Yajnavalkya came to Vaisampayana's gurukula. Yajnavalkya was a brilliant intellectual with keen intelligence. Yajnavalkya was proud about his intellectual attainments and this was responsible for his downfall. Pride always goeth before a fall. Yajnavalkya developed indifference to his studies and started behaving in an unbecoming manner. Vaisampayana was noticing all this. The preceptors of those times would give even their lives for deserving disciples, but would give no quarter to those who were proud and ill-behaved. Displeased with Yajnavalkya's conduct, Vaisampayana called him to his presence one day and told him: “Yajnavalkya! You have no right any longer to study in this gurukula. You must leave it at once. And before leaving, you give back all that you learnt here." Yajnavalkya, who realised his mistakes, disgorged all that he had learnt. The vomit was eaten by the Thithiri birds. Then the birds began to recite the Vedic hymns, which came to be known as Taithriya Samhita.

The birth of Sukla Yajur-Veda
There are two traditions relating to the Vedas. One is known as the Brahmasampradayam (the Brahmic tradition). The other is Aditya-sampradayam (the Sun tradition). What Yajnavalkya gave back is known as the Brahma-sampradaya. It is also known as Krishna Yajur-Veda. Subsequently, feeling penitent about his misconduct, Yajnavalkya did penance in the form of Suryopaasana (worship of the Sun), giving up food and drink. In this manner he was atoning for his misconduct.

The Sun-God appeared before him in the form of Vaaji (a sacred horse) and told him: “Child! What has happened, is past. Remember it is a grievous crime to be disloyal to your preceptor or ungrateful to the Divine. You should not indulge in this kind of behaviour. Be careful in the future." Saying this, the Sun-God himself taught the Vedas to Yajnavalkya. Why did Surya appear before him in the form of Vaaji? Yajnavalkya's ancestors were noted for their vaajasanam (offerings of food) to the hungry, Hence they got the name Vaajasam. For this reason, the Sun-God assumed the form of Vaaji and taught the Vedas to Yajnavalkya. This Veda is known as Sukla Yajur-Veda. It is also called Vaajanaskanda. The Yajur-Veda thus got divided into two parts: Krishna Yajur-Veda and Sukla Yajur-Veda.

Greatness of gift of food to the hungry
It should be noted that it was because of the gift of food made by Yajnavalkya's ancestors that the Sun-God himself came down to teach the Veda to Yajnavalkya. This shows the supreme efficacy of the anna-daana (gift of food) to the hungry and the starving.

• There is no greater gift than the gift of food
• There is no God higher than one's parents
• There is no japa or tapa higher than righteousness.
• There is no Dharma greater than compassion
• Nothing is more profitable than the company of the good.
• There is no worse enemy than hatred.
• No disease is worse than indebtedness,
• Death is preferable on earth to infamy.
• No wealth is more precious than a good name
• There is no ornament superior to the Lord's name.

Realising these truths, Yajnavalkya taught his disciples the value of service to parents, reverence for the guru, and efficacy of the gift of food.

Picture: http://www.spiritual-teachers.com/yajnavalkya.jpg
Source: http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume23/sss23-24.pdf

The memorable days of VISHU in my life...

VISHU - A new start Vishu is one of the important festivals of Kerala. It comes in the month of April. According to the old traditional Malayalam calendar it is the 1st day of the New Year. 'Kani-Kanal' is the main event of the day. The night before Vishu, the mistress of the house prepare the Kani. In big pots, coconuts, fruits, cereals and Konna flower are kept. Behind the pot a mirror and the garlanded deity of Krishna is kept. Around the deity, lighted lamps will be arranged. Early morning on the Vishnu day, the master of the house sees the Kani and then the rest of the family follows. Children's are brought blind folded from their beds to where the Kani is kept. The elder in the family give money to the youngsters and bless them. It is believed that the Kani we see and its good tidings will stay with you till the year ends. In Kerala the Kani in the temples of Guruvayur, Ambalapuzha and Sabarimala are famous.

The memorable days of VISHU in my life:

Last week (April 14th 2006), we celebrated our first VISHU in USA (453, Woodland Avenue, Apt #3, Lexington, KY). Inspired by my beloved father (sri. V.S.Kailasam), I started my decorations for New Year in the pooja room (attached to the kitchen) around 12PM and it went on till 2PM. Lots of ideas started pouring into my mind to make it more beautiful. Thanks to my roommates for sharing their valuables. If I had planned a little early, I could have hanged some flowers/mango-leaves too...But something better than nothing. I borrowed a mirror from my neighbors staying downstairs and used it to reflect my decorations. The picture above shows the reflections of my decorations. Awesome rite. I like this snap very much and hope u too..

I can recollect my childhood days back in India, where my father used to wake me and my sister around 6AM (we sometimes shout at him because 6AM is like too early for me at those stages of my life, but now I really feel how much it would have hurt him and how bad I used to behave.. sorry dad) and took us to the pooja room (with our eyes closed) and will ask us to open our eyes in front of the VISHU. Me and my sis then used to clean our eyes with the water and my father used to explain the importance of Vishu and about each and every item (fruits, vegetables, flowers, rupee notes, coins, jewels, etc..) he used for his decoration. We both used to admire the reflections that are seen in the BIG beautiful mirror kept @ the back of the decoration. I don’t know how to explain in words, that the mirror used to add special effects to my fathers decorations. Then he used to gift us with a 1-rupee coin and we continued our routine. Wish I should have taken some snaps :( Those days were really memorable.

Coming back to the US part: Hope you remember the famous saying that: "Joy gets doubled when shared".. on April 14th morning, I personally invited everyone in 453, Woodland Ave around 7:30 AM, to share my joy. The invitees were My roommates: Suren, Karthik, Thyagarajan
and my freinds in:
Apt #1: Smita, Keerthi, Kundana, Deepthi, Puja
Apt #2: Rakesh, Praneeth, Srujan, Sujan, Vishnu
Apt #4: Hari, Dinesh, Harish, Anand, Sameer, Sounak
Thanks to all for coming.

I received appreciations from some of my friends. But beyond all this, what I value most is my personal satisfaction I get when I involve myself whole heartedly in such functions. Now I realize why my father used to call so many people...proud to have such a great and wonderful father. Dedicating this post especially to HIM for teaching me the importance of Indian values and traditions.

- Satish

Determination

Story behind "Brooklyn Bridge" ..

Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.

Picture: http://www.dkohnstudios.com/brooklynbridge.htm

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.

Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal. Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.

Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.

Source: http://www.indianchild.com/inspiring_stories.htm

Brooklyn Bridge gallery: http://www.nyc-architecture.com/SPEC/GAL-BRI-1.htm

Music - my love

People write for a variety of reasons. Some write to cover an overwhelming sense of inadequacy. If inadequacy is the illness, then publication is the cure, but only temporary. Others write to feed an addiction and publication is a temporary fix. Some people are natural-born story tellers and writing is the way they tell their stories. A few writers have something important to say – some universal truth to convey – some great questions to answer. I never imagined that I fit into that category until recently, when I discovered the answer to a question that has forever plagued me: what is love?

For me the answer is simple. Music is love. I met music, my one true love, in my fourth grade, and I have loved her ever since. By my sixth grade, we were going steady. I was practicing every morning and evening. Seeing this dedication and involvement, my aunt gifted me a sruti box, designed for children of my age.

In the summers, I got up early and continued practicing. I used to listen to lots of concerts along with my grandfather in his black radio. Occasionally, amidst much static, I could pick up the local AM/FM channels when tuned to a particular frequency. I remember listening to Dr.Chandrasekar’s violin concert, and carnatic vocal recital by Bombay sisters, Bombay Jayashri, Unnikrishnan, late Sri Maharajapuram Santhanam, Maharajapuram Ramachandran, Tiruchur Ramachandran, O S Thyagarajan, Sudha Raghunathan, Sowmya, and many others... Also, in those hot, un-air-conditioned summers of my youth, my mother often walked miles with me to town so that I could attend some live ticketed concerts in famous sabhas. I attended lots of live concerts with my beloved mother in those long, hot, seemingly endless summers.

Soon I realized that I was in love like most young people in love, but with music. I read various books related to music, to understand her various forms, her origin and her history. I, of course continued to listen to my radio. I regularly purchased new cassettes which had my favorite songs and ragas, and eventually it has become another source of information and fascination.

I continued my romance with music through high school and college. When I returned home after college, I discovered that my sruti box stopped working due to dust. I wasn’t angry for that, but I felt uneasy about my relationship with music. Would she forgive me for losing those tokens of love?

There are so many people like me who depend on music for companionship and entertainment. Music and I never married, but we have never fallen out of love. She has always been with me and will continue her stay with me, until I am there for her.

Taurus - my zodiac

Taurus Sun Sign

April 21 - May 20

Taurus takes its name from the Greek Tauros, meaning "the Bull."

No one is more persistence and steadfast than Taurus. Taurus usually excels at his work, because he understands the importance of method and order. Taurus has a wonderful sense of humor and often uses his humor to be the center of attention. Taurus is not aggressive, but can be stubborn and self-indulgence.

Taurus is loyal and faithful friend. As a lover, Taurus is sensual and amorous. Taurus is very fond of music.

Constellation	Taurus the Bull
Zodiac symbol	Bull
Known as	The Builder
Ruling planet	Venus
Quality	Fixed
Element	Earth
Greatest Overall Compatibility	Virgo, Capricorn
Best for Marriage and Partnerships	Scorpio
Day	Friday
Color	green, orange, yellow, earth tones
Flowers	Violet & Poppy
Metal	Copper
Lucky Numbers	6, 4
Taurus virtues	Endurance, loyalty, patience, stability, harmonious disposition
Negative traits	Rigidity, stubborness, tendency toward over possessive and materialistic

Meaning of Colors:

Yellow symbolizes: wisdom, joy, happiness, intellectual energy

The shade of yellow determines the meaning. Pure, bright and sunny yellow is the easiest color to see. People who are blind to other colors can usually see yellow. Yellow is full of creative and intellectual energy. Always use yellow note pads.

Yellow symbolizes wisdom. Yellow means joy and happiness. People of high intellect favor yellow. Yellow daffodils are a symbol of unrequited love. Sunday's color is yellow-gold.

Yellow Energy

Like the energy of a bright sunny day, yellow brings clarity and awareness. The shade of yellow determines its effect: Yellow-green can mean deceit, and creates a disoriented feeling. Orange-yellow imparts a sense of establishment. Clean light yellow clears the mind, making it active and alert.

Put some yellow in your life when you want:

• clarity for decision-making
• relief from 'burnout', panic, nervousness, exhaustion
• sharper memory and concentration skills
• protection from lethargy and depression during dull weather

Orange symbolizes: endurance, vitality, play, creativity

Orange is a power color. It is one of the healing colors. It is said to increase the craving for food. It also stimulates enthusiasm and creativity. Orange means vitality with endurance. People who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere. Lady luck's color is orange. I have been told that if a change of any kind is need in life, just burn an orange candle for 7 nights.

Orange Energy

While red is associated with fiery heat, orange is associated with the benign warmth of the sun. A dynamic color to be sure, orange offers a more thoughtful control than explosive red. Curiosity is a driving characteristic of orange, and with it comes exploration of new things.

Put some orange in your life when you want:

• to spice things up when you feel time is dragging
• to become more involved in something
• to increase creativity
• relief from things becoming too serious

Green symbolizes: life, nature, fertility, well being

Green is the color of nature, fertility, life. Grass green is the most restful color. Green symbolizes self-respect and well being. Green is the color of balance. It also means learning, growth and harmony. Green is a safe color, if you don't know what color to use anywhere use green.

Green is favored by well balanced people. Green symbolizes the master healer and the life force. It often symbolizes money. It was believed green was healing for the eyes. Egyptians wore green eyeliner. Green eyeshades are still used. You should eat raw green foods for good health. Friday is the day of green. Green jade is a sacred stone of Asia.

Green Energy

Green contains the powerful energies of nature, growth, desire to expand or increase. Balance and a sense of order are found in the color green. Change and transformation is necessary for growth, and so this ability to sustain changes is also a part of the energy of green.

Put some green in your life when you want:

• a new state of balance
• feel a need for change or growth
• freedom to pursue new ideas
• protection from fears and anxieties connected with the demands of others

Benjamin Franklin - 13 Virtues

Benjamin Franklin
You probably know him as one of the Fathers of the United States, a great leader and diplomat. He signed the major documents of the founding of the U.S. including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Maybe you know him as an inventor, or as a scientist who flew kites in lightning storms, or as a writer and printing press operator.

But did you know that in 1726, at the age of 20, while on an 80-day ocean voyage from London back to Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin developed a "Plan" for regulating his future conduct? He was partially motivated by Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." He followed the plan he created "pretty faithfully" even to the age of 79 (when he wrote about it), and he was even more determined to stick with it for his remaining days because of the happiness he had enjoyed so far by following it.

His "Plan" was made up of 13 virtues, each with short descriptions:

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.
6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
11. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

He committed to giving strict attention to one virtue each week so after 13 weeks he moved through all 13. After 13 weeks he would start the process over again so in one year he would complete the course a total of 4 times.

He tracked his progress by using a little book of 13 charts. At the top of each chart was one of the virtues. The charts had a column for each day of the week and thirteen rows marked with the first letter of each of the 13 virtues. Every evening he would review the day and put a mark (dot) next to each virtue for each fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day.

Naturally, his goal was to live his days and weeks without having to put any marks on his chart. Initially he found himself putting more marks on these pages than he ever imagined, but in time he enjoyed seeing them diminish. After awhile he went through the series only once per year and then only once in several years until finally omitting them entirely. But he always carried the little book with him as a reminder.

Benjamin Franklin's 13 virtues are unique and obviously served him well since he is one of the most respected and most accomplished men in the history of the United States.

Source: http://www.flamebright.com/PTPages/Benjamin.asp

About me ..

Hi, I'm Sundar, doing my Masters in Computer Science @ University of Kentucky, Lexington, US. I love singing and listening to indian carnatic, classical and hindustani music.