Merry Christmas 2016

Merry Christmas 2016

Nobody knows the exact date of his birth. But his followers estimated the date analysing the references of cosmic significance. It was the coldest night of that winter. Night, because the shepherds saw a 'Bright Star' moving towards one direction. They walked along with the Star and when the Star stopped moving, they also stopped. They were in front of a manger in Bethlehem, where Virgin Mary of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph, traveled for census, gave birth to a child and laid him in a manger. The angels proclaim him a saviour and shepherds come to adore him following a Star. Joseph followed advice of the angel, take Mary and named the child Jesus as he was born to save his people from their sins. The family then returned to Nazareth. But when the King Herod massacred all males under two years old in order to kill Jesus, the King of the Jews, his family fled to Egypt and later settled in Nazareth when the threat of death ended. Like Lord Krishna, he was born in the night and was moved to another place due to the life threat from the ruler.

One world of Adam of 'Death' ended and the new world of Christ of 'Life' born. The year was estimated from the rule of Herod the Great on Bethlehem. People from 3rd century, celebrating nativity feast on 25th December. 

When he was 12 years old people found him in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking questions so that all who heard him were amazed. Living in "Father's House", he grew in wisdom living with his parents. Thereafter no authentic details are recorded for his life between 12-30. When he became 30 years old, there are five major milestones recorded: Baptism, Transfiguration, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. 

When he was about 30 years old (AD 26), he begins his public ministry of 3.5 years; with his baptism by John the Baptist near the river Jordan, spent 40 days being tempted in the wilderness,  had started preaching in various towns and villages, selected His first followers, performed His first miracle at Cana in Galilee, and traveled to Capernaum north of the Sea of Galilee, proclamation of Jesus the Christ by Peter, followed his transfiguration witnessed by three disciples, predicts his death and enter into Jerusalem, take Last Supper with his disciples, one of his disciples betrayed him for thirty pieces of silver, as predicted by him Peter disowned him thrice before the rooster crowed next morning, was arrested, tried and crucified on Good Friday of Spring by the Romans (AD 30 or 33). A tragic crucifixion of an innocent. He sacrificed his for the sins of others. 

His seven sentences (Last Words) of passion made while he was on cross are the doctrine of salvation and atonement. These are: 

1. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. (Forgiveness)
2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. (Salvation)
3. Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother. (Relationship)
4. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? (Abandonment)
5. I thirst. (Distressed)
6. It is finished. (Triumph)
7. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. (Reunion) 

On the third day on Easter Sunday, he rose again from the death (resurrection). He appeared to many people for forty days before ascended to heaven (ascension).

Christmas is a festival of joy to celebrate birth of Jesus Christ, to chant Hymn and sing songs composed on nativity, portraying humility of his birth. It is called the "Song of the Angels" given that it was uttered by the angels in the Annunciation to the Shepherds. Christian people all over the world celebrate this week (24-31) in memory of the birth of their Massiah. Jesus was their Lord and Master who was to be served with all their hearts and who would one day judge their actions throughout their lives. For millions of Christians on Earth believe in his promise "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world".

His image of humble at birth and sacrificed at death is lighting the path of lives of millions of Christians all over the world. He has conquered their hearts by love. 

Merry Christmas.

Punamchand

25 December 2016

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Viewpoint

Viewpoint

Last Monday, my Deputy Secretary came with a smiling face and told me that he is living in Gandhinagar for many years. But was feeling extremely happy visiting Vegetable Market of Sec-21 on Sunday when he paid only ₹10 and received two big balls of cauliflower. The vegetables are very cheap nowadays.

I asked him few questions.

Are you really happy buying vegetables at cheap rates?

Yes Sir, very very happy. He replied.

Have you received 7th pay commission? What is your total emoluments?

Yes Sir, the total is ₹92000/month. He explained.

If some day Government decide to pay you only 10% of your salary, will you feel happy?

No no Sir. It is my right to claim full salary. I joined Sachivalaya as a Clerk and reach to this height serving for many years. Why should I lose my money?

Then, why the farmers lose money who have spend money on inputs and spend time and labour on cultivating the vegetables? If they have to sell vegetables @ ₹2/kg cauliflower, ₹2/kg cabbage, ₹2/kg bottle guard, ₹3/kg potatos, ₹3/kg tomatoes, ₹1/kg brinjal, what will be the earning of a family. And these are the rates on retail markets on roads, what will they get in the Ahmedabad APMC? Look at the wholesale rates below:

KG rates (maximum) : Potato (₹15), Sweet Potato (₹25), Ratalu (₹25), Brinjal (₹5), Valor (₹15), mutter (₹6.5), Tuvar (₹7), Cabbage (₹8), Cauliflower (₹10), Tomato (₹12), bottle guard (₹6), onion (₹15), carrot (₹22), green leafy vegetables (₹10), green chilies (₹10), etc.

KG rates (minimum) : Potato (₹2), Sweet Potato (₹16), Ratalu (₹17), Brinjal (₹2), Valor (₹6), mutter (₹6), Tuvar (₹3),  Cabbage (₹4), Cauliflower (₹5), Tomato (₹5), bottle guard (₹2), onion (₹6), carrot (₹12), green leafy vegetables (₹6), green chilies (₹4), etc

What do you do? The three of four noting hands submits files in which you sign and push it upward and charge daily wage of ₹3800/working day. You are doing brain work but they (the farmers) are feeding the millions of stomach everyday, if gets only a penny of their hard work, how could we feel happy?

Gandhi said, "a plea for spinning wheel is a plea for recognising dignity of labour".

One should develop a habit to look the issue 360 degrees. All Indians should earn a respectful income so that they can maintain the dignity of life, eat well and take care of the health, education and other needs of their families.

Jai Hind

Punamchand
22 December 2016

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Inequality is the mother of jealousy

Inequality is the mother of jealousy 

"You can be the Moon and still be jealous of the Stars". -Gary Allan

There are six enemies (shadripu) (arishadverga) described in human personality: 
Kama (lust, intense wanting for an object, power, knowledge, addiction), Krodha (anger), Lobh (greed, excessive desire to possess more that what one needs or deserves), Moha (emotional attachment), Mada (pride, ego), and Matsarya (jealousy). All are the prisoners of these six enemies, and their lives are governed by the destiny. They are the dacoits residing within and rob the previous gem of spiritual wisdom and self awareness knowledge. Various sanskaras and vasanas are brought out into activity from the submerged level of the chitta/deep within.

Do you know a story of a jealous man? My father used to tell us.

There was a man living in a village, always jealous of his neighbour. His neighbour was a hardworking man following good virtues of life. They were living a very happy life. The jealous man was lazy and spend his time in looking for faults in others but make no time to correct his own. One day, he asked his neighbour the reason of their happiness. Blessings of God, he replied very politely. The jealous man then went to the forest and to do Tapa to please the God. One day, the God was pleased, gave him darshana, knew the reason of his Tapa and gave him three boons with a condition that whatever he demands, his neighbour will get the double. The man returned home happily and next morning tried his first boon. He desired for a tubewell in his farm. He got a tubewell in the farm but his neighbour also got two tubewells. Second morning, he desired for a beautiful house. He got a beautiful house but his neighbour also got two beautiful houses. Instead of feeling happy with his better life with a tubewell in the farm and a beautiful house, he was worried about the benefits his neighbour was getting out of his boons. Now the third and last boon was available. His negative thoughts took over his mind. That night, he couldn't sleep and passed it in thinking. In the morning, he desired for a negative boon for him, to take away his one eye. His intention was to make his neighbour a blind!

Many people on earth are like him. They are not happy with what they have, but live in sorrow of what they don't have. Bhav nu shukh nahin, abhav nu dukh. Why? Because of Jealousy. Jealousy is an emotion, a typical experience in human relationships, expressed for the people known to us and are progressing better than us. A jealous person throws a stone in Peace Lake of his mind and creates the ripples that travel around and disturb the peace of mind of others. Jealousy is the seed for all our fights and pains in the world. It is disturbing the peace of the mankind and one day will be the reason for the destruction of the human world. 

Why can't we live in harmony. Why can't we walk on right path? Why can't we learn good virtues of successful life from others and make our life successful? Why we lose trust? Because many times, we see success of the people following wrong path. But what we see as success may not be the success but a pain for them, taking away their happiness of life and peace of mind. Their life is not our message.

DDDIT, an institution in Nadiad is giving a letter to all it's graduate students, when they pass out. It writes: "We should not compare ourself with others. We are individuals and we have different lives. Instead we should compare our present with our past to check whether we are progressing or not." If we accept the advice, all of us will feel happy because our present is better than our past. With better quality of life, we have a better life then our past generation. 

Jealousy is a disease and Love is a healthy condition of mind. Love people and remove hatredness. 

Be Confident Be Happy.

Punamchand
18 December 2016

NB: Never hate people who are jealous of you, but respect their jealousy. They are people who think that you are better than them.

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Proton Beam Therapy for Cancer Treatment

Proton Beam Therapy for Cancer Treatment 

Cancer is one of the challenging diseases for the human world. Tobacco and other habits were considered the major causes for the disease, but when it occurs without reason to many individuals, people try to find alternative answers. Amongst women, rural urban divide was found in cancer cases. Breast cancer cases found common amongst urban women (who avoid breath feeding to their children) and ovarian cancer cases found common amongst the rural women due to poor unhygienic living style. We are yet to reach out for toilet in each house, the bathroom will take may be another decade. 

What is cancer? It was presumed that it is an uncontrolled growth of some cells of the body, those have been moved out of the command and control system and go on multiplying till they burst. The tumour developed obstruct the life energy and kills the person. As you know, our body is made of cells. Each cell has a life cycle of birth, life and death. New cells replace the old once. 24x7, the cycle of generation, operation and destruction goes on, till we finally end our life in death. 

But in Cancer, some cells become immortal, don't die. The cycle of new cells generation continues and the previous lot if don't die, what will happen? The tumour is formed with the increase in the quantum of cells around that area. This is Cancer. 

Chemo radiation (X-Rays-photons) therapy has been used to treat cancer. It directs photons and electrons at tumours with the intent of eradicating the neoplastic tissue while preserving adjacent normal tissue. But radiation induced damage to the healthy tissue. The Therapy is generally used to kill the cancer cells at the spot as well as those spread out in other parts of the body. But while doing so, the radiation kills many healthy tissues. If the tumour burst during the treatment, cancer spreads into the body and the relapse becomes incurable. 

Now, the oncologists have developed a proton therapy, also called proton beam therapy, is a radiation treatment that uses proton rather than x-rays. At high energy, it can destroy the cancer cell. It's a pointed treatment in which the Proton radiation directly work on the tumour kill only the cancer cells and save the healthy cells. The treatment allows for excellent dose distribution, with the added benefit of no exit dose. These characteristics make this form of radiotherapy an excellent choice for the treatment of tumours located next to critical structures such as spinal cord, eyes, and brain, as well as for paediatric malignancies. However, the treatment has a limitation, as it works on tumours, therefore, the treatment is not useful in blood and other types of cancer.

The Proton Beam Therapy machine is very expensive, may be costing ₹400 CR. In India only Apollo Hospital has placed an order and it will get the delivery probably in 2018. But it is a new ray of hope for the patient living with cancer.

ऊँ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । 
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद् दुःखभाग्भवेत ।

Punamchand
2 December 2016

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