Ethics we have to learn

Ethics- we have to learn.

Ethics refers to essential elements like specific values, rules and agreements people adopt for their wellbeing. Ethical choice reflects what is right and wrong. Here are three cases of ethical behavior.

In Canada for all the professional careers, they have to pass professional ethics. Professional ethics is a compulsory subject. “What you do unto others is done unto you”. This is the golden rule of ethics.

Look at the following three different cases in different parts of the planet. Observe how ethics contribute to the well being and economic development of an individual and a nation.

Case 1 . Australia. One of my friend lives in Tasmania,  Australia. During his last visit he told me what the farmers used to do there.  In the morning the farmers keep their produce like eggs, vegetables and fruits in front of the farm in cartons with the price tag and leave for farming jobs. They leave a cash box too there. It is like a shop unmanned. In the evening they come back to collect the money and the unsold items. In the evening he tallies the account.

Case 2 .     In Canada I grow vegetables in the summer in front of my house. A young gentleman  in his 20's was passing by the road and stopped while I was watering the plants. He was returning home from music class. He told me his mother had a small garden before and he loves gardening. I offered him some vegetables. I collected a plastic bag and gave him a bag full of vegetables. The young man got surprised of my gift. In fact this is the first time we are meeting each other. Perhaps this may be the first time he may be getting something free from a stranger. He said  “I don’t have anything to  give you back” I told him it is free, it is my pleasure giving you free.  He looked around, put his hand in the pocket searching for money, but there was nothing with him. He had a guitar with him.  He asked me “shall I play a music”. I told him  "yes". He stood beside the road and played music with his guitar which he says one of Beethoven's composition. Mentally he wants to pay back. He feels he has to pay back for whatever he receives, which some people doesnot have. He wants to earn, rather than receive it free.

Case 3. Kerala, India.       A 83 year old mother lives alone in Trissur, Kerala. She had a drumstick tree full of drumsticks. She offered the drumstick free to a known friend in the neighborhood.. After a few hours the mother visited the location of drumstick tree. She got shocked to see that the whole drumstick plant is stripped out, and the branches are broken. The scene was a complete mess.  The whole tree is damaged and the  friend left without housekeeping too.

Look at the three ethical standards.
1st case. In the first case, the farmer doesn’t have to waste his time to sell the produce. He saves the time and works in the farm so the farm produce become cheaper for the public. When people are honest and trust worthy this will work better. Everybody is in a win win situation.

The 2^nd case tells a moral message. The youngster is not habituated to get free things. He has to earn it, though it is offered free. He is morally obliged to pay for whatever he receives.

The 3^rd case shows I don’t care even if you lose, or the tree is damaged. I am selfish. No gratitude.   I don’t have to earn, I want free. This is my ethics.

I was forced to pay bribe to renew driving license in Kerala, to get property  document in order in the local village office. Twenty-five years back one telephone  Engineer threatened  me , he will disconnect the line if I did not pay bribe. He did it once, but could  not succeed much, since I approached PMG Trivandrum.  Recently I heard he died of heart attack before retirement in Mavelikara. Our politicians' mantra is  "come on  enjoy the party today", spend  public's money , make deficit, tomorrow somebody else will pay. Who will pay tomorrow ? Our children. Is this our Ethics. We claim  as "God's own country". Yes it is God's own country, but the country lacks godliness.

We have to realize, having a govt. job does not mean to victimize the public, instead consider this as an opportunity to serve public. It is a relief that the young generation is  some what corrupt free.

In both the above 2 cases you can see there is development in society. They are obliged each other and keeps an ethical culture. We have to learn and practice this. Only then our society can develop. Stop saying "Give me, give me." Start saying  "take it." Learn to give whereever we are, whatever we can.

We create ethics for the society. We are the shapers of this society. Don't be a silent partner in this mad world. We are living for a purpose. Contribute something for the society we live in to make this world a better place to live in. Let it be sharing knowledge, time, or  any resource. Let it be a little smile on your face. It  can change the world.  YOU TOO HOLD THE KEY FOR OUR PROGRESS.

Super foods that can protect from diabetes, cancer etc

Super foods that can save you from cancer,
 diabetes etc.

 Lack of nutrients is the main cause of diabetics, according to studies done by scientists in Harvard and Pondicherry Universities. Same is the case with cancer and  frequent illness. We are overfed, but undernourished.  Mostly the food we eat does not contain the nutrients, or vitamins. They are getting lost while it is cooked in overheated oil. Overheating depletes vitamins. We eat mainly more starch than required, and  food that contain less nutrients  because we are less aware or ignorant of nutrient foods. The following are foods that contain more nutrients. They are the super foods that can keep us healthy and  protect from illness.

Why these foods are called super foods? They contain more vitamins, minerals and fiber. They contain less pesticides residue. While growing they don't require tender care and protection with  pesticides, They are easy to grow. They don't require much fungicides to extend the shelf life of the produce in the supermarkets.

Super foods	It's use
Oranges, grape fruit   ( Grape fruit is different than grapes)	Reduces blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart failure. Oranges contain the soluble fiber pectin, potassium.
Kale	“Kale has everything you would want in a super-food” Joel Fuhrman the author of bestseller “Eat to live". For more info read blog on Kale
Garlic	Reduces blood pressure and plaque.
Red wine-unsweetened	Boosts HDL,reduces unwanted clotting. But we  in Kerala drink maximum whisky in the world.  Change this whisky  habit to red unsweetened wine for a better healthy one. Rich in anti-oxidants too.
Dark chocolate without sugar or with very less sugar.	Reduces blood pressure.
Lentils or legumes- lentils with skin.	Reduces blood pressure. Rich in fiber.
Sardine	Reduces triglycerides and raise HDL. Sardine is one among the top nutrient fish  with highest level Omega3 fatty acids. In North America and  Canada sardine is available in cans in all the supermarkets. Very cheap too
Almond with its skin	Reduces LDL and fatal arrhythmias.
Pomegranates.	Reduces atherosclerosis.
Papaya	Rich in nutrients. Very cheap too.
Pumpkin or butter squash.	Rich in nutrients. Very cheap too.
Amla or gooseberry	Rich in nutrients. Tastes bitter, pungent, sweet, and sour.  Highest  nutrient score as per Ayurveda. Mother of fruits-Dhathri. Please read blog on amla (nellikai)  for more info
Carrot	Rich in Beta carotene.
Yam, Tapioca, potatoes	Rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins. But dont take other starch along with it . Be moderate .
Brown rice with full bran (unpolished)	Bran contains vitamins and minerals.
Pummelo (Kampili Naranga)	Rich in nutrients.
Turmeric	Anti-oxidant, anti-cancerous.
Onion	Reduce cholesterol- rich in fiber, chromium that  control sugar levels in diabetics, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti- viral.
Ginger	Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory. Contains essential nutrients and vitamins.

Meditation - a power booster, healer and stress reliever

Meditation- a power booster, healer and stress reliever

Major religions of the world, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Judaism, practice some sort of calming the mind, which is a form of meditation, to gain insight and wisdom, by listening to God through silence, breathing and focus.

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46.10 Bible.

 Meditation is medicine for the mind. Like exercise builds the muscles of your body, meditation builds the muscles of your mind. Meditation is the act of listening to God. Prayer is the act of talking to God. It is the way to get rid of all negative emotions like hatred, jealousy, anger etc. It purifies and strengthens the mind. It can place you in a state of bliss and significantly reduce your level of stress, strengthen your immune system and overall well-being.

 Benefits of meditation

“Breath is the bridge that connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as a means to take hold of your mind again”           Thich Nhat Hanh- Buddhist monk

In Bible Psalms 39.5  it is described this way “Each man’s life is but a breath’’

Just as an engine which runs daily requires cooling down to avoid overheating, increased durability and efficiency, your mind is to be relaxed regularly through meditation after daily stress and mental pollution. As food is good for the body, meditation is good for the mind. Meditation has positive effects like inner peace, contentment, better responsiveness to stressful events, quicker recovery, more immunity, better sleep, reduced heart rate, and blood pressure, slowed rate of breathing, and more stable brainwave patterns. The mind is the software and the brain is the hardware.

To sum up

1. It enhances immune system, reduces frequent sickness, and heals sickness faster.
2. Reduces negative feelings of anger, depression, anxiety, and confusion.
3. Increases blood flow and reduce heart problems.
4. Increases calming of the mind, enhances peace, encourages harmony and balances life.
5. Helps to reverse cholesterol, heart disease, asthma, cancer etc.
6. Helps to control thoughts, especially negative thoughts
7. Increase energy, and happiness.
8. Reduce stress.

 
There is energy in calmness, clarity of thought and contentment. This is what we achieve in meditation. Researches done by Universities on the effect of meditation on human brain have proved it. Enjoy  meditation. Enjoy life. Live happily.

Tomatoes grow easily in Kerala

Tomatoes grow easily in Kerala.

Do you want flavorless, pale, pesticide infested, orange or red colored,  fruit that grocers call tomatoes or grow colorful, flavorful, juicy, and tasty, tomatoes that grows easily in Kerala? We may get cheap tomato from the market, but it comes along with pesticides which may cause diabetes, cancer etc. Buy 1 get 2 free. Do you want to start a garden that can change your life, improve your health, save money, boost your mood, and grow fresh garden veggies?

Best time to grow in Kerala is from  November to May end

Tomatoes love dry weather. Don't try to grow in rainy season from June to November since it is humid and the leaves  and stem gets  rotten.  If you got a green house try it. The best time to grow is from November to June .  ie After Thulavarsham before monsoon. Start  planting in November to January end. Enjoy the produce before the monsoon. It will get fruit after two months from the day of planting and you will have plenty fruits for about six months.

Cherry tomato
 

You can plant the seeds from the fully ripe fruits.  Cut the ripe fruit, take the flesh for curries, and remove the seed in tea filter, wash and keep on a piece of paper for a week to dry. The seed is ready to plant after one week. Sow them on ground or in pot. Then replant them in sunny areas. While replanting them get a support pole or stick so that when the plant bears fruit it gets support and you can avoid piercing  the soil and cut roots.

Cherry tomato grow easily with less care in Kerala. It requires support. You can grow them under the bush or tree or on the side of fence. See the photo on top. it is grown on the rails.

You can plant them in pots, ground, or near the fence, so they will creep on the fence or nearby small trees.

Pruning to be done.

A mix of many varieties.

Prune unwanted leaves and unwanted branches. So that the whole energy goes to fruits and useful branches. You will get plenty big fruits. 

See the video below- how to prune


How to grow tomatoes? Click the bottom URL
http://motherkeralacom.blogspot.ca/2015/02/tomatoes-how-to-grow.html

Wish you happy gardening.


How to get a free tomato plants from the branches. Click the following.

http://motherkeralacom.blogspot.ca/2012/11/how-to-grow-tomatoe-plant-from-branch.html

Related videos

how to grow tomatoes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozHhKfM_C7o

How to prune tomatoes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gw3zFBJB8I

Tomato in plastic bucket (at the back 5 buckets). Grown in Trivandrum

Tomato festival- 70 varieties.
 

Mix of cherry  , bell etc tomatoes 

Heirloom
 



Rajani's farm, Pallickal, Kattanam, Kerala.





 

Love crunch, love crisp, love munch and be sick often!

Love crunch, love crisp, love munch and be sick very often!

"Love Crunch"

"Love crunch" This is the advt. words found on pack of cereal grain sold by a company claiming  to be natural and  rich in fiber. The ingredients are whole grains, flax seed, and chocolates. This is baked or roasted. Any food cooked at very high temperature, like roasting, deep frying or baking will lose its nutrients, fiber and enzyme contained in its natural form.

This packet too is the  same. It lost its nutrients. Then they add inorganic vitamin supplements to compensate the loss. When we buy it, we pay four or five times more price for the food. This is engineered food. When processed it lost its natural fiber.

Look at this video to know how cereals are made. They roast it at a temperature of 230 deg centigrade. Water boils at 100 Deg C. It is 2.3 times higher than that. In the process they lose vitamins. Then they add vitamins. Does it make any sense? The nutrients are wasted first from its natural state and then man-made vitamins are added using energy, and finally charged on the consumer. The company survives by doing this. Who is paying for the loss of vitamins? We. What is the price of 1 Kilo natural wheat or oats ? What is the price of 1 Kilo cereal? What a huge difference? Five to eight times more?

Click the  URL below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U2G3HS7pTs

We love, crispy, munchy, fried chips, cookies,  biscuits, cereals. All these are processed foods that lost it's natural nutrients. It contains trans-fats, additives,  man made vitamins and colors.

Why we are addicted to this?.  We love the crunch. It is nothing but a psychological addiction. We are brain-tuned by advertisement. Think of the high price we pay for it. Think of the nutrients lost while it is manufactured. We are taken for a ride and robbed.

Our body requires vital nutrients in its natural form or else it lose its immunity and we are prone to frequent illness. How often do we get sick? Watch the food we eat. If we observe for a few months how our body feels, we can come to know the relation between processed food and sickness. Why more people are sick after the festive season like X mas, New Year etc. They eat more junks and the body does not have enough nutrients to keep up immunity.

Instead of crunchy, and munchy, take a fruit like banana, papaya, apple, or dry nuts like almond, pistachios, peanuts,  or dried fruits like dates. figs, or a salad. It will make you healthy. Take your meal in time. So you won't be tempted to go for crunchy.

Do you still want to love crunch, crisp, munch and be sick? Or go natural  and be healthy. The choice is yours. You are your own master. You are your own designer.

When your life turns upside down, how can you heal faster?

When your life turns upside down, how can you heal faster?

“Only one person in this world can ever make you feel depressed, worried, or angry
                                                      and that person is YOU!”
                                                                                                                      Dr. David D Burns.

All of us no matter blessed we are, we may sometime experience loss of loved one, a separation,  a frightening illness, financial insecurity , job loss, highly stressful situation or failure in life.  If we master how our mind works, we may be able to find a better and faster solution to reach normalcy.

It bends in stormy winds, but it won't break. Will be back to normal soon.

How we cope with the crisis depends on how we emerge with greater confidence and wisdom , when we are depressed, or ill or overwhelmed. Imagine a tree on a mountain, stricken by stormy winds, it bends, but does not break. Its strong roots keep it firm to ground. After the storm it returns to its prior state and continues to flourish.  Like the tree we have to cultivate emotional flexibility to withstand any crisis.

First of all accept your feelings.  Accept experience and express your feelings in a positive way. Don’t try to suppress it.  Being angry, hatred, worried is all counter-productive and drains your energy.
Find the reason? Is there  something you can do?  Take actions.

Don’t blame anyone. Forgive yourself as well as others. Don't belittle anyone. All people in this world are blessed  and talented in one way or other. Compete with our own excellance.  Take decisions and move forward. Don’t be dormant.

Get support from others

Get support from others. Find your own family, friends, or society. Accept help from them. Be open- minded. Share with others. Consult a clinical psychologist if required.



Add fun to your life ( This is Grenada)

Try to find meaning in life. Reorder your priorities. Think about what you would do to get out of it. Turn to Music or other time-pass. Get a massage. Get away from technology and sit quietly. Laugh out loud. Laughter is one of the most effortless and inexpensive ways to de-stressing yourself and dissolving the little knots of tension that can give rise to unhealthy medical conditions. Get a pet. Do something you like, some social activities and voluntary jobs to others. Be organized; take charge of your time. Think positive, be content, and loving. Make use of your time. Add fun to life. Get yourself engaged. Get away from negative people. These will only worsen your situation. You require courage to face the life. Disengage from toxic worry. Get out of your chair or bed. Walk around. Talk to a friend. Observe your natural surroundings. Do not settle into worry. The longer you let worry lasts, the harder it becomes to escape it. Do some gardening, or cooking. Mix with people who are relaxed and positive. Try to find time for yourself. Be ready to change. Don’t be stubborn. Be broad-minded and open-minded. Create powerful positive word affirmations. Use soothing motivating words in relations. Make relaxation a way of life. Don’t drag, be a finisher.

 The anti-stress diet

Fast releasing sugar create stress in the body, stimulates the release of cortisol. Avoid eating them. Slow-releasing carbohydrates provide an ‘even keel’ of consistent energy. Take low glycemic index (GI) foods. In general these are fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds etc. If you are stressed out eat fruit, with some nuts, or brown rice with fish: sardine, herring, salmon which are the best.

Foods with low GI (<60)

Try to include more of the following foods that will raise the blood sugar slowly in your diet. They are oats, brown rice, lentils, barley, soybeans, peas, beans, carrots, apples, cherries, dates, figs, grapefruit, peaches, plums, butterbeans, baked beans, chickpeas, haricot beans, milk (whole and skimmed),  yogurt (plain and fruit) ice cream.

Get away from alcohol or drugs. These will worsen the situation only.

 Believe that you can bounce back to normalcy. Get moving. Step out of your comfort zone. Clear the weeds from your mind. Take actions. Make a strategy. Work out a plan. Execute it. This is not the end of the world. This is a step where you  may take a pause to the next jump of your life.
 

Look at this resume. All failures are taken as steps in the dream-conversion process.

At nine,   his mother died.
At twenty-one, he saw his first business fail.
At twenty-three, he ran for a state political office and lost.
At twenty-four, he saw his second business fail.
At twenty-seven, he had a nervous breakdown.
At twenty- nine, he ran for Congress and lost.
At thirty-one, he ran for Congress again, and lost again.
At thirty-seven, he ran for Congress and won. (At last !)
At forty-six, he ran for vice president and lost.
At forty-nine, he ran for the Senate and lost.
 A man with a series of failures, but if you dig further you can see a man of patience, persistence, and hard-work. He was a great person ready to face series of failures with a dream to become President of United States of America.  This man is Abraham Lincoln.  His story is a story from a log cabin to the White house. At the age of fifty-one, he became the 16^th president of United States of America.


Wilma Rudolph

Wilma Rudolph was born in a poor family, 20^th among 22 children. When she was four years old she became paralyzed by pneumonia and polio. But her mother encouraged her that with the God given ability, faith and persistence she could become anything she wanted.  At the age of eight she could walk with a leg brace. 

“At the age of 15 she joined Tennessee State University and met Coach Ed temple. She told him “I want to be the fastest woman on the tracks on this earth” Temple said “ With your spirit nobody can stop you and besides I will help you”

 

Wilma’s belief, confidence, hard-work, continuous practice, made her to win three Olympic prizes in 1960. She created history that paralytic women became the fastest on this earth.

This tells us despite problems in life with strong belief you can win in life.

Wilma thought God had a greater purpose for her than to win three gold medals. She started the Wilma Rudolph Foundation to help children learn about discipline and hard work.
The story of Heller Keller too is motivational  when life turns upside down.

Thomas lived on the hilly area of  Neyyar Dam in Trivandrum. He invited his relatives to participate on his son's marriage. The night before marriage, when the whole family and visitors were in deep sleep  heavy monsoon-rain, landside and muddy soil buried his whole house. Sixteen of his relatives were died and buried alive under the debris and mud .Only Thomas survived.  Though Thomas lost every one, he came back to his normal life after some time. With will power we can come to our normal life.




Connect with God, whatever religion you belong to.

Connect with the God. Find a spiritual solution in the nature. Meditate. Meditate to get power to relax from stress and build confidence and strength to face the situation. Meditation disciplines mind and strengthen it with courage. Generate a sense of calmness. Practice it every day either in the morning or in the evening or at your breaks. Take a short break, close your eyes, do deep breathing or simple prayer that help you to uplift. It will re-energize your brain during a hectic day. Join a prayer group or any group which will energize you.

When your life turns upside down or when you reach the cliff of your life, hold on to God. God has a plan, either to teach you how to fly or to catch you when you fall. Trust in God. Be calm.

Practice these techniques. You can heal faster. You can recover from the crisis faster. You hold the key for your happiness and sorrows. You are born for a purpose. You are born to live happily. You are your own master. God helps those who help themselves.