70 Books that changed my life

This is a partial list of some of the books I had read which had changed my life. Kindly do invest at-least 30 minutes per day for your own self-development.

1. Awaken the Giant within - Tony Robbins
2. Unlimited Power - Tony Robbins
3. Seagulls - Richard Bach
4. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
5. Yoga Nidra - Swami Satyananda Saraswathi
6. Success Principles - Jack Canfield
7. Master key system - Charles Haanel
8. First, Break all the rules - Marcus Buckingham
9. Tao of Physics - Fritjof Capra
10. Millionaire Mind Set - Harv Eker
11. Flow - Mihaly Csikszenmihalyi
12. Thought Power - Swami Sivananda
13. Goals - Brian Tracy
14. Many Miles to go - Brian Tracy
15. Autobiography of Yogi - Paramahamsa Yogananda
16. A Whole New Mind - Daniel Pink
17. Delivering Happiness - Tony Hsieh
18. You can Heal your life - Louise Hay
19. Science of Breath - Yogi Ram charaka
20. Encyclopedia of Brain - V.S.Ramachandran
21. Vedanta Treatise - Swami Parthasarathy
22. Change your thoughts; Change your life - Wayne Dyer
23. Blink - Malcolm Gladwell
24. Hatha Yoga Pradipika - Swami Muktibhodananda
25. Swara Yoga - Swami Muktibhodananda
26. The Elegant Universe- Brian Greene
27. God Talks with Arjuna - Parmahamsa Yogananda
28. Divine Romance - Parmahamsa Yogananda
29. Holy Science - Sri Yukteshwar Giri
30. Happiness Advantage - Shawn Achor
31. Eat that frog - Brian Tracy
32. Frogs to Princes - Richard Bandler & John Grinder
33. Kundalini Tantra - Swami Satyananda
34. Short history of everything - Bill Bryson
35. Brief history of time - Stephen hawking
36. The Artist’s Way - Julia Cameron
37. Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki
38. The Saint, Surfer & CEO - Robin Sharma
39. Serpent Power - Sir John Woodroffe
40. Mystic Musings - Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
41. Victory - Brian Tracy
42. Change your thinking, Change your life - Brian Tracy
43. Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus - John Gray
44. Turbo Coach - Brian Tracy
45. Speak to Win - Brian Tracy
46. The Book of Hexagrams(I Ching) - 
47. NLP Workbook - Joseph Connor
48. $ 1 Million dollar reason to change your mind - Pat Mesiti
49. The Talent Code - Daniel Coyle
50. Emotional Intelligence- Daniel Goleman
51. Power vs Force - David Hawkins
52. Philosophy of life - Swami Krishnananda
53. A Course in Miracles
54. I am That - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
55. Getting things done - David Allen
56. $ 100 Dollar Start Up - Chris Guillebeau
57. ZeNLP - Murli Menon
58. Only the Paranoid Survive - Andrew Grove
59. Living with the Himalayan Masters - Swami Rama
60. Apprenticed to the Himalayan Master - Sri M
61. 7 Habits of highly successful people - Stephen Covey
62. Built to last - James Collins
63. Know-How - Ram Charan
64. The Biology of Belief - Bruce Lipton
65. 7 Laws of Success - Deepak Chopra
66. Book of Secrets - Deepak Chopra
67. Getting things Done- David Allen
68. Power of Intentions - Wayne Dyer
69. Change your thoughts, Change your life - Wayne Dyer
70. Nature of Happiness - Desmond Morris

Keep learning...

Lessons from a Human Cell

Congratulations. I am delighted that you are reading this article. Why? Trillions of cells in your body somehow assemble in a curious, intricate and obliging manner to create YOU. It is an arrangement that is so special and custom designed only for you and will only exist this once. For the next many years(I hope so), these tiny cells without any complaints will engage in billion ways of team work & co-operative efforts to keep you intact and let you experience the grand event called “Life”. But, your microscopic cells doesn't actually care about you-indeed, they don’t even know that you are there reading this article. Yet somehow for the period of your existence till you log out from life, they will keep you as YOU! What a miracle!

There are enough life lessons that can be learned from these micro-intelligent cells in our own body.

Lesson # 1 – Hoarding is not an option 

Every cell inside you and me functions with the smallest possible expenditure of energy. Typically, a cell stores only three seconds of food and oxygen inside its cell wall. The cell totally trusts on what is being provided at that particular moment only. Excessive consumption of food, air or water is not an option and not part of the natural design. Trillions of cells are performing this continuously, even right now, when you are reading this update. We are the bundle of these trillions of such micro-intelligent cells. When we just turn inward, we can learn this profound spiritual wisdom from your own cells. Live life simple, less is more and live in the moment. Do not worry about the future; do not hoard anything beyond your capacity. Force, control or struggle is not the way of life.

Lesson # 2 – Selfless Service is the motto

Every cell in your body is marching with this slogan “I am here to serve, I am here to inspire, I am here to love, I am here to live my truth”. Do you hear that? Every cell lives with a higher purpose. It is ready to die to protect the whole body. Every minute thousands of skin cells perish; immune cells die off in fighting against invading microbes. Every cell agrees to work for the welfare of the whole body. Selfishness is not an inherent option. Selfless service is the mantra. Just ask yourself, am I living like my own cell?

 Lesson # 3 – Be flexible 

The cells in the body do not have rigid belief system. They live moment to moment. Adaptability is their biggest strength. They remain flexible to address the immediate needs of the body. They live in full awareness. They do not get caught up in rigid habits. Like your cell, can you live a life of heightened awareness? Can you drop your rigid habits? It is a simple habit to form. Just sit for ten minutes observing instead of speaking.  Just sit quietly to sense how the body feels. If someone irritates you, without taking your attention away, keep asking yourself, what you ‘really’ feel beneath that anger until it is gone.

Lesson # 4 – Accept yourself & others without any judgement 

When you observe through microscope, you will find that every cell in your body has a set of unique functions. Liver cells functions are completely different and unique from that of stomach or spleen. Every cell recognizes that all of us are unique and important. They do not reject others, but understand and live by accepting and embracing all other cells. Every function in the body is interdependent onto others. Going alone is never an option. Acceptance & Team work is their mantra. Do you accept your own self? Do you accept your peers, colleagues, boss or your partner as they are? From now on-wards  just spend five minutes every day thinking about the best qualities of the person you dislike. Read about a group/person/society that you consider intolerant and try to see the world from their point of view for five minutes.

Lesson # 5 – Communicate freely & effectively 

Cosmically powered cells in my body communicate continuously irrespective of the fact whether it likes it or not. The information should be transmitted and it agrees to serve as a channel for the flow of information. The messenger molecules race to any part of the body in no time to express even the smallest desire or intention or feeling. Refusing to communicate is never an option to the cells. Look at your own self. How many times you deliberately withdrew from a conversation or a communication flow. How many times you did not communicate what you actually intended. You fall prey to the mind intelligence rather than following the cosmically powered body intelligence. From now, let us appreciate or express our true feelings to other person immediately without holding it back. Create the habit of expressing at-least any one feeling of joy, happiness, remorse, embarrassment, guilt etc to the other person. Just allow it to flow through you. Let us communicate freely like the cell in our own body.

Lesson # 6 – Action & Non-action is essential for living 

What will happen if you do not sleep for one day? Why we need sleep is still a medical mystery and we become dysfunctional if we do not enjoy its benefits. In the silence of inactivity, the body is rejuvenated, restored & incubated. Every cell in the body obeys this nature cycle and enjoys this period of inactivity daily. It helps the body to realign the hormonal and chemical imbalances to maintain homeostasis. Cells intuitively understand that being obsessively busy and active is not a healthy option. In this materialistic world, we are the busiest creatures today. We are in continuous action right from morning to night either at home or office. We are very busy satisfying others opinions & feelings. We are very busy working to pay all our debts & loans. Just spend half an hour a day in a peaceful place doing nothing except feeling what it is like to exist. When time permits, lie on the green grass and feel the earth. Practice simple relaxation techniques like whole body scanning, powerful techniques like yoga Nidra, or even taking five slow & deep breaths and feel the air coming in and going out can instantly relax yourself. Being obsessively busy is not a cosmic design. Just let go of your bus(y)ness of being busy and practice doing nothing.

I got the inspiration to write this article after reading Deepak Chopra's Book of secrets. Kindly do read the book.

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Thermometer Vs Thermostat living

Look at the graph below. This is a live recording of a Head of Operations of a large MNC. This recording was done using an advanced technology from Institute of Heart math, US. This biofeedback device helps us to measure the number of breaths per minute, depth of every breath, thoughts impacting the breath, the impact of heart rate and how breath, heart and brain work in synchrony at that particular moment (the technical word is psycho-physiological coherence)

When you observe the graph you can find that the subject is breathing at the rate of 22 breaths per minute with an average heart beat above 100 and a 90% low brain coherence.This person is like an emotional volcano, ready to burst at his sub-ordinates with a slightest disruption of emotions. Many of his sub-ordinates are actually scared to approach him for any issues or help. He is an unfriendly autocratic leader who is completely unaware that this physiology has a greater impact on his psychology, emotions & actions.

Do you know anyone like this subject in your work-spot?

Heart is the switch board of the mind and when the mind racing against time with innumerable thoughts, it affects the heart beat and the breathing rate. He is a classic example of a thermometer based living. The mercury will rise instantly when exposed to conditions of slightest stress, sudden change in customer priorities, boss priorities, when someone criticizes, make a cynical remark or when client service/project go haywire in the corporate arena.

Have you experienced such situations involving instant raise in anger & emotions disrupting your physical, mental & emotional balance.

There is a very simple solution to bring a balance in our body & mind.

Welcome to the world of Thermostatic living!

Thermostatic living in times of crisis ensures inner balance & harmony. All the knowledge that you are going to read should be applied during times of crisis to experience what is meant by true balance & peak performance. But only when the knowledge is applied or practiced daily, it will help you in times of crisis.

Let’s proceed with this understanding….

Inner well-being & Peak Performance can be achieved by anybody when they understand the basic mechanism behind this world’s best super gadget called “My Body”.
Let us look at the graph below of the same subject after two minutes of training.

The same subject whose heart was beating at 100+, was instantly brought down to 75 just by altering the way of breathing. The simple lesson to learn is we can instantly reset the thermometer rising to a thermostatic living by altering the way of breathing.

Every breath you inhale impacts the heart beat. The heart in turn impacts the brain. As mentioned by all the great masters & yogis, the way you breath determines which part of your brain to function and hence determines your peak performance & capabilities.


For the brain to achieve peak performance & inner well-being all you need to do is breathe slowly & deeply at 5 breaths per minute. This is an ideal breathing graph of 5 breaths per minute.

By breathing slowly & deeply ensures an instant shift from the volcanic/thermometer living to thermostatic living.

On an average, we breathe between 14-20 times per minute. It is not an easy task to bring your breath rate to 5 immediately. It requires a consistent practice of at-least 10 minutes daily. But atleast you can breathe 8 times a minute.

Just close your eyes and start counting from 101 - 104. As you count, slowly inhale with your focus on your nose tip. Count from 105 - 108 and slowly exhale. This is one round. Continue 40 such rounds without breaking the counting.

Do you have 5 minutes in your life to bring harmony & balance in your body & mind.

Then, start this practice for the next 21 days till it becomes a habit for you.

Always remember, habits deliver results.

Good Luck!

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Be Happy

Raise your BP

Life is the period between one breath and the next; a person who half breathes, only half lives. He, who correctly breathes, acquires control of the whole being. HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA -Ancient Yogic Literature

Each human being has a fixed number of breaths allotted. If one breathes slowly then one lives longer; if one breathes rapidly the given number of breaths get used up quicker resulting in a shorter and more stressed life. And that’s not the only problem……

Whatever aspect of life you need to succeed in…

• Health
• Wealth
• Relationships
• Career
• Personal Effectiveness

Everyone is faced with the challenging question, “Can I have a better life, while pursuing my goals?” Yes, you can. All you need to do, is learn and practice how to breathe your way to success…

You probably know that your thoughts and your feelings, decide who you are and what you become. But do you know what connects your thoughts & feelings?

It’s your breath that connects thoughts, emotions, desires and actions.

Do you know how many times you breathe everyday? 21,600 times

Which body part  moves when you Inhale? Is it your tummy, chest or nothing moves?

When I asked the question “When you, Inhale, your tummy comes up or goes down”?, more than 50% of participants answered me that the tummy goes down below and many said, there is no movement at all. Very few answered that the tummy bulges up as they breathe in.

By learning to manage your breath, you can learn to manage your thoughts, emotions & actions. India had developed this scientific fact thousands of years ago and passed it down from generation to generation. Whether its meditation or yoga, the fundamental learning is, how to breathe right – number of breaths per minute, pattern, depth, etc

Change in food habits, sleeping pattern, physical activities, stress levels, etc, have all contributed to increasing man’s average breathing count to between 14 to 20 breaths per minute and made it more shallow.

Every emotion has a strong impact on your breathing pattern. Some emotions make the inhalation shallow, some make it slow, and some make it rapid while others make it deep. Since emotions affect our breath cycle, we end up breathing in an inefficient way.

Inefficient breathing leaves us drained and chronically fatigued, irritable, tired, emotionally strained and intellectually dull. In such a state, one cannot understand people or situations correctly; one cannot take proper decisions; and cannot communicate appreciations or critical suggestions in a positive manner. Such people become personally ineffective.

My Personal Research:

Look at the image below which is the breath-heart-brain pattern of one of my research subject.

The subject is breathing 18 times/minute in a shallow and improper rhythm. The heart is conditioned to beat at 105 times per minute and 93% low coherence with the brain. This is the way this person has conditioned his breath-heart-brain-emotions & actions. Many of us are unaware of this fact and continue with our lives expecting peak performance and inner well-being. 

Indian Yogic Science had maintained that one’s breath needs to be slow and deep to improve one’s  Peak Performance & Inner well-being.  Now modern technology and neuroscience has discovered that the perfect balance of the autonomic nervous system happens at a breath count of 5 per min. Peak Performance & Inner Well-being requires a perfect autonomic balance.

This is how 5 breaths/minute will look like with a proper breath pattern, heart beating at 63 and a 100% coherence with the brain. This is my personal score using Heartmath emWave Biofeedback tool.

True, slow & deep abdominal breathing has a profound effect onto your thoughts, desires, action, behaviour and even your belief system.

If you want MORE in your life, then LESS & deep should be your number of breaths per minute.

Breath@Work, a revolutionary new program that combines ancient Indian Science, Management Science & Neuro-Science. This potent mix empowers Breath@Work practitioners with the techniques needed to go from good to great in their chosen roles and professions.

As a Co-creator & Chief Scientist of Breath@Work, I say that, Leadership starts from within and we now have the technology and know-how to understand, practice & implement ancient yogic techniques for Performance & Well-being.

Upcoming workshop in Chennai, India on 17th Mar 2013.

https://www.facebook.com/events/159877387497256/

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108 Breaths per day - Route to Enlightenment

First of all, Do you know how many times you breathe per day? 21,600 times. 

That’s approximately 15 breaths per minute.

But before getting into enlightenment part, Why 108? What is the significance of 108?

108 is a powerful number used across all traditions and cultures across civilizations. You will see it everywhere, on a mala (rosary beads, rudraksh) or set of mantra counting beads.

Below are some of the many reasons, but none of these reasons are being promoted here as more or less true than the others. However, you may notice that 108 appears to be somewhat like a road map of reality in general, and the human in particular.

Desires: There are said to be 108 earthly desires in mortals.

Lies: There are said to be 108 lies that humans tell.

Delusions: There are said to be 108 human delusions or forms of ignorance.

Heart Chakra: The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is said to be the path to Self-realization.

Sanskrit alphabet: There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.

Upanishads: Some say there are 108 Upanishads, texts of the wisdom of the ancient sages.

Sri Yantra: On the Sri Yantra there are marmas where three lines intersect, and there are 54 such intersections. Each intersection has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti qualities. 54 times 2 equals 108. Thus, there are 108 points that define the Sri Yantra as well as the human body.

Pentagon: The angle formed by two adjacent lines in a pentagon equals 108 degrees.

Marmas: Marmas or marmasthanas are like energy intersections called chakras, except have fewer energy lines converging to form them. There are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body.

Time: Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, 36 related to the present, and 36 related to the future.

Astrology: There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments called namshas or chandrakalas. 9 times 12 equals 108. Chandra is moon, and kalas are the divisions within a whole.

River Ganga: The sacred River Ganga spans a longitude of 12 degrees (79 to 91), and latitude of 9 degrees (22 to 31). 12 times 9 equals 108.

Planets and Houses: In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108.

Sun and Earth: The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance from the Sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun.

Moon and Earth: The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon.

Silver and the moon: In astrology, the metal silver is said to represent the moon. The atomic weight of silver is 108.

Breath: Tantra estimates the average number of breaths per day at 21,600, of which 10,800 are solar energy, and 10,800 are lunar energy. Multiplying 108 by 100 is 10,800. Multiplying 2 x 10,800 equals 21,600.

Paths to God: Some suggest that there are 108 paths to God.

Pranayama: If one is able to be so calm in meditation as to have only 108 breaths in a day, enlightenment will come.

Now lets get to the enlightenment part of our article…

108 breaths per day – Are you really really serious about this?

This goal is really a tall order, unless your only goal in life is self-realization. But for the busy-bees, allow me to share with you a very simple technique towards this direction of 108 per day.

Warning: There are few side-effects like Peace of mind, clarity in thinking, De-stress, Emotional stability etc. by practicing this technique.

So, every journey starts with the first step.

Let us take the first step…

Can you atleast become aware of 108 breaths per day?

Let me assist you in this baby step towards self-realization.

So-Hum/So-Ham Breath Awareness Meditation:

Daily Practice:

• Sit in a comfortable posture ( floor or on a chair, but with your spine erect)
• With your eyes closed and focus between your eye brows(don’t strain yourself)
• Keep your awareness on the breath flowing in and out
• As the breath flows in mentally chant “So”
• As the breath flows out mentally chant “Ham”
• There are 108 “So-Ham” chants in the audio
• Practice this simple “So-Ham” breath meditation for the next 30 days.

How to stay HAPPY

7 Ways to say "NO"

If you want to get MORE things in life, then learn how to say NO to people, things, events, projects, favors  in life. Many a times we say YES to many and do not live up to the expectation and cut a sorry figure. If you are 100% sure, that you will do it, say YES or otherwise practice saying NO. There 7 ways to say NO. Here is the list..

TGR Happyness Circle, Effective Decision Making, 10th Feb 2013

Everything that happens in your life - both what you are thrilled with and what you are challenged by - began with a DECISION.

The Decisions you are making right now, every day, will shape how you feel today as well as who you are going to become in 2013 and beyond. It is in your moments of decisions that your destiny is shaped.

In this week TGR Happyness Circle, I shared a powerful technique on how to take effective Decisions and become a great problem solver in your business & personal life. Easy & Simple to apply in every area of your life.

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Breath@work program feedback feb'13 from Murali M

Breath@Work - Basic Practitioner Workshop, 3rd March 2013

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