gopuaol

New Zealand school teaches Sanskrit and claims it helps children understand English

2012-01-31T07:11:00.000+05:30

Nevada (US), Jan 25 (ANI): A school in New Zealand has a 'Sanskrit Language Studies' program and claims that learning Sanskrit accelerates a child's reading ability.

Ficino School in Mt Eden area of Auckland (New Zealand), calls itself a 'values-based academic institution' and offers education for girls and boys from year one to eight. It says about Sanskrit: "It has a wonderful system of sound and grammar, which gives the child an excellent base for the study of any language. Children love its order and beauty."

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has applauded Ficino School for fostering universal virtues and encouraging Sanskrit studies and adds that Sanskrit has a close relationship with other classical languages like Latin, Greek, French, German, etc. Read More

Happy Pongal 2012

2012-01-15T04:59:00.003+05:30

The festive season comes bustling with the nature giving its best. Warmth of the Sun shine, splendor of the blooming flowers a bountiful harvest no doubt brings celebration. Although known by different names like, Pongal, Makar Sankranti and Lohiri, these harvest festivals are a mark of gratitude for the abundance and Prosperity bestowed by Mother Nature. This is the time to honor the cow and cattle a grateful gesture for the untiring service they render to mankind. We all know that there is no Sunday for Sun God who transcends time and also the one who rotates the Wheel of Time and the harvest festival is the time to gratefully remember “Aditya - the Pratyakasha Devata” for his glorious divinity that blesses one and all tirelessly. The Lord Indra for the timely rains without which no vegetation is possible is also remembered with gratitude.

"Pongal is here, an occasion that marks joy and cheer, and brings along everything that's best. May the festival of the harvest season, be one that brings along with it, all that's best and everything you're so deserving of. Have a memorable Pongal."

Bhagavad Gita

2012-01-08T10:29:00.001+05:30

Bhagavad Gita in a pictorial fashion to be understandable for young children who knows basic English let us hope and pray that all our children should be able to watch
and learn about our divine culture wherever they were happened to be all over the globe.

Coimbatoreaaa...Kokkaaa....

2012-01-06T07:10:00.004+05:30

This video capturing the essence of Coimbatore in its entirety has been produced by Sri.T. R. Vijay Anand who is the actor cum director of this video. The fact that he adores Coimbatore having been brought up here and now an entrepreneur in Coimbatore helped him bring out the real face of Coimbatore with complete passion. An excellent video congrats Vijay.

True devotion is beyond language

2011-12-11T13:05:00.002+05:30

This song was written by Shri.Prabakaran Sir and set to music and sung by Shri.Suresh Chandranji on 20.02.2002 and was sung at Dr.Arun Madhavanji's Satsang. After a long time I met Shri. Prabakaran Sir and this prompted me to present this video clipping. The depth of his devotion with which he has written the lyrics is amazing.The person sitting behind Shri. Sureshji with spectacles is Shri.Prabakaran Sir.

My pranaams to you Prabakaran Sir. Jaigurudev..

Online Radio | The Art of Living

2011-12-04T19:27:00.002+05:30

Online Radio | The Art of Living

click on the link to hear Bhajans

Coimbatore Day a wonderful article

2011-12-03T07:11:00.005+05:30

Click on the Image for better viewing

My Peelamedu is 300 years old today.

2011-11-11T07:21:00.004+05:30

The Place where I had spend more than half of my life is Peelamedu. It is a proud place to belong to with so much of Educational Institutions, Hospitals and the Wonderful Airport. This place has given me education, peace. Today I am happy to be a resident of this great place.

Click the link below.

Here is a rich tribute to my Peelamedu from Ms. Pankaja Srinivan of "The Hindu"

Today is Guru Nanak Jayanthi

2011-11-10T07:20:00.002+05:30

A small example of his teachings which is so apt for everyone in today's World.

When Guru Nanakji was in death bed both the Hindus and Muslims wanted to give him a burial according to their rites of their faiths. As he was laid on a hill he told his followers:

“I want all Muslims to place their flowers on one side of me. Hindu’s on the other. Whichever flowers are freshest in the morning is the greater religion.”

Everybody became excited about this, to prove that they were better. When everybody gathered in the morning, Nanak’s body had disappeared. However, all the flowers were just as fresh as the others. They were all equal. After that, everyone remembered Nanak’s words:

“Everybody is equal.”

A wonderful Bhajan

2011-11-08T07:09:00.001+05:30

Sansaar Baghicha malik da,
Na tein laya, Na mein paya,
Eh jod tod panch tatva da,
Na tein paya, na mein paya.
Mein tenu tu ,tu mainu tu ,
Dus mein tu ho ke, kaun aiya,
Na mein mera, na tu tera,
Eh maya ne hai bharmai.

Kind courtesy Art of Living.de

Happy Onam

2011-09-07T20:09:00.002+05:30

Thanks to Shri.Suryanaryanakrishnamoorthy a remarkable NRI for sending this link.

What is Yoga? A very interesting presentation

2011-07-28T07:13:00.002+05:30

Guru Purnima Celebrations

2011-07-15T07:17:00.002+05:30

'Kahe Kabira 'Gyan Prakasi Guru Mila, So Jan Bisar Na Jaaye,

Jab Saheb Kripa Kari, Tab Guru Mileya Aaye'

'When one is blessed by the company of a wise enlightened Guru,

one should never forget that this is the ultimate grace of God!'

With Pranaams to the lotus feet of my Guru.

Unsung, this baba starves to death to save the Ganga

2011-06-15T08:59:00.002+05:30

They may worship the same gods and cite the same scripture but all babas — and their fasts — are clearly not equal.

Lionised by politicians and the media, Baba Ramdev fasted for a few days before he ended his protest. At the first sign of weakness, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj rushed to pay him a visit. However, Swami Nigamanand, who went on a hunger strike in February to save the Ganga, paid the ultimate price for his beliefs, dying in hospital on June 13 with netas and journalists alike oblivious to his cause or sacrifice.

Nigamanand, 36, a founder-member of Matri Sadan, went on an indefinite fast on February 19 seeking a ban on quarrying in and around the Ganga in the Kumbh area. The district administration admitted him to the Haridwar District Hospital after his condition deteriorated on April 27.

District Magistrate Meenakshi Sundaram said the Uttarakhand government had issued two orders banning all mining activity in the kumbh region as sought by the fasting seer. These orders were challenged in the High Court at Nainital by a stone crusher owner. “The court rejected the petition on May 26 and we immediately ordered closure of all mining activities in the Kumbh region,” Mr. Sundaram said.

Meanwhile, Swami Shivanand, founder of Matri Sadan here, has sought a CBI probe into the death of Swami Nigamanand at the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT) hospital at Jolly Grant in Dehra Dun district.

Doctors at HIHT said the Swami was brought in a state of coma on May 2. He was immediately put on ventilator. He was, however, ‘brain dead' in a few days. Even then, they tried their very best to revive him until he was finally declared dead on June 13, the doctors said.

“Matri Sadan has given a complaint of alleged poisoning of Swami Nigamanand at the district hospital and the police are investigating,” the District Magistrate said.

“It was at the Haridwar district hospital that Swami Nigamanand was given a poisonous injection after which his condition deteriorated further and he was shifted to HIHT,” Shivanand said, adding only a CBI probe would reveal the nexus between corrupt officials, politicians and the mining mafia. Read More

Priorities of the Government

2011-06-14T08:14:00.001+05:30

It took Govt.

3 years to arrest Hasan Ali,

2 years to arrest Raja,

6 months for Kalmadi

& one day to take action against Baba Ramdev. Shows the priorities of the Govt.

In Rajasthan GUJJARS' blocked Jaipur Highway for many days.

JATS blocked railway track 4 weeks that cancelled 1,000 trains.

Raj Thakre spread statewide hatred thus regionalism in Maharashtra, which lead to so many violent attacks for couple of months

No action-No Priorities.

But midnight crackdown on Ramdev's peaceful Satyagrah on 1st day itself. Because he's asking black money back. See what hurts our politicians most.

Today is Rama Navami.

2011-04-12T07:41:00.004+05:30

Lord Rama, the most pleasing incarnation of God, appeared on Rama-navami. He is known as Maryada Purusottama and is the emblem of righteousness. His life and teachings of morality in office are as relevant for us today as when He appeared nearly 20 million years ago.

Here is a small incident that happened in the life of a Rama Baktha Bhadrachalam Ramadas.

Gopanna (Bhadrachalam Ramadas) used to celebrate the Rama Navami utsav in a grand way every year. His wife herself cooked food for all the guests for she realized what an honour it was to cook for all these Sadhus. Therefore, she did not leave it in the hands of hired cooks but took it upon herself. It was late evening and Nama Kirtan was going on. Gopanna’s wife had prepared dinner for the guests. She put her little son Raghav to sleep and placing a lamp beside him moved to the place where Nama Kirtan was going on. It was her husband who sang which made it all the more interesting for her and they were all his kirtans. She was enjoying the kirtans and after a while, the mother she was, she moved to check her child.

But lo! the child was not to be found where she had put him to sleep. After she had left him, the child had woken up. The lamp had been blown out and being dark, the scared child searching out for the mother had reached the place where dinner had been prepared. The ‘kanji’ (starch) from the cooked rice had been filtered nearby on the floor and the child in the dark stepped on to it. He slipped and fell into the boiling hot ‘kanji’ and died. The mother searched for her little son and found the dead child. The wife of a great devotee of Rama she out beat her husband. She suppressed her grief and tears as the thought crossed her, “If I were to cry for my dead child Rama Navami utsav will come to a stop. This cannot be allowed to happen. The guests should be fed.” She wrapped the body of the child in a sack and placed it aside where none could see it. She then went about her work.

As soon as the Nama Kirtan was over she served food for all the guests. As they were being served one of the Sadhus asked Gopanna, “Where is your little son Raghav? I have not seen him around?” Gopanna looked questioningly at wife. She quietly took him aside and showed him the dead body of the child. Gopanna was also grief stricken; He was also astounded at his wife’s behaviour in such a situation. Meanwhile the Sadhus had gathered there and learnt about the incident. They, too, grieved over the mishap. Gopanna consoled them, "Rama blessed me with this child and He has now taken him back. The child has gone to a better place - to the Lotus Feet of Lord Rama. We should not cry over this!” However, the Sadhus said, “No, Gopanna! What will the world say? You are a Rama Bhakta. You are celebrating His utsava. The people will scoff at your Rama for bringing this upon you. This incident will bring a bad name to your Rama.” Saying so, all of them together prayed to Lord Rama pleading with him to restore the child to life. Just then a Yogi came in and enquired in a demanding tone, “What is happening here?” He was informed of the child’s death. The Yogi said, “Died? Who says the child is dead? He is not.” And tapping the child the Yogi said, “Get up!” and the child woke up! The Yogi quickly went out of the door. Gopanna who had followed the Yogi quickly saw the form of Kothandapãni Rama before he disappeared from sight. This only intensified his faith that the Lord was taking care of him in every way.

Gandhian Shri. Anna Hazare - Initiates the second freedom struggle in India

2011-04-10T11:18:00.005+05:30

Last week Gandhian Shri. Anna Hazare united the entire nation to fight against corruption. People young and old irrespective of language, religion, caste, color or creed joined in various parts of the Country in what could be termed as the second freedom struggle in India. Freedom from Corruption. Seeing the youngsters join Shri. Annaji in his fast at Jantar Mantar everyone of us can be proud that India is in safe hands. The Government had to give its accent to the committee suggested by Shri.Annaji for drafting the Lokpal Bill.

As soon as the Government Notification was issued.Shri. Annaji broke his fast and gave an inspiring speech. A few lines from the same is quoted below.

“With this protest, I have gained great momentum and strength. With this new strength, I will take this struggle forward all over the country to every state from bottom to top. We have to form a large group. In the group, everyone should be honest and truthful. We should have pure thoughts and intentions and lead innocent lives. Otherwise, we will have to leave it midway. That will be a great force.

“Today our one demand has been met. Similarly, we will fight again taking up other issues; all issues one by one. We will have another victory in the second freedom struggle. Another victory!

“I would like to thank all of you again. And I would like to say it again that this victory is yours.

Here is a video clipping of the speech. ( Kind courtesy Thehelka)

Jai Hind

M.Gopalakrishnan

M.S.Dhoni the architect of the new found Indian cricket

2011-04-03T11:07:00.006+05:30

India feels proud to have such a wonderful captain as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who keeps himself calm and delivers things at the right time at right place. We have seen him doing it in all the three forms of cricket. There is much more in store for all of us from this captain. Let us wait and see all the wonders that he creates.

He played a captain's knock when it mattered the most and remained unbeaten on 91 runs. He was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match during the Final. I congratulate all the Team members who made this possible.

Happy Holi

2011-03-19T13:43:00.001+05:30

2011-03-19T07:36:00.000+05:30

Save India From Corruption

2011-02-11T23:01:00.001+05:30

Song against Suicide - New hopes and happiness

2011-02-06T20:11:00.003+05:30

Kind Courtesy mohitl1985

In powerless Bihar village, a school by innovation and Skype

2011-02-03T23:03:00.001+05:30

In an under-construction school building in Chamanpura village of Bihar’s Gopalganj district, children are learning algebra, chemistry, Newton’s laws of motion. There’s no teacher in the classroom, no blackboard. The teacher is hundreds of miles away, and he is teaching via Skype. In this very unsual school, teachers mark their attendance using a biometric fingerprinter, and students log their attendance in a computer.

The school is even more unusual because Chamanpura has no electricity yet. The computers are powered by two large generators. In an undeveloped corner of a state that has long been synonymous with underdevelopment, is unfolding a story of remarkable enterprise and innovation — in several ways, a microcosm of the turnaround of Bihar itself.

The hero of the story is 36-year-old Chandrakant Singh, who founded Chaitanya Gurukul Public School to “provide world-class, technology-enabled education” to the children of Chamanpura, the village in which he was born, and where he completed primary school by the light of a kerosene lamp. News Courtesy The Indian Express

http://chaitanyagurukul.co.in/

Guruji's Message for everyone of us.

2011-02-02T22:47:00.001+05:30

Bhaja Govindam with English sub titles

2011-01-30T08:46:00.001+05:30

Thanks Shri. Karthick Iyer.

Happy Pongal

2011-01-15T10:41:00.001+05:30

Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-31T13:45:00.003+05:30

New Year comes every year...
But "2011" is a special year which will happen once in a life time.
It will start with a combo.
1st of 1\1\11
after 10 days 11\1\11
after 10 months 1\11\11 then after 10 days again it will be 11\11\11.
Isn't that fantastic ?

For a very special 2011, I extend my best wishes to you and your
family for a joyous holiday season and a wonderful new year 2011.

Happy Deepavali

2010-11-05T08:13:00.003+05:30

When light is on its way; all darkness has to go away.

Let this festival of lights bring more light into our lives.

Wish all of you a very Happy Deepavali.

from Lighthouse E-magazine Team and web seva Team Coimbatore.

www.aolcbe.org

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Message for Diwali 2010

2010-11-04T07:02:00.000+05:30

Interview with His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar

2010-10-25T19:26:00.000+05:30

JAIHIND TV channel (Malayalam) will telecast an interview of Gurudev on Oct 31 st, sunday at 9.30 pm. Kindly inform everyone.

Once in a life time moment.

2010-10-20T08:42:00.004+05:30

Enjoy the moment today at 20 hrs 10 minutes. Yes it is once in a life time moment.
20:10 - 20-10-2010.

Points to Ponder

2010-09-23T20:30:00.001+05:30

Mera Bharat Mahaan !!!

We live in a nation ,

Where you get car loan @ 8% and education loan @ 12%,

Where rice is Rs 40/- per kg but sim card is free,

Where a millionaire can buy a cricket team instead of donating the money to any charity,

Where the footwear, we wear ,are sold in AC showrooms, but vegetables, that we eat, are sold on the footpath,

Where everybody wants to be famous but nobody wants to follow the path to be famous,

Where we make lemon juices with artificial flavours and dish wash liquids with real lemon.

Where people are standing at tea stalls reading an article about child labour from a newspaper and say,"yaar bachhonse kaam karvane wale ko to phansi par chadha dena chahiye" and then they shout "Oye chhotu 2 chaii laao....."

Students with 45% get in elite institutions thru quota system and those with 90% get out because of merit.

2 IPL teams are auctioned at 3300 crores and we are still a poor country where people starve for 2 square meal per day.

Where Pizza reaches home faster than Ambulance or police.

Happy Onam - from gopuaol

2010-08-21T08:43:00.002+05:30

Indian government online - Very Informative

2010-08-06T20:59:00.001+05:30

These links given below will provide you with an access to a host of services with Indian State / UT & Central Govt.Dpts.

Prayer really is capable of healing the sick

2010-08-06T20:57:00.000+05:30

London, Aug 5 (ANI): The power of prayer really can help cure the sick, according to a new study.

A US team from Indiana University, led by religious studies professor Candy Gunther Brown, examined the effects of prayer in Mozambique and Brazil where spiritual healing for the blind and deaf is common.

In the African country, a woman named Maryam could not see a hand with two raised fingers from a distance of one foot. But a healer put her hand on Maryam's eyes, hugged her and prayed for a minute.

She then held up five fingers, which Maryam was able to count from the same distance, according to researchers, reports the Daily Express.

She went on to read the 20/125 line on an eye chart - meaning she had 40 per cent sharpness of vision, if judged against 20/20 or 100 per cent perfect vision. Other visually-impaired people also showed improvement after prayers, the researchers claimed.

The team also reported that two deaf subjects showed a 50 decibel improvement in their hearing after spiritual intervention. (ANI)

2010-07-23T07:37:00.001+05:30

2010-07-23T07:33:00.001+05:30

தமிழ் வாழ்க!!!!! - Welcome to Coimbatore for the World Tamil Conference

2010-06-01T07:07:00.001+05:30

Save the Girl Child

2010-04-30T20:33:00.001+05:30

People always pray for a boy not for a girl....

blessings of elders are for male not for female...

but in need of wealth people pray to MAA LAXMI....

for success in education they pray to MAA SARASWATI....

for removal of tension they pray to MAA CHINTPURNI...

and

to escape form devil they pray to MAA KALI...

now tell me....

why do people hesitate to have a female in family??

while those whom they pray during troubles are females??

SAVE GIRL CHILD....

if you don't forward this message nothing will happen to you...

your life will be as normal as it is now....

but forwarding this message will surely spread the beautiful message of...

"SAVING THE GIRL CHILD..."

priyanka dubey

When a doctor donated her kidney to a patient

2010-03-10T07:11:00.000+05:30

CHENNAI: “It is much harder to do the right thing every day when no one is looking. Donating a kidney is much easier.” Susan Hou only says that because she really believes that is true.

Seven-and-a-half years ago, Dr. Hou, a nephrologist at the University Medical Centre, Chicago, gave her kidney to her patient. “I've had patients ask me for a kidney, but the woman I finally gave it to never asked me. My only criterion was that I should give it to someone smaller than me, and that really narrows it down,” the rather petite nephrologist with a cracking sense of humour says. “The question is not why I did it, but what took me so long. There was much reluctance to use unrelated donors in the U.S. then,” Dr. Hou explains in a chat after a lecture on renal disorders in pregnancy organised by Tanker Foundation on Monday. The strongest criticism came from India, where people said women without rights would be forced to donate one of their kidneys to their husband. Now there are drugs to make unrelated transplants work too. Read more from "The Hindu"

2010-03-03T21:54:00.001+05:30

Anupam Mishra: The ancient ingenuity of water harvesting | Video on TED.com

2010-02-17T07:29:00.002+05:30

A sign of things to come

2010-02-15T22:08:00.000+05:30

Thanks Mr.Karthik Iyer.

Good News for Fire accident victims

2010-02-09T22:16:00.001+05:30

If you know anyone who has met with a fire accident or people who are born with problems / disabilities such as jointed ear, nose and mouth, please note they can avail free plastic surgery at Pasam Hospital, KODAIKANAL from March 23rd to 4th April 2010 by German Doctors.

Every thing is free. Contact Nos. 04542 - 240668, 245732

Message from Shri. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

2010-01-23T07:40:00.001+05:30

Please click the image for an enlarged view.

No Bt-ing around the bush, please!

2010-01-20T07:54:00.000+05:30

Participants at a public hearing attended by Jairam Ramesh made it clear that they wanted their food to be free of genetic modification

Children protesting loud and clear amused him the most. He stopped by and asked a student of Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir why she was protesting against the genetic modification of brinjal. “It’s bad for health,” came the reply. Read more

Wow ! respect to Esthonia.

2010-01-19T07:31:00.003+05:30

Campaign "Let's Do It!" - a grassroot initiative to clean up the country from illegal waste in just one day. There was over 10 000 tons of illegal waste lying around all over Estonia.In 2008, 50,000 Estonians got together and did in one day what it would have taken the government 3 years and 22 million euros to do - clean up all the garbage in the country! More than 600 volunteers came together to organize Campaign “Lets Do It!”, a grassroots initiative to clean up the country from 10,000 tons of illegal waste in just one day. This civil society initative shows that we all can make a difference if we want to. ( Thanks to Mona Ingle for the information)

A heart specialist’s prescription for the soul

2010-01-18T07:03:00.003+05:30

COIMBATORE: Cardiologist J.S. Bhuvaneswaran has given a different prescription and this one is not just for the heart, but for the soul also. Poems of Bharathiar and Bharathidasan have been made into songs.

Ten songs rendered by him seek to reach deep inside one’s heart as effectively as the imaging capability of a cardiac computed tomography scanner.

Poems of Bharathiar and Bharathidasan that extol Nature and stress the need for humans to live in harmony with it have been made into songs. While Dr. Bhuvaneswaran, the Medical Director of PSG Super Speciality Hospital has sung these, a young musician – Julie Bruce – is the composer.

Read More

Shri.Jyoti Basu's great humanitarian gesture.

2010-01-17T22:37:00.005+05:30

Shri. Jyoti Basu died in Kolkata Sunday. I had been an admirer of his capacity as a Statesman/Politician/Leader. When I read "Basu not to be cremated; body to be given to hospital" I was overwhelmed by his great last humanitarian gesture by willing his body to a hospital where his dead body can be of use to somebody in some way. Already Jyoti Basu's eyes were donated to a private eye bank on Sunday.

He is a role-model to us even in death. He has left us with a sincere message "PLEASE DONT TAKE YOUR ORGANS TO HEAVEN FOR HEAVEN KNOWS WE NEED THEM HERE" I hope the memory of this rational act will remain alive in the mind of reasonable Indians.

I bow down in respect to this Great Leader. May his soul rest in peace.

M.Gopalakrishnan

2010-01-15T11:32:00.002+05:30

Ohm Namashivaya : Art of Living Song, lyrics Dilip Music Damodar Sung By Vishnu | Upload Music

Happy Pongal 2009

2010-01-14T08:54:00.001+05:30

உழுதுண்டு வாழ்வாரே வாழ்வார் மற்றெல்லாம்
தொழுதுண்டு பின்செல் பவர்

Meaning

They live who live to plough and eat
The rest depend on them to bow and eat.

On this day of the Harvest Festival "Pongal" (Uzhavar Thirunal) We bow our heads in respect to all the Farmers of this great Country.

M.Gopalakrishnan

Penguins

2010-01-12T07:34:00.002+05:30

To end inequity in Education

2010-01-04T20:21:00.003+05:30

Teach For India is a nationwide movement of outstanding college graduates and young professionals who will commit two-years to teach full-time in under resourced schools and who will become lifelong leaders working from within various sectors toward the pursuit of equity in education.

Join the movement to end educational inequity in India.

You can apply to Teach For India on a rolling basis anytime prior to January 17th. Please apply earlier in order to maximize your chances of admission. You will be informed of our decision 4-6 weeks after you apply. Visit their site http://67.19.228.180/teachforindia/

The Giving Trees

2010-01-04T20:18:00.003+05:30

Soup for the Soul: Christmas Cheer

BY: Kathleen Dixon

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!

~Hamilton Wright Mabie

I was a single parent of four small children, working at a minimum-wage job. Money was always tight, but we had a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs and, if not a lot, always enough. My kids told me that in those days they didn't know we were poor. They just thought Mom was cheap. I've always been glad about that.

It was Christmas time, and although there wasn't money for a lot of gifts, we planned to celebrate with church and family, parties and friends, drives downtown to see the Christmas lights, special dinners, and by decorating our home.

But the big excitement for the kids was the fun of Christmas shopping at the mall. They talked and planned for weeks ahead of time, asking each other and their grandparents what they wanted for Christmas. I dreaded it. I had saved $120 for presents to be shared by all five of us.

The big day arrived and we started out early. I gave each of the four kids a twenty-dollar bill and reminded them to look for gifts that cost about four dollars each. Then everyone scattered. We had two hours to shop; then we would meet back at the "Santa's workshop" display.

Back in the car driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits, laughing and teasing each other with hints and clues about what they had bought. My younger daughter, Ginger, who was about eight years old, was unusually quiet. I noted she had only one small, flat bag with her after her shopping spree. I could see enough through the plastic bag to tell that she had bought candy bars -- fifty-cent candy bars! I was so angry. What did you do with that twenty dollar bill I gave you? I wanted to yell at her, but I didn't say anything until we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed the door, ready to be angry again when I asked her what she had done with the money. This is what she told me:

"I was looking around, thinking of what to buy, and I stopped to read the little cards on one of the Salvation Army's 'Giving Trees.' One of the cards was for a little girl, four years old, and all she wanted for Christmas was a doll with clothes and a hairbrush. So I took the card off the tree and bought the doll and the hairbrush for her and took it to the Salvation Army booth.

"I only had enough money left to buy candy bars for us," Ginger continued. "But we have so much and she doesn't have anything."

I never felt so rich as I did that day.

(Thanks to Nita for sharing the same)

Happy New Year 2010

2009-12-31T22:49:00.006+05:30

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin.

Wish you a Happy New Year 2010.

M.Gopalakrishnan

Check out Thank you for 2009 | Greenpeace International

2009-12-29T10:41:00.001+05:30

Title: Thank you for 2009 | Greenpeace International

Link: http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=569083788782788435211

Wishing you Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T07:46:00.006+05:30

The best Christmas gift is a sense of belongingness, togetherness and strengthening family ties. Hold these dear to your heart in this festive season and years ahead.

Embrace all hearts with love and let mercy and joy touch your life with a miraculous wand. Merry Christmas to you, your family and your Neighbours.

It can happen only in India

2009-12-13T15:02:00.003+05:30

Art of Living: - Courses

2009-12-06T14:11:00.000+05:30

Art of Living: - Courses

Guruji on Mission Green Earth

2009-11-24T20:50:00.002+05:30

Divine's unconditional love

2009-11-17T07:54:00.001+05:30

No Words just Jaigurudev.

Climate Change

2009-11-14T06:54:00.000+05:30

The largest flower in the World.

2009-11-08T16:33:00.007+05:30

Amorphophallus Titanum (Rio Blanco , Veracruz , Mexico ) Thursday, October 8, 2009
The largest flower in the world was blossoming in Rio Blanco , Veracruz , Mexico . Two meters high and weighing 75 kilos, it has the peculiarity of blooming only during three days every 40 years. You'd only see it once or twice in a lifetime!

Amorphophallus titanum (Araceae), also called "cadaverous flower" has the pecularity of blooming only during three days every 40 years, a privilege that Mother Nature bestowed on this town in Veracruz .

Thanks Surya for the information.

Namaste gets global acceptance

2009-10-26T07:08:00.002+05:30

Hungry to learn across the world

2009-10-19T07:14:00.005+05:30

Around the world millions of children are not getting a proper education because their families are too poor to afford to send them to school. In India, one schoolboy is trying to change that. In the first report in the BBC's Hunger to Learn series, Damian Grammaticas meets Babar Ali, whose remarkable education project is transforming the lives of hundreds of poor children.
At 16 years old, Babar Ali must be the youngest headmaster in the world. He's a teenager who is in charge of teaching hundreds of students in his family's backyard, where he runs classes for poor children from his village.
Read More

Thanks to Shri.Suryanarayanan Krishnamoorthy for sharing this information.

Let noble thoughts come from everywhere

2009-10-19T06:54:00.002+05:30

Thanks to Shri. Arunji for the link.

Amitabha Sadangi, an uncommon hero tackling poverty in India

2009-10-11T20:32:00.002+05:30

Right to Education

2009-10-10T07:07:00.002+05:30

A refreshing short documentary on the new Right to Education recently granted by the Govt. of India Courtesy Shri.Rahuljain Film maker.

Gandhiji's Favourite Bhajan

2009-10-02T15:05:00.004+05:30

Vaishnava Jana To by Pandit Jasraj, Eashwari Pandit, Alka Yagnik, Chitra, Shankar Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam, Jaspindar Nirula & Shaa - The best home videos are here

Mahatma Gandhiji liked this song very much. Here is the lyrics and the meaning.

Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je

[One who is a vaishnav]

PeeD paraayi jaaNe re

[Knows the pain of others]

Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye

[Does good to others, esp. to those ones who are in misery]

Man abhimaan na aaNe re

[Does not let pride enter his mind]

Vaishnav...

SakaL lok maan sahune vande

[A Vaishnav, Tolerates and praises the the entire world]

Nindaa na kare keni re

[Does not say bad things about anyone]

Vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe

[Keeps his/her words, actions and thoughts pure]

Dhan-dhan janani teni re

[O Vaishnav, your mother is blessed (dhanya-dhanya)]

Vaishnav...

Sam-drishti ne trishna tyaagi

[A Vaishnav sees everything equally, rejects greed and avarice]

Par-stree jene maat re

[Considers some one else's wife/daughter as his mother]

Jivha thaki asatya na bole

[The toungue may get tired, but will never speak lies]

Par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re

[Does not even touch someone else's property]

Vaishnav...

Moh-maaya vyaape nahi jene

[A Vaishnav does not succumb to worldly attachments]

DriDh vairaagya jena man maan re

[Who has devoted himself to stauch detachment to worldly pleasures]

Ram naam shoon taaLi laagi

[Who has been edicted to the elixir coming by the name of Ram]

SakaL tirath tena tan maan re

[For whom all the religious sites are in the mind]

Vaishnav...

VaN-lobhi ne kapaT-rahit chhe

[Who has no greed and deciet]

Kaam-krodh nivaarya re

[Who has renounced lust of all types and anger]

BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta

[The poet Narsi will like to see such a person]

KuL ekoter taarya re

[By who's virtue, the entire family gets salvation]

Vaishnav..

My respectful Praanams to the Father of the Nation on HIS Birthday.

M.Gopalakrishnan

Today is Senior Citizens Day

2009-10-01T07:41:00.004+05:30

Younger generation today needs to get love, blessings, treasure of knowledge from our Senior Citizens. Let us show our gratitude to the elders for all that they have given us in our life. The World should know that we Indians have a rich heritage, culture and we keep our senior citizens not in old age homes but make temples around them.

With our Respectful Pranaams to all the Senior Citizens of the World - Jaigurudev.

M.Gopalakrishnan

Guru Pooja

2009-09-20T13:34:00.001+05:30

Click here for Guru Pooja

Save Trees - Avoid paper

2009-09-16T06:50:00.000+05:30

Lighthouse Wisdom

2009-09-12T07:58:00.001+05:30

Significance of Om (Kind Courtesy Humanity Healing Network)

2009-09-12T07:22:00.001+05:30

Silence (Kind Courtesy Humanity Healing Network)

2009-09-12T07:18:00.001+05:30

Farmers use guns to guard water in drought-hit Bihar

2009-09-04T22:52:00.002+05:30

The below link goes to prove the point made by Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam about preserving Water !!

Aurangabad (Bihar): Bihar has declared 26 of the 38 districts drought-hit and the water crisis in the state in now turning dangerous with farmer guarding their water sources with guns.

After scanty rainfall in many districts, the battle for water is being fought with guns.

"We are farmers. It has not rained properly this year. There is little water in the canals that we use. So we have to protect the water. We carry our agricultural equipments and guns together. When we are in the fields we use our agricultural equipments and when the need for the guns arises, then we use the guns," says Bal Bhushan Sharma, a farmer in Aurangabad which is one of the worst-hit districts.Read More

Wishing You all a Happy Onam

2009-09-01T07:21:00.000+05:30

To Sir, with love and gratitude - About 250 former students had a house built for their teacher

2009-08-29T07:58:00.001+05:30

RASIPURAM: In a rare gesture, the old students of a school here have shown their gratitude to one of their teachers by having a two-storey house built for him.

The old students of Sengunthar Mahajana Higher Secondary School at Gurusamypalayam village, who are living in Namakkal district, hit upon the idea of donating a new house, after they found that their 83-year-old former Tamil teacher V. Venkataraman was living in a small rented house.

EMRI 108 Ambulance Service in Tamilnadu

2009-08-22T07:55:00.002+05:30

For your awareness. Useful message from Alamelu.Suresh@mphasis.com

"I am sharing my personal experience with "108" (EMRI) on their Quick response.

When I travel from Pondicherry to Coimbatore last Sunday (02-08-09)

Night by Bus, the bus met an accident with lorry in National Highway

Nearby "Atthur" Landmark: "Paaventhar college of Arts and Science".

Two of my co-passenger got injured.

One is lady and second is her baby of 15months old.

The lady had an injury in her hand and the baby was motionless. The

First-Aid kit is also missing in the bus.

The accident happened at mid-night 00:57am.

On seeing the condition of the baby and mother, I immediately called

108 at 00:59am. Explained the state of injured persons and location of

the place, Village, District & Taluk (assisted by a local person). It

took around 3minutes.

At 01:03am (within a minute) I got a call from 108 with a conference

to the district level center explained the exact location and

Condition of the persons injured. It took around 3minutes.

At 01:08am again I got a call from the Ambulance saying that they are

on the way to accident spot.

To be surprise, the Ambulance reached the spot at 01:17am and started

the treatment. The baby was brought to the active state (may be due to

Timely attempt by 108-EMRI) and medicines given for injured lady. At

the end of their treatment both of them came to normal.

The EMRI 108 Ambulance reached the spot within 15minutes from the

Receipt of information to them

Here I would like express one thing that except me, none of the

Co-passengers were not aware of 108...

As I am aware of 108 through training given for EMERGENCY EVACUATION

DRILL conducted in June ´09, I could help the co-passengers.

Kindly share this experience, so that the people can make use of

wonderful service provided by EMRI - "108" in Tamilnadu. "

Swine Flu and Art of Living Introduction

2009-08-13T07:33:00.000+05:30

Smt.Kala Kaarthikeyan left for heavenly abode.

2009-08-03T21:03:00.004+05:30

Smt. Kala Kaarthikeyan. (1950-2009)

Smt Kala Kaarthikeyan, wife of Shri D R Kaarthikeyan, former director CBI, left for heavenly abode in the night of 2nd August 2009. Cremation will be held at 4 pm on 4th August 2009 at Lodhi Road Crematorium, New Delhi. The entire family is devoted to Guruji and Smt. Kala Karthikeyan was an Art of Living Teacher. She has been a noble soul and a great source of inspiration to many. We always cherish her words of appreciation when we started our Light House E-Magazine from Coimbatore. .
" Dear Thiru Gopalakrishnan
JAI GURUDEV! Thankyou very much for sending Light House Magazine so promptly. I am a native of Coimbatore district no wonder I have lot of attachment,affection,admirationfor my native place.I think this (in Tamil)"man vasanai" gets into one'sheart very intense,when one is away from home. Though I have been getting all the news about aolcbe I am very glad to receive LIGHT HOUSE. My heartiest congratulations to one and all for the superb seva you are doing. aolcbe has become an ideal example for everyone to emulate.I am very proud of my native place for all its beauty,culture,courtesy,hospitality and honesty but I am all the more proud as you have made a prominent place in the worldmap of AOL. My best wishes to one and all
Yours sincerely
Kala "

It is a great loss for all of us. We convey our deepest condolences to Shri.D.R. Kaarthikeyanji and other members of his family.

Wow !!! Only God could make this.

2009-07-30T13:26:00.003+05:30

This is a flower from Thailand. It is also a protected species and is not allowed to be exported. This will be the only way we will be able to view this flower.

A FLOWER ALL THE WAY FROM THAILAND . . THE VERY RARE PARROT FLOWER

Rice is Life

2009-07-24T07:07:00.000+05:30

Rice is Life - traditional rice farming in China
For farmers of Southern China, rice is more than just food - it is the very basis of their culture, however, it's a way of life that could be under threat as the spectre of genetic modification (GM) creeps up on the planet's most important food crop.

Photographs and story by John Novis. Additional photographs individually credited.

For the spiritually inclined

2009-07-20T07:43:00.001+05:30

Coimbatore: It’s uncommon to find anyone doing something without expecting any return. And quid pro quo is the order of the day.

With little money and less recognition, if one were to plod on doing what he thinks good for the society, it is V.V. Parthasarathy.

For a doctorate in Bio-chemistry, writing books eminently suitable for those with religious bent of mind, that too both in English and Tamil quite a lot interspersed with Sanskrit as well, it is an extraordinary combination.

Read More

Kind Courtesy "The Hindu"

Music Director Vidhyadharan Master's composition.

2009-07-19T16:18:00.001+05:30

kalpantha.mp3

This song is one of my all time favourites and with Shri. Pradip Somasundaran rendering it makes it more melodious.

Determination today: success tomorrow..

2009-07-18T07:58:00.000+05:30

Monsoon delayed so what - Human spirit is indormitable

2009-07-16T07:24:00.000+05:30

Sound of Music 1965 - The song still remains favourite

2009-06-28T16:46:00.000+05:30

I remember when I was in 6th Std our English Teacher Mrs. Fernandez took my entire class to see this movie. It was a memorable occassion all 42 of us sitting in the balcony and seeing this movie munching pop corns. The best impressions of it still remains.

Lyrics

Let's start at the very beginning
A very good place to start
When you read you begin with A-B-C
When you sing you begin with do-re-mi

Do-re-mi, do-re-mi
The first three notes just happen to be
Do-re-mi, do-re-mi

[Maria:]
Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti
[spoken]
Let's see if I can make it easy

Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long, long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow Sew
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to Do (oh-oh-oh)

[Maria and Children:]
[Repeat above verse twice]

[Maria:]
Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do
So-do!

[Maria: (spoken)]
Now children, do-re-mi-fa-so and so on
are only the tools we use to build a song.
Once you have these notes in your heads,
you can sing a million different tunes by mixing them up.
Like this.

So Do La Fa Mi Do Re
[spoken]
Can you do that?
[Children:]
So Do La Fa Mi Do Re
[Maria:]
So Do La Ti Do Re Do
[Children:]
So Do La Ti Do Re Do
[Maria:]
[spoken]
Now, put it all together.

[Maria and Children:]
So Do La Fa Mi Do Re, So Do La Ti Do Re Do
[Maria:]
[spoken]
Good!
[Brigitta:]
[spoken]
But it doesn't mean anything.
[Maria:]
[spoken]
So we put in words. One word for every note. Like this.

When you know the notes to sing
You can sing most anything
[spoken]
Together!

[Maria and Children:]
When you know the notes to sing
You can sing most anything

Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long, long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow Sew
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to Do

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do
Do Ti La So Fa Mi Re

[Children:]
Do Mi Mi
Mi So So
Re Fa Fa
La Ti Ti
[Repeat above verse 4x as Maria sings]

[Maria:]
When you know the notes to sing
You can sing most anything

[Maria and Children:]
Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long, long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow Sew
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to

[Maria:]
[Children:]

Do . . . So Do
Re . . . La Fa
Mi . . . Mi Do
Fa . . . Re
So . . . So Do
La . . . La Fa
Ti . . . La So Fa Mi Re
Ti Do - oh - oh Ti Do -- So Do

Sri Lankan Tamils What Next Part II

2009-05-27T23:15:00.000+05:30

Sri Lankan Tamils What Next Part I

2009-05-27T23:12:00.000+05:30

Take action: Stand up for your rice!

2009-05-27T06:49:00.000+05:30

Rice is daily food for half of the world's population. Genetically modified (GM) rice, on the other hand, is a threat to our agriculture, our biodiversity and a possible risk to our health.

At present, GM rice is not grown commercially anywhere in the world. But Bayer, the German chemical giant, has genetically manipulated rice to withstand higher doses of a toxic pesticide called glufosinate, which is considered to be so dangerous to humans and the environment that it will soon be banned from Europe.

In just a few weeks, the European Union will decide whether or not this GM rice can enter EU countries, appear on supermarket shelves and end up on our dinner plates. If the EU approves the import of Bayer GM rice, farmers in the US and elsewhere may soon start planting it.

Sign the petition
We ask all governments around the world to protect consumers and farmers, their crops and fields by rejecting Bayer’s GM rice, and to stop GM rice field trials.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T06:11:00.000+05:30

Why mother is so special:When I came home in the rain,

Brother asked why don't you take an umbrella.

Sister advised, Why didn't you wait till rain stopped.

Father angrily warned, only after getting cold, you will realize.

But Mother, while drying my hair, said, stupid rain! Couldn't it wait, till my child come home?

That's MOM

I bow down in respect to all the Mother's on this Mother's Day.

(Thanks Shri. Somu from Gulf for sharing)

Yoga for the Brain- Lord Ganesha's favourite.

2009-03-28T23:01:00.001+05:30

Our very own "Thoppukarnam" has so much power Lord Ganesha loves it and so to please him we do this in front of his idol. In my school days I had been very good at it as it was a form of punishment yet I enjoyed it. Hope today's children too enjoy doing it and also know its benefits.

Brahmnaad ( Courtesy NDTV)

2009-01-26T20:13:00.001+05:30

Sri Sri Balamandir

2009-01-26T20:10:00.000+05:30

Sri Sri Ravishankar Bal Mandir - The best free videos are right here

2009-01-26T19:15:00.000+05:30

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eSnips Social DNA

Blinkx Video: Sri Sri Ravishankar on Vedanta and Meditation

2009-01-26T16:34:00.001+05:30

Blinkx Video: Sri Sri Ravishankar on Vedanta and Meditation

Posted using ShareThis

Shobha De mesmerised by AoL Satsang led by Vikramji

2009-01-23T07:09:00.001+05:30

"The moment I heard Vikram Hazra's version of 'Achchutam Keshavam..." I was transported. I forgot the heat... the traffic..... my persistent headache.That is the magic of music ... it can heal and soothe. And tonight I needed solace.... a gentle touch.... a reminder of my own vulnerability.

He effortlessly combines all these marvelous sounds and weaves them into sanskrit shlokas... Surdas... Pali couplets. It has a mesmerising effect on listeners... as was evident that night. Oh well... I have reluctantly come back to earth. But who knows... I may wake up singing 'Achhutam Keshavam...' tomorrow morning. Read More

Shobha De

His Holiness SriSri Ravi Shankar: Wharton Leadership Lecture

2009-01-06T07:15:00.000+05:30

His Holiness SriSri Ravi Shankar, Founder of the Art of Living Foundation, leads a group of students in meditation, and answers questions about the meditation process and stress relief. Shankar sp...

Athmashatakam -Smt.Chitra Roy

2009-01-04T20:56:00.001+05:30

03. Atmashatakam.M...

gopuaol

New Zealand school teaches Sanskrit and claims it helps children understand English

Happy Pongal 2012

Bhagavad Gita

Coimbatoreaaa...Kokkaaa....

True devotion is beyond language

Online Radio | The Art of Living

Coimbatore Day a wonderful article

My Peelamedu is 300 years old today.

Today is Guru Nanak Jayanthi

A wonderful Bhajan

Happy Onam

What is Yoga? A very interesting presentation

Guru Purnima Celebrations

Unsung, this baba starves to death to save the Ganga

Priorities of the Government

Today is Rama Navami.

Gandhian Shri. Anna Hazare - Initiates the second freedom struggle in India

M.S.Dhoni the architect of the new found Indian cricket

Happy Holi

Save India From Corruption

Song against Suicide - New hopes and happiness

In powerless Bihar village, a school by innovation and Skype

Guruji's Message for everyone of us.

Bhaja Govindam with English sub titles

Happy Pongal

Happy New Year 2011

Happy Deepavali

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Message for Diwali 2010

Interview with His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar

Once in a life time moment.

Points to Ponder

Happy Onam - from gopuaol

Indian government online - Very Informative

Prayer really is capable of healing the sick

தமிழ் வாழ்க!!!!! - Welcome to Coimbatore for the World Tamil Conference

Save the Girl Child

When a doctor donated her kidney to a patient

Anupam Mishra: The ancient ingenuity of water harvesting | Video on TED.com

A sign of things to come

Good News for Fire accident victims

Message from Shri. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

No Bt-ing around the bush, please!

Wow﻿ ! respect to Esthonia.

A heart specialist’s prescription for the soul

Shri.Jyoti Basu's great humanitarian gesture.

Happy Pongal 2009

Penguins

To end inequity in Education

The Giving Trees

Happy New Year 2010

Check out Thank you for 2009 | Greenpeace International

Wishing you Merry Christmas

It can happen only in India

Art of Living: - Courses

Guruji on Mission Green Earth

Divine's unconditional love

Climate Change

The largest flower in the World.

Namaste gets global acceptance

Hungry to learn across the world

Let noble thoughts come from everywhere

Amitabha Sadangi, an uncommon hero tackling poverty in India

Right to Education

Gandhiji's Favourite Bhajan

Today is Senior Citizens Day

Guru Pooja

Save Trees - Avoid paper

Lighthouse Wisdom

Significance of Om (Kind Courtesy Humanity Healing Network)

Silence (Kind Courtesy Humanity Healing Network)

Farmers use guns to guard water in drought-hit Bihar

Wishing You all a Happy Onam

To Sir, with love and gratitude - About 250 former students had a house built for their teacher

EMRI 108 Ambulance Service in Tamilnadu

Swine Flu and Art of Living Introduction

Smt.Kala Kaarthikeyan left for heavenly abode.

Wow !!! Only God could make this.

Rice is Life

For the spiritually inclined

Wow ! respect to Esthonia.