Author: Dennis Taraporewala

Storyteller, Business Owner, Musician, Life Strategist.

Valentines Day? Let People Dislike You

A leader who can truly see employees, suppliers, partners and stakeholders for who they are, is indeed a leader. The “other” leaders are lazy followers of someone else’s opinions and mental machinations.

How should we deal with people who don’t like us… who don’t accept and approve of us… who judge and criticise us? This is a common problem that many face and about which there is a lot of emotional stress. I thought it apt, to bring this up on Valentines Day, the day of love. There will always be someone, who intentionally puts you down or even “bad mouths” you (especially in the corporate world) – these people reflect their own understanding or mis understanding of the universe. When you put someone down, you reflect your limitations, insecurities and powerlessness. One should develop the habit (especially senior professionals) of seeing things with their own understanding and not get coloured by peoples images and opinions, even if they are cloaked in performance, numbers and other crutches. A leader who can truly see employees, suppliers, partners and stakeholders for who they are, is indeed a leader. The “other” leaders are lazy followers of someone else’s opinions and mental machinations.

Today’s video touches on this theme in a beautiful manner. It says “allow people to dislike you”…a powerful statement indeed. I hope you enjoy listening to the same.

Video Length: 4 min 30 seconds

Art of Doing without Doing

Is action the only way? Do we constantly have to strive with doing? Who is the doer and what is being done? If the Tao, is already flowing in the universe, what are we trying to “do”? Is there a path of effortless effort or the art of doing without doing?

Is action the only way? Do we constantly have to strive with doing? Who is the doer and what is being done? If the Tao, is already flowing in the universe, what are we trying to “do”? Is there a path of effortless effort or the art of doing without doing?

This video packs in a few lifetimes worth of concepts/understanding. To realise the statements made, it needs us to practice and viscerally know in our being what is being said. While that happens it is still good to listen and absorb the words, as the “happening” takes place.

Video Length: 12 min

Kundalini 101

How do you feel the energy that ancient Mystics called Kundalini, what is it and is it really there?

Kundalini: Why do we need to know more about this energy in our being, what is it that activates our body, and where does this energy go when we move on from the body? How do you feel the energy that ancient Mystics called Kundalini, what is it and is it really there? The video below at least gives us some intellectual understanding of the same. Probably a good ten minutes to look at something interesting today. Enjoy.

The Master Is The Way

In this video I sing a few verses from the lovely GURU GITA. The Guru Gita (Song of the Guru) is a Hindu scripture that is said to have been authored by the sage, Vyasa. The text is believed to be part of the larger Skanda Purana.

In any endeavour, a teacher, a master or a mentor is essential. Those who have practical knowledge of a subject, who have have experimented scientifically (through actually doing the practices and seeing how it works), gained mastery over their area or subject and then are available to share that, are indeed a blessing. If you want to learn to repair a car, you could read a book; but in order to become a great mechanic, you need a master mechanic to teach you over time. Similarly on the spiritual path, a master who has travelled the journey, understands the inner world, can teach and guide. Of course the journey is yours, but a Master brings it alive, challenges you and shows you the guidepost. In our Indian tradition we have called it GURU – a movement from darkness, to light.

Guru Gita with Guitar

That has been my experience of having a spiritual master. An outer master, who could actually connect one with ones deep Inner Self, or ones own Inner Master; a divine blessing in indeed. In this video I sing a few verses from the lovely GURU GITA. The Guru Gita (Song of the Guru) is a Hindu scripture that is said to have been authored by the sage, Vyasa. The text is believed to be part of the larger Skanda Purana. There are several versions of the Guru Gita, varying from around 100 to over 400 verses.