Self confidence

Viswamitra · Mar 15, 2018

Dear Sri Bhaskaran:

I have not read the book "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Thank you for sharing that information in your response. I am not sure whether I am capable enough to read and write about it here in IL as my knowledge to understand and interpret his book is very limited. But I will definitely read that book for my own benefit. I will be happy to buy the book for you and ship it to you.

Viswa

Bhaskaran · Mar 15, 2018

Thanks for your immediate response. You know very well that great people always use very simple language. So don't worry, his writings also very simple, but very rich in stuff and spirit. Though, I am not able to understand your writings in it's original spirit, as you want to convey us, i am able to understand one thing that, so for you have not read the writings of Ralph waldo emerson. So. I intently wish to bring to your knowledge, and that will help you to know the highest spirit of life. , and through you, the holy india may possibly aware of the spirit , and possibly the blessed people may taste the spirit of. Soul. Thanks for your kindness.
Regarding shipping of the book, you please allow me a month time as it is year end for us, and also I want essays on nature only and the book self reliance I already read it. First, let me know the cost including the shipping charge , will enable me to finalise the decesion. Thank you.

Bhaskaran · Mar 15, 2018

Dear viswamitra, one more thing I intently wants to say that, you please first go throw the book SELF RELIANCE, which is very small around 25 pages only , where as the other essays are some what lengthy as well as it deals with different subjects. In this book only emerson says about him , and also highlighting the highest spirit of soul , and the universe , which will enable you to know about emerson and his scope and the intention of his writings etc ,etc. which will guide you for the selection his other writings for your goodness in a short time. Also, you can find something more about your SELF CONFIDENCE with that of emerson's SELF RELIANCE , which will surely bring you the most valuable WISDOM.
I hope , you can understand my poor english.
Thank you.

Viswamitra · Mar 15, 2018

Thank you Sri Bhaskaran.

Bhaskaran · Mar 19, 2018

Viswamitra said: ↑

Thank you Sri Bhaskaran.
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Dear viswamitra,
Here is a pdf document of the book self reliance by ralph waldo emerson. click here.
https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/self/self.pdf

Star25 · Mar 21, 2018

Viswamitra said: ↑

What is self-confidence? Is it the ability of our mind to do anything that we put our mind to? Or is it the ability to handle any situation in life with courage? Or is it the ability to build name and fame for ourselves in the society? The answer to this question is it is none of the above.

The truth is self-confidence is our belief in our Self that it is divine and is a body of principles that makes one’s life invaluable. Our inner core is pure and unsullied and unaffected by the vagaries or dictates of our mind. Therefore, it remains unaffected by the pleasure and pain we experience. It is that which is never born and never dies. It is our peripheral that is tainted and filled with qualities that are unbecoming of our Self.

Self-confidence stems from self-satisfaction and self-satisfaction stems from self-sacrifice. The ultimate purpose of gaining self-confidence is to realize our Self. The essential first two steps in life are: a) control the senses and mind to be submissive to the Self and b) sacrifice the body, mind and intellect (“BMI”) for the common good of the world. In order to enter the realm of Self, one has to have total control over senses and mind and should be willing to sacrifice the BMI for the welfare of the fellow-beings. If there is no element of sacrifice in life, the very purpose of life would be defeated. Even in our day to day life, each one of us sacrifice something or the other at least for other family members without which co-existence becomes an issue. Sharing and caring should be part and parcel of our thoughts, words & actions. Ceiling on our desires, detachment, trusteeship, etc. is developed through sacrifice.

Self-satisfaction is a byproduct of the self-sacrifice. One should consistently feel good about one’s thoughts, words and actions. We definitely have a choice what information to receive or reject, we have discrimination faculty to determine what components of the information received by us we need to evaluate and react upon and lastly what information requires definitive response. Essentially, receipt, reaction and response (“3Rs”) function as three filters to achieve self-satisfaction. Even if some of our thoughts, words and actions were not filtered, we have another tool called introspection to evaluate and eliminate the pain we feel in our heart for a bad action. One should realize introspection should be only limited to understand the lesson, forgive ourselves and get on with the life rather than procrastinating on the subject forever. At the end of all these exercise one can achieve self-satisfaction.

Last step in the process is Self-confidence, the inherent belief that we are the divine Self, a body of principles that makes one’s life invaluable. This is the very foundation of life and our character is built based on this foundation. This confidence provides us the ability to understand that our determination to contribute to the success of this world would be energized automatically by this divine Will. Our development, strength, sense of fulfillment, making a living to support ourselves, our family, our society, etc. are all automatically built into it. Self-confidence provides us the Will to learn lessons out of experiences and consider pleasure and pain equally and understand the purpose of life. At this level, our discrimination is at its best and finds the gateway to the Self.

The ultimate goal in life is Self-realization. The simple term “I am divine and a spark of the Universal Absolute that is responsible for the function of this universe” means nothing unless one is ready to experience the divine Self inherent in us. The core inside of us is Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Sheath), the very happiness we seek every second in life. In order to sustain the effort to achieve that, we are created with Annamaya Kosha (five sense organs (“Gnanendriyas”), five organs of actions (Kamendriyas) and five sensory faculties (Tanmatras)) (Food Sheath) to sustain a separate existence (Jeeva), Pranamaya Kosha (Vital-air Sheath) (five different breathes) to constantly recognize Soham (means “I am He”) (inhalation makes the sound “So” and exhalation makes the sound “Ham”), Manomaya Kosha (Mental Sheath), the power to express emotions and uncover unconditional love and finally Vignanamaya Kosha (Intellectual Sheath), the power to discriminate and create Will to do actions. All these five Sheaths together are called Sthula Deha (Gross Body), Shukshma Deha (Subtle Body), Kaarana Deha (Causal Body) and Mahakaarana Deha (The Super Casual Body). The purpose of these four Sheaths is to get to the fifth Sheath and at the same time, without these four Sheaths, one can’t realize Self either. That is why control of our mind and senses, Self-purification, development of our character, become essential. Our objective is to move to the fourth stage called Turya State from waking, dreaming and deep sleep (Shusupthi) state. In the previous three states, we dwell within the limits of perception and action whereas in Turya State we can cross over into the world of truth. Waking state reminds us the need for concentration, dreaming state reminds us of contemplation and deep sleep state reminds us of meditation. In order to realize our Self (“Samadhi”), we need to cross concentration, contemplation and meditation whether we adapt Gnana or Karma or Bhakthi Yoga or combination of one or more Yogas.

First, let us break the myth that self-confidence is the power of our mind and it is not. Mind like any other object in the universe is transient and not permanent. It is our confidence in Self that is called Self-confidence.
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Sir, thank you for the very deep and detailed write up. I came to know lots of new information through this.

Viswamitra · Mar 21, 2018

Dear Bhaskaran,

Thank you for posting the link to the book. I will read it when I have a little more time.

Viswa

Viswamitra · Mar 21, 2018

Star25 said: ↑

Sir, thank you for the very deep and detailed write up. I came to know lots of new information through this.
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@Star25,

Thank you for your kind words and I am humbled. I am looking forward to your response in all my future snippets.

Viswa