How to Invest into Anything? An Intro..
- How to Invest into Anything? An Intro..
- Saving & Investing into Gold
- Saving and Investing into Gold-Series 3-How to Invest into Anything?
- Bonds,CDs and Bank Deposits build First Wealth..SR 04 of How to invest..
- Zero Coupon Bonds – World’s Best Investment Product (Part 5 of New Series)
- Zero Coupon Bonds (Part 6 ) – Planning everything with Zero
- Real Estate Investment – Part 7 of How to invest into anything?
- How to Trade Stocks & Indices? – How to Invest.. series
Ref: 009-028 of 01-Aug-2009
I am responding to popular demand from our web readers to write on basics of investing. Most of the time, the investment is equated with the investment in stocks or shares. This is not true. It is just one of the parts of the investment process. The investment takes many forms. This is my humble attempt to share my knowledge of investing into anything, I mean, anything.
Every living soul is an investor. A bird when it makes its nest on top or interior of the tree ahead of monsoon or extreme weather is also an investor. It invests into its own property as much as a human does. However, there is no money element involved for the birds. There is no central bank or FED or stock market for this creature.
A human being is a born investor. The Hindu philosophy says that a living soul is born as “human” after passing through 8.4 millions of various lives in the form of insects, water borne fishes and mammals, land borne animals, sky borne creatures like birds or any form of living organisms.
Even GOD is an investor. He invested in millions of lives and souls, and got finally rewarded by his most precious creation – the Human. The human then invented “money” and proceeded to create the most enviable plethora of investment products which are ultimately convertible into most basic form “money”. A tangible investment that can not be converted into money ultimately is not an investment
It is the right of any human to get rich in terms of money. Even billionaires like Bill Gates or Warren Buffets came into this word naked like you and me. What separated them from others was their upbringing, education, ambition, hopes, observance, perseverance, military discipline, extra ordinary efforts and of course, little or lot of luck. But it was not the luck alone; the efforts were first followed by lady luck. Those who daydream of becoming millionaire or billionaire without putting in efforts will ultimately die and may not be reborn as human again. God is a severe punisher. Those who do not do their entrusted job are fired from becoming human again.
And the luck is not just wishful thinking of God or his grants. The luck is also a reward of investment of the past life, Hindu philosophy says. What they call “Karma”. Nothing goes to waste in the rule of God.
The westerners believe in almost every cycle – Stock market, metals like steel, copper, aluminum; oil, gold , silver, platinum, and soft commodities like wheat, corn, pigs, timber, sugar etc. and back up the charts for over 100 years. But when the life cycle is discussed, they twist their nose labeling the believers as “superstitious”. If those 100 year old cycles could exist, why not believe in “life cycle” which runs for thousands of years?
Basics of Investing – Preparing yourself
The very first rule of making investment is to prepare yourself. Unless, one has prepared himself for the ardent task ahead, he will not succeed as much as he should have. Everyone wants to get rich – nothing wrong with that. One should always nurture that ambition. If he can do it, why can not I? If he can make 1 million, why can not I make even 100,000 to start with?
One has to always think that the very fact that the idea of getting rich entered his mind is a gift of god. Treat as primary indication from nature supreme that IT wants to see you get richer and richer as your age and experience progresses.
You have to be fairly balanced before you invest. It is a mental game. It needs lot of concentration and focus. Just as you get up every day, what do you do? Brush your teeth, finish morning chores, take warm and cold bath, and freshen up yourself before getting down for a cup of coffee or tea. While you are at home, pay attention to your family members first – wife, children and parents. It is also an investment of time which has indirect and more authentic rewards – mental peace – so essential for concentration on investment products.
1. GET UP early at 5:00 AM, sit before a lighted candle for 7 minutes without blinking your eyes. Also do some deep breathing for about 8 minutes. You will intake lot of oxygen – a real source of energy – that will keep you afresh. Take a full warm glass of water with little bit of lemon juice, honey and tea masala powder. It will refresh your mouth, mind and belly. Have a nice cold water or warm water shower. After warm water, always have last dose of cold water shower. It makes your blood flows faster right up to your skin. Your face could glow in matter of days. Money also wants to come to a neat and clean place. So be neat, clean and very pleasing. Your first stage of preparation is over.
Now, read the Newspaper first. First head lines of normal events and then only go to business or money section. The reason is the political and social events do have significant influence on the capital market. Unless you have read first 3 pages and little bit of editorial (because the editors always chose the hottest topic). Do not read too much details – just glance at the head lines is enough.
2. GET A CUP OF TEA AND COFFEE now, and then read the business pages, if your newspaper has special section devoted to it. Then, if you have computers at home (not everyone has) then sit for about 30 minutes browsing important authentic website such as Bloomberg. Just read the headlines and sketchy details. You must know the substance, not the whole story. Make a habit to ask continuously yourself – what effect will have, where, and how much. After a period of 6 months, you will have developed ability to spot the important news and its potential effects in a flash.
3. TAKE COFFEE OR TEA AT HOME, not in the restaurant. You have to develop the attitude of making money first and then expending. Do not start your day with the expense. Start your day with some income, howsoever little. When you go to a shop owner in the morning, what does he do or demand. He usually insists on cash payment not credit. (Credit card is still a cash payment). He wants to start his day with income, the real cash, which is treated as good omen.
4. SPEND SOME OF YOUR MORNING TIME with your family. If you want to spend in the morning, spend some time with your family and also spend your famous smiles on your kids, wife and parents. Always be prepared to complement them with smile, never to criticize them. Just as you want your day to begin nicely, they also feel the same way. A good and happy beginning is always beneficial to wealth and also health.
5. HAVE A MORNING BREAKFAST Depending on the nature and extent of wealth; you can afford to go to a restaurant for the morning meal before you start your day at office. This expense is allowable because one can not work efficiently with empty stomach. You will be less focused, if you remain hungry in the morning. Always eat little, even a piece of bread and butter will do, but do not let your belly remain empty. Just as you want to drop coins into your bank balance every day, remember to make little deposit in your belly as well.
You are now fully prepared to start your day on. Now, remember another important rule.
6. NEVER EVER IGNORE YOUR REGULAR BUSINESS in favor of private investments of any kind. You agreed to invest only because you had some capital. And that capital was built from your regular business which is really bread and butter of your existence. Those who ignore their principal mainstay business will suffer much lately. If they do not pay attention to their daily business, they lose clients. And finally when they lose heavily in investment, they have nothing to fall back on, because the main business has suffered from continuous neglect. Your regular core business is vital for your existence. It is the oxygen that drives you further. DO NOT neglect your lifeline business at any time, howsoever enticing opportunities may appear in the capital or investment market.
7. ALWAYS LOVE NEVER HATE YOURSELF. You came in to this world alone, and you will also depart alone. The God sent you on this planet with beautiful body, moody mind, intellectual brain and above all, Soul. No one should love you more than yourself. Never blame or hate yourself even if you made a mistake, howsoever serious. The fate is like an ocean. What you throw in the ocean comes back on the shore sooner or later. The ocean or fate never keeps benefits for itself. It is never needed by them. It is magnanimous. The mistake is a great teacher. Any loss suffered in making mistakes is sort of tuition fees paid to gain experience. There is nothing free in this world. Once you begin to understand this soulful science, you will never lose your composure. You are therefore your own best friend and also, worst enemy. Take your pick.
8. BE ALWAYS LARGE HEARTED, NEVER BE CHEESY. You have to be large hearted while investing, Always learn to leave something on table. If you try to wait to make last dollar or rupee, you always tend to lose. The money always needs larger place in your heart. Those who have very small heart, the money never lives within and seek to depart as soon as possible. Suppose, you sold the stock at 60 which was bought at 20. Be content that you made 200%. It does not matter if the stock goes to 70. You made your money. Never think of “you could have or you would have” made more money than what you have already made. The profit is yours if it is in your pocket. Otherwise, it is just a piece of toilet paper, not stock. Supposing you missed the higher target of 60 and the stock comes down to 55, just sell it. You made less money, but you did make really good money – about 10% less, so what? You made 175% any way which is far greater than what you make in bank deposits… This applied not only to stock or bond, almost everything including property. I merely gave example for illustration purpose.
9. NEVER CHASE INVESTMENT LEST YOU LOSE OPPORTUNITY. The markets are like daily routine – Day and Night. The opportunities come almost every day. If you are agile, you will pick them up. Nothing slips away like a greased coin. If you miss item A, try to focus on item B. It is not necessary that you have to make money in A itself.
10. ALWAYS REMAIN AGILE LIKE A PILOT flying a plane. The money is as slippery as sand. The moment they see whole or space, it slips away. You have to be as agile as pilot. If you have to go on holiday, cut down on investment in liquid assets and park your money in banks. if you can not control, do not hold the volatile stocks, especially. I give you my own example. Prior to Sr. Bush invading Iraq, I was sitting on almost 100% profit on warrants and the amount involved was HK$ 300,000 equal to US$ 40,000 or Rs 17 Lakhs. The warrants were to expire in 4 months, and I was to return Hong Kong in less than 2 weeks. I was working almost 16 hours a day, so decided to take holiday in Ooty and stay in a hotel which does not have TV or Computers (they were less prominent at that time). Sr. Bush invaded Iraq. The markets crashed and I did not know for almost 10 days until I reached Mumbai, my home town. When I returned Hong Kong, I found my gains washed out to almost 100%, though the capital was intact. I was stupid enough not to sell, and finally even the remaining capital became Zero. Then I realized that the profit is yours if you take it.
11. ALWAYS BE IN COMMAND OF YOUR IVESTMENT OR LENDING. One should never invest into anything over which he has no complete control or he is not in total command. The money is as faithful as dog, but you have to always keep it in leash. If you can not control or command, the money simply slips away or runs away, and you have to run after it. DO NOT LEND to someone if you can not control his repayment. Also, never lend any of your friend if you have not met him or seen him for over 3 years. His position may have changed. Do not remember old happy days. It does not take much time to turn sour.
12. DAY IS OVER and you are back home. Forget whatever happened. Never brood over mistakes while returning home. After meeting your family, children and parents, take a rest in small corner and think what you did you should not have done, and what you did not do, what you could have done. The toilet seat is the best place to think over the past few hours events. You are all alone without any disturbance. And after just 10 minutes, flush out those ugly thoughts by pressing the flush button. Presume that bad thoughts have been flushed away and what remains is the hope and good thoughts.
13. TRY TO GO TO BED BY 11:00 PM latest. You have to get up at 5:00 in the morning. So take about 6 hours of healthy sleep. Before you go to bed, take deep breathing exercise for about 10 minutes and concentration for another 10 minutes. (before a lighted candle). After the concentration exercise, even three hours of sleep is adequate. You get the best deep sleep.
Now that your body and mind are in good shape for about 2 weeks, you will be in a position to make rational investment, of whatever kind. In any investment, the point of entry and exit are more important than holding for short term or long term. Whenever some one tells me that he has portfolio of 2 millions, I know that he is losing in 80% of his holding what he calls “long term holding”. When something works short term, he calls himself a “smart investor” and when it does not work, he calls himself a “long term investor” like Warren Buffet. It is like keeping the cheeks red by slapping himself.
The next article will focus on specifics. We will start with the most primitive form of investment which everyone does without even knowing. You do not have to be rocket scientist to learn that basic art of investment. Until then, Good Bye and see you again on 11th.
Anil Selarka
Hong Kong, 1st August,2009
Click here for PDF view/download from ScribD
Link to this page
Respected Sir,
I read your precious article which is on investment in life,family, children and shaping the future of children and I do feel elated after reading the view of daughter and father you both are great idol for all of us as daughter and father.I am also father of a daughter & son and I also want to inculcate the same manners and value in my children which you have inherited to your children.
kd chahar Ghaziabad India
Kalidas Says …. Saturday, October 17, 2009
I like the idea when someone wants to cultivate good habits. I am sure it will work for you – it did work for me.
kd chahar
17 Oct 09 at 5:20 AM
Dear Papa,
As always you win my heart with your writing. I couldn’t help but write a comment.
Growing up you made sure that we always did certain exercises everyday to keep our minds sharp. I see the benefit to doing such exercises today. These simple practices bring such inner peace and our thoughts become more clearer. The other thing that you always used to do with us is to have us visualize our goals and “believe” in these visions. Before you know it, these visions started becoming reality. I have always been successful in my life following your advice.
Thank you for giving me the gift of life and how to truly live it to its potential.
Your darling daughter,
Bali
Southern California
Kalidas Says …. Saturday, August 08, 2009
This could be one of my finest moments in life. Coming as it does from my own sweet daughter, I feel elated. It does happen to practically every one, me included, that he gets ignored, severely criticized and not respected enough by his own family, although he does get accolades from strangers or outsiders. This is why a famous Hindi idiom emerged ” Ghar ki murghi daal baraabar”
You did a great favor in elevating me in my own eyes. But let me tell you one thing. You have always been luckier than anyone in my personal life. I was struggling to buy my first property in 1976 during the days of national emergency under Indira Gandhi rule. I was not getting delivery in spite of several attempts. Then you arrived in the early morning with little cry and faint smile without opening eyes. At 9:00 AM, 3 hours after your arrival, the developer called me and handed over the key to my first property. That was my first real investment.
A female is blessed with the multiple roles. First as little daughter bringing smiles,wealth. health and prosperity all around. This is why she is equated with Goddess of Wealth – Lakshmi, Later, she becomes a wife, then a mother and finally a grand ma.
When she gets married, her new life begins. Just as we wipe off the hard disk to have new operating system installed, it is said that a woman begins her new life afresh after marrying, in her Sasural or her husband’s place or in the new operating system or environment. From here on her great role of inspiring others and tremendous sacrifice begins that never ends. The people would have hated even GOD had HE not created a Woman. She is the symbol of life, love, happiness and solace.
I must acknowledge that you have discharged your multiple roles admirably and made me and your Mom proud of you (and your brother as well). We have never had any complaint with you, and although you both were educated and lived in modern western world like USA for over 17 years now, you have remained almost “TEFLON” coated not to allow bad influences to take hold of you. And when your American Father-In- Law writes to me more than once – that they were privileged to have you as his Son’s wife and part of their family, no more certificates were ever needed for your credentials. It tells us all.
Thanks for coming to our life as Charming Daughter. We consider it as our reward of past “karma”. THANKS again for writing on my blog. It was indeed our privilege.
Your Papa, Anil Selarka
Bali
7 Aug 09 at 12:37 AM
I started to believe– from here on the market will start moving down to reach its final destination of its recession journey of around 4000 for sensex. Any comments?
K.Akhila– you are GREAT. At 13 started investing! As you are young …never ever book loss in the market.
Kalidas says …Thursday, August 06, 2009
Too pessimistic target of 4000. There is huge sum on the sidelines in India. Stock investing has become a routine like brushing a teeth everyday. India is having so much of money (out of fake notes – I do not know) that major correction will draw in the investors fast. Yes, it is possible that the market may give up all gains of last few months, but losing 75% of value is too extreme at the moment.
I expect huge violence in the street in months to come. Almost all retails stores especially in food segments (like Super markets) will be hard target. Such stores are often 24 hours open and have least security. Such violence alone will have very strong and violent effects on the market. In our Hong Kong, when the Tiamnmen Square street violence took place and Chinese government spiiled bullets to quench them, the HSI dropped heavily for many days. giveing up all gains to reach again near 8000 is a distinct possibility. It is possible only when we see extreme violence in the USA. Read daily news – Gun crimes are on rise. They take the guns and start shooting randomly.
Only just now, I was watching CNBC news. They reported that 6.3 million people were not unemployed and on Unemployment allowance support which lasts for 12 months now. Presuming that average allowance is minimum $ 2500 per person, the monthly unemployment allowance alone will $2500x 6.3 millions = $ 16 billions per month or $192 billions per year. At the same time, another interviewee was claiming that American productivity is highest in the world. What a joke? You are paying $192 billions to Americans for doing nothing, how could they have highest level of productivity. People say anything on the CNBC and those anchors go on beaming broad smiles.
sadiq
6 Aug 09 at 6:49 AM
Kalidasji.. wonderful article Sir..
i took a printout of this on 1st aug.. n took a copy home and i told my wife read this article.. but u know women n shares.. then i told u also have cosmetic tips in this article than she asked which paragraph.. i told u read n find it urselves.. at the end of reading she found more useful stuff than expected.. such is the quality of this article.. thanks Anilji.. i told i will read this article once in 2weeks – thank you Anilji..
*This article is for anybody..
Ramesh, Vizag
6 Aug 09 at 5:59 AM
hi ,
Very different and knowledgeable article…
Please tell me how Oil stocks move acc. to the global price of Crude Oil . If Crude oil price increases then Oil stocks decreases or increases..and How gold as commodity and inflation changes stock market…
Which stocks u can advice which can bring profits in near future?
Is it risky to invest in the current market situation (4700 levels)?
thank U
Gaurav
Kalidas says …Thursday, August 06, 2009
I do not read the index much, except as passing reference. Take the picture of a human being. He has two limbs and two legs. If 4 different people pull from their direction, where he will go – to who is the strongest.
If dollar falls, the oil and gold rise, and if rupee rises, then the price of gold and oil will rise less than world markets. One has to read all factors together, not in isolation.
I go for the stocks which have developed strong fundamentals and are on the beginning phase of rise. It is never easy to find that situation. To me, the stocks like Hotel Leela, Spicejet, Dish TV, Petronet, Tata coffee, and some financial stocks. It is enough if we know about 10 or 12 stocks.
Gaurav
6 Aug 09 at 5:06 AM
Hi ,
I m a young investor.
1.Currently Holding Hero Honda 10 @ 1700 and Airtel 10 @ 400 and wht abt ur views on it..
2.Invested in Adani IPO and planning to go 4 NHPC IPO..Plz throw some light on it…
3.Planning to buy SpiceJet,IRB infra,Satyam,SBI…Please advice on these shares..
Please tell me the buy signals also…
I m a short term investor.
Thanks & Regards,
Prateek
Kalidas says …Thursday, August 06, 2009
You have come to a wrong place. I do not trade on daily basis, you are. You look at the price more than the company – I am other way round. I do not necessarily follow all stocks. I select the industry due for growth first and then select the best stock within that category. Unless I am sure of doubling the money in 2 years, I do not invest there. This is why I look at mid cap, not blue chips. Other stocks will be commented from time to time in this column.
Prateek
6 Aug 09 at 4:57 AM
Dear Shri Selarka,
In investments, how to differentiate between greed and patience? If I have invested x amount and am getting a return of say 20%. Would waiting for +30% be patience or greed.
Kind regards
Vineet
Delhi, India
Kalidas says …Thursday, August 06, 2009
Good question. Reaping higher price and holding with reasonable expectation is not called greed. When the stock has gained 3 to 4 times, then he has to sell half of it, so that his risk capital is withdrawn. If one has bought the stock at very low price in severest market correction, then evey 400% return is not enough. If one has taken lot of time and research to enter a particular stock, he has to hold it longer.
The greed develops when one wants to sell the stock at the highest level. Once he has seen the price of Rs 36, he would not be willing to sell at Rs 35. The best principle in the stocks is when you feel like selling, just sell. do not wait in the line. What makes the difference when you bought the stock at Rs 30 and selling at Rs 71 when the stock has already shown day high at Rs 74? This is why I mentioned in the article “How to Invest into anything” that an investor has to be large hearted. You have to leave something on the table.
When you go for lunch and dinner in a restaurant or at home,do you eat every grain and lick the plate? No, similarly do not try to make every dollar.
When I bought Bank of India at Rs 10 to 13, I had set the target at Rs 250 and informed my best clients that your entire capital will be recovered in the dividend alone. With BOI trading at Rs 300 or more, what is the return? I did not wait that long and sold majority of shares below Rs 32, because my children were studying in USA and I had to pay for their bills.
I bought IFCI at 10 to 13, IOB at Rs 10 to 16, Syndicate bank at Rs 10 to 13, MRPL at Rs 8, SAIL at Rs 5 etc, The brokers were laughing at me when I was buying when the Sensex was at 2780. Holding stocks over long time is not greed if it is backed by some calculation or basis. It is called patience.
When I buy the stock on certain presumptions in very large companies like BPCL, HPCL, IOC, ITC, Petronet, GAIL, GSPL etc, I take the long term view of the stock and the industry. You have to read all. Can you believe that I bought Essar Shipping at Rs 41 to 51 at one time and sold at Rs 170 to 220 progressively. I did not anticipate that much rise, but I made money initially by planning and then by accident what the people call “luck”
Vineet
6 Aug 09 at 12:10 AM
Kalidas ji,
Personally, I really liked this article even more than the ones you wrote earlier.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and wisdom with all of us.
Rajesh
Mumbai, India
Rajesh
4 Aug 09 at 2:53 AM
Kalidasji,
WOW!
Really a nice article very down to earth and still having the big picture with simple & ready to accept by everyone solutions of investment.
Awaiting your various views which we can assimilate in our Heart, Mind and Body to reinforce and built a good future.
Regards
Ashish (Mumbai)
Ashish
3 Aug 09 at 11:26 PM
Dear Anil Sir,
DHANYAWAD for your prompt reply.I thank you for your encouragement.I am grateful to my father for introducing me to your articles.I will surely work out your strategy.I will always stay in touch and I will also need your valuable advice when I acquire more pocket money in the future.
With Best Regards,
Your Sincere SHISHYA,
Kosaraju Akhila
KOSARAJU AKHILA
3 Aug 09 at 9:26 AM
Kalidas,
Need your guidance on a personal matter.Please mail me your ID.
Deekay,
Indore
03/08/2009
Kalidas Says …. Monday, August 03, 2009
send me to readers.kalidas@gmail.com
deekay
3 Aug 09 at 12:50 AM
Dear Sir,
I’m very much enlightened by reading your article. The technique which you mentioned above for concentration really works best. I had come across one article on Swa-Sanmohan in newspaper some years back. I found it very interesting, and went on to purchase some books on the same topic. I followed it and it helped me a lot in my study during my 12th Std. Today I am working at L&T and the success so far in my life could have been limited, had I not done the Swa-Sanmohan exercise regularly. Your article is really inspiring and would request the readers to follow the routine you have mentioned. Eagerly awaiting your next article.
Regards,
Shivanand Patil
Pune
Kalidas Says …. Monday, August 03, 2009
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Shivanand Patil
3 Aug 09 at 12:45 AM
Dear Mr. Selarka,
Read through your article. I liked it.
I would like to digest the whole and assimilate it into my system.
Thank you for thinking about others!
Sincerely,
Balasubramanian
Kalidas Says …. Monday, August 03, 2009
Do not forget to share your experience.
S Balasubramanian
2 Aug 09 at 9:38 AM
Dear Anil Sir,
I am K.Akhila of 13 years and I live in Saudi Arabia. Today my father introduced me to your article and I am very inspired by your thoughts. I would like to know the appropriate age would be for investing. I have about Rs 10,000 as pocket money and I have invested in IFCI at Rs 16.Iwouldalso like to know the field which is good for investment. I am truly inspired and also very lucky to have read such a wonderful article. I would like to thank you for your concentration technique which would help me even in my studies.
Thank You for enlightening us.
With Best Regards,
Kosaraju Akhila
Kalidas Says …. Monday, August 03, 2009
Wow, you really gave me the real award. I am at 61 and never invested even a single cent or rupees until I reached the age of 39 when I left the bank to become a stock broker.
I am extremely happy to deal with a young investor like you. I really feel younger when I am replying to you. Age has nothing to do with the investment. The money only sees where it is going from where, not from whom to whom. This is why money is round and rolls.
You are a great investor. To save the money out of pocket expenses is a great feat. That is the first sign of a real investor. A real investor risks his hard earned and saved capital. You scored here, and have beaten even me in this game. We will also learn a lot from young investor like you.
Try to cash in your IFCI holding in next few days. There is no level set. The stocks usually move very slowly in 50 to 60 range, the reason is not understood even by me after long and consistent thinking over the years.
Is your Rs 10000 the original value or present market value? If it is a original value, then correct market value will be Rs 33,000 or about (625 shares). Now do the following:
Sell 525 shares of IFCI. You will recover capital + profit. What remains is your floating profit. You may make less, but never lose capital – that is your first lesson and achievement. 200 shares of IB Retails @ 28 (Rs 5600). This is enough. If you want, you may sell IFCI remaining later and stay liquid for a while (or buy Gold ETF of Quantum)
The above stocks may grow with you. May be there is some pitfall at times, but do not worry. You will make yourself a great investor in years to come.
Buy 300 shares of Spicejet @ Rs 20 (Rs 6000), 80 shares of Satyam ! Rs 103 (Rs 8000), 100 shares of Petronet @ Rs 71 (Rs 7100)(Do not sell it until it reaches Rs 160 at least),
KOSARAJU AKHILA
1 Aug 09 at 11:34 AM
Dear sir beautifull one. I am ready with full vigor/energy/fresh but need to wait till 11 th
Sir by the way you said you will visit India after book is published. When are you coming?
rgds
Shiva
Bangalore
Shiva
31 Jul 09 at 9:19 PM
Dear Sir,
Thanks for a wonderful Article!
I have a silly question for you on concentration before a lighted candle. Should we just look into the tip of the candle without eye’s blinking or should we also try to concentrate our mind on a particular thing?
Regards,
Shankar
Atlanta GA
Kalidas Says …. Saturday, August 01, 2009
1. Sit about 4 feet away from the candle.
2. Allow as many thoughts to enter your mind. They will reduce.
3. Your eye will focus automatically on the tip. First focus on the flame, and make sure that there is no wind disturbance. If there is slightest of moving air around, the tip will fluctuate. your eyes will automatically follow those movements.
4. If possible, place cotton plugs into your ear so that external noise do not dusturb you. The idea is you should talk and listen within.
4. You can think of anything that you like while looking at the flame. that will help you focus better. There are two aspects – one looking at the flame and other thinking process that takes place in mind. It is like multi-tasking computer where two or more programs work simultaneously in same operating system.
Shankar
31 Jul 09 at 2:54 PM