Causes Of Low Self-esteem

What is self-esteem?

Everyone holds opinions about the type of person that they are. These opinions are at the heart of self-esteem and they affect how you feel about and value yourself. Self-esteem is not static and fixed; your beliefs about yourself can change throughout your life as a result of circumstance and experience.

If you have low self-esteem these beliefs will often be negative. You may focus on what you feel are your weaknesses, and mistakes that you have made.

If you have high self-esteem, you will generally see yourself in a positive light.
You might find that life events such as losing your job, ending a relationship or being bereaved give your confidence a huge knock, but high self-esteem can act as a buffer to absorb these knocks and help you bounce back.
Your beliefs make the difference between high and low self-esteem. It is important to realize that these are only opinions, they are not facts. They can be biased or inaccurate, and there are steps you can take to change them.

What causes low self-esteem?

It is not possible to point to one cause of low self-esteem for everyone, because each of us follows a different path through life. The formation of your core beliefs about yourself is a complex process.

Your own inborn nature or temperament will play a role, but your experiences and relationships with the people around you also have an important part to play.

Negative experiences in childhood are often particularly damaging to self-esteem. In your early years your personality and sense of self is being formed, and harmful experiences can leave you feeling that you are not valued or important. You have not had a chance to build up any resilience, so this negative view can become the one that you believe about yourself.

Significant negative experiences in adult life can also shake core beliefs and cause them to change. This will normally happen over time and you might not realize at first that your self-esteem is being lowered. Experiences that commonly impact on people’s beliefs include:

• being subject to abuse – sexual, emotional or physical, and the loss of control associated with this
• having your physical and emotional needs neglected in childhood
• failing to meet the expectations of your parents
• feeling like the 'odd one out' at school
• coming from a community which often experiences prejudice, such as being an asylum seeker, or being poor but living in a wealthy neighbourhood
• peer pressure to conform to social norms which you don't agree with
• bullying or excessive pressures at work
• trauma
• physical ill-health – its impact on your quality of life and activities you can do
• bereavement
• facing redundancy or being unemployed
• social isolation and loneliness.  

The way you feel about experiences such as these will depend on lots of other factors, but negative core beliefs about your intelligence, appearance and abilities will often be formed

German Shepherd Dogs

Introduction:

German Shepherds are fierce but friendly, and have a calm confidence that may seem kind of aloof. When in need, however, a German Shepherd is instantly ready to protect, play a game or perform a task—in some cases as a guard dog, police dog, herder or seeing eye dog. With a strong work ethic and an eager intelligence, they crave challenges.

History:

 The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed, almost entirely developed in the 20th century. Attempting to create a standard herding dog for his country, German breeder Capt. Max von Stephanitz invented the Deutsche Schäferhunde in 1899 from a mix of early shepherd dogs having various coat lengths, textures, body types and colors. Stephanitz’s aim was to develop a standard sheep-herding dog with the solid intelligence and work ethic to assist farm workers and laborers as well as police and soldiers. Standardized in Germany in 1901, the German Shepherd came to America in 1907 and flourished with the help of organizations like the German Shepherd Dog Club of America.

Quick Facts

• weight: 60 - 85 pounds
• height: 23 - 25 inches 

Ideal Human Companions

• Energetic people
• Active families
• Disciplinarians
• A-Type Personalities

Trademark Traits

• Handsome and well-built
• Intelligent and eager
• Loyal
• Hard-working
• Strong-willed and fearless
• Obedient and protective
• Handy                                 

Sewa or Spiritual Service

 The spiritual knowledge and the personal experiences gained through the first three subjects are shared with the fellow souls through personal contact,through collective contacts as in Fairs and exhibitions,rallies or yatras,campaigns for different sectors of society like youth and women;through institutional programmes like seminars,conferences,meditation camps:through Radio and T.V.programmes,print media,helpline, and of course through internet. Different professional groups are served through different wings of the Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation.There is a special research group called SpARC,i.e the Spiritual Application Research Centre which initiates and executes in-depth studies on various aspects of spiritual knowledge spanning all the four subjects of the curriculum.

While talking on human consciousness on January 6, 2005 Dr.Deepak Chopra of USA said:" In my knowledge, the most profound information about consciousness and its functioning is in the 'Yog Vasistha' wherein Vasistha teaches about consciousness to Ram Vasisth's teaching about incarnations of God is a beautiful metaphor for all of us. It is that, every one has the divinity within,but we have forgotten. The key to that divinity is to remember. The remembrance comes through 'Satsang - Good Company', 'Seva - Service', and Simiran - Remembrance of God......

Manakamana Temple

Manakamana is temple of Durga Bhawani (Hindu Goddess), situated in Gorkha District of Nepal. Manakamana means the “wishes”. It is believed that Goddess Manakaman fulfills the wishes of ones who worship her with pure heart. It is very true when someone wish something from the heart; it is fulfilled by the God.

Manakamana temple is situated at about 1300 meters at a top of a hill surround by a small village community. It is about 9 Km north-east of the town of Mugling and at about 90 Km West from Kathmandu and East from Pokhara.

How to reach Manakamana

Transportation to Manakamana : Bus takes three to four hours from Kathmandu or Pokhara. Generally micro buses and mini buses run to Kurintar. One can take bus in transit from east/west (Janakpur, Kakadbhitta, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj) to Kathmandu or Kathmandu to east/west. 

There was transportation to Abu Khaireni until the cable car was installed. And people walk uphill for 3 hours to reach Manakamana temple. Now, the cable car operates from Kurintar. Cable car takes 10-12 minutes to reach the top.

The cable car generally operates during the day time (9 a.m. to 5 p.m). It stops for a lunch break from 12.00 to 13.30. In festive occasions and on Saturdays and holidays it starts operations an hour before schedule time.

The charge is US$10 (tax extra) for foreigners, and Rs. 250 plus tax for Nepalese people. However, there is no method of separating foreigners from Nepalese other than self declaration by the tourist. The sacrificing animal especially goat is also charged Rs. 140 one way fare. Cock can be carried together with the passengers. 

Worship and sacrifices

Manakamana is Hindu Goddess so she is worshiped with offerings of flower, sound, scent, dress, make-ups and colors. There is a tradition of sacrificing animals at the temple. Devotees stand in line for even for 5-10 hours during festivals. The line started from the temple gate reach longer than few kilometers sometimes. People can be seen standing in line with pooja samagri (worship materials) in hand and some of them carrying duck, cock or goat with them. People seem to enjoy standing in the line without food, some even with no water.

Pooja Samagri (worship and offering materials) for Manakamana

As per hindu mythology all objects in this universe is consists of five cosmic elements the earth, water, fire, air and ether or space or sky. Therefore the arrangement of pooja samagri is done on the basis of these elements then it helps in balancing and regulating the activated five cosmic elements in the universe. The worshipper then gets the maximum benefit both manifest and unmanifest frequencies emitted from the god and goddess. 

Devi is worshiped with the same elements, and in Nepal there is a tradition to offer cloth (bastra) to god and goddess. Especially red is considered as saubhagya (long life in Nepal) so Devi is offered almost everything in Red color. 

The pooja thali should contain at least the following in a puja basket along with pancha patro,

1. Abir (kumkum) for saubhagya

2. Kesar represents earth

3. Flower and Leaves 

4. Dhup for Scent (Fragnace)

5. Diyo for light

6. Cloth (Bastra or Dress) and mirror

7. Fruit and Foods for Prasad (Coconut and sweet deserts)

8. Bell for sound

9. Betel nut and janai

10. Little amount of rice (anna, grain)

The priest takes the pooja material when devotee reaches near the Devi statue and he offers their pooja samagri to goddess and returns the same after offering her. People do Sankalpa (vow) and Bhakal (resolution) in the temple. The priest asks the devotees if they have any vow or resolution for which they are in the temple to offer. If they have any, the priest offers the pooja materials to Goddess in the name of Sankalpa and Bhakal of the devotee. People make resolution at the temple and when their wish is fulfilled they go to see the goodness Burga Bhavani, Manakamana Mata, again to offer their gratitude.

Accommodation  

There are motels, hotels and lodges around Manakamana Temple. A single room cost from Rs. 100 to Rs 600 depending upon facilities one wants to avail. In cold days, most of hotels are closed but open sufficient enough to hold the guests at the winter. 

Walking or Trekking to Manakamana 

There is a way to walk from Gorkha to Manakamana, passing along the hill-top ridge through forest and paddy. It takes about 8 hours walk to cross the river, hills and the forest.  You can reach with a simple compass. There are few rivers in the way, the bridges are often broken. Therefore, it is better to be careful, or it is best not to hike in rainy seasons. 

You can walk from bank of Marsyandi River from Abu Khaireni. It takes about 3 hours to reach the top. It was old path before the cable car started its operation. 

Manakamana is also famous for the sweet juicy small oranges (Tangerine). The hill of Manakamana is full of oranges in the season. 

Story behind Manakamana

History of Manakamana

It is said queen of Ram Shah was a goddess. It is only known to her devotee. Even, king was unaware of it.  Ram Shah is king Gorkha born in AD 1614.  One day the king found his queen in goddess incarnation. He told this to Lakhan Thapa. King dies instantly, in AD 1636. The queen went Sati (commit cremation with the husband's pyre as per custom of that time). Lakhan Thapa objected and dismayed on her Sati. The queen convinced him that she would reappear again. In six months after queen’s death, Lakhan Thapa heard news that a farmer hit a stone while he ploughs his field and a stream of blood and milk came out from the stone.  Immediately, he started performing Hindu tantric rituals and worship (hom and pooja) at the place. As soon the flow of blood and milk ceased, he established it as Manakamana Mai. It later on grew as Manakamana Temple. The current priest at the temple is the 17th generation descendant of Lakhan Thapa. Manakamana is only one of very few of its kind of temples where priest is from Magar community of Nepal.

 

 

 

 

Recipe for Chicken Kathi roll

Introduction: This delicious dish is easily put together and really tasty. It originated in Kolkatta/ Calcutta and is often called the Calcutta Kati Roll. Juicy morsels of spicy chicken are wrapped in Paratha that has been coated with egg! It is best, to ensure smooth workflow, to make the parathas and chutney required for the rolls (see ingredient list), before you prepare the chicken. That way, when the chicken is ready, all you need to do is assemble the rolls!

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsps vegetable/ canola/ sunflower cooking oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 large onion sliced thinly
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 1 tbsp ginger paste
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp garam masala powder (see link below for recipe)
• 300 gms boneless, skinless chicken cut into 2" cubes/ pieces
• 3 tomatoes chopped fine
• Salt to taste
• 6 Parathas (see link below for recipe to make these pan fried flabreads)
• 6 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable/ canola/ sunflower cooking oil
• 1/2 cup Mint-Coriander Chutney

Preparation:

• Heat the oil (3 tbsps) in a deep pan on medium heat. When hot, add the cumin seeds and fry for a minute.
• Add the sliced onions and fry till soft. Add garlic and ginger pastes and fry for 1 minute. Now add all spice powders (including garam masala) and fry until oil begins to separate from the masala (spice-onion mix).
• Add the chicken pieces and brown. Add the tomato and salt to taste. Stir well and add 1/2 cup of water. Cook till chicken is tender. There should be almost no gravy at this stage.
• Heat a frying pan on low heat and add a tablespoon of oil to it. While the oil is heating, break an egg in a bowl. Season with salt to taste and whisk the egg till fluffy. Pour onto the pan and spread by tilting the pan from side to side. Now quickly put a Paratha onto the still 'wet' egg and allow to cook. The egg will soon cook and 'set'. This is when you flip the egg-paratha over. Cook for 30 seconds and remove from the pan.
• To assemble the rolls: Lay one egg-paratha on a plate and spread Mint-Coriander Chutney on it. How much is a matter of personal choice. Now add roughly 2 tbsps of the cooked chicken in a line down the center of the paratha. Roll tightly. You can wrap in foil at this stage, to help keep the lot together and tidy for eating - the filling can fall out otherwise. Serve hot.

How to attain power of silence?

In order to taste the power of silence ,you have to start with spiritual meditation...you have to rest in the deep thought: "I am a peaceful soul....the point source of sentient metaphysical energy that resides within the brain...regulate the physical energies of the body.... I now transcend to my bodiless stage moving out of the brain.... I the bodiless soul(Videhi) station myself....eight inches above the head within the auric field.... Now I am an embodiment of all the seven attributes of the soul and God, the Supreme Soul.... In the bodiless state I move to my original abode....the soul world...called Shanti Dham in a fraction of a second.... sweet silence reigns over here...there is no vibrations of thought-sound of motion here... I am in the close contact with my Supreme Father God Shiva.... the eternal source of all the seven spiritual energies...bliss...wisdom...peace..love..joy...purity..spiritual powers... I am being able to perceive those energies... as the hues of VIBGYOR... I see violent photons of Shiva Baba merging with those of mine to form a strong violent photon field of bliss ....this energy field of bliss spreads over the universe.... kindles like-photon fields of bliss in innumerable souls... such photon fields unite....to create waves of bliss.I repeat this process of visualization perception,reception and distribution with indigo photons of knowledge,blue photons of peace , green photons of love , yellow photons joy, orange photons of purity and red photons of spiritual powers...."

     Apart from practice of meditation , we have to realize that there cannot be even an iota of silence and peace if our mind hankers after sense of objects.When these wordly carving and desire cease to push and pull the mind, the mind becomes calm.In order to attain the superb state of silence we should have this truth firmly rooted in our mind that objects are perishable and sensual pleasures are momentary.We should develop cosmic love, kindness, forgiveness,non-attachment and sweetness of temper;should not allow the waves of irritability,jealous,hatred and revenge to overtake us;for this we should look to the lighter side of the events and persons.When you consider the self as an instrument in the hands of God and maintain you link with Him ,you will always swing in silence and bliss.Then disturbance will never touch you. To be in a state of peace,follow the dictum. 'Don't think evil' ; don't talk evil; don't see evil, don't hear evil.Whatever is based on body consciousness is evil, such as thoughts, words and deeds deprive us of silence or peace, our original state of being.

Self-sovereignty and The Law of Entropy

    The Law of Entropy is the second law of thermodynamics that says;"All energy in an isolated system moves from an"ordered" to a "disordered"state. Self-sovereignty prevailed in the Golden Age and Silver Age because there was the highest concentration of energy(both physical and metaphysical) and hence maximum order prevailed in the spiritual and physical realms. This state is called Satopradhan. In this state entropy is minimum and available energy is maximum and there was a complete harmony between physical and metaphysical energies because of soul-consciousness in the deities. The deities of the Golden and Silver age lost their self-sovereignty through gradual dissipation of metaphysical energies through thought,speech and actions of 2,500 years i.e.half of Kalpa of 5000 years as revealed by Golden Shiva.
    Thus, at the beginning of the Copper Age the deities of the Golden Age had already 50% of their spiritual energy like the warning of the moon. The full moon (Deities of Golden Age) is said that to be replete with 16 Kalas which are reduced to 8 by the end of the Silver Age. As the intellect (the emperor)is weakened, it is incapable of exercising control over through process and uncontrolled mental activity drains away the scarce metaphysical energy much faster.Dissipation of metaphysical energy has a direct impact on the depletion of physical energy through uncontrolled industrial and domestic activity leading to enormous increase in environmental pollution(entropy). The disorder and chaos of the present world is indicative of the maximum entropy that prevails at the end of Iron Age.At this juncture God, the eternal power house that is beyond the lay of entropy, intervenes to re-charge human souls with the spiritual energies of knowledge, peace, love, joy, purity, power and bliss. Restoration of these primary functions attributes of the souls leads to re-emergence of the secondary qualities of divine virtues and the tertiary qualities of spiritual/human values in the human relations,bringing harmony in society and peace in the environment. Thus the energy cycle restarts with maximum potential at the end of the Confluence Age or the beginning of the Golden Age.