Design your Life

Prof. K. K. Saxena
Professor of Economics
Indian Institute of Technology
Kanpur
A person asked God, “What surprises you most
about mankind?”

God answered, “ That they lose their health to

make money and then lose their money to
restore their health. That by thinking anxiously
about their future they forgot the present, such
that they live neither in present nor in future.
That they live as if they will never die and they
die as if they had never lived.”
• We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced
our values. We talk too much, love too seldom,
and hate too much. We have learned how to make
a living, but not a life; we have added years to life
not life to years.

• We have been all the way to moon and back, but

have trouble crossing the street to meet the new
neighbor.

• We have conquered outer space, but not inner

space; we have split the atom, but not our
prejudices. We have higher incomes but lower
morals; we have become long on quantity but
short on quality.

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• The paradox of our time in history is that…
we have taller buildings, but shorter
tempers; wider freeways but narrower
viewpoint; we spend more, but have less;
we buy more, but enjoy it less.

• We have bigger houses and smaller

families; more conveniences, but less time;
we have more degrees, but less sense;
more knowledge but less judgment; more
experts but less solutions; more medicines
but less wellness.

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• These are the times of tall men, and
short character; steep profits, and
shallow relationships. These are the
times of world peace, but domestic
warfare; more leisure, but less fun;
more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

• These are days of two incomes, but

more divorces; of fancier houses, but
broken homes. It is a time when there is
much in show window and nothing in
the stock room.
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 Our lives – Present Scenario

People have success, but no contentment

People have power, but no peace of mind

People have money, but no health & happiness

People have intelligence, but no values
People have relations, but no harmony
People have families, but no love

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Our lives Today

We have as much
control and balance in
our lives as a puppet in
the hands of the
puppeteer even
though we may think
otherwise.

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• The source of current problems seems
to be an emphasis on materialism
including physical facilities, glamour,
consumerist lifestyle, and a false sense
of satisfaction in competition and one
man ship.

• We are faced with major problems of

Crime, Terrorisms, Violence, War,
Corruption, Exploitation, Domination
etc.

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All these problems are the reflection of
one basic problem-
Lack of Definitive Human Conduct
/Behaviour and unawareness of one’s
own self.

Some tips!

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 Moderation, the Best Policy

Life is a great privilege, and an immense

responsibility too.
To know the right measure in food, speech, sleep and
all activities is the key to live a balanced life. Then
alone we rise to greater heights of service and
fulfillment.
Through understanding and gentle self persuasion, we
can bring true order into our living.
We need to understand the meaning of self control
and discipline.
Neither condemning nor pampering, we ought to
educate our senses and train them to serve higher
values of life.
 Act, Do not React
Action is the very sign of life. Act, we must till our
last breath.
Reaction, on the other hand, is with the foul smell of
a hurt ego.
Right actions better situation. An egoistic reaction
worsens problems.
As we look at problems objectively, with a silent and
alert mind, we come upon the right action.
If our assessment is clouded with personal likes and
dislikes, our words and actions lead us to more
entanglements and complications.
Let us find out the frame of mind, free from pride and
prejudices, where alone there is fragrance of right
action.
 Living with No Regret
Memories are often a great trap.
We believe that we learn from the past and build the
future with care. But alas, the past overpowers us and
makes us sink in sorrow or burn in revengefulness.
Violence serve no end. Self-hurting does not help
either.
Memories, in the first place, are of questionable value
as they are limited, outdated and mostly products of
certain interpretation. They do not hold truth in
them.
Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, and
TODAY is God’s present to us.
In an inner awakening, regrets evaporate like mist in
the morning sun.
 Taking charge of our lives
• We need to be able to introspect and lead our-
selves to higher destinies
• We need to understand our strengths and over-
come our challenges in taking us towards this
higher destiny awaiting us.
• Hence we need to bring about a balance
internally which shall manifest in our actions
externally.

Let us assess what we have in our favour to

enable us to reach this higher destiny ?

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 External Qualities

Much like the tip of the Iceberg which is only 10% of

the Iceberg mass, external qualities is what is
perceived of us by others. External qualities is the
manifestation of our ability to regulate our thoughts,
deeds and actions by which those around us are
motivated to follow us. This 10% that others see
can be construed as what we can call to be our
“CHARACTER”.
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Internal Qualities
Much as the 10% of the
Iceberg that we see derives
its strength from the 90%
which is below the water and
hence un-seen, our external
qualities is a reflection of
our internal qualities
qualities like our value
system, beliefs and attitudes.

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 How do we build Internal Qualities ?

Look within
• Self-Discovery
• Introspection
• Contemplation
• Meditation

Seek within

What you are?

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 In each person for perfection two energies
needed:
 First is the energy of spirit, the energy
of calm spirituality represented by
Krishna (Atman)
 Second is the energy of intense and
effective action represented by Arjuna
(Human Body)
 This represents the combination of
contemplation and action.
The Understanding of these two energies
help us in designing our life which will be
a perfect one 17
 In Gita Krishna says, “Raise yourself by
yourself, do not allow to be weakened, for
you are your friend and your are your own
enemy.”
(VI. 5,6)