Mr. K. Vijayaraghavan is a student of yoga and classical music besides ancient/modern writings of the East and the West. He had served in the Indian Revenue Service before resigning in 1987 after about 12 years service while serving as Deputy Collector of Customs and Central Excise.
On the subject of spirituality, yoga, meditation and personality development, he is the author of about 400 articles articles, which had appeared (almost every Monday) in the ‘Cosmic Uplink’ (previously entitled, ‘Spiritual Quotient’) column of ‘Economic Times’ (commencing from May 2005 and concluding in March 2013). He had also written more than 100 articles in ‘The Hindu’ on different topics- mainly analysing critically the laws and procedures in the Customs and Central Excise, suggesting also solutions for the widespread complexities and corruption in these departments of the government. He has also written articles for 'Indian Express'
Mr. Vijayaraghavan has also lectured for various institutes, besides conducting courses on yoga, relaxation, stress management etc. He resides at 1C, ‘Ramaniam Krithika’; 16, Tirumurugan Street, Kalakshetra Colony, Chennai 600090[Phones: 24913444, 24464535, 9884875691]. His e-mail id is: kvyoga@gmail.com
Articles of Mr. Vijayaraghavan can be viewed in the Economic Times epaper. After clicking on the link- http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=ETM&showST=true&login=default&pub=ET&Enter=true&Skin=ETNEW and on selecting any particular date for Economic Times Delhi edition (Mr. Vijayaraghavan's articles usually appear on Mondays), the 'Cosmic Uplink' page can be selected by clicking on the 'Editorial' link on the right column.
As an illustration
1) To view the article on March 7, 2011 ("Doing" and "Being"), first click on the link- http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=ETM&showST=true&login=default&pub=ET&Enter=true&Skin=ETNEW. Go to the date column and select the date as March 7, 2011, and select Economic Times Delhi edition. Then click on 'Editorial' in the right column. You should be able to find the 'Cosmic Uplink' column in this page.
2)To view the article on August 15, 2011 (What is 'Truth'?), first click on the link- http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=ETM&showST=true&login=default&pub=ET&Enter=true&Skin=ETNEW. Go to the date column and select the date as August 15, 2011, and select Economic Times Delhi edition. Then click on 'Editorial' in the right column. You should be able to find the 'Cosmic Uplink' column in this page.
3) To view the article on October 25, 2010 (Established always in your true self), first click on the link- http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=ETM&showST=true&login=default&pub=ET&Enter=true&Skin=ETNEW. Go to the date column and select the date as October 25, 2010 and select Economic Times Delhi edition. Then click on 'Editorial' in the right column. You should be able to find the 'Cosmic Uplink' column in this page.
Below posts contain some samples of Mr. Vijayaraghavan's articles.
Copies of any particular articles could be obtained by contacting Mr. Vijayaraghavan at kvyoga@gmail.com
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Article in 'Cosmic Uplink' coulmn dt. 10/5/2010
Take time off to
“stand and stare”
W. H Davies lamented, “What is this life if, full of care,/We have no time to stand and stare?”.
Centuries before, the Bible assured, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms: 46, 10). Indeed, it is in this inward silence and stillness within, generated often by the art of letting go and not doing anything in particular for the needed time, that much creativity resides. It is in this that solutions and answers also are to be found to many vexing situations and problems.
Confounded by the problem of determining genuineness of gold, Archimedes found the answer, not when he was feverishly searching for it, but when he was ‘standing and staring’, as if, relaxed in his bath tub. The molecular structure of benzene flashed to Kekule in his dream, while, diverted from his work, he was fast asleep.
In spite of pointers to the need to ‘let go’ and unwind at least once in a while, the insatiable ambition of man goes berserk, obsessed with work, more work and more and more work. Taking things easy, even once in a while, is often termed as ‘lotus eating’ and sloth. It is often argued that human aspirations should be limitless and so should be the work and frenzy which, it is professed, should go with them!
True, aspirations and attendant strenuous work should mark any worthwhile life. However, moments snatched in between to “stand and stare”, often lend fulfilment and direction to true creativity. Besides pre empting physical and psychological burn out, these islets enable the creative mechanism within to correct, reorient and regroup itself. Unknown to the person, much work goes on within, during this time, whereby at the appropriate time, the sought after objectives and breakthrough are realised.
‘Standing and staring’ also finds expression through snatching moments of solitude or the ancient Indian prescription of not talking at all for a specified time (mouna vratha). The Tamil saint, Avvaiyar, when asked as to what was the sweetest experience, replied, “Solitude” (Ekantam).
Reflection, retrospection, meditation – these too are similar cushioning, soothing and healing expressions. However, all these are only supplements to dynamic, hard and effective work. These should not be ends in themselves. Indulged in the right manner, time and quantity, depending upon the makeup of each individual personality, these indeed are indispensible!
K. VIJAYARAGHAVAN
“stand and stare”
W. H Davies lamented, “What is this life if, full of care,/We have no time to stand and stare?”.
Centuries before, the Bible assured, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms: 46, 10). Indeed, it is in this inward silence and stillness within, generated often by the art of letting go and not doing anything in particular for the needed time, that much creativity resides. It is in this that solutions and answers also are to be found to many vexing situations and problems.
Confounded by the problem of determining genuineness of gold, Archimedes found the answer, not when he was feverishly searching for it, but when he was ‘standing and staring’, as if, relaxed in his bath tub. The molecular structure of benzene flashed to Kekule in his dream, while, diverted from his work, he was fast asleep.
In spite of pointers to the need to ‘let go’ and unwind at least once in a while, the insatiable ambition of man goes berserk, obsessed with work, more work and more and more work. Taking things easy, even once in a while, is often termed as ‘lotus eating’ and sloth. It is often argued that human aspirations should be limitless and so should be the work and frenzy which, it is professed, should go with them!
True, aspirations and attendant strenuous work should mark any worthwhile life. However, moments snatched in between to “stand and stare”, often lend fulfilment and direction to true creativity. Besides pre empting physical and psychological burn out, these islets enable the creative mechanism within to correct, reorient and regroup itself. Unknown to the person, much work goes on within, during this time, whereby at the appropriate time, the sought after objectives and breakthrough are realised.
‘Standing and staring’ also finds expression through snatching moments of solitude or the ancient Indian prescription of not talking at all for a specified time (mouna vratha). The Tamil saint, Avvaiyar, when asked as to what was the sweetest experience, replied, “Solitude” (Ekantam).
Reflection, retrospection, meditation – these too are similar cushioning, soothing and healing expressions. However, all these are only supplements to dynamic, hard and effective work. These should not be ends in themselves. Indulged in the right manner, time and quantity, depending upon the makeup of each individual personality, these indeed are indispensible!
K. VIJAYARAGHAVAN
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Practical Approach
to Life And Living
(Published in ‘The Economic Times’
(‘Spiritual Quotient’ column) on 28th May, 2005)
The noted British writer, Horace Walpole had written more than 200 years before – “………the world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel”. Applied to all those who aspire for a worthy life, it is of utmost importance to eliminate particular undesirables in life, including those relationships, friendships and associations, which merely serve to act as retarding influences. Right priorities would also point out to the need for being business-like, precise and matter-of-fact with regard to most situations, even if this may temporarily offend certain persons or make oneself unpopular. In fact, modern time management concepts also stipulate the use of the word ‘NO’ (tactfully yet firmly) to those invitations, involvements and transactions, which do not contribute to one’s aspirations in life. This therefore is a great fulfilling and time-saving technique
The concept of ‘enlightened selfishness’, whereby the seeker of excellence obtains for himself clear priorities basing on his actual needs and aspirations in life has been echoed very powerfully by the modern writer, Ayn Rand. Man’s moral purpose, she urges should be his own happiness with productive achievement as his noblest activity and reason as his only absolute. “Your life, your achievement, your happiness, your person are of paramount importance……. An exalted view of self-esteem is a man’s most admirable quality”, she observes.
Guideline on adopting the right and appropriate approach and attitude towards each situation, person, relationship and aspect in life has been set out with precise clarity in the ancient Sanskrit work of Pathanjali in his ‘Yoga Sutras’ -[I, 33]. He suggests that the attitude of friendship (maitri) should be adopted to all issues which would generate joy and peace (Sukha), attitude of compassion (Karuna) to the suffering and the weak (Dukah), attitude of delight (Muditah) to issues involving holiness, piety and the sublime (Punya) and the attitude of indifference (Upekshana) to the sinful and the bad (Apunya). Such an approach, he notes would confer lasting happiness and peace of mind (Chittaprasadanam).
Evolving into effectiveness, clarity and obtaining freedom from the retarding influences in life would primarily therefore require that these aspects in life should be identified and eliminated. Sneers, protests, unpopularity and possibly even estrangements in consequence of this attitude of profound wisdom and inner conviction, could easily be put up with in this process of obtaining for oneself goodness, enduring joy (Chittaprasadanam) and also newer and more meaningful associations which this new- found life and approach would bring in abundance.
K.VIJAYARAGHAVAN
to Life And Living
(Published in ‘The Economic Times’
(‘Spiritual Quotient’ column) on 28th May, 2005)
The noted British writer, Horace Walpole had written more than 200 years before – “………the world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel”. Applied to all those who aspire for a worthy life, it is of utmost importance to eliminate particular undesirables in life, including those relationships, friendships and associations, which merely serve to act as retarding influences. Right priorities would also point out to the need for being business-like, precise and matter-of-fact with regard to most situations, even if this may temporarily offend certain persons or make oneself unpopular. In fact, modern time management concepts also stipulate the use of the word ‘NO’ (tactfully yet firmly) to those invitations, involvements and transactions, which do not contribute to one’s aspirations in life. This therefore is a great fulfilling and time-saving technique
The concept of ‘enlightened selfishness’, whereby the seeker of excellence obtains for himself clear priorities basing on his actual needs and aspirations in life has been echoed very powerfully by the modern writer, Ayn Rand. Man’s moral purpose, she urges should be his own happiness with productive achievement as his noblest activity and reason as his only absolute. “Your life, your achievement, your happiness, your person are of paramount importance……. An exalted view of self-esteem is a man’s most admirable quality”, she observes.
Guideline on adopting the right and appropriate approach and attitude towards each situation, person, relationship and aspect in life has been set out with precise clarity in the ancient Sanskrit work of Pathanjali in his ‘Yoga Sutras’ -[I, 33]. He suggests that the attitude of friendship (maitri) should be adopted to all issues which would generate joy and peace (Sukha), attitude of compassion (Karuna) to the suffering and the weak (Dukah), attitude of delight (Muditah) to issues involving holiness, piety and the sublime (Punya) and the attitude of indifference (Upekshana) to the sinful and the bad (Apunya). Such an approach, he notes would confer lasting happiness and peace of mind (Chittaprasadanam).
Evolving into effectiveness, clarity and obtaining freedom from the retarding influences in life would primarily therefore require that these aspects in life should be identified and eliminated. Sneers, protests, unpopularity and possibly even estrangements in consequence of this attitude of profound wisdom and inner conviction, could easily be put up with in this process of obtaining for oneself goodness, enduring joy (Chittaprasadanam) and also newer and more meaningful associations which this new- found life and approach would bring in abundance.
K.VIJAYARAGHAVAN
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