Best time to understand love and its power, says Marty Varnadoe Dow We might have missed the deeper meaning of Valentines Day by singling out romantic love as the focus of this days ultimate meaning. Love is multifaceted. It is more than emotion. Love is a force that can motivate, create, heal and transform the lives of anyone it touches . Many of us have forgotten that this day was created to recognize a saint. Over time, Valentines Day has become blended with two other ancient Roman holidays Lupercalis and Juno both associated with romance. However, Saint Valentines life exemplifies a broader...

When we are afflicted with a disease like malaria, we dont treat each symptom like fever, pain and shivering , one by one. We just treat the disease and the symptoms automatically vanish. So deal directly with the mind and symptoms like stress and strain will disappear. Vishvas meditation is mind management. There is no attempt, however, to control the mind; the idea is to go beyond it. The mind is compared to a monkey drunk with the wine of desire, stung by the scorpion of jealousy and possessed with the demon of pride. Lust, greed, jealousy, anger, ego, tensions, reactions , grudges, depression,...

Her smile beckons me; it is captivating, friendly and full of warmth. She cuts the paddy stalks rhythmically with the other womenfolk labouring under the harsh afternoon sun. They giggle as i wave out to them and ask if i can join them in their work. The woman with the warm smile shyly points out that such hard work is not for the likes of me. The rest start laughing. I too join in the laughter, in response to the simple truth of my inability to swiftly cut paddy stalks with the sun burning my back. Theres so much hard work, harsh circumstances , and little leisure in this remote tribal hamlet....

Get a makeover: Believe it or not, grooming yourself can make a huge difference to your selfimage . Get a new hair cut, buy some figure-flattering clothes or simply shower and shave, and feel the difference . Dressing well and looking presentable at all times is important. Be positive: Having a negative self image can drag you down. Learn to replace your negative thoughts with positive ones. If you feel you are a pathetic dancer, take it upon yourself to learn a dance form. Take small steps to dispel your fears. Know yourself: Get to know your abilities and your shortcomings. No matter...

Most of us would say that we do have free will. We can do anything we wish. If we want to wear a red shirt instead of a blue one, we can. If we want to eat a sandwich instead of a pizza, we can. If we want to take off from work and sit at home today, we can. If we want to marry the girl or boy we love, we can. If we have enough money, we can buy any house, car or gadget. Likewise, we can travel wherever we want to. Obviously, it looks as if free will exists. All the choices that we make are from the act of exercising the will. How free is free will Whatever we call free will or choice is finally...