Live, Live with Prosperity

Principled Simplicity

  M.B. Nirmal

Founder & Leader : ExNoRaManagement Trainer : Seventh Intelligence

Mr. Anandapadmanabhan was a born leader and was a living example for today's youth. He aspired and worked hard to change the life of today's youth, to make them more educated, prosperous, so that they become worthy citizens of tomorrow's India. He silently but meticulously taught among school children, that simplicity is the best virtue to excel in life. Though the God of death has being so cruel in taking away the life of our dear Anandapadmanabhan, he lives forever in our minds inspiring us to lead a life with simplicity. I dedicate this book with tears and fond remembrance, to the epitome of simplicity, my friend Anandapadmanabhan.

Title: Live, Live with ProsperityPrincipled simplicity Author: M.B. NirmalFounder & Leader: ExNoRaManagement Trainer : Seventh Intelligence Published by:Seventh Intelligence Publications20, Giriappa Salai, T. Nagar, Chennai 600017Tel: 91- 44- 2815 33 77/ 2475 95 77/ 98400 34 900.Email: mbnirmal@hotmail.com Original Tamil book titled, "வா�ழுங்கள், வாளத்துடன் வா�ழுங்கள் - இலட்சி�ய எள�மை�", of the same author Mr. M.B. Nirmal translated in English by 'REACH' J.Chandrasekaran

Forgetting gratitude is forbidden I owe my heartfelt thanks to those who helped in the original Tamil version:

Mrs. Lavanya Senthilkumar, who designed this book, which is sure to create history, in the e-publishing format. 'Navalar', Poet, 'Anagai' Mr. N. Sivan @ Sivalingam, who is our ExNoRa Senator. He did proof reading and editing. Mr. Shagul, of MOFA Enterprises, who computerized and digitized the Tamil edition. Mr. N.P. Manohar and Mr. P.G. Ramnath of Classic Printers, who brought out the printed edition of the Tamil book.

I dedicate… 

I do not believe in the proverb, "to make or destroy, it is the woman's

will". I respect womanhood. I believe in another proverb whole heartedly,

which says, "Wife is the gift by the Almighty".

 

There is a turning point in every man's life. His appearance, life style,

thinking, dress code - all go for a change during his marriage, or soon

after his marriage. The changes are of different types.

 

A good wife reforms bad thugs. Good simpleton turning to bad habits after

marriage is also common. There are instances, where one could not

withstand the lavish life style of a spendthrift wife, making him earn

money in unethical means. 

I remember an instance, when a bank officer, went to the jail to distribute

sweets to the prisoners. He was shocked to see his dear friend, a

Government official in higher position, among them! When asked about

how he came here, he said that he resorted to earn ill-gotten money to

buy silk saris for his wife!

I, the author of this book, was simple ever since I grew up. After marriage,

simplicity took strong roots in my family. My wife, a Postgraduate

practicing medico, also practiced simplicity. At present, she is the Deputy

Director of Madras Medical College. Nevertheless, she ever made her

position or fame affect her path of simplicity. She naturally possesses

simplicity as a jewel and her nature astonishes me!

Most of the days she travels by public transport. She also buys the

vegetables and groceries required on her way back home. She cleans the

home, sweeps the floor without engaging any servants. She travels by II

sleeper class only while traveling by train. She checks the price of any

commodity before she buys and settles with the one with the lowest price

tag. She never 'makes herself' up! Extravagance is never in her

vocabulary. She also gets along with others with simplicity and straight

forwardness.

 

I dedicate this book to my wife who is the simplest and modest woman in

my life. I am sure this book will bring happiness to countless people who

will enjoy reading this book and absorb the contents to enrich themselves

and their life.

 

With love and gratitude.

M. B. Nirmal

Author

Live, Live in ProsperityPrincipled simplicity Simplicity as goalExNoRa M.B. Nirmal Read this book once. Your live will change forever and rise higher!

Money that controls the world

Even though there are many problems in the world, that varies from person to

person, country to country, the most common problem every one has is,

"MONEY" or the need for money. Money controls the world. Industries run,

business persons compete with each other, fights for positions and going for a

job - all are to generate money. Business is done for money. Some families

strain relationship for dowry issues, ending up in want of money. Man robs to

get money. Before the pyre's fire puts off, the heirs fight each other for want of

a share in the wealth of the deceased soul, again for money.

Money will plough down to the core of the earth

Men and money

What does money yield?

 

For the poor, next to oxygen, money matters. Money gets them food, cloth and

shelter. Money wipes away their sorrow.

 

For middle class folk, just to maintain their 'middle class' status, they need money! If

they have more money, they can buy a bigger house with more amenities. Can buy

car; go abroad; pay 'capitation' fees for higher studies; even though prohibitive, can

discreetly give dowry for a safe marriage for their daughters. Let them earn well, but

they should also learn to control their expenses and desires. Otherwise, they will

loose control over the swirl of greed and desire and will put them in a crisis.

For the rich: Rich too worry about money. How to safe guard the hard-earned money?

How to earn further ? On seeing some one richer, they yearn to beat them, by adding

few more crores to their kitty . These are few worries they carry. This constant worry

of making more and more money builds stress, which gives them immense pain, and

invites all diseases. These 'rich' diseases carry those filthy rich people towards the

ICU of a rich hospital. Then they eventually loose the body worth crores for ‘want of

money’ or the ‘thought of money.’

 

Is there any connection between money and happiness?

If some is to read what I said earlier, they will surely conclude that money is

everything. But great souls, saints, philosophers, patriots, freedom fighters, social

workers, nature lovers - all are in unison by thinking otherwise!

 

"There is NO CONNECTION between money and merry. And absolutely no connection

between money and mental peace," is what they say.

 

Is this true? Here are two true illustrations:

 

True incidents:

The poor rich man!

 

I went to a rich man's house. His house is in Chennai main

city which covers some acres together! There must be at

least 15 rooms within his bungalow. Not less than five cars

were lined in his portico. A large door at the reception, on

opening carries a huge surprise . A big swimming pool

awaits you, with a springboard on its bank. You can dive

into the water and come out by the rising steps.

 

Small trolleys carry food for guests. The food is driven to

the guests' place, in these cars. They are converted to

dining tables, in a moment! A big tennis court, grand

wooden carvings, smooth silk carpets and many such jaw-

dropping artifacts decorate the bungalow. This book would

is not enough if I have to comment on everything I saw

that day.

The owner of the bungalow knows me well. When I went

there, he was sitting in a sorrowful mood. I was with him

for half an hour. By then, two doctors had already checked

him and left. One was a cardiologist and the other a

diabetes specialist.

  

I remembered many say that this man can do anything

with the money he possesses! What happened now? I

slowly went near him and enquired, "I always get

surprised by the wealth you have possessed, but now

today, I feel very sorry for you. What's really your

problem?"

 

He replied, " I wish I lessen my burden by sharing my

problems with some one else.' Having said that, he talked

with me for about ten minutes.

I could summarize that as follows:

 

•A week before, the income tax sleuths have raided his house, dug the

unaccounted money, and have raised an enquiry on him.

•He recently came to know that one of his business partners had been

swindling huge sums of money for a long period, unnoticed!

•On seeing his lavish life style, his factory workers have started asking for a

raise.

 

•His son-in-law's tantrum had reached a crescendo. He had first received a

Honda car on persistent requests, and now he wants a Benz car, again!

•He also came to know that both his sons have illicit affairs.

•As he always thinks of his business, he has developed no attachment or

relationship with his wife.

All these things put together had made this man bed ridden and a

pressure driven wreck.

 

I suggested, “Sir, why don't you do some meditation, go for a cool

swimming? These would relax your mind, body and soul!” He retorted

back, “I wish I remove all the water and jump into the dry pool and

commit suicide instead!"

 

I am known for giving solace to many parched souls but I could not muster

any reply for this man! I just bid bye and returned back, without uttering

a word more. The surprise element is that, when this man had a smaller

unit, he was happier as I saw him but as the unit grew in size, so grew his

worries, along!

The rich poor man! The same day evening, I had another experience altogether. The dhobi Dhanakoti, who lives near the slum next to my house, was sleeping peacefully. On hearing my vehicle's sound, he woke up, came running to open the gate of my house, to allow the vehicle in. I just enquired, “How’s life man?" He gleefully replied, “All in our family went to Muniandi Villas for sumptuous Biriyani, saw a MGR movie and are back home. Our day today went off happily!" Dhanakoti, his wife Mookayi, their children, all wash the clothes of their customer's outside their hut. They work hard throughout the day. They enjoy working hard. Their hard work had made their arms muscular and strong. Morning 8 to 2 noon they wash the clothes. Then they dry the clothes, have food, take some rest and after five in the evening they start pressing the clothes and give the pressed ones to the clients' houses and come back with the collected money. While on work, the tape recorder in their hut belts out cinema songs continuously. After 7 pm, they all squat before the black & white television and see all the programme non-stop. They laugh, clap hands and get so involved with the comedy scenes they see and are immersed into the scenes themselves! Every weekend they visit the Mari Amman temple. Being dhobis themselves, they always sport well-washed, white linen. They always live happily.

Measure of happiness If at all we try to measure the happiness, through some fictional 'happiness readometer", the mercury in it, would cross all barriers and burst itself out! If we use the same meter on the rich man, I referred earlier, the mercury would never rise to any level, and would stay put as if it is frozen forever!

The vision of truth

On seeing two different families the same day, a great truth dawned upon me.

Comparing these two families, I concluded that money and happiness have no

connection. Money and Mental peace have no connection. Moreover, to top this all, I felt

strongly, “Money and mental solace have no relationship at all!" These two instances

made me do a thorough research. The result is what you see, this book. If one

understands this book and its essence, the reader can get peace of mind, and happiness,

forever. Money do gives comfort. However, it is only 90% a physical aberration. The mind

never gets solace from money.

Earn

Let more of money be there. If you can earn more money the

righteous way, please go ahead. Earn as much as possible. Any

earning member should follow a strict methodology. That is why I

have this book before you. Not to stop you earning money. Let's

come to that important methodology one has to follow, after

earning hoards of money.

What can give you mental solace?

There are many answers for the above question. But what stands out is

just one reply, 'simplicity'. The more simple you live, the more happiness

and mental solace, you achieve. This is hundred percent true. Even if you

earn more money and possess more wealth, just desist and be simple.

Earning money is not a crime. Nevertheless, forgetting simplicity is a huge

mistake! When money beckons a man, we see that simplicity tends to

leave him.

Great men are simple. Simple men turn great.

 

The most renowned men in the world are all simple. List out the beacons

who lead a great, yet simple life. They may be from different class, kind,

clan and nationality. However, the common thread, which runs through all

such names and personalities, is 'simplicity'. Here is a sample list:

 

The great Gowthama was not famous as a Prince, but he became world

famous, after he became 'Buddha', leading a simple life, renouncing the

charm of being a prince.

 

Same way, Jesus, Mohammed the prophet, Confucius, Plato, Aristotle,

Socrates, Mother Teresa, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami

Vivekananda, Arutperum jyothi Ramalinga Adigal, Guru Nanak, Mahaveer,

Leo Tolstoy, Bernard Shaw, Albert Einstein, Poet Subramania Bharathi,

'Iron Man' Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi,

Thiruvalluvar, Tamil poetess Avvaiyaar, Rabindranath Tagore, Gopala

Krishna Gokhale, Bala Gangadhara Tilak, Ramana, Arabindo, Raghavendra

Swami, Swaminarayan, Dr. Ambedkar, C.Rajaji, Karma warrior Kamaraj,

Kakkanji, Lalbahadur Sastri, Annadurai, the saint who ploughs through

your mind, 'Live prosperously' Mahan. Vethathiri Maharishi,… and so on. If

I again start listing such great souls of this soil, this book will be over

flowing. Most of them listed here came from affluent background, but

adorned simplicity. They never lived a pompous and rich life.

Gandhiji was from an affluent family and a Barrister from London.

The world hails him for not for his Barrister Law degree, but for his

simple life style, for living one among the masses, like a common

person. He traveled the length and breadth of our country; saw

the plight of many poor peasants wearing almost nothing except

their loincloth. He too shed away lavish clothing and wore just a

dhoti and a small towel on his frail shoulders. Even Winston

Churchill ridiculed Gandhiji as, "Half naked fakir' from India.

However, it was not the well-dressed suit attired Churchill, who

won, but this so-called half naked man of India, Gandhiji!

A small girl told her mother, " Ma, leave me for serving the

Church. Let me become a nun!” Her mother refused saying, “You

are still a small girl. Become 18 and then you can decide on your

life path." After years, the girl, now a grown up woman, went to

her mother again and retorted, "Ma, leave me now. I am 18. Let

me become a nun." The mother with tears rolling down her eyes,

allowed her daughter to join the monastery. What is shocking is

the fact that, after this incidence, the mother and daughter never

met again!

 

The young nun, who reached the shores of Calcutta, saw the poor

and downtrodden dying in the streets with no shelter, but for the

sky as their roof. Many were dying due to hunger, in footpaths.

She sheds tears for them. She goes to her seniors in the Church,

asking them permission to serve the mankind instead of serving

the Lord.

She is an Albanian by birth, and white skinned. Will the locals

accept her? She immediately sheds away her nun robes and

gowns, but wears simpler sari, the Indian attire. Do you know

which sari she chose to wear? The one that is being worn by the

sweepers of Calcutta, which just cost her Rs.2.00. She is none

other than the famous Mother of deprived, down trodden and the

beacon of hope of destitute, the founder of Missionaries of Charity,

Mother Teresa. Is there any other better example of a Great

person leading a simpler life, yet becoming famous?

 

The then Chief Minister of Tripura, Mr. Nirupan Chakraborthy was a

bachelor. After his tenure, he went to live in a small rented room,

leaving away the posh Government Bungalow. Do you want to

know what he carried along when he vacated the Government

accommodation? A simple trunk containing three sets of dresses!

The then Chief Minister of Kerala Namboodiripad, donated all his

ancestral property to his party, before entering politics.

 

The other Kerala Chief Minister Achyutha Menon was seen

shopping like a commoner, the next day his tenure ended. Even

minister A. K. Anthony is known for his simplicity even by his

political oppositions.

A member of the parliament, holding various ministerial posts in

the erstwhile Madras state Shri. Kakkan was travelling by public

bus. During his last years, he could not even afford a private

hospital and stayed in the general ward of a Government Hospital.

Mr. Kamarajar, the 'King maker', who was known for his ability to

select the Prime ministerial candidate of India, was then the chief

minister of Tamilnadu. He did not own a small piece of land in this

country, where we know that politicians who hold even the

smallest of smaller posts, having Swiss accounts to save

discreetly their ill-gotten money. Mr. Kamaraj did not even have a

savings account in his name. Perarignar Anna, also an erstwhile

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is known for his great literary works,

which were written by him squatting on plain floor. Rajaji was also

known for his simplistic life style.

 

Guljarilal Nanda, who was a minister for long period in the Central

Ministry, struggled in his late years unable to pay his room rent.

He used to stitch his torn cloth to wear them again.

Is there anyone greater than these Great men I mentioned? Did

the society boycott these men because they were simple? Even

after their death, they are remembered forever, as an epitome of

simplicity. So, shall we all agree that simplicity is not to be

ridiculed but to be hailed?

 

The recent incumbent president, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is a

living example for this generation. Similar to him, is also the

current Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh. Both of

them lead a very simple life.

Advertisement Stunt and Show

 

The politicians today, and even the Religious Heads

advertise themselves. They keep themselves

figuring in tall digital banners and posters

competing with the skylines. Some of these even

fall off and injure the common public who walk

gazing at those monstrous cutouts! They

encourage their so-called 'supporters' and acclaim

many 'titles' to themselves as prefixes and suffices

to their names. They celebrate their birthday with

pomp and extravagance.

Raise that comes with simplicity

The Great men we discussed earlier never did advertise

themselves. There was neither internet nor websites during their

days. No televisions or cell phones. In fact, there wasn’t that many

publications or newspapers like what we read today. In spite of

such short falls, they were famous. The whole world was familiar

with these names. What gave them fame is their simple life style,

their philosophy, their work and the path they lead. They not only

preached simplicity but also lead by example.

Live, live happily

There is a simple way to lead a happy life. That is to lead a simple life and to proclaim that simplicity will be the only motto to lead that life.

Principled simplicity is the only way to lead a happy life

What is principled simplicity? What are the obstacles we face while observing

principled simplicity? What is the real way to live a cherished and peaceful

life?

 a

If one understands the objective of principled simplicity and give shape to it,

there cannot be a person better than you to lead the happier life. Again, what

is this principled simplicity?

 a

Before understanding this concept, it is important to understand that you will

face a lot of obstacles while taking every effort to practice principled

simplicity. In short, it is this 'society' which stops you practicing principled

simplicity. We never see things in our own perspective. We always tend to

handle any issue through the society's eye. What does the society think?

"What will happen if 'x' thinks so, 'y' may blame me, how do I get fame and

attention of the society or what will happen if the society shuns me for my

deed .." and so on…

 a

Therefore, by constantly thinking what the society thinks, we loose our own

thinking, let our concerns to dilute and thought process to fade. We tend to

bend ourselves to the thinking of the society and thus become a victim of

borrowed opinion, resulting in tension and restlessness.

 a

We blame the society and conduct ourselves, even though we do not like it. In

fact, we tend to become spendthrifts blaming the society, only to suffer and

bear the brunt.

Neighbour Syndrome Ninety percent of the population suffers from what is called as 'Neighbour syndrome'. Do you remember the famous Tamil cinema song, "Aduthaathu Ambujatha paartheyla? (அடுத்தா�த்து அம்புஜத்தா பா�ர்த்தேதாள�?) This explicitly explains how the singer envies her neighbour. The very concern of what would be our neighbour’s opinion makes us do things incorrectly. And the funniest part is here? Just to grab the attention of our neighbour, to attract him or to overcome him in terms of others' attention, we tend to do things differently than what is really ours. The truth is that no neighbour has time to think of us, fathom or criticize us, leave alone adulating or finding fault with. So, first and foremost, we should come out of the lifeterm we impose on ourselves called as the 'neighbourhood syndrome'. Instead of living our fullest life for ourselves, we start living for the sake of entering our neighbour's heart or mind. In this context, neighbour means, the surroundings and the society too.

The social uneasiness

How is our neighbour or the society responsible for us

shedding the simple life and falling prey for a pompous

life? Here are the reasons:

 

Will the society think that we have become paupers,

having lost all our wealth and property, if we lead a

simple life?

Will they call us a 'miser'?

Will they declare us as ‘mad’?

Such unwarranted thoughts engulf us, and we resort to

get into a pompous life. Even if some one thinks like

that, should we really worry about it? Shouldn’t we

decide how we live or is it the neighbour or the society,

which should decide our destiny? Those who ridicule

us, will they take care of us in hard times? Will they

come forward to pay off our loans? Will they partake in

our sorrows and pains? Will they share our burden now

or ever?

‘It is not bad to be poor in wealth, but it is certainly bad

to be poor in intellect’.

Prisoner of others' thoughts

Both the neighbours indulge in wealth accumulation and are under stress, thinking

that the other man would always think of us, the man next door! Both think that

the other man is watching his movements closely, avoid face-to-face contact, do

not talk with each other and spend their lives without fear, which is not worth

undergoing. We loose ourselves, our self-esteem, are trapped and fail to come out

openly with a clear thought and mind. We spend beyond our capacity to make the

other man appreciate and feel envious about us. One day, we will be burying

ourselves in deep depth of debt. It happens the same way in the other man's life

too. This unaccounted life game becomes a threat to us; others feel hatred

towards us and in fact avoid us. In front of our face, they hail us but behind our

backs, they shun us. Some evil-minded enemies go to the extent of giving a

complaint against us to the authorities, anonymously!

The movie, which detailed simplicity in an eloquent way

The director with a sharp brain who has made many movies to evoke the intelligence of the

society, by mixing both comedy and realism is none other than the Tamil Director

K.Balachander. He not only made commercial movies, but also ensured that they carried

social messages.

Extravagance and its suffering were well documented in the Tamil movie 'Bama Vijayam'.

The evils of being spending beyond ones limits is well explained interlaced with comedy, by

showing how three middle class women fall prey to the glamour world and pretend to be

rich, eventually suffering themselves due to their own plight. None can forget the song,

'Varavu ettanaa, selavu patthaNaa' (வாரவு எட்டணா�, செசிலவு பாத்தாணா�). A famous

adage goes like this in Tamil, 'swell, suiting to the size of the finger', which implicitly means

spend suiting to your income'. In the beginning chapters, I had explained very clearly how

money is not important for happiness, by two live examples.

My parents were money-minting machines…! 

The true son makes his father proud

By becoming a front-runner, in all claims...  

is the meaning of a couplet of Poet Valluvar who also says in the same

breadth the duty of a father towards his son, in another one: 

Father does his true duty by making himself

a role model to his son 

An industrialist father and a leading medico mother both work tirelessly and

accumulate enormous wealth to their children, but they never spared time

to spend with their children. They always worried about the future but

forgot the present time. Out of the enormous interest they showed in

making money not even an iota was showered on the children. The children

themselves had to seek appointment of their father through his personal

secretary!

The children yearned for parental love and affection. Soon, both the sons

got addicted to drugs and this went on undetected by their parents. The

parents became money-minting machines but had no love. When drug

addiction became too severe, the eldest son lost his life. The other son was

saved miraculously by highest and most expensive medical care! We come

across many such instances in our daily lives. There are women weeping for

the plight of a child in the television serial, forgetting about their own kin!

 

The adage 'father' is equally important as that of being named as an

'industrialist'. Both have different work and different role to play. One

complete man does both jobs correctly. If he fails in his dual role, life will fail

him!

 

The true incident mentioned above shows that he parents failed to

understand the minds of the children, in spite of them being clever enough

to accumulate so much wealth. Love and affection are also precious little

things, which are essential in life.

Principled simplicity - a definition

Another saying goes like this: ‘As a cat burnt itself with hot tongs

trying to imitate the tiger stripes'. We should lead a life within our

earning capacity and should not fall a prey to the pomp and show

outside. On the contrary, we should observe how poor folk who earn

less live comfortably than we do.

'I wept for a pair of shoes and stopped when I saw a lame man walk

by' - is another proverb. This is what is aiming for simplicity. Decide

from today, to lead a simple life.

Aim for natural happiness.

The reason for you to lead a simple life is not that you

do not have money, but because you have decided to

live so. You are not broken. You are not a miser or

insane. You observe simplicity as you have that as one

of the aims in life. Simplicity is the path to happiness.

'Badge' - a symbol

A simple designer badge can demonstrate principled simplicity. This is how it looks:

Principled simplicity

This can be made in engraved letters either in metal or plastics and can be worn close to

your heart on your shirt pocket. This can be any language denoting the initials of principled

simplicity. You can wear a simple dhoti, or wear sandal slippers, but yet by seeing this

badge on your shirt people will look upon you, not tease or ridicule you. They will

understand that the simple life you have chosen is by choice and not by force or situation.

Principled simplicity is not a banned word! Those who see you with this badge will not

think bad about you, but will look upon you as a role model. Your value will raise amongst

them. Your style will spread like the fragrance of an incense stick to others around.

No 'badge' needed …

In fact, real masters with an aim of leading a simple life and who

lead as an example, do not really need any badge. Their dress,

their simple attire and their simple deeds are suffice to promote

the idea and the person.

Badge needed…

But let's think the other way. In case you are a simple man wearing

this badge. Anyone new to this concept, will surely approach you

out of curiosity. You can then start explaining the concept, the

virtues of simplicity. So the message spreads fast. So please wear

such badge whenever you go out. Spread simplicity, its virtues,

advantages and all the goodness it brings along with it. Keep

spreading the message. Do this NOW!

Hypnotizing and Subliminal Advertisements

Many advertisements come in television which attracts us, changes us, make us

mad, which conquer us, make us addicted. A finding from a Western research

says that some advertisements are produced in such a way, that they go deep

and get embedded into our minds. The characters, their dress, their style,

conversation, dialogue delivery, background score, all keep aside your

judgmental mind and start imposing the advertiser's ideas forcibly into your

brain. What next? You become like a keyed toy, go and buy the said commodity

or expensive thing without ever wanting it really. This is called 'subliminal'.

Those who see advertisements daily and also follow them strictly are sure to

become paupers and to the streets! Then their own life becomes fit to be a

screen play for another television serial!

Just do a 'small survey' immediately

Walk around your home with a paper and pen. Just jot down all the needy things

based on their use to you. Do not leave anything in your house. Everything you

see. Give 100 marks for those who are inseparable like gas, gas stove, light, fan

etc. Give lesser marks for things which are sparingly used. You will be surprised

that 90 % of the goods in your house being useless or in other words, which are

sparingly used. You may find surprisingly certain unwanted things filling your

almirah unopened! The unwanted stuff makes cockroaches dwell there. Most of

those unwanted things would have been purchased using credit cards and the

dues would also accumulate for nothing. More the interest in the bank, more

goes up your blood pressure!

A simple method to suppress the ‘urge to buy’

Let bygones be bygones. Let the future be good. Do you feel like

buying something you see at a friend’s place or see in an

advertisement? Do you feel the rush to buy at any cost? You

need to just do one thing. A self – test. Just for two minutes. Sit

in a chair. Relax and lean back then ask yourself the following

five questions and answer back yourself.

Those five questions: Question 1: Is this thing very essential for me? Do I want it? If the answer is ‘no’, it’s OK. On the other hand, if the answer is ‘yes’, you are inviting trouble. Then go to the next question. Question 2: Do I need it? If the answer is ‘no’ again, you are fine. If the answer is ‘yes’, it means you are in danger. Then go to the third question. Question 3: Can I afford to buy it? Do I have the capacity to buy it? It is pertinent to know before you answer this question, that you have the money to buy that thing, well in your account. If you are going to get credit for the same, the credit should again be reasonable. Can you repay the credit card company in time? Ask this question too. If you have the capacity to re-pay the monthly installments, it is fine. If you get a big ‘NO’ as an answer for all the questions, it is great, you are free. But if you get a big ‘YES’ as an answer then YOU MUST go to answer question number four.

Question 4: Can I lead my life without this?

This is an IMPORTANT question. Most of the things in our homes are not essentials in our

life. Still we accumulate them. We can easily say, ‘yes, this is not really an essential item in

my life or life style’. You can avoid buying such things immediately. Nothing will change or

life become abnormal if we stop buying that thing. If your answer for this question is

again a big ‘no’ you are again saved, but if your answer is ‘yes’, you have to answer the

final fifth question without fail and then may proceed with your purchase.

Question5: Can I postpone buying it?

By asking this vital question, you may postpone the purchase if needed, may be you may

cut down your desire of buying the product later, for ever, which does more good than

harm in long run.

These 5 wonder questions:

You will be surprised that after answering these vital wonder questions, you will

end up, not buying many unwanted things. You will be a true man using your

sixth sense, not getting carried away by advertisements. Your family welfare will

be safe. Simple life style will engulf you and you will walk with a raised head ever.

You will feel light – hearted. Savings will grow. All in your family together or alone

can undertake these self – examination. Better to do as a group.

Sixth ‘bonus’ question:

Still is your desire to buy more is not doused? Then this sixth question which

needs to penetrate your head and mind is:

‘ Does this affect the environment or will this purchase cause pollution?’

Good expense 

Do you know the best expenditure in the world? It is spending to

save! Yes, this four lettered word ‘save’ saves you a lot. The more

you spend on saving, the more you gain.

 

Let others who are pompous and extravagant, weep around for their

misfortune.

 

We should remember a point. There are not less than 10 crore

Indians living under the sky, as their roof. They live, eat, deliver

children and die on footpaths. There are at least few crores of

populace who starve without a square meal a day! Many die due to

starvation. More than that, many tender hands of children toil and

work hard in harsh conditions to support their family!

 

There are so many underprivileged poor souls like the lame, blind,

orphans, destitute, discarded, aged, suppressed, women who resort

to run brothels for want of food, starvers who beg, those who do

petty thefts as they do not know how to earn their bread, and so on.

Is it right on our path to spend lavishly when our brethren are dying

due to penury? Is it fair?

 

It is not the gold plate or aluminum plate which satisfies our hunger.

It is the food on the plate that fills our stomach.

Guilty conscience 

More than making us feel rich, extravagance makes us feel pompous. The very feeling

that we are pompous will develop a guilty feeling in our mind and that also leads us to

illness. 

Way to lead a simple life 

You want to lead an easy life? Be stronger yourself. Control the wavering mind. You want

your life to be a smooth sail? Be tough to yourself.

 

What a ostentatious nature?

 

There is a Tamil saying, “ An overnight filthy rich, holds an umbrella even for a midnight

moon!’. It is a fact that these ‘sudden rich and snobbish’ act worsens their normal life. A

sudden rich man asked the guy at the watch show room, not about the life of the watch,

or its technicalities, but “ Which is the most expensive watch in your showroom?”. He

bought the costliest one. He did not buy for himself but insisted the sales man that none

other than him should wear that particular branded watch, and must not be sold to any

one else! “ As it is costlier, it shows more time than what is normal!!” is a joke remarked

on this incident. How snobbish and arrogant these filthy sudden rich ones are!

Money intoxication!

A rich man had three children, who studied in the same school, but he chose to

send them to a near by school which was within two kilometer radius, by

individual car for each child! Separate drivers for each vehicle and brought them

back. Just near by is a slum area, where most children live in penury and most of

them have no clothes to wear or proper food to eat. Can’t the rich man cut

down on his expenses by sending all the three children to the school in one car?

The money thus saved could have been used to provide education for all the

downtrodden children in that slum. God will only bless those who live for

others.

Fetish for imported goods

There are many who boast of proclaiming, “I do not buy

anything local. All foreign make only!’. However pretentious

they are, can they remove the tag which is on them that they

are only locals, i.e., Indians!

Buy only Swedeshi goods

Many foreign goods, mostly unwanted goods, are adorning the shelves of our

shops. If you are not ready to give up the snobbish attitude, so be it. At least

listen to this simple advice. Do not buy foreign goods. Buy only Indian goods.

That would indirectly benefit our brethren and give job opportunity to our own

country men. Many houses will have their lights lit and we would save foreign

exchange to our country. Our country will also prosper and grow.

Just see this imaginary situation

You have two workers approaching you for help; a healthy cash-rich

worker from abroad and the other a poor labourer from India. You need

not help any of them. Just try to stick on to ‘Made in India’ tag. Just buy

Indian goods. That’s enough. This would be the best favour one could do

for saving the lives of the Indian worker. Take an oath, with immediate

effect as “ I would buy only Indian goods”.

The extravagance that’s makes you loose your mind 

Let me narrate an interesting story to illustrate how obsessed we are with money and

an extravagant life. A rich man gifted a dog to his son. The son and the dog became

inseparable and were play mates. One day unfortunately the boy sees the dog

motionless and still. He wept profusely and asked his father to get back the dog its

life. The father tried to console his son but failed. He said he will buy a similar one, but

the son was adamant and went on crying. The father changed the track and

proclaimed, “See, let’s do one thing. We will have a grand burial for your pet dog. The

body will be carried in a chariot bedecked with garlands, driven by horses. A band will

lead the way. After burial, we will have a grand feast for all who attended the

cremation. The boy’s face lit up! He was happy and was about to get ready for the

‘cremation’. Then, the unexpected happened! The dog, which was actually

unconscious, leapt back to life! The boy had a rude shock! He was expecting a feast

and not the dog back to life. He immediately yelled to his gardener. “Hey, kill that

dog!”  

I need not elaborate any further on this story. We all live like this, mindlessly. We are

possessed with extravagance. We avoid being simple and end up simply loosing all

good things in life. At times we are forced to live so and when such an attitude

dominates our mind, we are forced to become cruel against others too.

Why simplicity? Here are some reasons:

 

•Lavish life forces us towards debt.

•Dowry deaths, cruelty, bribery, robbery, all happen due to the

desire for a lavish life

•This extravagance and desire to buy unwanted things make

producers produce such unwarranted and unwanted goods in

plenty. This in turn spoils the nature. The world will become a

grave yard in the next generation. Natural resources will perish,

and the earth will become barren.

•The more we buy useless things, the more they are produced.

Due to increased production, pollution increases which in turn

spoils our soil, air, earth and sea.

• More scrap and solid waste accumulates, due to the unrelated use of

useless things and discharge. The packing boxes, film covers, the

thermocole or styrofoam packing's, paper, all add to the waste. We

end up spending money for solid waste management and disposal.

• The vehicles which carry the waste pollute the air, sound as well as

the land.

• The place were the waste is dumped also become a waste land,

useless for irrigation, agriculture, in short useless for habitation. We

also are loosing more of our lakes and ponds, which are used as

dumping yards for the waste managers.

• Diseases spread due to the waste. We spend money to cure diseases.

The medical expense in the city life has become inevitable.

• Luxury invites danger. Boot-leggers and criminals target people who

own luxury cars. Thieves target those who flash their wealth.

• Many women who walk like a show piece bedecked with jewelry also

become victims of murder and theft.

What does simplicity give us?

 

Simplicity gives mental peace and solace.

Simplicity gives fulfillment in life.

Simplicity uplifts the standard of our life.

Simple men are always held in high esteem in the society

A well deserved peaceful life, less expenses, adores us. Savings always

saves us.

 

Simplicity brings us all together. If simplicity becomes a common goal

for all, the other unwanted differences in caste, creed, money,

economics, etc., all of them will take a back seat. Simplicity should be

your breadth. If so, happiness will surrender at your feet. If not, you will

be at the mercy of the demon called debt money.

 

Most of the work we were once doing physically are now taken care of

machines. All exercises are now gone. Grinding and pounding using hands,

sweeping and cleaning the floor using wet cloth with our hands, use mug

and bucket to bath, washing clothes by hand in a river bed, all have

become bygones. The simpler exercises we do are now totally not

practiced. We do not stand up to switch off a running television. We use

remote control button! Only thing which you cannot operate using a

remote control is your own brethren. We have invited body ache and pains

by avoiding the smaller exercises we used to do once upon a time. What

do we do to reduce the pain? We run to a gym. We pour money there and

try out all kinds of exercises in all types of awkward looking machines!

What a farce! Should we not feel ashamed of this? Exercise is the only

thing which you should do yourself. You cannot assign that task to some

one else.

 

In short, we have reduced body motions by buying machines for every

possible work. We have reduced normal exercises. We pay and join a gym!

Then make the body sweat. What a shame! We waste money as well as

time.

Principled Simplicity – here is the plan

•Make a badge like what you see here. Or like what I showed in the

earlier pages.

•Live and lead a simple life and set yourself as a leading example

•Preach simplicity wherever possible. Call for gatherings to discuss

simplicity. Talk to school children stressing the need to be simple.

Become a messenger to spread the benefits of simplicity.

•Give this book to all known friends, relatives and well wishers. Gift

this on any occasion to them.

•Make such badges and also sell it to them.

Principled Simplicity – here is the plan

•Make a badge like what you see here. Or like what I showed in the

earlier pages.

•Live and lead a simple life and set yourself as a leading example

•Preach simplicity wherever possible. Call for gatherings to discuss

simplicity. Talk to school children stressing the need to be simple.

Become a messenger to spread the benefits of simplicity.

•Give this book to all known friends, relatives and well wishers. Gift

this on any occasion to them.

•Make such badges and also sell it to them.

Principled Simplicity – here is the plan

•Please save the money saved by practicing principled simplicity in a

bank. Use that to give quality education for children. Get them good

books to read.

•All simple folk observe a walkathon wearing simpler dresses.

•Four friends can come together to start the ‘Principled Simplicity

Club’.

•Meet twice at least a month to work out strategies to live simpler.

Take wise decisions to cut costs and live happily.

•We resort not to talk to others and gain money to become rich. We

become aloof. Instead, we can become a member of this ‘principled

simplicity club’ and share our experiences and knowledge with

others to make them also live simple.

Principled Simplicity – here is the plan

•Please save the money saved by practicing principled simplicity in a

bank. Use that to give quality education for children. Get them good

books to read.

•All simple folk observe a walkathon wearing simpler dresses.

•Four friends can come together to start the ‘Principled Simplicity

Club’.

•Meet twice at least a month to work out strategies to live simpler.

Take wise decisions to cut costs and live happily.

•We resort not to talk to others and gain money to become rich. We

become aloof. Instead, we can become a member of this ‘principled

simplicity club’ and share our experiences and knowledge with

others to make them also live simple.

Principled Simplicity – here is the plan

•Make more members join this unique but purposeful club.

•Talk in public forum, schools, colleges in appropriate stage and

gatherings, the advantages of simple living. Create more clubs over

there.

•Start such simplicity clubs in multi-storied buildings and on roads.

Inform us. We will publish and popularize your club.

•Simplicity makes us save money. We can save this money and utilize

a portion of that to donate to people who need it. Buy food, cloth and

books to the needy and poor. If possible try to build shelters for the

under privileged

•Share others joy as well as their sorrows. If you share their joy your

joy doubles. If you share their sorrow, their sorrow will be halved.

•We need clean mind and control to lead a simple life. Take efforts to

gain a peaceful and controlled mind.

Principled Simplicity – here is the plan

•Make more members join this unique but purposeful club.

•Talk in public forum, schools, colleges in appropriate stage and

gatherings, the advantages of simple living. Create more clubs over

there.

•Start such simplicity clubs in multi-storied buildings and on roads.

Inform us. We will publish and popularize your club.

•Simplicity makes us save money. We can save this money and utilize

a portion of that to donate to people who need it. Buy food, cloth and

books to the needy and poor. If possible try to build shelters for the

under privileged

•Share others joy as well as their sorrows. If you share their joy your

joy doubles. If you share their sorrow, their sorrow will be halved.

•We need clean mind and control to lead a simple life. Take efforts to

gain a peaceful and controlled mind.

One logical question of yours

You may ask, ‘if all start observing simplicity, will not the industry

fall down? Will not many factories which produce goods for the

buyers, close down? Many may lose jobs!’ – Yes this is a meaningful

question. Simplicity does not mean being a miser. One should

always buy what we consider is very essential and avoid buying

non-essential things. The result is, essential goods production will

go up. Production of unwanted things will go down. Industries

would then resort to make only those commodity which are very

essential to mankind and avoid doing lavish, unwanted, goods of

extravagance.

What are essential goods? Food, water, shelter, clothes or dress, medicine and education are the essential needs of a man. If principled simplicity is observed by one and all sincerely, savings will grow; social awareness and work will improve, health standards will increase. Quality goods which are essential would be produced more and would also pave way for exports and earn foreign exchange for our country. Very few industry would loose business, but many new ones will spring up. By and large economy would not perish or diminish, but will cherish along with simple living. The natural resources are not omnipresent and immortal. We may usurp all of them one day. By practicing ‘principled simplicity’ one will be forced to use the natural resources only for producing essential goods. Depletion of nature will reduce. This is the best use and benefit for simple living. The money thus saved by living simple, can be utilized to serve the poor and needy.

If savings increase

 

If savings improve, the banks can utilize the

money as its resources for lending for many useful

purposes. Job opportunity for many will spring up.

Here is a sample list:

 

•Barren land can become cultivable land.

•Rivers can be embedded.

•Ponds can be deepened and cleaned.

•Wells can be bored.

•Trees can be planted

• We can reconserve and grow forests

• Can cultivate vegetable garden

• Can start medicinal herbs cultivation

• Can create parks

• Can make money out of waste

• Can do rain water harvesting

• Can stop erosion of natural resources

• Can reduce pollution

• Can build hospitals

• Can use the money for more social cause and

work 

So we can make such countless efforts by creating

more and more jobs within ourselves as shown

above.

Do not forget…

 

‘We are spending and ending natural resources, but are

hardly spending human resources properly’.

 

Let’s learn and take an oath to increasingly use human

resources and save natural resources.

 

Let us follow ‘Principled Simplicity’ to achieve this.

 

So, we now know, that production increases. We also know

that those produce will be essential and useful. The

investments would change from one industry to the other.

Overall, a healthy world would beckon us.

Dear Parents…

 

You teach your child how to read, write, compete, pray, conduct

him or herself. Is that all needed for one to lead a complete life?

Where will they live if the land, water and air they need, is under

threat? There would be a huge shortage of natural resources in

near future. Land, air and water would be polluted to

unimaginable levels. (Join ExNoRa forums to save earth and

control pollution)

 

No money can save your future generation. Only principled

simplicity can save their lives. You should follow that and teach

your children and others too. Encourage your child to follow

principled simplicity. Teach them the skills to adopt simplicity. 

Old story and a new definition

 

A king wanted to conduct a great yagna, a ceremony. He wished

all his subjects participate in it and ordered each of them to donate

one litre of milk for the ceremony. He was observing them with

pride, obeying him, pouring litre after litre into the big vessel kept

for that purpose. Later, when the king opened the vessel, he was

shocked to see the vessel full of water! Each citizen though to

himself, “ When others pour milk, what would happen if only I pour

a litre of water as my contribution? It will get mixed and go

unnoticed”. To everyone's surprise, all of them had cheated

themselves and the king by pouring only water and no milk!

Old story and a new definition

 

We can take this story as an example for a different reason. Do not

think, all should start leading a simple life. You start first. You be

the leader. Do not wonder “ why should I bother or worry about

extravagance? Why not others?” Rather, start leading a simpler life

yourself. Think, “All good things begin with me.” Follow the

beautiful philosophy of ‘principled simplicity’.

 

I would remind you the words of Martin Luther King again…

“ The problems we see around us are not caused by evil men. It is

because of those good men who remain silent!”. Break that silence.

Do social work. Give voice to the concerned.

Lavish Children We can understand the reason for why simple living is important, in a different way. If one understands, how extravagance spoils the minds of children, we will appreciate the need to live simpler. The reason to bring uniforms in schools is to avoid disparity. If one child wears a two thousand rupees worth dress and another child wearing a fifty rupees worth dress, parity crops up. The poor child will get affected mentally and psychologically and may feel depressed where as the rich ones may become arrogant and flashy. This in turn would affect the child’s morale and hence his/ her studies. Such differences may turn the child to a criminal too. Hence, uniforms were brought into practice at schools.

Uniformity in uniforms

There is a big school campus named, ‘Church Park’ in the heart of

Chennai city. It had three schools running within its campus, namely

the Sacred Heart, St. Ursula's and St. Andrews. The first school is for the

rich, whose children wore Pale Green uniform, the second school is for

the middle class who wore light blue uniforms and the third one was

run for the poor, whose children were identified by their brown

uniform. But among the common public and between the children, the

parity in uniforms showcased their economic status, thus bringing an

upheaval in their minds and attitudes. The management came to know

of this and made a good decision of changing the uniform for all the

schools into dark green uniform, thus bringing the parity to an end.

That year the school were able to see a marked change in their end

results!

This? or That?

People who have insufficient earnings and who aspire to

live beyond their means should read this:

This or That? 

-Air conditioner - Fan

- VCD -Tape recorder

- Refrigerator - Earthen Pot

- Swanky car - Motor cycle, cycle

- Palatious bungalow - Simple flat 

When we buy those listed above on the left hand side, one

eventually will get the following without asking for it: 

Loan burden above ones head

Sleepless nights

Hidden life fearing for the creditors

Diseases due to mental pressure

Cases in court

When one tries to get all the good things in life, which are surely

beyond his capacity, he is sure of inviting the problems

mentioned above. Instead, if one lives with a contented life, with

those shown in the right hand side of the comparison above, we

can understand that one attains:

 

Reasonable bank balance,

Sound sleep

Walking head held high

Healthy mind, body and soul.

 

So it is for you to decide which path you should tread.

The physical sweat is off and mental heat is on!

A simple man, fell into the trap of lavishness. He bought all

goods in his life in installments. TV, DVD, Fridge, Air

conditioner, all except peace. He murmured later, “ I slept well

without air conditioner before. Now, I have lost my sleep and

have built mental pressure. My physical sweat is out but the

internal mental heat is ON!” Those who sold to him waited for

his installments, later only to know that this man had become

insolvent!

Marriage and Pomp

Thirumagal Marriage Scheme: Many who resort to simpler life,

surprisingly try to show off their wealthiness, when it comes to the

marriage of their daughter or son. A famous bank brought a scheme called

‘Thirumagal’ Marriage scheme in Tamilnadu. This acclaimed widespread

appreciation among the masses. Once a girl child is born, a certain amount

of fixed deposit or money to be paid in installments and that would earn a

sizeable amount by the time the girl becomes grown up and become

suitable for marriage, say at the age of twenty.

Thirumagal Marriage solvency scheme! Many whop resort to put their weight around a marriage and take loans and spend very much beyond their capability end up paying high interest to the lenders and become worried for their life! The girl who got married also spends sleepless nights, thinking of her unfortunate parents who had ended up in loans and are suffering for making her get married. Should one throw money this way just for ‘a day’s show?’. Cannot we think of conducting the marriage by simpler means? We should think seriously and stop this menace. We should act constructively.

A good change!

Twenty years ago, marriages were conducted for five or three

days at a stretch, ending up in feasting for all three times, all the

days, wherein an enormous amount were spent on food and

lavishing parties. Nowadays these system are gone and many

conduct the reception function on the very same day evening of

the marriage. This is an excellent ‘time and cost’ saving idea.

Unwanted pompous expenses

Let us come back to discuss the marriage

expenses. Normally in South India, the

reception expenses are Bourne by the groom's

family and the marriage expenses by the

bride’s family. Most of the money is spent on

clothes, jewellery, Marriage Hall rental,

Decorations and food.

Wasted food is money that goes waste!

Keep the expenses to prepare the food aside for this discussion.

Think of those wasted or thrown out after the marriage feasts are

over. You will be for a rude shock! There is always a maximum limit

one can consume at a time. But we see in most cases, the marriage

feast consists of varieties of food fed much beyond ones eating

capacity. Eventually not all food that is served in eaten and they get

thrown out in the dust bin. Many items would not be liked by you,

but before you could spell it out or refuse, the item in question

would have been served to you!

Food that gets wasted within the kitchen

 

Worser situation, is when the food that gets cooked and not

being served. That constitutes another 20- 50% food sometimes!

One may predict for an example, say one thousand guests and

prepare food accordingly. But due to unforeseen circumstances,

only five hundred would have attended the feast. What happens?

The remaining fifty percentage of the food goes unserved, and

waste! One should remember that we cannot produce even one

grain by any magic! We have to at least wait for full six months

to get the crop of this grain!

Need of the hour: One schedule marriage

Why cannot marriage become a one evening affair? Why can’t all the functions be

conducted at one time, say either in the morning or in the evening? Many

neighbouring states, Christians and many north Indians conduct marriages only in

the evening. If we have to conduct only in the morning, why not conduct it in a

temple, and have a feast during night elsewhere? Why to waste rental money hiring

the mandaps or halls for two full days? Why should so much food go waste? How

many poor citizens in our country go without food the whole day? How many sleep

with a wet cloth on their belly to ward off hunger? Who is going to become angry on

you if you do not spend on multi-period feasts? Those who over feed themselves in

the marriages get stomach aches as they are full but in another corner, a hungry

man also gets stomach ache as his stomach has not felt food for many days!

Here is an alternative

If hospitality and serving others are your sole aim,

then do this way. Just prepare more food on the

marriage day and send them to orphanages, call

poor people around and feed them sumptuously.

Those deprived children will have at least some

good food and also will whole heartedly bless those

who fed them. The workers and cooks also get

employment due to your generosity. The principled

simplicity club members will surely help you to

conduct such marriage feasts, if you approach us.

One feast which made one feel sad…

I happened to attend a rich family marriage recently. The food was served in

buffet style, the vessels with all delicacies were kept in rows one after the other

both catering south Indian as well as Northern dishes. Guests were free to

serve themselves, any quantity they want. After the food was over, all types of

betel leaf ‘paan’ was served with the same vigour, as they served the food. The

guests too were unrelenting. They made way for the paan to go in and had a

gulp of that too. Alas, I could overhear two speaking to themselves: “ Should he

show off his money this way?” There is a limit to be flashy. This limit got broke

here in this dinner. The guests may feel that what happened was not fair in

many counts… I would reinstate my opinion: Marriages should be conducted in

a simple way.

A doctor’s great advice

A doctor once told me, “One day marriage feast cuts down your

life, by a day. Yes, of course! What is prepared to satiate only

your taste buds end up in creating a commotion inside and would

also invite all illness. The tongue may wager happily, but what

about your heart, liver and digestive system? They may wail! The

host spends a lot and the guest has no use of this lavish food,

except for increasing his appetite and satisfy ones taste buds.

Then why go for such unwanted lavishness? Here are few ideas

to overcome this problem:

Ideas 

•Conduct the marriage just in one period of the day, i.e., either morning or

in the evening.

•Feed only once.

•Prepare few items that would satisfy the taste buds and are also good for

health. Just serve only those limited items to the guests. That too, in the

buffet system. The guests themselves will choose and have only those

items they want to eat and not waste anything else.

•The food plate should not be too big. Shouldn't be too small too! It should

be of medium size. Many attractive items may pull the guest towards them

and irk the desire in him/ her to have more. Many would fill their plates with

those temptive items and end up wasting them. So, better go for nominal or

medium sized plates.

•If there is a display of the items to be served, as we do in hotels, one can

make the guest ask for only those he wishes to eat and avoid serving all

items to the guest.

The problems which multiply

 

Those who serve are in a hurry. They want to finish their task faster.

They have every reason to hurry up things. The next batch of guests

would be waiting for their turn to occupy the seats in the dining hall!

Worse, they would stand behind the one who is eating. The guest

while eating does not feel comfortable as he is put under pressure

to finish fast. The food which turns up unused or untouched land in

garbage fills. The flies and mosquitoes cover that area and we can

see a bad smell or odour emanate from the waste food pile which

also is a generator of all germs! One may even observe some slums

near the marriage hall. The one who is over fed and the one who

has not seen food at all, both suffer with stomach ache. This book

finds a way out to eliminate both stomach aches, by the tool

‘principled simplicity’. Is that OK?

Here is a simple plan

•Every village should have a social welfare scheme

•The volunteers of ‘principled simplicity’ can also run this

in their name. Those who follow ‘principled simplicity’ will

be called as ‘principled simplicists’. By following this

scheme, no food goes waste. The excess and unwanted

cooked food, would be shared with those who have no

square meal a day.

•This scheme can be named as ‘principled simplicity

scheme’. Meet the parents of the groom and the bride

groom separately. Explain the evils of spending more and

convince them for adopting a simpler strategy.

•Create a forum for observing this ‘principled simplicity

scheme’. You can do this in three ways:

Scheme one:

 

•Go with separate bags to the marriage halls. After food is

served, go to each guest and request them to drop any items

they feel they cannot eat, into the bag. Please see to that,

each bag or food does not get mixed; otherwise the

beneficiary may not like the mixed food!

•To do this in a better way, one may keep a paper plate

besides each leaf. The following message should be printed

on that plate:

 

‘ We join you in wishing the marriage couple, for a long happy

married life. If you feel that you may not eat any of the served

items, kindly leave it them on this paper plate kept aside for that

purpose. We would collect, segregate and serve them to the poor

and deprived. The wishes of those, who get the food by this small

gesture also would wish the married couple a happy married life, if

we jointly do this; you will also get the blessings of unknown

starving brethren who would wish this donor a happy life.”

- ‘principled simplicity’ forum

 

Without making any fuss or drawing the attention of the guests,

collect the food and take it to the nearby slum or to an orphanage

and distribute to them. Similarly the food cooked in excess, that

goes waste without being served, straight from the kitchen can also

be collected to be fed to poor people.

Scheme two:

Try to get a three wheeler donated to your forum by any famous

company. Preferably a motorized one; Keep the closed vessels in

that vehicle while serving. After the marriage feast is over, the

remains can be taken in the same vessels and be served to the

needy.

Scheme three: 

Have a daily collection system, wherein you may collect the leftovers and

excess food from hotels and hostels which can also be given to the poor.  

None needs money to conduct the above said schemes. What we need is to

spare some effort and time. By sparing few minutes aside for such noble

cause, you may wipe off few drops of tears from a poor soul. 

There is no dearth of such schemes. The benefits of these schemes are:

 

•We avoid wasting food

•The food goes to the needy and the deprived ones. You will be hailed as

one who gave life to many by feeding them at least once in a day.

•You do not need any money for these schemes.

•What you need is some human heart, time, effort and a socially inclined

mind.

Another extravagance…

Other than food, people also spend a lot on marriage

costumes and dresses, jewellery and attires. Most of them

would not wear their marriage suit or special sari ever again

in their life. Then why go for such costly dresses, which

cannot be worn afterwards? After years, it would be only

good enough to be given in exchange for buy stainless steel

utensils! Should we really spend such huge amount of money

for a dress which we would wear only once in life time? Is it

not worthy to save the money which would go waste? All

saved is as good as an earning, is it not?

Is it a poster or a marriage invitation??? 

There is one more unwanted expense in a marriage. The wedding

cards. People resort to print very costly, lavish cards. Some we find

of sizes more than a feet! People who receive develop an aversion to

such a show and glamour. 

In our seventh intelligence symposiums and workshops, we display

some twenty different invitations as exhibits. The biggest among

them was almost one foot long and the single card cost was Rs.100/-

several years ago. There was a tiny card among those exhibits too.

This was just two inches long and two inches wide! When we asked

most of the attendees to pick the card they liked most, almost 80%

of them picked this smaller card. What we learnt from that was that

pomp, glamour and size does not attract a reader, but simple and

neat ones do attract readers! So here is a humble request we put

forth:

Please make simpler cards for marriages, birthdays or any other

occasions. Avoid wasting paper. Trees are cut to make papers. We

can save our mother earth from destruction. You please do not be

instrumental for destructing the trees, indirectly. Use only recycled

papers to print invitations.

 

The most important view point.

 

If you want to use the opportunity of a marriage to feed many? If so,

then hire an economically priced chowltry or a hall, only to feed the

poor. They all will eat and bless the married couple. You will also feel

satisfied. Please do not forget that the best of donations is feeding

the poor.

Do not gift cloth to those who already possess big

ward robes

 

People who find it difficult to choose what to wear from

the best they have in their almirah which is full, need

not be gifted clothes again. Instead, we can gift some

cotton clothes to the needy and the deprived section of

the society.

 

Here is some food for thought. An elderly man advised a

group of poor people, “Wash and wear even though it is

a rag,”. Hesitantly a young woman came near him and

enquired, “I agree, but what to wear when the rag is

drying?” so, is the situation of many in our country.

Better donate and make others donate too. Through

‘principled simplicity’ spread true love, spread

humanity.

Wedding gift 

We do not go empty handed to a wedding. Also, we do not come back empty

handed. But let’s plan the gifts, both ways. The gift should be a memorable, not

just a ritualistic one.

 

There is a system in the Western countries. Those who intend to gift, openly

inform the wedding couple about the budget they plan to gift and would enquire

what the couple intend to buy with that. Then they jointly decide the best usable

gift which makes both the giver and the beneficiary happy. We can also follow

that.

 

Many give similar items as wedding gifts. There is no use of such items. The only

use is, we again tend to give away one among those received, as a wedding gift

to someone else! Like, money, there are many useless gift articles which make

circles among marriages.

 

If you feel your gift should be useful, simply why not gift a cheque to the couple?

If you want a fancy gift, you may give a ‘gift cheque’ that are available in all

banks, printed with floral decorations.

Gift the gifts as service to God

A well known philanthropist, Mr. N.K.T. Muthu was known for his charitable

attitude. People were surprised that when his son got married, he never

mentioned in the wedding card that gifts need be avoided. So they had no other

way, but to carry expensive gifts to the marriage. To the surprise of all, there was

a small counter near the marriage dais. It was marked as ‘Helping hands’ the

name of a well known orphanage. All who went to the marriage with gifts, were

guided straight to that counter and the volunteers there happily received the

gifts as donation! The donors now knew where the gifts were going. They felt

blessed and happy. So were the marriage couple, their relatives and last but not

the least, were the beneficiaries, of the ‘Helping hands’ orphanage.

 Here is Vellore Srinivasan’s excellent gift scheme

 

Vellore Srinivasan is one among the youth as dreamt by Swami Vivekananda. If we

get another ninety nine Srinivasans, I am sure India will attain the Numero Uno

status amongst all nations! Go to the city of Vellore, in India, to know more about

this young gentleman, Srinivasan. You will be surprised, seeing him. This best task

master, the right brained Srinivasan has implemented one of the best wedding gifts

scheme, I have ever seen.

 

The male calves are shunned by the owners, as they do not yield milk. These are

sold to butchers for meat. Srinivasan and his men adopt such hapless calves and

breed them in their farm. The green waste and leaves thrown from hotels and

restaurants, hostels are collected as fodder to these calves. The calves excrete cow

dung. The cow dung in turn is converted to bio-manure and bio- fertilizer! So, by

usefully converting all discards – the calf, the wasteland and the excreta as bio-

manures, he conserves the environment and also saves the lives of the calves. What

a noble and innovative thought! The master mind to adopt the calves is one Mr.

Satheesh, who follows the principles of the great Saint Ramalinga Adigal, who

preached, “See the Great light, through love” i.e., Love is God. These lucky calves do

face death one day, naturally with age and not by butchery.

A very unique wedding gift You can donate funds to Vellore Exnora, in India to save the calves. To adopt one such calf, you need to pay Rs. 500/- and another Rs.500/- for the maintenance of the calf, totaling to Rs.1000/- The cheques can be drawn in favour of:Exnora Green Cross – Vellore,#16, SainathapuramNatesa Mudaliar Street, Vellore.Tamilnadu, India. The donors can also give a certificate appreciating the wedding couple as follows: Groom: Bride:Date: Day: Place: We wish the couple a happy married life. Let the almighty shower the choicest blessings on them. On behalf of this lovely couple, we announce through this appreciation certificate, that we have donated Rs. One thousand favouring Exnora Green Cross, Vellore, to save the lives of male calves they adopt and rear.

(signed) The donor’s name

This certificate can be presented to the couple on stage.

Save trees as wedding gift On similar lines, ExNoRa also has a Save tree scheme as a wedding gift. We in ExNoRa encourage planting trees as a grand scheme. In last two hundred years, we have lost more than 90% of the trees we had. To compensate the loss, each one of us should plant at least one tree a day! As mentioned earlier, money towards tree planting can be donated to ExNoRa and the certificate in that effect be given to the married couple, as follows:Groom: Bride:Date: Day: Place: We wish the couple a happy married life. Let the almighty shower the choicest blessings on them. On behalf of this lovely couple, we announce through this appreciation certificate, that we have donated Rs. ______ favouring ExNoRa for their ‘ Save Trees project”.

(signed) The donor’s name

This certificate can be presented to the couple on stage.Those who wish to sponsor or donate for this ‘Save Trees’ project, can contact: The General Secretary,Exnora international#20, Giriappa StreetT. Nagar, Chennai 600017Tel: 91-44- 2475 9477/ 2815 3377 Such certificates can be also be framed and gifted.

The couple themselves can support such causes

The couple themselves can support both the schemes

mentioned above. They can announce those who intend to

gift, about these schemes and encourage donors to

support ExNoRa and give the certificates to them as gift,

which they would cherish for ever. How happy they may

feel when they recollect that they could collect a sizeable

amount towards conservation of nature and animals? The

donors’ name can also be announced in public system so

that this good message spreads far and wide.

Saplings in place of coconut

 

Instead of coconuts being given as a thanks giving gift, in

marriages, one can give away tree or plant saplings to the guests.

Tree saplings are ones like mango, neem and coconut, but plant

saplings are those like vegetable plants, ornamental plants which

can be grown in limited space like flats, apartments, etc. (To get

the full details of all plants read my book “Enjoy and make other

happy)

 

Keep four colours of recycled bags:

 

Green: Sapling that can be grown in homes

 

Blue: Saplings suitable for planting on common places, road side

etc.

Yellow: Vegetable saplings that can be grown in pots and indoors

 

Purple: Ornamental plant saplings that can be grown indoors.

 

We can ask the guests to choose among these types. The bag will

have the details of how to plant and maintain the sapling. These

saplings mostly are economical than the coconuts we normally

give away for guests who attend marriages.

How many marriages are happening around! How many attend

these marriages. Imagine that all of them resort to such useful

cause, the whole world would turn into a garden! Instead of blindly

following rituals and system for the sake of doing, just think and

act sensibly and work for the upliftment of the society and save

nature.

Other miscellaneous expenses in a marriage 

Dresses, music party, decorations etc. 

Alternate for the dress 

People spend lavishly for dresses. Simple yet elegant dress can be worn.

Dresses which reflect Indian culture and add a respect to the attired can

be tried. The marriage hall, big musical band procession, the crackers, car,

marriage vessels, high voltage arc lights, aren't they rented? If some one

want a posh dress or a floral gear, they can rent such dresses too! The

decorations and embellishments can also be simpler. The money thus

saved can be spent on gifting uniforms for poor children. The money we

normally spend for the grooms wedding coat and suit can accommodate

the expenses of almost fifty school uniforms! 

May be if you have a budget of ten lakhs for a marriage, you may

end up spending only three lakhs by following the simpler way.

Save

 

The balance seven lakhs can be deposited in a bank in

the name of the couple. Would they curse you for this?

Certainly not. On the contrary they will feel happy. The

pomp and show will also be avoided. The money thus

saved can be handy throughout their lives in case of

emergencies.

 

•The money will make the couple plan and live

comfortably. Will help them in admitting their children in

a good school

•Will help as safe money or deposit for their children's’

higher studies

•Will allow them to help the poor and needy

Principled Simplicity statement

 

Those who conduct a marriage in a simple and an economic

manner, need not bother about what the world tells at them. May

be you can print on the card with the heading, “Principled Simple

Marriage” . The banner which displays the wedding couple name

can also bear a tag line below as, “ Principled Simple marriage”

Spread the message of ‘principled simplicity’ easily 

•Those who practice the ‘principled simplicity’ model, should practice

this whole-heartedly and should adopt simplicity in all actions and

deeds.

•The ‘Principled Simplicity’ badge can be worn by them always.

•They can print the message of ‘principled simplicity’ in the other side

of their regular business / visiting cards.

•“Are you eager to know what ‘principled simplicity is? Ask me now!!!”

can be printed on that card.

•Even home and office entrance doors can have a board proclaiming

‘principled simplicity’. 

On the whole, we should feel concerned about the happenings around

us, to save the environment, our society we should adopt this

‘principled simplicity’ whole heartedly and also preach this to others

too. Only by doing this, we are making the earth a safe haven for our

future generations.

Use and get the benefits

New Year Greetings and Principled Simplicity

Did you receive lots of cards from your friends and relatives this new year? Please

keep them safe. At the end of the year. Sign on it and mark, “Dear _____, I was

remembering you and your kind gesture throughout this year, wishes for the new

year!” Send it back to the same friend! It will be an unique remembrance and he will

surely not think that you are a miser. It saves money, and prevents trees being cut to

make paper. In fact, the friend/ relative will respect you much beyond than what was

expected from them, as you have remembered them throughout the year. May be he

will follow suit and send you the same old card again, the next year. By doing so, you

both save trees, yet cherish and nurture friendship or relationship.

Which is the best? Threatening pomp of the filthy rich I happened to go the bungalow of a very rich man. His house was decorated with the best of carpets, tiles, paints, furniture, chandeliers, etc. But I observed cob-webs around, dust and some food plates thrown beside the costliest sofas around. I felt that even though this man wanted to display his wealth, he could not maintain and keep the premises clean.

Soothing simplicity

The very next week I happened to go to an ex-hockey

player, an Anglo-Indian gentleman at Perambur. His

house was small, with modest decoration and

furnishings. But the walls were white and clean. There

was this writing , “GOD IS LOVE” hanging on the wall.

Apart from wooden chairs, a simple wooden bench

adorned the corner space of the hall, which was covered

with an embroidered linen, clean and pressed. To my

surprise, the bench had a small bottle atop, with some

clean water and a money plant grown in it! In the centre,

they had a small table, which again was covered with a

decorative cloth, again topped up with a small bouquet

of fresh pretty flowers and grass kept in a jar. Normal

bamboos and cane twigs had been converted to

decorative pieces which hung on the walls. These I was

told were hand made by the lady of the house!

This or that? 

I just could not hold myself comparing these two houses. The few

minutes I sat in the bungalow mentioned earlier, made me feel like

hell and lasting, but here in this ex-player’s house, the full hour I

sat just went of like a minute! The house etched a permanent

memory as a fresh and an happy habitat in my mind forever! 

You can also compare these two houses. You do not need money,

to have a serene and soothing atmosphere and decoration. What

one need is a clean and calm environment. Just pouring in money

cannot decorate your house, If it is maintained improperly and

kept untidy, the house will be a hell. But a simple ten rupee worth

vase or an artifact which can make the house a wonderland, but

only if we keep it right and clean. Simple and elegant are the key

words.

Do not envy your neighbour or do not get competing with him in

accumulating wealth. You should also not be the example for other

money mongers or extravagant persons. May be think otherwise.

You and your neighbour, both can read this book on ‘principled

simplicity’, discuss and adopt this method for a simple and elegant

life. Compete in saving. Live and let live together. Succeeding this

success, spread the word around your place, your village or area.

Develop the methodology to improve the standards of our fellow

brethren and try to save nature and its constituents for our future

generation. Live and while leaving, leave behind such healthy

environment for the future.

 

Start this journey of living the life with vigor armed with the

strategy of ‘principled simplicity’. Come on! Soon!

Principled Simplicity

 

What should we do next?

 

Hope you have completed reading this book on

‘principled simplicity’. Extravagance or simplicity –

which one to choose? I know your mind is wavering,

but it is normal. Without a judge to hear both the sides

of the debate, I know your heart must be parted with

two opinions.

If the man and the woman in a family are of opposite

nature, one a spendthrift and the other a simple one,

there is surely bound to be a rift and sparks. I have

tried to put my best thoughts forward through this

book, with suitable examples and anecdotes to make

all in a family adopt the ‘principled simplicity’. In what

ever angle we see life or a situation, we are clear that

simplicity scores over all other phenomena and is a

must for all to adopt.

If we follow that 

Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory!

Victory! 

Follows us. Yes. Nine victories are scored over by just using the

mantra of success. These nine are: 

Victory to the environment

Victory for the restoration of natural resources

Victory to a planned and economic life

Victory for savings

Victory to your own ‘money purse’!

Victory to the serene and calm hearts

Victory to the health of all concerned

Victory for the family welfare 

Above all, those who adopt ‘principled simplicity’ can live without

fear and guilt.

What you need to just do is to, become a ‘principled simplicity’ immediately. And

become the spokesperson for this model too. Share the ideas and stories

illustrated in this book with all and everyone. Wherever you go, become a symbol

of simplicity. Speak in gatherings, schools and colleges and among friends,

relatives on this subject. Buy and gift this book to as many as you can. Try to add

this into the syllabus of schools.

 

It is beneficial to adopt this strategy. Your family can also adopt and benefit. Be

patient enough to educate others on this policy. Teach them simplicity with smile.

Start the ‘principled simplicity forum’ in your place and work cohesively with

others to reach more milestones.

 

The ‘principled simplicity’ badge should be worn always and every where we go.

Not only wear but preach it to others. At least four to five persons should become

a simplicist like you after each passing day.

The ‘principled simplicity forum or club

This club should be started in each and very hamlet, village,

town and city. The members would be called as ‘principled

simplicists’. Their messages spread to all working offices,

public places, industries, schools and colleges. The message

should spread among all habitats.

The in-charge The principled simplicity forum or club will have office bearers to have account of all work done and money involved. This is mandatory. LeaderDeputy leaderSecretaryJoint SecretaryTreasurerDirector – Public relations and communicationsDirector – Branches in offices - establishmentDirector – Branches in educational institutions – establishmentDirector – Public serviceDirector – Simplicity – Strategy ResearchDirector – Civic ExNoRa growth

Registration Those who have started this ‘Principled

Simplicity Forum’ elsewhere should get registered with the Head office

of the “Principled Simplicity Forum’ in Chennaiby sending details of

•Their constitution•The names of persons involved•The details of how and when it was started•The contact details of all office bearers, members and their resumes.•The details of branches and their functions

Meetings

•The members should meet at least once in a month and discuss strategies and experiences on how one can adopt simplicity and how to spread this message further. You may discuss on the extravagance and spending attitudes, the methods to prevent it, the methods to prevent the urge to spend, how to control children becoming spendthrifts and so on… •In each meeting a NEW PRINCIPLED SIMPLICIST should be identified and honoured or appreciated in public.•There is no need to insist that the meeting should also conducted in a simple way•It can happen below the shades of a big tree, in a class room or in a park. No meetings in hotels and rented places.

Report Monthly Action Report should be submitted to the H.O regularly. We all should join hands, practice ‘Principled Simplicity’ and make our heritage and culture driven lives a good one, everlasting one, so that we give back our motherland what she deserves best. Those who want the badges for becoming a member in ‘Principled simplicity forum’ can contact the ExNoRa head office in the following address: Principled Simplicity ForumC/o. ExNoRa International20, Giriappa Road, T. NagarChennai 6000 017Tel: 91- 44 – 2815 3377, 2475 9477.Email: mbnirmal@hotmail.com, mbnirmal@yahoo.com

Some quotable quotes 

Hey those who crib and wander in search of money

What use it has after the spirit leaves your mortal body?

-Avvayar (tamil poetess of sangam age) 

Do have money making as your motto. Spend money to gather

goodness.

-Oliver Wendell Holmes 

Money can buy the skin, not the pulp. It can fetch money but cannot

fetch hunger; can buy medicines, not cure; will gather men to share,

not friends; will get workers, not faithfulness; will get amusing days

but not eternal peace and happiness.

-Henrique Ibson

Some quotable quotes 

The greedy never possess money. The spendthrift looses money faster than

anything else

-Ben Johnson 

Business can bring money; but friendship never brings it

-Jane Austin 

To be clean, compact and true, we do not need money. 

Do not spend your efforts on earning money, but for yearning service to

nation 

Coins and currency are not real money. Work is wealth. The one who has

energy to work is really the rich one.

-Mahatma Gandhi

The money angel had made many a millionaires and had spoilt many more.- Robert Smith

Some men sometimes make fake money. At times, some fake money makes fake men.

- Sydney Harris Inspite of knowing money can beget many things, if one averts money, it is equivalent to like emptiness. To avoid real needs is weakness. Those who value money correctly and are always be ready to spend it on their duty, kindness, donation, is truly ethical.

- Senankur If you know how to use money, it is your slave. Otherwise, you become its slave.

- Horus To buy anything close to our soul, we need no money

- Henry David Thoreau The difference between the respect we give to the one who had made himself a true man and to the other who had just made himself a rich man is very wide and incomparable

- Diana Maria Mulak

Money and time or life’s biggest burden. Those who have got either of this, beyond their capacity to spend, suffer.

- Samuel Johnson Money is a faithful servant but a horrible boss

- Dominique Bohairs The intelligent should have money in his brain, not in his heart.

Jonathan SwiftIf you make money your God, it will become a devil to control you

- Henry Fielding There is some blind faith in all desires; in money we have it much more.

- Robert Sweth Till one grows, one remains faithful and obedient. Once one gets a better pay master, they change sides.

- SnequaThere is only one category who suffer a lot in crisis, than the poorest of poor. The most rich!

- Clairence Derro

It is easy to disguise wealth. It is difficult to cover up poverty. It is easy to hide a thousand dollar gold, but difficult to cover up a small hole in our shirts.

-Charles, Koltten

The money I spend for myself are burdens like rock around the neck. But what I spend for others, are like angels; they make me fly.

- Ruswell D.Hitchcock Money is like a manure. If not spread, it does not yield fruit.

- Francis BakonEarn as much as you canSave as much as you canGive as much as you can

- John Wesley The root cause of destruction is not money, but greed. Money beyond the need, greed, causes all trouble.

- Nathaniel Hawthorn What Stars and destiny cannot do, money does to buy love

-Samues Butler Money beget money

- Jewish proverb

One you fight it out to earn money, character goes away- Jewish proverb

Do the money you get selling flowers give fragrance? Or do the money you earn selling meat stink? Ten men behind – money and behind - a mad man Does the money we get selling a dog, barks? It is better to sell camphor and earn money, than selling liquor to earn the same Even the dead corpse opens its mouth when it hears ‘money’A spear goes 8 feet long; money goes much beyond, below the earth

– Tamil sayings We can just get meat and food with money; Do not think that money is your aim, everything and anything in your body and soul.

- Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

How man maketh money, how he spends – is the true test for the conduct of a man- James Moffet

Money is the new form of slavery. In other forms, at least there lies a human relationship between the master and the servant. With money, no humanity exists. That’s’ the only difference.

- Leo Tolstoy The money earned by a characterless man Is like the milk spoilt with a drop of butter

- Thirukkural The use of money is in spending it

One who says he can do anything with moneycan also do anything for money. I have got cows and goats. All are wishing me ‘good morning!’

Money has never given happiness to man; there is no element of joy in money; the more one possesses money, the more he wants it. Money does not flow to vacuum. It creates only more vacuum. If it solves one need, it creates many more others.

- Benjamin Franklin

Money never fools anyone. It just exposes fools

 

The only way to double your money is this – Just fold it into two

and keep it in your pocket

- Frank Huebert 

The root cause of all evils is the greed for money

-St. Paul  

The war demon put the world in hell’s entrance in 1914. After that

money has taken that responsibility. It is time to declare both war

and money as the most insane ones and jail them inside for ever.

- Lloyd George

Money is the reason to be good to the good men, and reason to be

bad to the evil men

- Filo 

How man maketh money, how he spends – is the true test for the conduct of a man- James Moffet

Money is the new form of slavery. In other forms, at least there lies a human relationship between the master and the servant. With money, no humanity exists. That’s’ the only difference.

- Leo Tolstoy The money earned by a characterless man Is like the milk spoilt with a drop of butter

- Thirukkural The use of money is in spending it

One who says he can do anything with moneycan also do anything for money. I have got cows and goats. All are wishing me ‘good morning!’

Money has never given happiness to man; there is no element of joy in money; the more one possesses money, the more he wants it. Money does not flow to vacuum. It creates only more vacuum. If it solves one need, it creates many more others.

- Benjamin Franklin

You cannot buy anything that God owns

– Dertoolian 

We are giving away our freedom to pay the price to get money

- Robert Louis Stevenson

 

Money is like limbs. If you do not use it, you may loose it.

Henry Ford

Once I had money and a friend. I believed my friend and gave him

money. I waited and asked it back. Now I have lost both money and

my friend.

- Somebody

Thanking you all!

  

Compiled by: (Late) K. Diraviam

Poompuhar press, 63, Broadway, Chennai 600108.

Other thought provoking books authored by M. B. Nirmal

Title Language Price (Rs)

 

Failures as stepping stones Tamil 35/-

Say and win Tamil 50/-

Change and do change Tamil 25/-

Raise and make others rise! Tamil 25/-

Enjoy and make other enjoy Tamil 40/-

( A book on all plants, trees)

Take bribe – on – on and on…! Tamil 30/-

Kill, kill… do away with bribery Tamil 30/-

Sarvasakthee Tamil 40/-

7th intelligence prayer Tamil 25/-

Maa (religious tolerance) Tamil 30/-

Live, live in abundance Tamil 30/-

Other thought provoking books authored by M. B. Nirmal

Title Language Price (Rs)

 

Experiences abroad- Hongkong Tamil 35/-

To live safe… Tamil 30/-

Walking body exercise Tamil 30/-

New horizon, new earth (social

investment) Tamil 30/-

Problems are gifts Tamil 30/-

Water wealth Tamil 20/-

Principled simplicity English 10/-

Model area English 50/-

Model home English 30/-

Veg-edge English 25/-

Audios:

1. Relax Tamil 60/- *

2. Relax English 60/- *

3. Health English 60/- *

4. Health Tamil 60/- *

5. Combined study (for students) English 60/-

Available with explanatory notes. Magazines appreciate this effort. Medical Practitioners

Recommend; The Sick get cured by listening.

Note: Wholesalers and retailers get discount on the above prices

ORDER FORM Please send the following book/ books to my address: My name:My address:My contact details:My email: I have enclosed the DD/cheque for amount Rs._________ towards purchase of the above books. Signature To Seventh Sense Publications20, Giriappa Road, T. NagarChennai 6000 17.Tel: 91-44-28153377/2475 9477

The forums Mr. M.B. Nirmal had started

 

ExNoRa International

 

ExNoRa is appreciated by all media as the fastest growing

service organization. Has got the United nations award

(UNCHS). Every one in their respective area keep their

surroundings clean, organic wastes are converted to fuel. Paper

recycling, planting trees, making pavement gardens, living

safe, waste water management, stopping pollution at all levels,

bringing together all NGO s are the various facets of this

organization. Apart from this, the organization involves, old

persons, women and children into its services and uplifts every

society. Students are taught exclusively on environmental

science. Due to the relentless efforts of ExNoRa for all these

years, many ugly ducklings have become swans (Many worst

areas have become a paradise).

Fifth Pillar

 

If we conduct a survey among Indians, on which one is to be opposed the

one which will score above others is ‘bribery’. The reason for our country to

lag behind many smaller nations is its corruption index. Had the money

received been accounted for, India would have surely become a super

power by now. So, this forum was created to raise awareness and

encourage participation to eliminate bribe from our system and hence

called as ‘Fifth Pillar’.

 

Rules are made by the first pillar, i.e., the Parliament

 

The rules are implemented and are brought to action by the offices, i.e.,

administration, officers in the Government offices. They are the second

pillar.

 

The Judiciary oversees as to whether the law is maintained in all aspects. It

constitutes the third pillar.

Fifth Pillar 

The watch dog for all the above is the fourth pillar which is the press and

media.  

Do the constitution by which this country is built like a fortress, need a fifth

pillar? Yes, it is essential. If any of the above pillar develops cracks, we add

a support and that will be this fifth pillar, run by the people. 

This is the bribery abolition forum wing of ExNoRa. The best of all forums

would be the one which runs with volunteers. This service is done without

expecting any returns. The reason for the British to go out of our country

was Gandhiji’s selfless service and a silent war against Lordship. It was

sacrifice and service to the society that raked the relentless workers of our

homeland to fight together against the evil forces. And then we got

independence. This independence created the four pillars for the society.

The aim is to set up voluntary organizations in each hamlet, fight against

the bribery of this country and develop a transparent nation. So, was

formed this fifth pillar.

Maa 

Motherhood surpasses religion, caste, creed and animosity between

men. Mother’s love is the greatest of all love. Some men too possess

heart of a mother. So to inculcate mother’s heart among our people,

Maa was started. None are enemies to others. Some environmental

irregularities, degradation of the system, diseases, violence, are few of

the common enemy we should fight against. Mankind will survive if love

pervades all. So join ‘Maa’ to spread the message of kindness and love.

 

We need patriotism: If all have the heart of a mother, we can spread

harmony among ourselves. Hatred will perish. Relentless Patriotism is

the need of the hour. We all should give priority to patriotism; love for

our country. We should all keep aside our divisions based on caste,

creed and religion and join hands for a peace loving, uniform nation,

with patriotic fervour and heads held high. 

Sarvasakthee

The worst enemy in any home is liquor. We see toddy shops and

liquor bars every where around. Brainless poor folk and even the

wealthy rich can be seen on roads, after consuming liquor. Many

women loose their mangal sutra and peace because of their

husbands turning drunkards. These men resort to many

evildoings as liquor blurs their mind and vision. Their future and

that of their children has become a big question mark. Women

and families affected by this menace can join hands and can save

themselves from this economical crisis and can live as a cohesive

unit. They can formulate strategies to eliminate liquor from their

husbands’ lives. So this alcoholic anonymous group is called as

Sarvasakthee

Principled simplicity

In today’s modern world, what people have almost forgot, is simplicity. India’s

leaders, many of them have lead the country because of their clear vision and

simplicity. Gandhiji, Vivekananda, Mother Teresa and many others are

luminaries who lead their life with simplicity and became the torch bearers of

this nation. Many illegal acts like murder, dowry practice and thefts are caused

because of greed and desire. Just for the sake of what ones neighbour thinks,

man resorts to buy all unwanted things. He ends up buying beyond his

capacity and gets life time imprisonment in debts and legal notices. Just to

maintain a pseudo-status in the society, people spend beyond their limits. To

stop this and make people lead a principled simple life, this forum was started.

If men wear badges marked as ‘Principled Simplicity’, none would resort to

ridicule him, rather try to follow him. He would become the epitome of

simplicity and straight forwardness. He is not a miser, but a wise spender.

He is not insane, but intelligent. There are many who have joined

this forum to lead a simple life and also spread the message to others.

Students Power forum Students power is like a silent dynamo. If students unite, the country would unite. The society can be chiseled to a beautiful icon only if the students turn themselves as chisels to the cause. Students power forum should be started in each schools and colleges. Each student to strive to keep his surroundings clean and tidy by joining hands with Civic ExNoRa groups near by. All the above forums can cumulatively form a stronger, richer and ethical society. Those who wish to join these forums can contact:M.B.NirmalFounder, Chief – ExNoRa InternationalTrainer – Seventh Intelligence20,Giriappa Road, T. Nagar, Chennai 600017.India. Tel: 91- 44- 2815 33 77/ 2475 95 77/ 98400 34 900.Email: mbnirmal@hotmail.com, mbnirmal@yahoo.com, mbnirmal@gmail.com

Details to be furnished: Name:Educational Qualifications/Division:Address: Contact number/s: email: To date:__________Mr.M.B.NirmalFounder, Chief – Exnora InternationalTrainer – Seventh Intelligence20,Giriappa Road, T. Nagar, Chennai 600017. Dear Sir,I wish to join and know more about the below mentioned forums. Kindly guide me to know how to join your forums as a volunteer. Tick what is appropriate (√) ( ) Street ExNoRa ( ) 5th bPillar( ) Youth ExNoRa ( ) Ag( ) Principled Simplicity ( ) Veg-Edge( ) ExNoRa Innovators Club ( ) Maa( ) Students Power forum ( ) ‘I’ Club I am eagerly awaiting your response in this regard. Thanking you Yours truly, (Signature)