Ranjith recently secured 6th Rank in MBA and his photograph appeared in Times of India. Here are some extracts from his book (still unfinished) called "Dateless Diary" that he plans to publish. You will find it deep and philosophical, like I did. Yes, that is one aspect of Ranjith. - Moderator, Aug 2002]

GURU

Always when learning something, do it sincerely and leave the rest to happen all by itself. Above all, bow down to your Guru and seek his consent and blessings, before any venture in any field, whether studies or something else. This may sound ridiculous, but even then the fact remains that, the very feeling, or much better, the very knowledge of the fact or illusion that there’s someone to take care of your venture, no matter whatsoever happens, is a great burden reliever, and can, at many times, promote a tremendous upsurge of positive thinking. “If GOD be for me, then who can be against me?”

MEDITAION AND OTHER SELF-HELP METHODS

After having learnt some particular form of meditation or some other particular idea or belief, which when practiced, is supposed to grant you with some new light or a new sort of WAY, always keep it in mind to see for yourself, whether that can be violated before you get on with it. Violation, here, does not mean that you should violate its put forth principles and techniques. It means, to see if there’s any scope for progress, if you pursue this path… to see if there’s anything higher in this way… and most important, to see if this path, with your given code of instructions as direction pointers, gives obstacles to progress… the progress towards becoming not what you dream, but what is in store for you. If your answer is NO, better do not follow the path. That can grant you progress… perhaps…

THE HIDDEN DIVINE LAW OF UNIVERSE

Always never go against the divine plan. It has a fixed routine and time for events to happen. Never go about talking quite miserably about obstacles. Obstacles exist to be overcome. Nothing else can assure you progress, for to know the beauty and wonder of light, one has to experience darkness. It is the same with problems and obstacles. The true joy of success can only be felt if one has experienced failure. So the next time you are faced with a problem or challenge, understand that it is a test to prove your ability. And also try getting some bird’s eye view of the problem. Then you begin to realise the intrinsic beauty of the Divine Plan. Very complex, and yet so simple it seems when understood properly!!! Accelerate your progress surrendering to it and let it take its course. OBEY the Divine Law, and never ever doubt its truthfulness.

KARMA

The law of karma is simply fascinating. It is more and more interesting and equally threatening when you get to know more about it. You may feel that the past has no effect on your future. But I say, there is no past or future. Both are expressions of Eternal Present... Eternal NOW. So your actions and thoughts have a clear effect on you. At times, you are the teaser, hater even a murderer!!! But for the simple fact of neutralisation as in chemical terms, alkalinity can be neutralised only by acidity, you have to become the teased, hated and even the murdered!!! All the debts must be paid off and the balance sheet has to be tallied at the end. So why create more debts and delay the process towards Eternity? And yet, I cannot understand why I’m unable to act fully even when I’ve understood this simple but great Law…

TRUE SURRENDER

Surrendering oneself completely to God or Guru or Higher Self is most essential to progress… To get you going forward on the path… But there in lies a great illusion - What exactly does surrender mean? Does it mean that you should be full of gratitude and then sit simply waiting for things to take its course? It could be right… but I feel even then true surrender doesn’t come. There is still a little bit of surrender left with in which prevents you from ASKING… once you have full gratitude, this last and final hurdle can be over come by asking for help. Then the last wall of pride gets shattered… and then, Rejoice on the gifts that HE gives you… but be sure you don’t lose the Attitude of Gratitude.

SELF-ACCEPTANCE

It is an act that requires a great deal of inner strength and courage. A bold step towards transcending the duality that arises from our fragmented thinking. That’s self-acceptance… but requirement of immense courage makes this task very difficult. Acceptance of self, unless already achieved, requires change in the present condition; and due to lack of courage and presence of fear, this challenge of change is seldom met. And so, the theory of self-acceptance becomes absurd!!! But once, its achieved, the joy is unspeakable. Even momentary glimpses of that realisation are enough to rejoice. The duality transcends, and absence of conflict leads to a fuller and greater unfolding on inner faculties at a fast pace due to the coming into existence of “one pointed ness” - in life… in self.

REAL SERVICE

Any work or service becomes effective only when we do it in a diligent way with out even once thinking about the result of it. The very act of wanting to see the effect, that very desire to see the consequence of the work or service done, is the biggest limitation in giving a fuller service. The act of service or work is completed only when the doer has withdrawn from the act… just like the act of giving pen is complete only when the hand that gives it is withdrawn… Here, the act of withdrawal, which makes for completion, symbolises desirelessness to see the result of work and absence of the very same thought, which limits our capacity to serve, by diverting our attention partially towards it and not the work…