Rajeev Kurapati's Blog, page 6

Becoming a Lifelong Learner

It was the fall of ’95 when I found myself surrounded by 136 other ambitious and nervous new medical students, bracing ourselves for orientation. While my peers and I shared a certain air of confidence, it was hard to miss the palpable anxiety (tinged with self-doubt) that filled the room.

The distinguished professor welcomed us by defining medical professionalism:

Commitment to patient-centered care, intellectual honesty, social responsibility, and advocacy,

she explained. However true the sentiment, we knew what was really expected of us is that we would amass knowledge with single-minded devotion. Over the years, we all shared one common and constant goal: be a sponge of seemingly infinite knowledge. 

Twenty years later and the process of learning continues. As students (even as early as grade school), we’re governed by standardized testing and validated by our GPAs—all the while rarely, if ever, being tested on our understanding of what it takes to be an open-minded, lifelong learner. Decades of education taught me one thing above all others: the art of learning to learn.

In the era of No Child Left Behind and the questionable efficacy of cumbersome testing, we’re slowly coming to the heavy realization that perhaps we’ve not yet learned how to learn. Armed with the facts and figures, most of us are never taught how to successfully digest not only what we hear in the classroom, but also how to absorb the world around us as engaged learners.

Telecommunications pioneer Richard Hamming, author of The Art of Doing Science and Engineering: Learning to Learn, offers suggestions about how to succeed in the lost art of learning. Here are ten rules based off of his advice encouraging anyone to be their best self through the simple act of accumulating knowledge:

1. Concentrate on fundamental principles rather than facts.

Structure your learning so that you’re able to ride the information wave, not drown in it.

As time marches forward, the amount of knowledge in the world grows exponentially—doubling about every 20 years. But our brain can only process information at a rate of around 60 bits per second, and our minds aren’t getting faster even as the information load skyrockets. It’s easy to get lost in details, so focusing on fundamentals is key.

Set aside reading time—indulge in your own fields of interest as well as exploring new developments in areas outside of your immediate preoccupation.

2. Learn from those around you.

As people gravitate away from trade jobs, more individuals are graduating from college than ever before. The number of science doctorates earned each year alone grew by nearly 40% between 1998 and 2008. It’s important to balance competition with the company of people who can motivate and inspire us. Learn from the success of others. Hamming says it best,

Vicarious learning from the experiences of others saves making errors yourself.

Let the achievements of others provide you with a sort of roadmap. Young or old, there are always going to be people who are wiser and more accomplished than you—make these people your allies and learn everything you can from them.

3. Focus on the future. Learn from the past and move on. Live in the present.

The landscape of the world is fast changing, transformed by digital revolution and explosive growth of disruptive ideas in almost all human endeavors. While we can’t predict what will happen next, we can be ready to adapt to change. Learning from the past is important also, of course, to ensure yesterday’s mistakes aren’t repeated. In this race toward the future, we lose the present. As Seneca observed,

The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today… The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.

4. Make it personal.

Always find how your learning impacts you personally. Whether you work a corporate job, run a small business, or maintain an academic career, don’t let your job or degrees box you in. Grow to be a well-rounded, best version of yourself. Structure your learning efforts according to some general direction in which you want to move. Having a vision is what separates leaders from followers. Goals evokes passion, which encourages you to want to learn, not feel like you simply have to.

5. Trial and error is key.

Finding what style of learning best suits you is a process filled with trial and error. How to learn can’t be discovered through words—we have to try different techniques to stumble upon what works best. Rely on your teachers but think for yourself too. Never be afraid to question and challenge the status quo.

6. Make the best of your working space.

The workplace continues to evolve rapidly—with trends like communal workspaces and working from home sweeping the nation. Surprisingly, people tend to do their best work when working conditions aren’t ideal. Don’t let your surroundings distract you from the task at hand. One tip to make the best of your office, if you have one, is to leave your door open often. It may seem counterintuitive, but while you may occasionally be more distracted, you’ll also be able to stay plugged in to what’s most important: ensuring that you’re working on the right matters.

7. Only you can put in the time it takes to learn.

To quote Hamming,

I am… only a coach. I cannot run the mile for you.

Even for those inherently talented, there is no substitute for effort. Don’t wait for or rely upon luck. Remember the old adage: Luck favors the prepared mind.

8. Work on what matters.

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, to do great work, you must ask yourself: What is the most important problem in the society that desperately needs resolution? That’s how you make a difference. This focus will motivate you while also ridding the distractions of trivial matters.

10. Strive for excellence.

Sometimes learning is hard—really hard. Don’t let that deter you from what you want to achieve. There is no greater pay-off than living the life you always imagined, and there is no greater joy than discovering things for yourself. Put in the time to learn and always focus on how you learn best.

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Being religious is not same as being spiritual

Spiritual experience is distinct from religious feeling of dependence on an object or image of worship. It is a state of complete absorption of our being. This is not a psychic experience. It is an insight into the source of existence. This occurs only after stripping away layers of identity that was hindering the visualization of reality.

During our hurried passage through life there may come to us a few moments of transcendent joy, when we seem to stand literally outside of our narrow selves and attain a higher state of being. But these moments are usually short-lived because our ego-identity quickly intervenes.

How is the spirituality useful?

Facts are many, but the truth is one. The animal intelligence knows facts, the human mind has power to apprehend truth. The apple falls from the tree, the rain descends upon the earth–you can go on burdening your memory with such facts and never come to an end. But once you get hold of the law of gravitation you can dispense with the necessity of collecting facts ad infinitum. You have got at one truth which governs numberless facts. This discovery of truth is pure joy to man–it is a liberation of his mind. It is transforming myth into reality.

But what is this state of enlightenment?

It is like a morning of spring, varied in its life and beauty, yet one and entire. In this state, all the conflicts and contradictions of life are reconciled; the formless appears to us in the form of the flower, of the fruit. The kinship between you and the rest of existence attains new meaning. You will see the inner meaning behind Buddha’s observation – “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change. ”

Only Obstacle To Unconditional Love

Loving someone with absolutely no expectations sounds like a utopian idea. To say we love one another as we love ourselves cannot be true unless there is an intrinsic reward, whether direct or indirect. That’s not to say we are not loving individuals, it is simply that our most basic makeup is to be self-serving. The key to understanding if unconditional love is feasible or not is to understand the very nature of our mind.

Our mind is built to compartmentalize, making it difficult to experience oneness among all beings – the goal, though, is to learn to recognize the innate connectedness we all share.

This realization is the root of unconditional love – knowing that it is the very same life flowing through us all that allows us to love without hesitation. With this awareness, all of existence will now be in your affection. It’s only when you view the world around you as polarized from yourself that fear-breeding division occurs.

Love is not what you do. Love is what you are. The only obstacle to unconditional love is not recognizing this.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Stress

We all experience varying levels and lengths of stress, triggered by an array of scenarios – some logical, others not. Managing this powerful emotional and physiological response to adverse or demanding circumstances comes more naturally to some, but can certainly be taught to even the most nervous of them all. The first step to controlling stress is to know your own personal anxiety, down to its deepest core. What causes your stress? What alleviates it? What affect is it having on your mind and body and what can you do to stop it?

To assist you on your journey of stress-discovery, here are five truths about stress that you may not know – but definitely need to be made aware of.

1. Stress is contagious.

Anyone interacting with someone who’s stressed, especially for prolonged periods of time, has an increased risk of being affected by empathetic stress. Caregivers and family members of chronically stressed individuals are most at risk here, but even watching TV shows involving confrontations of stress can transmit the tension. This empathetic stress negatively impacts the immune system and is toxic to the mind and body in the long term. Know your limits when it comes to how much stress you can healthily expose yourself to. Also, be cognizant of how your worry may be negatively impacting those around you.

If you reach out to a sorrowful friend, a mourning parent, or a downhearted colleague who has suffered a sudden reversal of fortune or fate, be careful not to be overcome yourself by the apparent hardship. Remember to discriminate events themselves and your interpretations of them. It is not a demonstration of kindness or friendship to the people we care about to join them in surrendering to negative feelings. We do a better service to ourselves and others by remaining detached and avoiding unnecessary emotional reactions.

Still, if you are associated with someone who is depressed, stressed or hurt, show them kindness and give them a sympathetic ear; just don’t allow yourself to be pulled down.

2. Stress is detrimental to Sperm.

Stress can and will seep into every facet of your life if you let it, including the bedroom. Stressed men are found to have fewer, slower sperm, which can diminish fertility. While not conclusive yet as to how stress affects the quality of semen, it is possible that stress may trigger steroid hormones known to blunt levels of testosterone and sperm production.

3. Two stressed people equals less stress.

Seems counterintuitive, yes. But, when especially stressed, it is extremely helpful to share your feelings with someone who is having a similar anxious reaction to the same situation. Consider giving a presentation at work – perhaps nothing will ease your stress more than talking it out with a colleague who is undergoing the same scenario. Studies show that there is tremendous benefit gained by conversing with others whose emotional response is in line with your own.

4. Optimists are better at regulating stress.

A glass-half-full mentality may be the ticket to a more stress-free life. The “stress hormone” cortisol tends to be more stable for those with positive personalities. Pessimists have difficulty regulating their emotional and physical responses to particularly stressful situations. Optimists tend to be more solution-oriented and thus better react to the stress hormone – allowing it to amplify their get-up-and-go attitudes.

5. Not all stress is bad.

While stress is oftentimes the enemy, we can’t ignore its ability to push us to optimal alertness and performance. Short, but significant bouts of stress cause our brains to proliferate new nerve cells that improve mental performance. Stress hormones are an incredible adaptation that provide us with the ability to remember not only anxiety-ridden situations themselves, but more importantly, how we deal with them – ingraining us with the power of resiliency, allowing us to be ready for whatever life may throw our way. Like most things in life, stress is only beneficial in small doses. Chronic stress leads to increased risk of chronic obesity, heart disease and depression.

Stress is like spice – in the right proportion it enhances the flavor of a dish. Too little produces a bland, dull meal; too much may choke you.” – Donald Tubesing

 

What day is Mother’s Day?

One Sunday each year, we recognize the value of motherhood and these incredible individuals. Whether or not THE mother’s day is merely a silly commercial exercise or a true testament of dedication is not worth discussing, but one fact that can’t be argued – any excuse to express gratitude is a good one. Perhaps, with nothing more than the pure reverence to our mothers that occupies our mental space, everyday is a proverbial mother’s day.

Most roles in life are finite – responsibilities with an end point, something to be ultimately achieved. In this game of life, we are always on a quest to win – earn that top spot, to be tangibly rewarded in one way or another. One type of game, though, requires only the most compassionate, selfless individuals as there is no prize to be won nor a time when the role can be turned off. This infinite game offers only a journey, thus the player’s intention must be to never stop giving. A mom is always playing the infinite game – loving without expectation, unconditionally, instinctively. These women motivate us always, inspiring us to be better, to do better. This mother’s day, be more than amused by your mother’s charm. Recognize the journey she has committed to, all of the time and effort she has willingly dedicated to your wellbeing alone. Remind yourself of this infinite game and reward your mother with the admiration she deserves – with an infinite mother’s day.

The Art Of Going Beyond Your Mind: True Self-Development

The Difference Between Self-Development and Discovering Your True-Self

When we embark on a journey of self-improvement or personality development, what we are actually doing is cultivating our ego-selves – with the ultimate goal to meet social and biological necessities.

We strive all of our lives to better ourselves emotionally, intellectually, and psychologically in order to deal with society, our desires, and our urges – all by disciplining our minds. Most of the time, we confuse self-development programs with the actual process of knowing our true self: that center within us which is the ground of all our experiences.

Only by watching your true-self shine within will you be able to appreciate your mind and body as bearers of life, not sufferers of circumstances.

Attempting to find our real self through popular self-improvement exercises is futile, because the ground upon which the mind projects itself isn’t located within this content of our minds we attempt to accumulate.

Don’t get trapped in some of these so-called spiritual practices that do nothing but appease our mind-created ego-selves.

It’s only our ever-changing minds and our social constructs that need to be organized and regulated.

The true self needs no improvement because the real you knows neither future nor past.

You – the real self, that center within you, the true definition of who you are – exists only in the present. The ego-self needs the aid of memory to categorize experiences and to act accordingly. The real self is your very being. Accumulation of knowledge about the real self does nothing but add more and more content to your mental space, a mere knowledge warehouse that’s tied together by the thread of memory and offers no sense of enlightenment.

Read the full post: TheYogaBlog.com

Review by Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

“Unbound Intelligence: Discover the God Within by Rajeev Kurapati is based on an inspirational theme of self-discovery that speaks about the complexities of the human mind. The author has woven together religion, science, and traditions with personal experiences. With a thought-provoking theme, the book expands one’s thinking prowess and transcends all boundaries to set us free from the usual norms of belief. The complex theme has been conveyed in a simple manner, making it accessible for readers from all walks of life. The book will take you through a fruitful journey of soul-searching and being more acquainted with the human mind.

I enjoyed reading this book because it is a learning experience to unravel the concepts of spirituality and the realization of how one’s perception can be so limited. The author’s rich knowledge is expansive and evident from the contents. The unique approach to the usual conventional topics makes it very original and gives the freedom of choice to each individual to choose what is right for them in terms of following God. It will stimulate your thoughts and channel them in a positive way. Reading the book is a learning process.

The book takes readers to another level where the possibility of bliss and peace seems tangible. Reading this is an enriching and liberating experience and the ideas and concepts are profound; the author’s knowledge and expertise shine through the entire book.”

— Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

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Clock vs Flow: Which Do You Live By?

For some of us, our life is governed by clock time – the hour on our watch methodically governs the beginning and end of our activities. The rest of us tend to flow with the moment and allow it to dictate its duration, ignoring the distraction of the ticking clock. For these folks, events begin and when, by mutual consensus between the interactions of people, they decide the time is right to move along.

Read my full article on Millennial Magazine

Review by Casee Marie (Literary Inklings)

Casee Marie (Literary Inklings.com)

Casee Marie of Literary Inklings reviews Unbound Intelligence 

“Dr. Rajeev Kurapati was standing by a lake in quiet reflection near his Cincinnati workplace when he had the epiphany which eventually led him to write his book. His realization was of a nature that goaded him to explore the idea that self-inquiry, rather than the memorization and ritualization of religion, leads to an even greater and deeper spiritual practice. He believed that the center of all faith could be found within oneself, and that this faith required a dedication to self-awareness as well as a release from the bonds of both social and religious confinement. His book, Unbound Intelligence: Discover the God Within is the result of his journey through self-actualized enlightenment. Throughout his narrative Kurapati explores the essences of God, love, religion, scripture, human nature, the universe and the mind by sifting each topic through a studied lens. Utilizing the worlds of science, history, and spirituality, Kurapati presents a new view of the social and cultural norms we face in our everyday lives, and encourages his readers to see beyond them by looking first within.

Studiously researched, Unbound Intelligence covers much ground with apparent ease, culminating in a brief yet effective history of the nature of humankind. Kurapati’s objective is well achieved through his unique approach, consulting both the spiritual and scientific resources of the world as well as seeking inspiration from philosophers, writers, religious figures, and other great minds throughout time. His use of language is extensive and sophisticated while maintaining a simplicity that balances the expansive topics of his narrative. Throughout his discussion of the many religions and cultures of the world he also manages the challenging task of being impartial while making the case for the theories that have driven him to write this book. Perhaps some of the most fascinating pages of Unbound Intelligence are the ones in which Kurapati explores the history of religion without the typical encumbrance of religious bias; he dives deeply into the natures of Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, unearthing the many similarities among the religions, shining light on the often overlooked circumstances of their differences, and ultimately exploring the many ways in which each religion could inhibit its practitioner from continuing to evolve spiritually along with the cultural and humanistic evolution of the world. While these chapters will lead most meditative readers into the deep reaches of thought and maybe even inspire moments of enlightenment, at their surface they also offer a unique opportunity to understand the basis of each religion in a simple, historical and intellectual context.

Unbound Intelligence is more of a philosophical and spiritual examination than a step-by-step how-to on the subject of self-realization; in this way Kurapati stays true to his motive that spiritual truth requires personal inquiry. The book will inspire many readers into conversation with themselves, arming them with the intellectual preparation for self-discovery. Kurapati also draws on his own experiences, calling up stories of patients from his past that helped him to better understand the ideas he puts forth in his book. In that way Unbound Intelligence becomes a rare and applicable resource for self-actualization, taking at times the shape of a personal account of enlightenment, a philosophical exploration into religion, and a scientific documentation of our spiritual history. The combination results in a deeply thought-provoking and spiritually stimulating book that will encourage readers to unearth the power of individual thinking and remind them of the vital importance of a relationship with oneself.”

To read the review on Literary Inklings click here.

Why Being Present Is So Difficult (And What You Can Do About It)

Before we try to answer that question it is necessary to understand the intrinsic nature of our mind.

The basic nature of our mind is to dwell in the past or to worry about the future. Our uneasiness about what’s to come is actually our strategy to prepare for the future – our mind’s ingenious way of ensuring that we’re equipped to survive. Without such readiness, the mind can’t prepare the body of which it controls to thrive. This is the fundamental characteristic of any life form, whether a single cell or the most complex being.

So how does this future-oriented mind know exactly what to prepare for the seemingly unknown?

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