The Power of

Habits
For Tolani Maritime Institute
Knowledge Skill Attitude

Being a slave to a bad habit or

a servant of a good habit
– the choice is yours.
- Fred Van Amburg

We make our habits…

And Habits make us...
Seminar Presenter : Radheshyam das, M.Tech., IIT, Powai
Director, Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture and Education (VOICE)
 Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture
and Education)
• a cultural and educational group

• trains college youth, corporates and children in principle-centered

living and leadership through Drama, Music, seminars etc.

• has a faculty of 120 engineers and doctors

• offers several systematic seminars on topics such as Time

Management, Positive Thinking etc and courses on Personality
development, Character build up, Team playing, Public speaking,
Group discussions etc

• sends Mentors all over India and overseas to many top ranking
institutes like IIT Kharagpur, IT BHU Varanasi, NIT Jamshedpur,
NIT Warangal, NIT Suratkal etc

• has over 20 branches connected to many of the leading

educational institutes and companies.
 Seminar Presenter : Radheshyam das
• President of the Pune branch of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna
CONsciousness) that has over 600 centres worldwide
• Director of Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture & Education (VOICE)
• Holds an M.Tech from IIT-Bombay
• has been a top ranker during his DME, BE.Mech Engg and M.Tech.
• worked with CECRI, THERMAX and MATHER AND PLATT
• has been a Junior Research Fellow and Senior Design Executive.
• youth counselor and Corporate Advisor
• has compiled many pocket books on topics relevant to corporate circle like
‘Art of Mind control’ ‘Practical tips to Mind control’ ‘Stress Management’

• has authored a series of 5 books ‘Spirituality for the Modern Youth’

• offers seminars on Stress Management, Proactive Leadership, Time
Management etc in companies and colleges like ISQUAREIT
• ISKCON conferred upon him the ‘Global Excellency Award’ for the year 2004
for his valuable contribution to youth preaching.
1. What are Habits? How are Habits Addictive?
What are the effects of Bad habits?
2. Why bad habits are bad, although they feel good?
3. Understanding the Conscious & Subconscious Mind
4. How to say ‘NO’ to Bad Habits
5. Power of Good Habits
6. A simple Meditation technique to conquer bad habits
 1. What are Habits?
Definition (Oxford
dictionary)
1. Practice that is hard to give up
2. Mental Attitude

Examples :

Bag stealing thief in the Pilgrimage

Cliptomenia of a King of England

Dog’s tail
 ACTIVITY
BRAINSTORM TYPES OF BAD HABITS

SIMPLE SERIOUS GRAVE

b it s a r e A d d ic t iv e

HA IT
B
Habits are first cobwebs…
….then cables

– Spanish Proverb
 Effects of Habit
Habits affect one’s destiny:-
Sow a
... Reap an action
thought
Sow an action
...Reap a habit
Sow a habit ...Reap a character
Sow a
…Reap a destiny
character
 Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said
we shouldn't spank our children
when they misbehave
because
their little personalities
would be warped and
we might damage
their self-esteem
(Dr. Spock's son committed suicide).

And we said OK.

 Then someone said,
let's let our daughters
have abortions if they want,
and they won't even have to
tell their parents.

And we said OK.

 Then some wise school
board member said,
since boys will be boys and
they're going to do it anyway,
let's give our sons
all the condoms they want
so they can have
all the fun they desire, and
we won't have to tell their parents
they got them at school.

And we said OK.

Then some of our top elected officials
said it doesn't matter
what we do in private
as long as we do our jobs.
Agreeing with them,
we said
it doesn't matter to me
what anyone,
including the President,
does in private
as long as
I have a job and
the economy is good.
 Then someone said
let's print magazines with
pictures of nude women and
call it wholesome,
down-to-earth appreciation for
the beauty of the female body.

And we said OK.

Then the entertainment industry said,
let's make TV shows and movies that
promote profanity,
violence, and
illicit sex.
Let's record music that
encourages rape, drugs, murder,
suicide, and satanic themes.

And we said it's just entertainment,

it has no adverse effect,
nobody takes it seriously anyway,
so go right ahead.
 Now we're asking ourselves
why our children have no conscience,
why they don't know right from wrong, and
why it doesn't bother them to kill
strangers, their classmates and themselves.
 2. Why bad habits are bad, though
they feel good?
No illicit sex
By indulging in illicit sex,
one loses…….
• Purity,
• Wisdom,
• Peace of mind,
• Self confidence,
• Cleanliness,
• Concentration,
• Determination
• Vichara shakti (power of enquiry),
• Dharana shakti (power to grasp),
• Viveka (discrimination power),
and many other similar subtle qualities.
 Danger of Illicit Sex
We are very sorry to inform
• Dangers of Blue film watching that one of our students has
poured kerosine over his body
and burned himself alive, due
• A pleasurable romantic affair to……..
turns into a painful
fearsome nightmare
 Why bad habits are bad?

No Meat-Eating
When the animals are slaughtered, their minds
are filled with Negative emotions of Fear and
Violence leading to Adrenaline secretion. When
we eat their meat, our minds become filled with
similar Negative emotions.
Why bad habits are bad?
No Intoxication

Drugs initially give a feeling

of elation, but soon make
one glide down to
depression.

By consuming intoxicants,
your mind is not your own
anymore.
Why bad habits are bad?
No Intoxication

It gives immediate
flickering gratification
without caring for the
most dangerous
consequences.
(sometimes even death)
 Why bad habits are bad?
No Gambling
Gambling leads to……..

6. Daydreaming stripping us of
the mental energy to utilize
present opportunities.

2. Becoming Greedy to accumulate money.

One may beg, borrow, steal or
even go to the extent of murder.
 Refrain from
Agents harmful to
your body, mind and wellbeing

Non - Veg. Intoxication Gambling Illicit Sex

Meat Alcohol Horse Race Extramarital Sex

Stock Market
Fish Drugs Speculation Obscene Films

Sea Food Tobacco Casino Vulgar talks

Eggs Paan/Masala Lotteries

Quick Buck
Tea/Coffee Business
4. Understanding the
Conscious and Subconscious Mind

MIND Happy or
Miserable?
YOU !
Calm or Positive or
Agitated? MIND Negative?

Active or Friend or
Lazy? Enemy?
 ACTIVITY
• Guess the emotions?

•Where are the emotions situated?

Fear
Disgust
Surprise
Happiness
Bhagavad-gita is appreciated by :
Scientists like Einstein and
Openheimer who quoted from
BG 11th chap when first atom
bomb was dropped
Philosophers like Henry David
Thoreau
Politicians like Dr.Radhakrishnan,
Gandhi, Abdul Kalam
Religionists like
Shankara, Ramanuja, Madva
Professors like
Dr.J.Stillson Judah
Theologians like
Thomas Merton
Extraordinary personalities
reflect on the Gita
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
When doubts haunt me,
when disappointments
stare me in the face, when
I see not one ray of hope
on the horizon, I turn to
the Gita and I find myself
smiling amidst
overwhelming sorrow.
Those who meditate on the
Gita will derive fresh
meanings and joy from it
everyday.
 Extraordinary personalities
reflect on the Gita
Albert Einstein
(1879 – 1955)
When I read the
Bhagavad-Gita and
reflect about how God
created this universe,
everything else seems
so superfluous.
What is the difference between a living body and a dead body?

Lord Krishna
taught Arjuna :
“You are not the
body; you are a
spirit soul.”
 Is Matter
Cons cious ?

Does it have D E S I R E S ?

Does it possess
F E E L IN G S ?
 Material View
Point

We are bodies made up of matter

We are no more than a chemical bundle.
Everything is finished at the time of death.
 Spiritual View
Point

We are not the material body of flesh and bones.

We are spirit soul, encaged in the material body.
We do not die when material body stops to function.
What is the difference between a living body and a dead body?

T H E U N S E E N D R IV E R O F T H E
B O D IL Y C A R

MOUTH TO S PE A K HORN TO S OUND

E YE S TO S E E HE A DLIG HTS TO S E E
HE A RT TO PUMP B LOOD RA DIA TOR TO S UPPLY WA TE R
HA NDS & LE G S TO MOVE FOUR WHE E LS TO MOVE

The Car cannot budge one inch without the driver;

The body is termed dead without the presence of driver, the soul.
What is the difference between a living body and a dead body?
Just as the bird is
trapped in the cage,
the soul is trapped in
the body made up of
five elements –
earth, water, fire,
Air, ether.

Not knowing their

real identity as the soul,
the people spend all
their life in polishing
the cage – pampering
the body, without
feeding the soul.
Can you say how?
What is the difference between a living body and a dead body?
Every living body -- be it human, animal, bird, tree,
reptile or any other living body –
undergoes six changes –
1. birth 2.growth 3.maintenance 4.production of
by-products 5.dwindling 6.death.
 The soul is covered by
gross and subtle coverings

Gross body :
Earth,
Water, Subtle body :
Fire, Mind
Air Intelligence
Ether False Ego

S oul :
Eternity
Knowledge
Bliss
 Lord
Sri Krishna
instructs …
Even in the current life ‘you’, the soul is reincarnating
“As the
from childhood body to boyhood embodied
to youth to old age.

soul continuously
passes, in this
body, from
boyhood to youth
to old age, the
soul similarly
passes into
another body at
death.”
Bhagavad - gétä 2.13
 What happens to us at Death?
The soul leaves the gross body behind and is taken to another
womb based on the quality of desires stored in his subtle body
at the time of death.

“As a person puts on new dresses, giving up old ones, the

soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old
and useless ones.” [BG 2.22]
 M e c h a n is m O f
T h e M in d
THE SENSES
Intelligence
EYES
The Decision
Maker
NOSE

Mind TONGUE

Storehouse Of Habits, EARS

Unfulfilled Desires,
Previous Experiences SKIN
 CHARIOT OF THE BODY
INTELLIGENCE SOUL

MIND

5 SENSES
 MENTAL DIALOGUES
Eg. SMOKING HABIT
 MIND “FEELS”  INTELLIGENCE “THINKS”

But that’s a bad habit, not good

- I’m an Engineer; for you. Your parents won’t like
I should know how to to see you doing this. You
may become addicted to it.
hold a cigar at least. Don’t get into wrong track.

But you fool, why do you hurt

I think its fun; everyone yourself by this bad habit, that
is doing it anyway. - wastes your money,
I should experience - ruins your good health and
what’s life at least once. - may cause you cancer in the future.
 MENTAL DIALOGUES

IF MIND STRONGER – MIND WINS – You succumb to Bad Habit

IF INTELLIGENCE STRONGER – You can Resist the Temptation
 ACTIVITY
• Can you see how difference how
the “MIND FEELS” and
the “INTELLIGENCE THINKS”?
•Whose side will you take?
 Your choice will
mould your Future

Life is made of choices

Choices decide our future
Habits activate choices
H a b it s in r e la t io n w it h
C o n s c io u s &
S u b c o n s c io u s m in d
MIND

CONSCIOUS SUBCONSCIOUS

ABILITY TO
SIMPLY ACCEPTS
THINK, ACCEPT AND REJECT

DRIVER AUTOMOBILE
Where do we get our scripts from?
• The kind of BOOKS we read

• The kind of MOVIES we see

• The kind of MUSIC we listen

• The kind of FRIENDS we keep

 GIGO principle

• Garbage IN – Garbage OUT

• Positivity IN – Positivity OUT
• Negativity IN – Negativity OUT
• Good IN – Good OUT!
4. HOW TO SAY ‘NO’ TO BAD HABITS?
Handbook of Religion and Health
Oxford University Press,

Harold G. Koenig (MD),

Michael E. McCullough (PhD) and
David B. Larson (MD)
reviewed more than 2000
published experiments that
tested the relationship between
religion and
everything from blood pressure,
heart disease, cancer and stroke to
depression, suicide, psychotic
disorders and marital problems.
Handbook of Religion and Health
Oxford University Press,

People who attended a spiritual

program at least once a week lived
average seven years longer than
those who don't attend at all.
Handbook of Religion and Health
Oxford University Press,

Religious youth showed

significantly lower levels of drug
and alcohol abuse, premature sexual
involvement, criminal delinquency
and suicidal tendencies than their
nonreligious counterparts
Handbook of Religion and Health
Oxford University Press,

Elderly people with deep,

personal religious faith have a
stronger sense of well-being
and life satisfaction than their
less religious peers.
 Handbook of Religion and Health
Oxford University Press,

Koening’s Conclusion: "A high SQ faithfulness to

God appears to benefit people of all means,
educational levels and ages."
Robert Arkin (Psychologist)
Ohio State University explains:
“The cycle of materialistic
pursuits is disappointing and
exhausting in the long run and
can make people perpetually
unhappy.”
Patrick Glynn, George Washington
University in his book God: The
Evidence
“Religious believers
are found to be less
prone to suicide,
alcohol abuse, drug
abuse, divorce, stress
and depression. ”
Patrick Glynn, George Washington
University in his book God: The
Evidence
“Religious believers
are found to have
greater marital and
sexual satisfaction and
overall happiness and
psychological well-
being. ”
Patrick Glynn, George Washington
University in his book God: The
Evidence
“Thus statistics show that
it is difficult to find a more
consistent correlative of
mental health, or a better
insurance against self-
destructive behaviors, than
a strong religious faith.”
Harvard Medical School associate
professor of medicine Herbert Benson

“Contemporary medical
research is showing that the
human mind and body are
‘wired for God’”. A Time cover
story puts it even more explicit
terms. When it comes to health,
"the faithful actually have God
on their side."
Time magazine cover story
When it comes to health,
"the faithful actually have
God on their side."
“F or re ligion, G od is at th e
b e ginning; for s cie nce ,
G od is at th e e nd .”

-
SUSTAIN AND ABSTAIN METHOD (SSS)

- STARVE BAD HABITS

abstain from BAD people and BAD objects.

- SUPPLEMENT GOOD HABITS

sustain with GOOD association and GOOD objects
sustain through introspection and self correction

- STAY AWAY
from tempting environment and association.
 Break Bad Form Good
Habits Habits
Desire Mind Control
Discrimination Sharpen Intelligence
Determination Eagerness,
Dependence Association
Prayer and practice
De-addiction Replace
How to say ‘NO’ to Bad Habits?

Bulletproof Armor
Comes from
SELF CHANGE
 Putting on
the Armor

n g e
Cha gs!
hi n
3T
 H o w t o C h a n g e Yo u r
A t t it u d e

B y . . . A c c e p t in g
R e s p o n s ib ilit y

I am
r e s p o n s ib le . . .
. . f o r t h e h a b it s I’ v e
ATTITUDE p ic k e d u p
…f o r t h e c a r e l e s s
in d u lg e n c e
…f o r p i c k i n g u p w r o n g
I TUDE c ompa ny
ATT
H o w t o C h a n g e Yo u r
T h in k in g

THINKING

Changes come
from observing
logically in
every situation

THINKING
 O b s e r v e Yo u r
T h in k in g
to o k
W e o
do ha t u
s h
d e to c a f is
n re th
th fu I t
I
is s e le e !
?
H o w d id I Nmo w I w i l l
g e t in t o g iv e u p b a d
t h is Ic w
o m p a n y…
h a b it ? is it ill
it w i re p
b co th la
a in mp go ce
h r an od
is t a g y
h
T ec n
i on
n e in n is n d
t h e g p o e THINKING
b t e
 M a n a g e Yo u r S e l f -
Ta l k
If you think you Can, or you think you
Can’t… YOU’RE RIGHT! Henry Ford

I will not smoke or Oh! I will be sucked

drink anymore… into the party of my
friends and will be
forced to smoke and
drink!

THINKING
H o w t o C h a n g e Yo u r
B e h a v io r ?

BEHAVIOR
Changes take….
1.True assessment,
2.Determination &
3.Discipline

BEHAVIOR
 C h o o s e Yo u r
B e h a v io r
REACTIVE

Stimulus Response

RESPONSIBLE

My My
Stimulus C hoi Res po
c e ns e
BEHAVIOR
 S t e p s To w a r d
C h a n g in g B e h a v io r
The New YOU!

BEHAVIOR

4. Unconscious Competence

3. Conscience Competence

2. Conscience Incompetence

1. Unconscious Incompetence
 5. Power of Good
Habits

Mind Control through Mantra Meditation

Sharpen Intelligence through Wisdom literature

like Bhagavad gita

Eagerness & Association

Prayer and practice

Replace bad habits by good ones

Through Mantra Meditation
M A N + TR A

M IN
D E L IV E
R
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
 Doctor’s Advice for
Stress Reduction and Positive Thinking

According to Dr.Herbert Benson,

the Relaxation Response by a
technique based on
Western relaxation methods,
Eastern meditative practices and
certain type of Prayers consisting of
Four basic elements :
1) a quiet environment
2) a comfortable position
3) the repetition of a prayer, Chanting
4) a passive attitude free from thoughts
 D o c t o r ’ s A d v ic e f o r
S t r e s s R e d u c t io n a n d P o s it iv e
T h in k in g

In his doctorate thesis on

‘Effects of the Hare Krishna mahamantra on Stress, Depression
and the three gunas’ Dr.David Brian Wolf mentions that
by chanting Hare Krishna mantra regularly,
persons who habitually think depressing thoughts
such as, “I am worthless”
train themselves to replace these thoughts with thoughts
that are rewarding and supportive of self-esteem.
 Mantra Meditation

Chant

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
What do the major
religions say about
chanting the holy
names of Lord?
Christianity

Christ glorified the

Lord’s holy name by
saying “Our Father
who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy
Name”
Sikhism
Guru Nanak
prayed “In the
ambrosial hours
of
the morning I
meditate on the
grace of the true
name”
Islam

Muslims
repeatedly chant
the sacred name
of
God - “Allah”
Buddhism

Buddhists also
practice repetition
of the name of
Lord Buddha
(namu amida
butsu)
Sanätana dharma
It also
recommends
repetition of the
holy names of the
Lord, in form of
Mantras

RAM RAM RAM

OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA

KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
 N.D. Desai
“I've been chanting
Hare Krishna
Leading Indianfor
Industrialist
many years, and
I've never found
(Apar Limited, GE Apar
anything
Lighting, CEMA more
Tubes,
pleasurable.
Apar Infotech)
 “By starting to
chant Hare
Vicki Krishna,
Overton
I feel European
leading tremendous
Model
happiness.”
 “Chanting Hare
Krishna has helped
Hrishikesh
me face all
Mafatlalthe ups
and downs in my
CEO
life - Mafatlal
with a great
Fabrics and
confidence
peace of mind.”
 “Chanting Hare
Krishna
Albert has
Brush
made
Ford a
tremendous
Owner - Ford Motors
impact in my
life.”
Hippies became Happies through Mantra meditation
 Hyperactive zone
18
Brain Wave Frequency
(cycles/sec) Active zone
13
Mantra Meditator in Alpha zone
Relaxed Alert zone
8
Drowziness zone

3
Sleepy zone

Mantra Meditation leads to a Relaxed state of Mind with Alertness

 PLEASANT
MOOD
“If I start my day
on a spiritual
Stephen Farmer
note by chanting
HealthKrishna,
Hare food storeI
owner
can make it
through the day
in a pleasant
mood.”
 OPENS THE
EYES OF
WISDOM
“Chanting has
Mrs. Grace
opened my eyes to
Acquistapace
things I never
noticed. Its like
Housewife
beautiful music – a
very peaceful
feeling, very
satisfying.”
STRESS RELIEF
“When I am
stressed out, I
chant. It’s one
Paul Bleier
thing which
charges my
Printing Executive
batteries. It
clears my mind
and brings me
back in focus.”
 MENTAL
STABILITY
“When I’m
Mrs. Sally
nervous I
Raleigh find
chanting very
Merchandiser
calming. I don’t
get shaken up at
little things.”
 POSITIVE
THINKING
“My outlook
towards life is lot
more Klienberg
Bruce brighter,
after starting to
associate with
Army Officer
Hare Krishna
devotees and
chanting the
mahä-mantra.”
DEVELOPMENT OF “I’ve noticed
MATURITY that as chanters
progress from
Dr. Donald R.
one level to
Tuck
deeper level,
they become
Associate Professor,
Western Kentucky
more realistic,
University
more tolerant
and more
energetic.”
 “Chanting Hare
Krishna
Albert has
Brush
made
Ford a
tremendous
Owner - Ford Motors
impact in my
life.”
 N.D. Desai
“I've been chanting
Hare Krishna
Leading Indianfor
Industrialist
many years, and
I've never found
(Apar Limited, GE Apar
anything
Lighting, CEMA more
Tubes,
pleasurable.
Apar Infotech)
 “Chanting Hare
Krishna has helped
Hrishikesh
me face all
Mafatlalthe ups
and downs in my
CEO
life - Mafatlal
with a great
Fabrics and
confidence
peace of mind.”
 “By starting to
chant Hare
Vicki Krishna,
Overton
I feel European
leading tremendous
Model
happiness.”
Sharpen Intelligence through Wisdom literature
 Power of
Prayers
PRAYERS
go up

Blessings
Come
down

“ O Lord, give me the courage

to change the things
which can and ought to be changed,
the serenity to accept the things which cannot be changed,
and the wisdom to know the difference ”
Make truth and love as the
foundation of life

The world we live in is simply a drama stage.

We originally belong to the spiritual world.
Remember this fact and be aware
that we’ve to reap the fruits for every action.
Give up bad habits and prepare yourself to
return back to your original home – the spiritual world.
Thank You Very Much...
May God bless you
to become free from all
vices and imbibe all
virtues and bringforth
unending Bliss !