Adversities are Opportunities

Adversities are Opportunities tells us that we can always change for the better Despite our scientific advancement and lives being filled with adventure, somehow we are failing in coping with ourselves. Some of the stories in this book show that adversities can be transformed into privileges, and problems can be converted into opportunities.

This book has a few principal objectives.

First, Adversities are Opportunities briefly retells a few well-known ancient Indian tales for the present world. Indian culture is drawing the world's attention today. The world's interest in Indian philosophy, literature, history, religion and so on is gradually increasing. Tales from ancient India also are drawing attention. However, to some, ancient stories appear meaningless and `impossible'. The sages, who gave us our ancient literature, have made it clear that the stories and incidents from the epics and Puranas have a higher purposeóof teaching strength, courage, religion and spirituality to the common people. So a few stories retell themselves here, trying to bring us the positive message of hope. They show us that there is no reason to be despondent, worried or to feel guilty. These apparently 'impossible stories gently take us out of the darkness of hopelessness, weakness and suffering and lead us to the light of hope and courage.

Second, the ancient civilization of India has stood the test of time. It is deathless because of the fundamental principle it discovered long ago and teaches always: that behind all the multiplicity and change, there is the changeless, deathless, eternal Consciousnessóthe Self or Atman. All that is negative is in the multiplicity, the superficial and the sense-world, which is temporary. All power, goodness and strength is in the Eternal, the permanent, the supreme Consciousness. Through her philosophy and stories, this ageless nation has been delivering the message of faith and hope since long. Some stories here echo a few of those principles. Though many excellent books on positive thinking and successful living are filling the stands, the stories in those books are from recent times. India has been telling us similar stories since ages, as the book tries to show.

Third, Adversities are Opportunities tells us that we can always change for the better. However terrible our situation might be, we can definitely improve. Some of the stories in this book show that adversities can be transformed into privileges, and problems can be converted into opportunities.

Fourth, Adversities are Opportunities shows us that a positive self-image is a must for success in life. Vedanta teaches us that nothing is impossible for the strong-willed soul. You'll ask: 'If so, why do we fail?'

We fail because we do not put all our concentrated effort and try hard to attain the goal, with prayer and with the faith that we shall win in the end. The heroes of some of the stories in this book bring us the message that nothing is impossible.

Adversities are Opportunities contains some stories which say that genuine, selfless intentions can change everything. Can intention transform everything? Of course, says Swami Vivekananda: 'We are what our thoughts have made us. ... If matter is powerful, thought is omnipotent.' While negative thinking is dangerous, positive thinking is most beneficial. Willed thought is intention. We should have noble intentions. Noble intentions lead to positive reality.

The stories in this book are hundreds of years old, and are interspersed with the immortal words of Vivekananda. May they inspire the reader, is our prayer.

**Contents and Sample Pages**