"Artificial" life has arrived!

This news from The Wall Street Journal just left me dumbstruck!

Scientists Create Synthetic Organism!!

The news is so overwhelming, I am almost numb! It is difficult to say what should be the right reaction to this event.

The debate about cloning and genetic research has been raging along for quite some time now. With new developments taking place in genetic research, this news was bound to come. But I had not expected it to arrive so soon. Subconsciously, I had assumed it would take several decades, if not a century or two, for man to achieve this. So, reading this news was indeed stunning.

I was stunning in both positive and negative ways. On the positive side it opens limitless possibilities for the benefit of mankind. For e.g., the article mentions a possibility of creation of artificial algae that would convert carbon dioxide from atmosphere in to fuel. Million other possibilities would open up. However, at the same time, there will be perils more than one could imagine today. My mind shudders at the thought of epidemics of artificially created micro-organisms.

Every development that man has made has been put to good and evil uses. So doubtlessly, the invention of "artificial life" will also have it's evil effects - unintentional and intentional. And mankind has to be prepared for it. For the march of science cannot be halted - even if brings with it possibilities of annihilation.

How we forget to live

Compassion

As I think about it, I realise that compassion is a very important virtue that needs to be developed.

Are some people more lucky than others?

A pschycologist by the name Wiseman conducted more than ten years of research to find out says a mail I received some days back. After monitoring the lives of hundreds of men and women who considered themselves either consistently lucky or consistently unlucky, he came up with the following conclusions.

Unlucky people are generally more tense than lucky people, and this anxiety disrupts their ability to notice the unexpected. As a result, they miss opportunities because they are too focused on looking for something else. They go to parties intent on finding their perfect partner and so miss opportunities to make good friends.

Research revealed that lucky people generate good fortune via four principles:
* They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities
* They make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition
* They create self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations and
* They adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good

Here are Professor Wiseman's four top tips for becoming lucky:
* Listen to your gut instincts - they are normally right
* Be open to new experiences and breaking your normal routine
* Spend a few moments each day remembering things that went well
* Visualise yourself being lucky before an important meeting or telephone call.

Luck is very often a self-fulfilling prophecy!

My principles of good life

1. Concentration
Focus on the present moment and thinking only about task at hand.

2. Self-awareness and self-control
Monitoring of thoughts, curbing impulse, awareness of my emotions, appropriate handling of my emotions.

3. Altruism
Self-sacrifice, thinking about others, unselfishly helping others, never expecting anything in return.

4. Courage
Doing what I believe to be right without being afraid of consequences.

5. Detachment
Detachment to results. Detachment to all material things - success, achievement, respect, money, status, friendship, love, etc.

6. Self-belief & self-respect
Belief that I am pure and I will triumph over all obstacles and succeed in realising my ideals. A belief that I am valuable and worthy.

7. All is for good
A belief that all that has happened is for good and all that will happen in future will also be for good. The Divine Will always prevails.

8. Disregarding future
It is always the unexpected and the undreamt of that happens. So, I should not think too much, or worry at all about future, and just work in present in accordance to principles.

9. Love
Love as the highest ideal.

10. Following the heart
Always follow my heart. As Swami Vivekanand says, "In a conflict between your head and your heart, follow your heart!"

11. Good communication
- Thinking about other person's viewpoint.
- Being unbaised
- Clarity about my thoughts
- Not being intimidated. Not being aggressive.

12. Professionalism
- Hard work
- Know every aspect of the work I am involved in
- Work selflessly for the client