Dear All,
I am pilgrim as all are, but the difference is, I know where I am going and I keep walking steadily towards it. In search of happiness or peace we undertake many unplanned journeys, that take us almost everywhere but seldom do we find what we are actually looking for. And finally the journey ends as it began, wanting more but seldom gaining anything.
But some journeys are special as they leave a spiritual mark in your very soul. These journeys are what I call 'Soulful Journeys'. Once such journey was my pilgrimage to my roots, South India, the land of temples and of newly found pop culture. (Well, I chose to give a slip to the latter as it's the same everywhere.)
First stop was Puducherry, as it's now called. It was a French colony pre-independence and the home of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. They have a beautiful ashram by the sea side and it attracts many wayward souls in search of meaning and peace. Peace is to be found in abundance there as every stone and flower emits the fragrance of divine fulfillment. Also, the classic french architecture of high walls and wooden windows adds to it's ethereal charm.
The Mother, was a French citizen by birth but on a casual visit to India, she so fell in love with the country and it's culture that she settled down here for good. She spread the message of Universal Love and peace through the medium of flowers. Hence you find flowers of myriad variety and colors blooming in every nook or corner of that blessed place. Although the Ashram is situated in the heart of busy Puducherry, the minute you enter the sylvan porch, you are bound to leave the world behind and plunge into the sheer peace and silence reverberating in every inch of the Ashram space.
The next stop was Auroville, the dream village of Sri Aurobindo, built on the principles of Universal brotherhood. It is situated nearly 15 kms in the outskirts of Puducherry. We pedaled our way through busy streets and cramped gullies till we reached the green spiritual township of Auroville. The main stay of this modern spiritual retreat is a central meditation dome, which houses a huge crystal sphere known to disseminate powerful spiritual vibrations. However we weren't fortunate enough to experience it as it required prior permission to enter the dome.
The next day I packed my bags to go to my spiritual birthplace - Mt. Arunachala. The name Arunachala, is itself enough to set my pulse racing and plunges my mind in that One Absolute Consciousness. It is in a quaint little town of Tiruvannamalai, that this majestic hill stands as a spiritual beacon guiding millions of lost souls. It is said in the scriptures that the one who visits Arunachala, shall have his individual ego merged in the Supreme Ego without much effort. Such is the tremendous spiritual effect of this holy place.
I stayed in Sri Ramanashramam, a place of surreal charm and spiritual beauty. It never failed to remind one of the austere and ascetic lifestyle of our ancient rishis or sages of yore. Animals fearlessly mingled with people without the thought of least harm or danger. Peacocks, monkeys, squirrels are but a few of the permanent residents in this wonderful ashram. This place is an apt model of ancient living in modern times - So pure, pristine and peaceful.
My days in the ashram were disciplined to the minute. No time for small talk or making acquaintances, it was well spent in diligent introspection and meditation. The serene atmosphere acts as a catalyst in turning your mind inward without much effort. The sonorous chants of the vedas sung by children made it a treat for the head, heart and soul, which is otherwise accustomed to hear only the rants of world wise fools. The food was pure, simple and nutritious, aiding to calm your belligerent mind. The people there are least intrusive yet calmingly helpful.
The mantle piece of this beautiful place is the holy hill of Arunachala. It silently stands majestically behind everything, speaking to you in an unknown tongue, beckoning you to come and bask in it's timeless glory and power. Much is said of Mt. Arunachala in our ancient scriptures as being the spiritual center of this world and of being the land of Siddhas or Enlightened beings. The Hill is a spiritual magnet of sorts. It attracts spiritual thoughts and repels the worldly ones. It arrests the very mundane thoughts that has made your mind it's home for years, cluttering all the possible spaces inside.
For the very first time I experienced a deep meditative state of silent unbeing - Shoonya or void; where everything pulsates with consciousness, yet it stays so calm and still.
In my many years of travel and exploration, I rank Arunachala at the top for it's powerful yet silent message of un-being. It seemed to tell me in it's own wordless words, "To know who you are, first drop off all the ideas of knowing who you think you are." Spirituality is a state of being and not knowing. You "Know" through the perception of your mind, but you "Be" from the fullness of your heart. This is the lesson that Arunachala taught me and I intend to remember it forever.
Do not just know, Be.
Forever in peace.
S.R
Friday, August 6, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Death Of A River
Dear One,
'In a few more years, I am destined to meet my death in your hands. Yes you, the one who is reading this in careless apathy.'
'Who am I?'
'I was once the life line of your blessed country, where people were less educated by your standards, but more informed than you. I belong to the race of Ancients, who worshipped me as their very soul and treated me with due respect and dignity. Now I am reduced to a mere channel of sewage waste and my soul is tainted with your countless sins.'
'My name is Ganga and I am dying.'
'My source is at Gaumukh, where I emerge mighty from the Gangotri glaciers. Here I am known as 'Bhagirathi', in honor of the King who successfully channeled me down from the very heavens to salvage many damned souls on earth. Rising from the icy caves of Gangotri glacier, I start my long and arduous journey, gushing through many courses, and join my sister Alaknanda to form the Mighty Ganga.'
'Eons of praise and prayers have been composed in my honor by the ancients. The power in my soul has granted salvation to millions of dying souls. My waters have been blessed by the touch of the Mahadev, capable of transforming a sinner into a veritable saint. In my bosom, lies the love for Hari, who makes me pristine and complete. Your modern scientists too have verified my purificatory properties with modern techniques. I hold the key to life and I am the true Mother of the Indian race; but you have neglected me, leading to my watery grave.'
'I was the crown jewel of the Indian sub-continent, and now I am reduced to a mere dumping ground of dangerous waste from factories. I no longer have the power to purify any soul, as my own soul is blackened by your misdeeds over the ages. I am now filled with hazardous chemical wastes, sewage and even the remains of human and animal corpses lying strewn in decay. Nearly 1.3 billion liters of sewage is pumped in me DAILY by you inscrutable Indians.'
'What have you done to me? I took care of your forefathers and granted them all their desires and wishes to come true, but you have failed to take care of me. Is this how you repay for my love and kindness?'
'Do you know my past was so glorious and holy; it filled every heart with joy upon merely seeing me. Now, if you look at me I am so filled with disgust and filth, especially from factories and tanneries which dispose their dangerous by products in the form of chromium, sulphide ammonium and other deadly chemical mix. Your quest for modernization has left me in a death trap and my waters are now a concocted mix of hydrochloric acid, mercury and other dangerous metals, bleaches and dyes, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls, a highly toxic compound that accumulate in animal and human tissues.'
'In 1996, the Supreme Court had banned the discharge of effluents from various tanneries and factories located on its banks in Kanpur, but who cares. Decades-long efforts by the government to breathe life into me through massive clean-up programs have come to naught. Consider this: Your government has spent over Rs 1,000 crore into the Ganga Action Plan I and II between 1985 and 2000, but yet India's holiest river is still sullied.'
'River Jordan, in Israel too has met with the same fate. It is set to die in 2011. Humans are a selfish and an uncompromising breed. Their thirst for personal power and comfort doesn't deter them from going to the very extremes of selfishness and greed. You can exploit nature to the fullest in the name of science and technology and yet be oblivious to it's needs. What a detestable race you are. Even less intelligent animals show sympathy and respect to nature and it's laws. You claim to be the most intelligent of all creation, yet you don't even think of the ramifications of playing God? What a sad irony?'
'You don't have an inkling of Mother Nature's fury. You are selfishly tapping all her natural resources to it's extinction for your own personal needs. When Mother Nature's turns it's righteous wrath on you and your children, no technology of yours will be able to save you from your own extinction.'
'Today you celebrate Mother's Day. Along with your earthly mother, care to care for me too - Your Nation's Mother. Wake up and realize your responsibilities towards nature before it's too late.'
Visit this website http://www.savegangamovement.org/ and do your best to save me from yourself.
In peace,
S.R
'In a few more years, I am destined to meet my death in your hands. Yes you, the one who is reading this in careless apathy.'
'Who am I?'
'I was once the life line of your blessed country, where people were less educated by your standards, but more informed than you. I belong to the race of Ancients, who worshipped me as their very soul and treated me with due respect and dignity. Now I am reduced to a mere channel of sewage waste and my soul is tainted with your countless sins.'
'My name is Ganga and I am dying.'
'My source is at Gaumukh, where I emerge mighty from the Gangotri glaciers. Here I am known as 'Bhagirathi', in honor of the King who successfully channeled me down from the very heavens to salvage many damned souls on earth. Rising from the icy caves of Gangotri glacier, I start my long and arduous journey, gushing through many courses, and join my sister Alaknanda to form the Mighty Ganga.'
'Eons of praise and prayers have been composed in my honor by the ancients. The power in my soul has granted salvation to millions of dying souls. My waters have been blessed by the touch of the Mahadev, capable of transforming a sinner into a veritable saint. In my bosom, lies the love for Hari, who makes me pristine and complete. Your modern scientists too have verified my purificatory properties with modern techniques. I hold the key to life and I am the true Mother of the Indian race; but you have neglected me, leading to my watery grave.'
'I was the crown jewel of the Indian sub-continent, and now I am reduced to a mere dumping ground of dangerous waste from factories. I no longer have the power to purify any soul, as my own soul is blackened by your misdeeds over the ages. I am now filled with hazardous chemical wastes, sewage and even the remains of human and animal corpses lying strewn in decay. Nearly 1.3 billion liters of sewage is pumped in me DAILY by you inscrutable Indians.'
'What have you done to me? I took care of your forefathers and granted them all their desires and wishes to come true, but you have failed to take care of me. Is this how you repay for my love and kindness?'
'Do you know my past was so glorious and holy; it filled every heart with joy upon merely seeing me. Now, if you look at me I am so filled with disgust and filth, especially from factories and tanneries which dispose their dangerous by products in the form of chromium, sulphide ammonium and other deadly chemical mix. Your quest for modernization has left me in a death trap and my waters are now a concocted mix of hydrochloric acid, mercury and other dangerous metals, bleaches and dyes, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls, a highly toxic compound that accumulate in animal and human tissues.'
'In 1996, the Supreme Court had banned the discharge of effluents from various tanneries and factories located on its banks in Kanpur, but who cares. Decades-long efforts by the government to breathe life into me through massive clean-up programs have come to naught. Consider this: Your government has spent over Rs 1,000 crore into the Ganga Action Plan I and II between 1985 and 2000, but yet India's holiest river is still sullied.'
'River Jordan, in Israel too has met with the same fate. It is set to die in 2011. Humans are a selfish and an uncompromising breed. Their thirst for personal power and comfort doesn't deter them from going to the very extremes of selfishness and greed. You can exploit nature to the fullest in the name of science and technology and yet be oblivious to it's needs. What a detestable race you are. Even less intelligent animals show sympathy and respect to nature and it's laws. You claim to be the most intelligent of all creation, yet you don't even think of the ramifications of playing God? What a sad irony?'
'You don't have an inkling of Mother Nature's fury. You are selfishly tapping all her natural resources to it's extinction for your own personal needs. When Mother Nature's turns it's righteous wrath on you and your children, no technology of yours will be able to save you from your own extinction.'
'Today you celebrate Mother's Day. Along with your earthly mother, care to care for me too - Your Nation's Mother. Wake up and realize your responsibilities towards nature before it's too late.'
Visit this website http://www.savegangamovement.org/ and do your best to save me from yourself.
In peace,
S.R
Saturday, May 8, 2010
An Ode To A Dear Friend
Dear One,
Do you think, struggle and fun can go hand in hand? Can you afford to smile when you don't have a single rupee in your pocket? Can you laugh at yourself and the whole world, that never leaves no stone unturned to ridicule you at every turn?
Well, I did all that and much more. That's because I had my best friend around me, so I really didn't care. We laughed at every incoming setback and made it miserable for misery itself. Nothing negative could touch us in spirit as we flew way above normalcy and worldly conventions. Those were the days of true freedom, where we experimented with diverse mediums, to find our life's purpose and soul findings. And we did succeed in some and bombed miserably in many. But the reward was when we realized that challenges does make us better and not bitter. And the best part was, we faced life and it's challenges together, like brothers in arms. This is my friend's story, which merged itself beautifully into mine too. It is our story.
Vicky, as I knew him then (Now he spells his name quite differently :) was a vagabond spirit, who wouldn't allow the world to tie him down to any fetters of love, life or sex. He aspired to fly high and still does; the only difference is, he has now discovered his own wings to carry him high. Blood boiling with youthful vigor, and a mind soaring high in a creative cocaine rush, I met him in a cyber cafe and that was a beginning of a wonderful camaraderie and friendship, that was to continue for a long time to come.
Being a true blue Bengali, his mind was sharp and witty to a point that it could cut across many impertinent egos. But he also had an impudent childlike charm that made him a fine child-man. He was just 17 then, but had a mind that was way above his age or Bohemian looks.
On the other hand, I was a well "matured and reserved" individual, coming to terms with my constant flights of unemployment and heartbreaks. A stray note of gratitude changed the way we both saw situations and people; and in that very instant, we forged a mutual friendship that hinged on respect and admiration for each other. Friendships are formed in an instant, however life long ones are forged in the fires of doubt, faith and disappointments .
Ever thirsty to know more and much more, he was a prodigy of sorts and that challenged me to live up to his expectations. The whole scene was becoming more like an younger sibling looking up to the elder one for inspiration and guidance. We had constant conversations, discussions and outright arguments over everything under the sun. Why, What, When, How and Where became his most potent weapons of self-knowledge. He made me don the robe of a Teacher, and he became a fit Disciple, fondly calling me "Guruji". He learnt from my answers, as much as I did from his pertinent questions. He was all-mind and I was all-heart which culminated in a concocted fusion of sorts. Doubt and Faith, co-existed in complete unprejudiced harmony and friendship. We were two different sides of the same coin, and yet our identities were a part of the same coin.
Enter Girl Friends.
We both fell in love with different girls (Thank Good God!) at more or less the same time and landed up being blissfully messed up, (and you guessed it right) at the same time. We consoled each other over our heartbreaks and laughed it out over our frequent goof ups. We were both like Siamese twins, conjoined in spirit. We worked in the same Organization, we chucked the job together for a different Organization, later we experimented with our own Organization, wrapped it all up within a year, because we ended up completely disorganized - having senseless fun most of the time and no money at all times.
Then one day, it all faded away as mysteriously as it had all started. Career and work took precedence over mindless fun. We went different ways in search of our destinies, to be led far away from each other. We made new friends along the way and made newer pacts of commitments. Yet, the memories of our bygone friendship lingered all along the way, only to be rekindled recently by his re-discovering me out of the blue.
Friendships lasts only as much as you want them to last. It cannot be swapped for someone else either, as you carry a reflection of your friend in you. That's the beauty of true friendship, your friend becomes a part of your living, lifelong memory. I must have made a thousand acquaintances over the years, but friends I have a select few and of them all you stand way ahead, my brother.
In honor of my very much alive and kicking friend and brother - Ari Sam. (Yeah! That's what he calls himself now)
In peace,
S.R
P.S - For the record, we never broke up, we just took a 14 year vacation.
Do you think, struggle and fun can go hand in hand? Can you afford to smile when you don't have a single rupee in your pocket? Can you laugh at yourself and the whole world, that never leaves no stone unturned to ridicule you at every turn?
Well, I did all that and much more. That's because I had my best friend around me, so I really didn't care. We laughed at every incoming setback and made it miserable for misery itself. Nothing negative could touch us in spirit as we flew way above normalcy and worldly conventions. Those were the days of true freedom, where we experimented with diverse mediums, to find our life's purpose and soul findings. And we did succeed in some and bombed miserably in many. But the reward was when we realized that challenges does make us better and not bitter. And the best part was, we faced life and it's challenges together, like brothers in arms. This is my friend's story, which merged itself beautifully into mine too. It is our story.
Vicky, as I knew him then (Now he spells his name quite differently :) was a vagabond spirit, who wouldn't allow the world to tie him down to any fetters of love, life or sex. He aspired to fly high and still does; the only difference is, he has now discovered his own wings to carry him high. Blood boiling with youthful vigor, and a mind soaring high in a creative cocaine rush, I met him in a cyber cafe and that was a beginning of a wonderful camaraderie and friendship, that was to continue for a long time to come.
Being a true blue Bengali, his mind was sharp and witty to a point that it could cut across many impertinent egos. But he also had an impudent childlike charm that made him a fine child-man. He was just 17 then, but had a mind that was way above his age or Bohemian looks.
On the other hand, I was a well "matured and reserved" individual, coming to terms with my constant flights of unemployment and heartbreaks. A stray note of gratitude changed the way we both saw situations and people; and in that very instant, we forged a mutual friendship that hinged on respect and admiration for each other. Friendships are formed in an instant, however life long ones are forged in the fires of doubt, faith and disappointments .
Ever thirsty to know more and much more, he was a prodigy of sorts and that challenged me to live up to his expectations. The whole scene was becoming more like an younger sibling looking up to the elder one for inspiration and guidance. We had constant conversations, discussions and outright arguments over everything under the sun. Why, What, When, How and Where became his most potent weapons of self-knowledge. He made me don the robe of a Teacher, and he became a fit Disciple, fondly calling me "Guruji". He learnt from my answers, as much as I did from his pertinent questions. He was all-mind and I was all-heart which culminated in a concocted fusion of sorts. Doubt and Faith, co-existed in complete unprejudiced harmony and friendship. We were two different sides of the same coin, and yet our identities were a part of the same coin.
Enter Girl Friends.
We both fell in love with different girls (Thank Good God!) at more or less the same time and landed up being blissfully messed up, (and you guessed it right) at the same time. We consoled each other over our heartbreaks and laughed it out over our frequent goof ups. We were both like Siamese twins, conjoined in spirit. We worked in the same Organization, we chucked the job together for a different Organization, later we experimented with our own Organization, wrapped it all up within a year, because we ended up completely disorganized - having senseless fun most of the time and no money at all times.
Then one day, it all faded away as mysteriously as it had all started. Career and work took precedence over mindless fun. We went different ways in search of our destinies, to be led far away from each other. We made new friends along the way and made newer pacts of commitments. Yet, the memories of our bygone friendship lingered all along the way, only to be rekindled recently by his re-discovering me out of the blue.
Friendships lasts only as much as you want them to last. It cannot be swapped for someone else either, as you carry a reflection of your friend in you. That's the beauty of true friendship, your friend becomes a part of your living, lifelong memory. I must have made a thousand acquaintances over the years, but friends I have a select few and of them all you stand way ahead, my brother.
In honor of my very much alive and kicking friend and brother - Ari Sam. (Yeah! That's what he calls himself now)
In peace,
S.R
P.S - For the record, we never broke up, we just took a 14 year vacation.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Puff - The Magic Dragon
Dear One,
The uplifting melodious notes of the song "Puff - The Magic Dragon" gently wafts through the early morning air. I wonder who's playing this timeless number; in fact I begin to wonder now, who still cares to listen to this unknown but the most beautiful number. Coffee mug in hand, I gently close my eyes and let my soul wander and merge in the rhythms of this beautiful song. Time stands still, memories flood and wash my soul and I am least complaining.
It feels like someone has pulled an old veil of memory and brought back warm old stories of the beautiful times gone by, when I used to sing this song above all. It was my favorite song and I loved every word of it. No one knows who originally wrote this song, but legend has it that two young collegians, maybe aspiring lads of 19, wrote this wonderful poem, inspired by the poetry of a much well known poet, Ogden Nash. Later it was set to music and the rest, as they say, is history.
Many singers have made this song their own, starting with Peter, Paul and Mary to more recently, Seal. But, I personally love the style and feel of an old band known as "Brothers Four". They have added a special flavor to this song with their amazing synchronized vocals and gentle strumming spanish guitars, enhancing the sheer magic of the everlasting song. The effect of the four odd brothers crooning this melodious piece is warm and soul soothing.
Much later to the initial success of this song, speculations rose that this song contained veiled references to smoking of Marijuana. However, the authors of the song have repeatedly rejected this urban legend and have strongly and consistently denied that they intended any references to drug use. The authors have frequently explained that "Puff" is about the hardships of growing older and has no relationship to drug-taking. He has also said of the song that it "never had any meaning other than the obvious one" and is about the "loss of innocence".
This song was a part of my growing up years, where a simple song could incoherently dictate and relate to the situations you are in and give you the strength of character to carry on with a song in your heart and music in your soul. I have always found solace in music and the hope it brings along to soothe my overworked mind. Those four minutes are the best minutes of my life, as the song weaves it's magic, leaving me completely unburdened and prompting me to fly high to the notes of careless abandon.
Songs are the expressions of your soul, and if you don't sing it to your own unique tune, you are really missing a blessing.
Coming back to the song, here are the lyrics for you to savor. It might sound like a children's song, but who cares.
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah lee,
Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal puff,
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff.
Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on puff’s gigantic tail,
Noble kings and princes would bow whene’er they came,
Pirate ships would lower their flag when puff roared out his name.
Oh! Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee.
A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys.
One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.
His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain,
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane.
Without his life-long friend, puff could not be brave,
So puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave.
Oh! Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah lee.
Listen to the magical tunes of the song, by clicking - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCh31dGzO9c
P.S - And by the way, this very song was playing in my very own laptop, this very morning. What a musical start to a wonderful morning?
The uplifting melodious notes of the song "Puff - The Magic Dragon" gently wafts through the early morning air. I wonder who's playing this timeless number; in fact I begin to wonder now, who still cares to listen to this unknown but the most beautiful number. Coffee mug in hand, I gently close my eyes and let my soul wander and merge in the rhythms of this beautiful song. Time stands still, memories flood and wash my soul and I am least complaining.
It feels like someone has pulled an old veil of memory and brought back warm old stories of the beautiful times gone by, when I used to sing this song above all. It was my favorite song and I loved every word of it. No one knows who originally wrote this song, but legend has it that two young collegians, maybe aspiring lads of 19, wrote this wonderful poem, inspired by the poetry of a much well known poet, Ogden Nash. Later it was set to music and the rest, as they say, is history.
Many singers have made this song their own, starting with Peter, Paul and Mary to more recently, Seal. But, I personally love the style and feel of an old band known as "Brothers Four". They have added a special flavor to this song with their amazing synchronized vocals and gentle strumming spanish guitars, enhancing the sheer magic of the everlasting song. The effect of the four odd brothers crooning this melodious piece is warm and soul soothing.
Much later to the initial success of this song, speculations rose that this song contained veiled references to smoking of Marijuana. However, the authors of the song have repeatedly rejected this urban legend and have strongly and consistently denied that they intended any references to drug use. The authors have frequently explained that "Puff" is about the hardships of growing older and has no relationship to drug-taking. He has also said of the song that it "never had any meaning other than the obvious one" and is about the "loss of innocence".
This song was a part of my growing up years, where a simple song could incoherently dictate and relate to the situations you are in and give you the strength of character to carry on with a song in your heart and music in your soul. I have always found solace in music and the hope it brings along to soothe my overworked mind. Those four minutes are the best minutes of my life, as the song weaves it's magic, leaving me completely unburdened and prompting me to fly high to the notes of careless abandon.
Songs are the expressions of your soul, and if you don't sing it to your own unique tune, you are really missing a blessing.
Coming back to the song, here are the lyrics for you to savor. It might sound like a children's song, but who cares.
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah lee,
Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal puff,
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff.
Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on puff’s gigantic tail,
Noble kings and princes would bow whene’er they came,
Pirate ships would lower their flag when puff roared out his name.
Oh! Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee.
A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys.
One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.
His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain,
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane.
Without his life-long friend, puff could not be brave,
So puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave.
Oh! Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah lee.
Listen to the magical tunes of the song, by clicking - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCh31dGzO9c
In peace,
S.R
P.S - And by the way, this very song was playing in my very own laptop, this very morning. What a musical start to a wonderful morning?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Death Of Innocence
Dear One,
'Children are the temple of innocence' - Think again?
I was watching a reality show on TV and it was targeting young children to test their abilities in a country wide talent search. The format of the show is a well tested one, where one is pitted against each other like Roman gladiators, set to prove their innate supremacy. The gladiators were blood thirsty mean machines of bloodshed, but these little warriors are thankfully fighting a bloodless battle of wits and competition, but nonetheless, least aggressive than their Roman counterparts.
When we were of that tender age, innocence was undergoing a drastic transformation. Television had just made it's mark and we had limited programs to watch and grin our face in contentment. It was more of a family affair and I clearly remember when we got our first television set, it was Chayageet and Nukkad all along the way. All the elders and children would sit together to watch these serials with gay abandon. (By the way, "Gay" meant to mean "Happy" then)
Today's generation doesn't have the opportunity to watch such superb serials with their parents and friends. Reality TV rules the TRP along with stupid Saas-Bahu serials. Today's children are the most fortunate and also the most deprived. Fortunate, because of the vast opportunities to tap into and deprived at the same time because of the death of innocence in lieu of this mad rush for early fame and fortune.
Parents too seem to support this incalculable loss of innocence as they prepare their tiny tots to take on the limelight with sheer arrogance and a killer instinct. There was this little girl, no more than 5 years of age, who gyrated to an erotic dance number, that shocked even the judges of the show. When asked for an explanation from the parent, the father unabashedly said, "This is what the audience wants to see!", leaving everyone stunned, including me. Have we come to a stage where we don't mind exploiting our children in poor light, just to bask in that fleeting 15 seconds of fame?
The so called educated parents are ruining their child's childhood by making them behave like callous adults. They teach them everything from smart negotiation to tart answers in retaliation of the judge's questions. When the world gasps in disbelief, they take pride in their mindless tutelage. Media too is to blamed for this exploitive form of child entertainment. If you see, most of the advertisements these days have children in them, making it impossible for the parents to ignore their demands. This is smart advertising but at what cost, no one knows or cares.
Children today behave as if they have a chip on their shoulders, making it impossible even for an adult to stand on the same ground. They talk like well trained brats of senseless wit and retort, at times pushing the limits of entertainment, turning it into plain embarrassment. Children are identified with their innocence and when they lose it to age they are termed as adults. But these days, children have a different story to tell. They are giving nightmares to adults, taking a jig shot at them, irrespective of the age difference, and not minding to pull them down mercilessly for entertainment's sake.
Fame introduced at a young age has it's own after effects. Parents need to understand that their child's life is not a platform to live their own unfulfilled dreams. Exposing these young talents to opportunities is very good indeed, but ensure to safe guard them from turning into a self-proclaimed ego filled useless child prodigies. By instigating them to come in front of the camera, we are exposing their very innocence to unforgiving and unwanted realities of life. In today's highly competitive world, children are the newest pawns of parent's power play. They put their children to the acid tests of mindless games of power and politics, betraying them of a simple, yet fun filled childhood. Is it worth it?
Let them be children and behave like one. They have a long way to go to take a pot shot at life. Let them enjoy the benefits that comes from being a child first, rather than playing a part of an early bloomed worthless adult. Teach them the correct values of living rather than sowing the seeds of mindless and aggressive competition, right from infancy. Teach them to talk, and at the same time, teach them to listen more. Teach them to lose and learn, rather than just to win and outrun. What they learn now will be the building blocks of a valuable tomorrow.
Our future lies with today's children, and we don't want them to turn into a generation of heavy headed and egotistic individuals, set to ruin the future of our nation. Children are one third of our population and all of our future. Please treat them the way they ought to be treated - as children; so they grow to be fine level headed adults.
In peace,
S.R
'Children are the temple of innocence' - Think again?
I was watching a reality show on TV and it was targeting young children to test their abilities in a country wide talent search. The format of the show is a well tested one, where one is pitted against each other like Roman gladiators, set to prove their innate supremacy. The gladiators were blood thirsty mean machines of bloodshed, but these little warriors are thankfully fighting a bloodless battle of wits and competition, but nonetheless, least aggressive than their Roman counterparts.
When we were of that tender age, innocence was undergoing a drastic transformation. Television had just made it's mark and we had limited programs to watch and grin our face in contentment. It was more of a family affair and I clearly remember when we got our first television set, it was Chayageet and Nukkad all along the way. All the elders and children would sit together to watch these serials with gay abandon. (By the way, "Gay" meant to mean "Happy" then)
Today's generation doesn't have the opportunity to watch such superb serials with their parents and friends. Reality TV rules the TRP along with stupid Saas-Bahu serials. Today's children are the most fortunate and also the most deprived. Fortunate, because of the vast opportunities to tap into and deprived at the same time because of the death of innocence in lieu of this mad rush for early fame and fortune.
Parents too seem to support this incalculable loss of innocence as they prepare their tiny tots to take on the limelight with sheer arrogance and a killer instinct. There was this little girl, no more than 5 years of age, who gyrated to an erotic dance number, that shocked even the judges of the show. When asked for an explanation from the parent, the father unabashedly said, "This is what the audience wants to see!", leaving everyone stunned, including me. Have we come to a stage where we don't mind exploiting our children in poor light, just to bask in that fleeting 15 seconds of fame?
The so called educated parents are ruining their child's childhood by making them behave like callous adults. They teach them everything from smart negotiation to tart answers in retaliation of the judge's questions. When the world gasps in disbelief, they take pride in their mindless tutelage. Media too is to blamed for this exploitive form of child entertainment. If you see, most of the advertisements these days have children in them, making it impossible for the parents to ignore their demands. This is smart advertising but at what cost, no one knows or cares.
Children today behave as if they have a chip on their shoulders, making it impossible even for an adult to stand on the same ground. They talk like well trained brats of senseless wit and retort, at times pushing the limits of entertainment, turning it into plain embarrassment. Children are identified with their innocence and when they lose it to age they are termed as adults. But these days, children have a different story to tell. They are giving nightmares to adults, taking a jig shot at them, irrespective of the age difference, and not minding to pull them down mercilessly for entertainment's sake.
Fame introduced at a young age has it's own after effects. Parents need to understand that their child's life is not a platform to live their own unfulfilled dreams. Exposing these young talents to opportunities is very good indeed, but ensure to safe guard them from turning into a self-proclaimed ego filled useless child prodigies. By instigating them to come in front of the camera, we are exposing their very innocence to unforgiving and unwanted realities of life. In today's highly competitive world, children are the newest pawns of parent's power play. They put their children to the acid tests of mindless games of power and politics, betraying them of a simple, yet fun filled childhood. Is it worth it?
Let them be children and behave like one. They have a long way to go to take a pot shot at life. Let them enjoy the benefits that comes from being a child first, rather than playing a part of an early bloomed worthless adult. Teach them the correct values of living rather than sowing the seeds of mindless and aggressive competition, right from infancy. Teach them to talk, and at the same time, teach them to listen more. Teach them to lose and learn, rather than just to win and outrun. What they learn now will be the building blocks of a valuable tomorrow.
Our future lies with today's children, and we don't want them to turn into a generation of heavy headed and egotistic individuals, set to ruin the future of our nation. Children are one third of our population and all of our future. Please treat them the way they ought to be treated - as children; so they grow to be fine level headed adults.
In peace,
S.R
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
7 Thoughtful Sins
Dear One,
A lot of us suffer from irrational thinking which can affect our lives in a dramatic way. It can seperate the successful people in life from the unsuccessful ones, it can mean the difference between loving someone and hating someone, it can be the difference between peace and war. All wars, Yes I mean ALL, are caused by irrational thinking.
A lot of us suffer from irrational thinking which can affect our lives in a dramatic way. It can seperate the successful people in life from the unsuccessful ones, it can mean the difference between loving someone and hating someone, it can be the difference between peace and war. All wars, Yes I mean ALL, are caused by irrational thinking.
Let's us now look at those 7 thoughts, that can drive us to the verge of insanity, and finally drown us in unsubstantiated madness.
1. If someone criticizes me there must be something wrong with me.
There are many reasons why people criticise each other but it does not mean there is something wrong with you if they do criticise you. It means they have a differing opinion to you which is fantastic as without differing opinions in the world it would be a terrible place to live.
2. I must always seek approval in order to feel good about myself.
Many people have thought this at one time or another in their lives, however it becomes damaging when it is an entrenched belief. There is no way you can please everybody all the time so there is no point in even trying. Seek approval from yourself and if you’re happy and feel good that’s all that matters. Yes it’s nice to have other people’s opinions but don’t go out of the way to please other people.
3. I won’t try anything new unless I know I will be good at it.
Many people suffer from these types of thoughts. Trying new things in your life is a way for you to grow and learn more about yourself. You don’t have to be good at everything in your life but it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy new experiences even if you are not good at them.
4. It’s not my fault my life didn’t go the way I wanted.
I have news for you; it is your fault. This doesn’t make you bad and it doesn’t mean you are a failure. You have control over your thoughts and therefore your actions. You thoughts and actions will determine your life. If you constantly blame others for the way your life has turned out you have given all your power away to other people. Take the control back and take responsibility for your thoughts and actions.
5. I am inferior to everyone else.
That’s just the way you feel, which doesn’t make it true. You have qualities that nobody else can touch and other people have qualities that you can’t touch. Recognising your strengths will build your self confidence recognising others strengths will build their self confidence but don’t put yourself down when recognising that somebody else is better than you at something.
6. I was rejected which means there is something wrong with me.
This is over generalising like the person who was rejected in a relationship, they think it always happens to them and they must somehow be unworthy of love. People reject others due to differing ideals, just like you do, but it doesn’t mean you are in any way unworthy it just means your ideals don’t match someone else’s ideals.
7. If I feel happy about life something will go wrong.
Another common irrational thought. You deserve all the happiness you make for yourself; your past is your past, if there are still issues lurking from your past that is blocking you to feel happy about today speak to someone about it. Do not tinge your present and future thoughts with bad memories or else your present and future thoughts will get infected and your life will always stay the same.
So how to stop thinking useless self-destructing thoughts and start living thoughtfully. Well, for that you have to wait and watch this space. Not everything comes ready and spiced up in a platter, does it?
In peace.
S.R
In peace.
S.R
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The Verdict On Terror
Dear One,
After spending 31 crore, yes that's right, "THIRTY ONE CRORE" and a year of political hogwash, the verdict is finally out. Ajmal Kasab, a native of Pakistan is found guilty of propagating terrorism and will be sentenced to death. (This is open to further debate and extension, thanks to the blessed Indian judiciary system)
What is viewed as a milestone judgement by many, is in fact, just an another example of the poor democratic and judiciary system that we have in India. The cash-strapped Democratic Front government in Maharashtra has so far spent a staggering Rs. 31 crore, or nearly Rs. 85 lakh per day, to keep the 21-year-old terrorist from the Pakistani town of Faridkot safe and secure enough to stand trial in spite of the fact that the state's debt has crossed the Rs. 1.85 lakh crore mark. Still the government is wary of letting out any information on Kasab and is saying Rs 31 crore figure is strictly unofficial.
Statistics say that 24% of Indians earn only $1/day/head or less and are considered extremely poor. In 2005, 42% of Indians were earning less than $1.25/day/head and were considered as Below Poverty Line. This means there are around 283,000,000 Indians who are extremely poor. Government should have spent for the welfare of these 283 million Indians rather than on an individual who is not even an Indian!
India is the only county, I believe, which treats terrorists as Nation's privileged guests of honor or VVIP's. I guess we have not yet learnt to differentiate guests and terrorists alike. For God's sake, "Athithi Devo Bhava" does not apply to terrorists, who instigate and spread terror claiming innocent lives. If the same incident, I theorize, would have happened in a country like Saudi Arabia, I deem, it would have been a different story altogether. Immediate justice without the slightest delay would have been meted, with a verdict so shocking enough to send shock waves to the rest of the terrorist clan.
But India is a democratic country and we give a fair chance of trial to everyone alike, be it a friend or a foe. We even go to the extent of providing top class security and entertainment to hard core terrorists who blew our nation to smithereens. What a shame and failure of national judiciary?
Moreover, Kasab is just a insignificant pawn in this age old terror game of hide and seek. The master minds are sitting far far away, nestled in comfy bunkers, hatching one devious plan after the other to destroy our county. What are we trying to prove and what example are we trying to set? Saudi Arabia is largely crime free. The US never saw another terror attack post 9/11. In India we are so soft that even after so many terror attacks we can't do anything. Such soft nations cannot survive in the modern world.
Tell me, is all this happening due to a poor judiciary system or Is this happening due to political immaturity. Is this happening due to our tolerance being shamefully high or Is this happening because 'who cares, not my job' attitude, Is this happening because there is something secretive that no public knows or is it happening because we simply don't care and don't want to know.
Who knows? God save our country from our own country men and politicians, let alone the terrorists.
In peace.
S.R
After spending 31 crore, yes that's right, "THIRTY ONE CRORE" and a year of political hogwash, the verdict is finally out. Ajmal Kasab, a native of Pakistan is found guilty of propagating terrorism and will be sentenced to death. (This is open to further debate and extension, thanks to the blessed Indian judiciary system)
What is viewed as a milestone judgement by many, is in fact, just an another example of the poor democratic and judiciary system that we have in India. The cash-strapped Democratic Front government in Maharashtra has so far spent a staggering Rs. 31 crore, or nearly Rs. 85 lakh per day, to keep the 21-year-old terrorist from the Pakistani town of Faridkot safe and secure enough to stand trial in spite of the fact that the state's debt has crossed the Rs. 1.85 lakh crore mark. Still the government is wary of letting out any information on Kasab and is saying Rs 31 crore figure is strictly unofficial.
Statistics say that 24% of Indians earn only $1/day/head or less and are considered extremely poor. In 2005, 42% of Indians were earning less than $1.25/day/head and were considered as Below Poverty Line. This means there are around 283,000,000 Indians who are extremely poor. Government should have spent for the welfare of these 283 million Indians rather than on an individual who is not even an Indian!
India is the only county, I believe, which treats terrorists as Nation's privileged guests of honor or VVIP's. I guess we have not yet learnt to differentiate guests and terrorists alike. For God's sake, "Athithi Devo Bhava" does not apply to terrorists, who instigate and spread terror claiming innocent lives. If the same incident, I theorize, would have happened in a country like Saudi Arabia, I deem, it would have been a different story altogether. Immediate justice without the slightest delay would have been meted, with a verdict so shocking enough to send shock waves to the rest of the terrorist clan.
But India is a democratic country and we give a fair chance of trial to everyone alike, be it a friend or a foe. We even go to the extent of providing top class security and entertainment to hard core terrorists who blew our nation to smithereens. What a shame and failure of national judiciary?
Moreover, Kasab is just a insignificant pawn in this age old terror game of hide and seek. The master minds are sitting far far away, nestled in comfy bunkers, hatching one devious plan after the other to destroy our county. What are we trying to prove and what example are we trying to set? Saudi Arabia is largely crime free. The US never saw another terror attack post 9/11. In India we are so soft that even after so many terror attacks we can't do anything. Such soft nations cannot survive in the modern world.
Tell me, is all this happening due to a poor judiciary system or Is this happening due to political immaturity. Is this happening due to our tolerance being shamefully high or Is this happening because 'who cares, not my job' attitude, Is this happening because there is something secretive that no public knows or is it happening because we simply don't care and don't want to know.
Who knows? God save our country from our own country men and politicians, let alone the terrorists.
In peace.
S.R
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The Sage Of Arunachala
Dear One,
Listen to a story of a man,
Who seldom spoke the tongue of man,
His silence over ruled worthless words,
To become the Master of the inner world.
In a small town of South India,
Was born a child in 1879,
With large lovely eyes,
And a tender heart to match them all.
At the age of sixteen,
He experienced an instant death,
Only to miraculously live again,
Death made his spirit deathless, and he lived yet again.
He yearned for freedom from misery,
And shattered the chains of worldly trickery,
He travelled far leaving everything behind,
And reached Arunachala, which is one of it's kind.
There he met his timeless match,
In the land of the Holy Beacon,
Arunachala was his Savior,
His father and mother too.
Ramana was his name,
His fame spread far and wide,
In silence he spoke,
And he transformed many a wayward soul.
Who Am I?
Was his simple teaching,
Find it and you shall know,
The mystery of the entire world.
He radiated love and peace,
Even wild animals quelled within his reach,
Men and women of power,
Sat meek at his blessed feet.
Yet he was the same man,
To a king or a pauper,
Showering his unbounded love,
Making his silent life, a supreme teaching.
Miracles played in his backyard,
Like children having harmless fun,
Yet he claimed no cause,
To all the wondrous effects.
In silence he led his austere life,
But the echoes spread far and wide,
In his own self was he realized,
And in death he attained immortal life.
A small tumor made it's home,
In the elbow of the Maharishi,
He seemed quite oblivious,
And radiated even more peace.
Doctors came and went,
Unable to find any cure,
The bird was about to fly,
Breaking the cage loose.
The time was ripe,
For the Sage to leave,
He chose a holy day,
To shed his mortal coil.
A shooting star made it's way,
Across the dark night of the moonless sky,
The Sage silently breathed his last,
But assured one and all -
"Where Can I Go? I am always here."
Call on me and you will see,
I am always with you,
This is for you to believe.
Thus the Sage of Arunachala,
Lived a life of supreme recluse,
Wearing nothing but a loin cloth,
But drank the bliss of God, with a full cup.
I bow down to Ramana,
The Sage of Arunachala,
The One who knew death intimately,
And became deathless and matchless in spirit.
In peace,
S.R
Listen to a story of a man,
Who seldom spoke the tongue of man,
His silence over ruled worthless words,
To become the Master of the inner world.
In a small town of South India,
Was born a child in 1879,
With large lovely eyes,
And a tender heart to match them all.
At the age of sixteen,
He experienced an instant death,
Only to miraculously live again,
Death made his spirit deathless, and he lived yet again.
He yearned for freedom from misery,
And shattered the chains of worldly trickery,
He travelled far leaving everything behind,
And reached Arunachala, which is one of it's kind.
There he met his timeless match,
In the land of the Holy Beacon,
Arunachala was his Savior,
His father and mother too.
Ramana was his name,
His fame spread far and wide,
In silence he spoke,
And he transformed many a wayward soul.
Who Am I?
Was his simple teaching,
Find it and you shall know,
The mystery of the entire world.
He radiated love and peace,
Even wild animals quelled within his reach,
Men and women of power,
Sat meek at his blessed feet.
Yet he was the same man,
To a king or a pauper,
Showering his unbounded love,
Making his silent life, a supreme teaching.
Miracles played in his backyard,
Like children having harmless fun,
Yet he claimed no cause,
To all the wondrous effects.
In silence he led his austere life,
But the echoes spread far and wide,
In his own self was he realized,
And in death he attained immortal life.
A small tumor made it's home,
In the elbow of the Maharishi,
He seemed quite oblivious,
And radiated even more peace.
Doctors came and went,
Unable to find any cure,
The bird was about to fly,
Breaking the cage loose.
The time was ripe,
For the Sage to leave,
He chose a holy day,
To shed his mortal coil.
A shooting star made it's way,
Across the dark night of the moonless sky,
The Sage silently breathed his last,
But assured one and all -
"Where Can I Go? I am always here."
Call on me and you will see,
I am always with you,
This is for you to believe.
Thus the Sage of Arunachala,
Lived a life of supreme recluse,
Wearing nothing but a loin cloth,
But drank the bliss of God, with a full cup.
I bow down to Ramana,
The Sage of Arunachala,
The One who knew death intimately,
And became deathless and matchless in spirit.
In peace,
S.R
Weightwather's Guide To The Galaxy
Dear One,
Alright, I am facing weight issues off lately and it's blowing my living day lights away. It's not that I have transformed into a huge flesh barrel of sorts, but me ain't so much in shape either. Being a die-hard "Riceaterian" the repercussions have caught up with my age at last. Coming from a typical south indian household, rice is an integral part of my diet, in fact the only part of the diet. The rest of the dishes are plain accompaniments to help you savor the rice better.
Yeah, I know I should switch to wheat a.k.a. Rotis et. al., but you see my mother is a die hard fanatic of rice and rice products. So I can't afford to counsel the Home Minister herself, for the fear of losing my existing idlis and dosas, no matter what shape or sizes it may come across to me (Thank God! My mom does not follow my blog). Now, don't even think of suggesting me to get married for the sake of eating hot, fluffy rotis everyday. It ain't a good bargain at all. Just kidding.
I am a cusp between a Mesomorph and an Endomorph. Don't wonder much, as these are body types. There are by the way, 3 body types that most of us fall in. The Ectomorphs, who are blissfully lean and thin; Mesomorphs, who are athletic and muscular and finally there are Endomorphs, who are plain fat and chubby. So as I was saying before, I am a hybrid Meso-endomorph, who easily gain weight, but it doesn't show much on my broad body frame. Thank God for that, but that doesn't change the fact that I am indeed putting on weight.
Tell this to my mom, and she puts me off with a smirk of disgust, and reiterates that's it's all in your mind. In a way she is right. Recent studies have proved that you gain or lose weight by merely thinking about it. You mind plays a vital role in your quest for gaining or losing weight. They say, while eating food if you constantly nag yourself of the fat content or the calories intake, it is bound to show on your body. Whereas, if you just eat (chew it thoroughly and don't swallow) with a calm mind and do your daily dose of exercise, you will remain slim to tell your tale.
Diet and exercise go hand in hand. But for people like us who love to eat with both hands, exercise is the only saving grace. Diet if you must, but we both know it's going to fly out of the window in few days. Stick to a daily dedicated regime of exercise. Keep it light and fun, as you tend to get bored with it as days go by. Try walking for a few miles every alternate day, as it's a great stress buster too. A great indoor workout is Surya Namaskar. It facilitates and conditions every part of your body and helps you to lose weight and also helps in toning the muscles too. I read somewhere that Kareena Kapoor is a great votary of Surya Namsakar, and that she does 100 S.N everyday to get that envious size zero figure.
On the other hand, these days the obsession to look good is verily on the minds of everyone. I know people who spend lakhs every month in the pursuit to look good physically, let alone mental or spiritual development. To stay fit is relatively very simple indeed. Eat right, sleep right and exercise right. That's all there is to it.
One simple regime, I reproduce here below for your benefit. Try it and let me know if it works for you.
Morning: (7.00 A.m - 11.00 A.m)
- Wake up/Ablutions
- Drink 3 glasses of tepid water
- Do 3 sets of 10 Surya Namaskars (http://www.medindia.net/animation/Surya_Namaskar.asp)
- Have breakfast (Idlis are the best you see and avoid white flour)
- Water, water and more water
Afternoon: (12.00 P.m - 4.00 P.m)
- Lunch with loads of fresh vegetables
- Yogurt and Buttermilk
- Power nap for 15 minutes (If you find time, that is)
- Munch on roasted lentils (Soya, wheat munchies etc.)
- H2O, H2O, H2O
Evening: (5.00 P.m - 8.00 P.m)
- Try and squeeze another 3 sets of Surya Namaskars
- Supper of milk shake or milk and nuts
- Fruit smoothies
- Light dinner of boiled vegetables with brown bread
- Eat nothing after 7.30 p.m
- End the day with water, the only elixir that is exempted of all restrictions
To sum it all up, don't let exercise become an obsession. Ensure to eat right and get your daily quota of 7-8 hours of sleep, take less stress and lesser sodium (salt), keep yourself hydrated, laugh your lungs out, exercise regularly and pray a lot.
All's well that ends well and that's the recipe for a healthy, happy and wholesome life.
In peace,
S.R
Alright, I am facing weight issues off lately and it's blowing my living day lights away. It's not that I have transformed into a huge flesh barrel of sorts, but me ain't so much in shape either. Being a die-hard "Riceaterian" the repercussions have caught up with my age at last. Coming from a typical south indian household, rice is an integral part of my diet, in fact the only part of the diet. The rest of the dishes are plain accompaniments to help you savor the rice better.
Yeah, I know I should switch to wheat a.k.a. Rotis et. al., but you see my mother is a die hard fanatic of rice and rice products. So I can't afford to counsel the Home Minister herself, for the fear of losing my existing idlis and dosas, no matter what shape or sizes it may come across to me (Thank God! My mom does not follow my blog). Now, don't even think of suggesting me to get married for the sake of eating hot, fluffy rotis everyday. It ain't a good bargain at all. Just kidding.
I am a cusp between a Mesomorph and an Endomorph. Don't wonder much, as these are body types. There are by the way, 3 body types that most of us fall in. The Ectomorphs, who are blissfully lean and thin; Mesomorphs, who are athletic and muscular and finally there are Endomorphs, who are plain fat and chubby. So as I was saying before, I am a hybrid Meso-endomorph, who easily gain weight, but it doesn't show much on my broad body frame. Thank God for that, but that doesn't change the fact that I am indeed putting on weight.
Tell this to my mom, and she puts me off with a smirk of disgust, and reiterates that's it's all in your mind. In a way she is right. Recent studies have proved that you gain or lose weight by merely thinking about it. You mind plays a vital role in your quest for gaining or losing weight. They say, while eating food if you constantly nag yourself of the fat content or the calories intake, it is bound to show on your body. Whereas, if you just eat (chew it thoroughly and don't swallow) with a calm mind and do your daily dose of exercise, you will remain slim to tell your tale.
Diet and exercise go hand in hand. But for people like us who love to eat with both hands, exercise is the only saving grace. Diet if you must, but we both know it's going to fly out of the window in few days. Stick to a daily dedicated regime of exercise. Keep it light and fun, as you tend to get bored with it as days go by. Try walking for a few miles every alternate day, as it's a great stress buster too. A great indoor workout is Surya Namaskar. It facilitates and conditions every part of your body and helps you to lose weight and also helps in toning the muscles too. I read somewhere that Kareena Kapoor is a great votary of Surya Namsakar, and that she does 100 S.N everyday to get that envious size zero figure.
On the other hand, these days the obsession to look good is verily on the minds of everyone. I know people who spend lakhs every month in the pursuit to look good physically, let alone mental or spiritual development. To stay fit is relatively very simple indeed. Eat right, sleep right and exercise right. That's all there is to it.
One simple regime, I reproduce here below for your benefit. Try it and let me know if it works for you.
Morning: (7.00 A.m - 11.00 A.m)
- Wake up/Ablutions
- Drink 3 glasses of tepid water
- Do 3 sets of 10 Surya Namaskars (http://www.medindia.net/animation/Surya_Namaskar.asp)
- Have breakfast (Idlis are the best you see and avoid white flour)
- Water, water and more water
Afternoon: (12.00 P.m - 4.00 P.m)
- Lunch with loads of fresh vegetables
- Yogurt and Buttermilk
- Power nap for 15 minutes (If you find time, that is)
- Munch on roasted lentils (Soya, wheat munchies etc.)
- H2O, H2O, H2O
Evening: (5.00 P.m - 8.00 P.m)
- Try and squeeze another 3 sets of Surya Namaskars
- Supper of milk shake or milk and nuts
- Fruit smoothies
- Light dinner of boiled vegetables with brown bread
- Eat nothing after 7.30 p.m
- End the day with water, the only elixir that is exempted of all restrictions
To sum it all up, don't let exercise become an obsession. Ensure to eat right and get your daily quota of 7-8 hours of sleep, take less stress and lesser sodium (salt), keep yourself hydrated, laugh your lungs out, exercise regularly and pray a lot.
All's well that ends well and that's the recipe for a healthy, happy and wholesome life.
In peace,
S.R
Friday, April 30, 2010
Global Warming & You!
Dear One,
Bombay was a dreamer's paradise once, now it's a virtual nightmare for all. The overflowing people stuffed mercilessly in it's belly, the vehicles, the bumper to bumper traffic and the dark gutting smoke of pollution makes me sick and sad. What a plight it has gotten itself into or is it the outcome of careless people like us who care to lose nothing over it's abusive and systematic breakdown.
I fear a day is not far off when Bombay (and the world by far) will be a pitiful human dumping ground, deprived of vital oxygen, filled with dangerous emission smoke, no green patches in sight, only structures of black mortar and death. Trees and green patches are vanishing in alarming numbers, making the climate unbearably hot by the day and unpleasantly warm at nights. I get a feeling, I am sitting in a steam chamber all day and night, sweating profusely non-stop. The air conditioners (be it cars, home or office) are one of the silent killers, busy pumping out chilled air infused with a dangerous mix of chloroflourocarbons, for us to unwittingly feast our lungs on.
So is there a solution to the deadly effects of global warming, as it's slowly chokes the wheels of times to a grinding halt? The answer is - Yes! There is a way. Awareness is the way. With awareness comes education and with education - action. This is the only way which will lead to a global solution.
Did you know that :
- At the rate our climate is changing, the world will soon be warmer than at any time in the last 10,000 years.
- The world has warmed by 0.5 degC over the past century and an average 2 degC warming is predicted by 2100.
- There is scientific consensus that air pollution from human activities is partly responsible for global warming.
- Climatic changes will alter natural vegetation, wildlife habitats, crop growing seasons, and distribution of pests and diseases.
- Global warming will cause a continued and accelerated rise in sea levels, threatening half of the world's most critical coastal wetlands.
- About 30 new infectious diseases have emerged in the past 20 years.
- Global warming will expose millions of people to new health risks. Infectious diseases are emerging, re-surging and undergoing redistribution on a global scale.
- Global sea level has risen between 10 to 25 cm in the last 100 years and will rise faster still in the coming decades.
Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Bombay was a dreamer's paradise once, now it's a virtual nightmare for all. The overflowing people stuffed mercilessly in it's belly, the vehicles, the bumper to bumper traffic and the dark gutting smoke of pollution makes me sick and sad. What a plight it has gotten itself into or is it the outcome of careless people like us who care to lose nothing over it's abusive and systematic breakdown.
I fear a day is not far off when Bombay (and the world by far) will be a pitiful human dumping ground, deprived of vital oxygen, filled with dangerous emission smoke, no green patches in sight, only structures of black mortar and death. Trees and green patches are vanishing in alarming numbers, making the climate unbearably hot by the day and unpleasantly warm at nights. I get a feeling, I am sitting in a steam chamber all day and night, sweating profusely non-stop. The air conditioners (be it cars, home or office) are one of the silent killers, busy pumping out chilled air infused with a dangerous mix of chloroflourocarbons, for us to unwittingly feast our lungs on.
So is there a solution to the deadly effects of global warming, as it's slowly chokes the wheels of times to a grinding halt? The answer is - Yes! There is a way. Awareness is the way. With awareness comes education and with education - action. This is the only way which will lead to a global solution.
Did you know that :
- At the rate our climate is changing, the world will soon be warmer than at any time in the last 10,000 years.
- The world has warmed by 0.5 degC over the past century and an average 2 degC warming is predicted by 2100.
- There is scientific consensus that air pollution from human activities is partly responsible for global warming.
- Climatic changes will alter natural vegetation, wildlife habitats, crop growing seasons, and distribution of pests and diseases.
- Global warming will cause a continued and accelerated rise in sea levels, threatening half of the world's most critical coastal wetlands.
- About 30 new infectious diseases have emerged in the past 20 years.
- Global warming will expose millions of people to new health risks. Infectious diseases are emerging, re-surging and undergoing redistribution on a global scale.
- Global sea level has risen between 10 to 25 cm in the last 100 years and will rise faster still in the coming decades.
- Climatic changes will alter natural vegetation, wildlife habitats, crop growing seasons, and the distribution of pests and diseases.
You can help control Global Warming by taking these simple yet highly effective measures -Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Clean or replace filters of your air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances to choose the most energy efficient products available.
Do not leave appliances on standby mode
Use the "on/off" function on the machine itself.
Defrost old fridges and freezers regularly
Even better is to replace them with newer models, which all have automatic defrost cycles and are generally up to two times more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
Cover your pots while cooking
Doing so can save a lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can save around 70%!
Buy intelligently
One bottle of 1.5l requires less energy and produces less waste than three bottles of 0.5l. As well, buy recycled paper products: it takes less 70 to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide.
Choose products that come with little packaging and buy refills when you can
You will also cut down on waste production and energy use... another help against global warming.
Reuse your shopping bag
When shopping, it saves energy and waste to use a reusable bag instead of accepting a disposable one in each shop. Waste not only discharges CO2 and methane into the atmosphere, it can also pollute the air, groundwater and soil.
Reduce waste
Most products we buy cause greenhouse gas emissions in one or another way, e.g. during production and distribution. By taking your lunch in a reusable lunch box instead of a disposable one, you save the energy needed to produce new lunch boxes.
Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. The Arbor Day Foundation has information on planting and provides trees you can plant with membership.
Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.
Eat less meat
Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath.
Keep your car tuned up
Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. When just 1% of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere.
Drive carefully and do not waste fuel
You can reduce CO2 emissions by readjusting your driving style. Choose proper gears, do not abuse the gas pedal, use the engine brake instead of the pedal brake when possible and turn off your engine when your vehicle is motionless for more than one minute. By readjusting your driving style you can save money on both fuel and car maintenance.
Protect and conserve forest worldwide
Forests play a critical role in global warming: they store carbon. When forests are burned or cut down, their stored carbon is release into the atmosphere - deforestation now accounts for about 20% of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Conservation International has more information on saving forests from global warming.
Global Warming is a dramatically urgent and serious problem. We don't need to wait for governments to find a solution for this problem: each individual can bring an important help adopting a more responsible lifestyle: starting from little, everyday things. It's the only reasonable way to save our planet, before it is too late.
I pledge my support against Global Warming. Won't you too?
In peace.
S.R
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Known Questions - Unknown Answers
Dear One,
Many were the questions that buzzed around my head and heart, yet few answers actually gave me respite. A note about questions - Questions have a queer yet fascinating way of arousing your inner curiosity and intent, propelling you to find the hidden answers. But with time, those very questions become a prelude to a mad quest for answers, leaving you thoroughly high and dry for the rest of your life. Yet, ironically, some questions have the power to change the way you think in a jiffy, invariably changing your very life for better or for worse. Questions and answers are like twins, born of the same womb, yet so different. One arouses your soul and the other fulfills.
Finally, I end my self-imposed break with this post. Sometimes, thoughts fail to arouse the words you are searching for, leaving you hollow and empty. Although sporadic with stray incidents, the last few sabbatical weeks were plain and uneventful; yet it was wistfully spent in deep introspection and meditation on the poignant questions of life.
One of my favorite questions to ask is "Who are you?" - A simple enough question. Yet the responses that I get clearly illustrate that for the most part, people don't really know. We rely on labels to do the job -- labels that describe where we're from, what we do for a living, when we were born, or what we'd like others to think of us.
But that's not what I'm talking about.
The question is - Who ARE you - at your core? I'm not asking your age, your income, or your job title. I am not inquiring about your astrological sign. What I want to know is - what do you really believe in? What do you value above all else? What's the central philosophy by which you live your life?
I want to know what you're doing here - what your purpose is on this planet. I want to know what you would give your life for; what you are most afraid of; how you want to be remembered.
In essence, these are the simplest of questions; and yet they're also the most difficult to answer. They demand the sort of honesty and perspective that few people are willing or able to muster up. They hold the key to your happiness, your well-being, and your success. And they are possibly the most important questions you'll ever be asked.
Unfortunately, many people live in a manner which completely contradicts their beliefs, values, and true selves, making decisions based primarily on others' expectations. They operate on the tenuous hope that pleasing others will provide them with a sense of fulfillment and worth.
The problem with this approach is that the fulfillment they experience is fleeting. Their sense of self-worth is fragile and overshadowed by the looming threat that the approval they're getting might be taken away. The nagging feeling that their life is at odds with their core values and principles eats away at them. They may feel angry or ashamed; they may be resentful of those people they so desperately wish to please. They're unhappy and they don't know why.
The simple truth is this: YOU ARE NOT HERE TO PLEASE OTHERS. You are here first and foremost to express your truth and to live by the values which define you. You're here to love; to laugh; to live! So don't be afraid to ask yourself these questions. Forget what your answers SHOULD be. Give them the time and attention that they deserve. BE HONEST. And if you discover along the way that your choices aren't reflecting your true values and principles, CHOOSE DIFFERENTLY.
It's YOUR life. Live it ON PURPOSE. ASK the right questions to FIND the right answers and that shall set you FREE.
In peace.
S.R
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A Writer's Break
Dear One,
Thank you for visiting "Soulful Journeys". I have taken a short break from writing, to help me quieten and sharpen my thoughts in soulful silence. Nonetheless, very soon, I will be back with more.
Till then...In peace!
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
Thank you for visiting "Soulful Journeys". I have taken a short break from writing, to help me quieten and sharpen my thoughts in soulful silence. Nonetheless, very soon, I will be back with more.
Till then...In peace!
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
Friday, April 9, 2010
The Birth Of A Dream
Dear One,
As I write this 100th article, waves of distant memories flood my soul. I recollect the days, when I could hardly hold my tongue in conversation, to the pathetic grammatical mistakes, fit to bring down the ire of my language teachers in school. Looking back, it's highly satisfying to see myself come a long way; from being a thorough vernacular rustic, to one who decently manages to ink down his thoughts with comparative ease.
Due thanks to one school teacher of mine, who fueled my imagination and encouraged me not to take the caustic comments of others seriously, but to constantly work on self-improvement. I took her advice to heart and worked like a mad man in search of sweet sanity. Day and night, I worked one-pointedly to improve my language and general knowledge by reading books, writing broken letters of intent to many souls around the world (pen pals), listening to the BBC radio as early as 3.30 a.m. every single morning, to understand the correct pronunciation of words. Yet when it came to actual speaking, I was a sad goner. I couldn't muster enough courage to talk aloud in front of an audience. I flummoxed with my words, chocked myself each time in utter despondency and confusion over the intricate nuances of language.
But I had the will to survive. Many were the instances, where my friends mocked at me and my "Southie" accent, and never even considered me fit for worldly existence. I was ear-marked as a life-long disaster, with no promise of building a great career or even a chance to earn a decent living. I was a worthless vagabond, jumping at every opportunity to be left alone and thinking of things unthinkable to the common mind. In short, I had tasted the pleasures of being an out and out nature's eccentric. I took time to think for myself, pondering over some nameless fascination or the other, only to be left behind by my career minded, intellectual friends.
Thus started my sole journey of self-discovery and self-expression. Rejected and ridiculed by the world, I found comfort in the various authors and their writings. They slowly took over the place of my fleeting friends, transforming my life into a picture of million words and ideas. They spoke to me in their own unique tongues and granted me a peek into their vivid beautiful minds. I too wanted to write like them and I wanted the world to hear me. A dream of becoming a writer was finally born.
After years of only thinking of becoming a writer and with no formal aptitude to be one; it all happened through a vague accident. A cousin of mine wanted me to write a testimonial for his FB account, and when I managed to post it online, many wonderful comments came my way, paving a path for my fading dreams. On the eve of last year's Christmas, I impulsively opened a blog account and started penning down my thoughts copiously every day. No matter what the situation, I made sure to dedicate at least half a hour everyday for soulful searching and reproducing it in words to the best of my abilities. The blog was aptly named "Soulful Journeys" and within months of singular dedicated writing, it transformed itself beautifully into a colorful bouquet of offerings for the readers, who take time and pleasure to read and appreciate it.
I know, I still have a long way to go towards refining my writing skills. It is still unfinished and naive, filled with bland smilies and metaphors at each step. However, thankfully, my first step was a fruitful impetus to take the road ahead, filled with immense delight and opportunities. I will keep working towards my goal of penning down a full-fledged book before my earthly role comes to an end someday. Till then, I shall keep dreaming and find newer styles to express my dreamy thoughts to the real world.
Thank you, each one of you, for visiting my blog often; liking what I write and encouraging me for what I am. Truly, a word of encouragement is all it takes to help someone pursue their dreams. And as someone wisely said, "If you want to be remembered, write something that's worth reading or do something that's worth writing." God willing, I intend to do both.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
P.S. - I intend to take a small writer's break from today, for a few days at least, to replenish my soul with quiet wisdom and soulful musings. See you very soon.
As I write this 100th article, waves of distant memories flood my soul. I recollect the days, when I could hardly hold my tongue in conversation, to the pathetic grammatical mistakes, fit to bring down the ire of my language teachers in school. Looking back, it's highly satisfying to see myself come a long way; from being a thorough vernacular rustic, to one who decently manages to ink down his thoughts with comparative ease.
Due thanks to one school teacher of mine, who fueled my imagination and encouraged me not to take the caustic comments of others seriously, but to constantly work on self-improvement. I took her advice to heart and worked like a mad man in search of sweet sanity. Day and night, I worked one-pointedly to improve my language and general knowledge by reading books, writing broken letters of intent to many souls around the world (pen pals), listening to the BBC radio as early as 3.30 a.m. every single morning, to understand the correct pronunciation of words. Yet when it came to actual speaking, I was a sad goner. I couldn't muster enough courage to talk aloud in front of an audience. I flummoxed with my words, chocked myself each time in utter despondency and confusion over the intricate nuances of language.
But I had the will to survive. Many were the instances, where my friends mocked at me and my "Southie" accent, and never even considered me fit for worldly existence. I was ear-marked as a life-long disaster, with no promise of building a great career or even a chance to earn a decent living. I was a worthless vagabond, jumping at every opportunity to be left alone and thinking of things unthinkable to the common mind. In short, I had tasted the pleasures of being an out and out nature's eccentric. I took time to think for myself, pondering over some nameless fascination or the other, only to be left behind by my career minded, intellectual friends.
Thus started my sole journey of self-discovery and self-expression. Rejected and ridiculed by the world, I found comfort in the various authors and their writings. They slowly took over the place of my fleeting friends, transforming my life into a picture of million words and ideas. They spoke to me in their own unique tongues and granted me a peek into their vivid beautiful minds. I too wanted to write like them and I wanted the world to hear me. A dream of becoming a writer was finally born.
After years of only thinking of becoming a writer and with no formal aptitude to be one; it all happened through a vague accident. A cousin of mine wanted me to write a testimonial for his FB account, and when I managed to post it online, many wonderful comments came my way, paving a path for my fading dreams. On the eve of last year's Christmas, I impulsively opened a blog account and started penning down my thoughts copiously every day. No matter what the situation, I made sure to dedicate at least half a hour everyday for soulful searching and reproducing it in words to the best of my abilities. The blog was aptly named "Soulful Journeys" and within months of singular dedicated writing, it transformed itself beautifully into a colorful bouquet of offerings for the readers, who take time and pleasure to read and appreciate it.
I know, I still have a long way to go towards refining my writing skills. It is still unfinished and naive, filled with bland smilies and metaphors at each step. However, thankfully, my first step was a fruitful impetus to take the road ahead, filled with immense delight and opportunities. I will keep working towards my goal of penning down a full-fledged book before my earthly role comes to an end someday. Till then, I shall keep dreaming and find newer styles to express my dreamy thoughts to the real world.
Thank you, each one of you, for visiting my blog often; liking what I write and encouraging me for what I am. Truly, a word of encouragement is all it takes to help someone pursue their dreams. And as someone wisely said, "If you want to be remembered, write something that's worth reading or do something that's worth writing." God willing, I intend to do both.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
P.S. - I intend to take a small writer's break from today, for a few days at least, to replenish my soul with quiet wisdom and soulful musings. See you very soon.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
BREAKING NEWS!!!
Dear One,
Breaking News! Breaking News! Breaking News!
Are you kidding me? Do you still think, there is any breaking news left for us to see or hear? Same shit - New day - Every day, is what breaking news is all about today. Each day is a reminder of how miserable and monotonous our life has become. You turn to any page of a news paper, and you are sure to notice black & white words of failed marriages, brutal killings and rape, attack on a senior, this political party or that throwing foolish tantrums and much more non-sensical stuff splashed all over, day in and out.
Sometimes I wonder, life would be so much better without the news papers. I don't mean in any way to run away from reality or live uninformed in my alter world, but just think about it; I feel, it prepares me to be knowledgeably desolate and gloomy for the rest of the day. Imagine instead, getting up in the morning to the music of the birds, the morning sun smiling on your face, the gentle breeze greeting you great morning and your wife making a cup of the best coffee for you...WOW!!!
Are you still kidding me? Stop dreaming. Nothing of this sort either happens, for goodness sake.
Day to day life is losing it's flavor by over sensationalism and professionally inked gossips. We have become a breed of prying humans, feasting our senses on people's issues and troubles. I strongly think, this mass flow of unedited information is making us callous and heartless individuals, waiting to pass our expert comments or judgement to say the least. We gasp a bit in righteous shock and it's all over for the day. Life continues waiting for another piece of sensational news the next day. No doubt, the information age has made us better informed and up to date, however it has cost us a huge price in return. We have lost our peace of mind and the simple pleasure of being truly and blissfully ignorant of all these dubious and mind polluting information.
I remember my childhood days, when my father woke up early in the morning, took the day's newspaper, and set out to the nearby park to read it with deliberate ease and pleasure. Although later, he had to travel a clean distance everyday to his workplace, this daily morning ritual never changed for years. After the reading stint, he would come back a happy man, replete with enough information to face his day with unassuming joy and confidence.
Coming back to the present day, my sister carries on this legacy of addictive and ritualistic reading of the newspaper, before plunging ahead in the day to day activities. Albeit, the outcome of this activity is exponentially different from what my father experienced ages ago. As my sister begins ingesting the daily dose of reality, her facial expressions goes from seemingly serene to frantic rage. She doesn't hesitate a bit to express her mounting anger by mouthing off refined local abuses against the perpetrators of the day. New Day - New News - Newer Abuses seems to be her unsung daily motto.
Comparing my dad and sister's tryst with the newspaper, I see a sea of changes in views and temperaments. Those day's were simple and uncomplicated, and today we are trying to make sense of our senseless existence, with newspapers adding to the ever-abundant woes. Maybe we are well connected with the world, but we are miles away from the basic connection - Human Connection. We fret and fume over the day's happenings with renewed vengeance, only to lose out on the day itself. We carry the day's informational burden in our heads, and spread the good (bad & ugly) word to one and all, making their day as miserable as ours.
News has lost it's true potential and intent. It no longer prompts us to take informed measures, instead it makes us cringe or sympathize in our chairs with an irresponsible detached heart. That's one main reason I quit reading the daily newspaper. It was filling me hollow anger and pessimism and slowly poisoning my soul with hopelessness. Any news was no good news for me. My mind was looking out for the dark clouds, minus the silver lining. I was seeing only rattling about the various flaws in the system, least bothered to do anything about it. How many of you share the same plight as mine - Talk and only talk. Do nothing ever after knowing everything.
My mornings now, are less cluttered and stress free. I start my day with a hot cup of coffee and a positive read. I no longer crave for morning gossip at other's expense. In no way, I miss the important happenings of the day; as the day proceeds, I skim the information and digest the necessary and let go the unwanted. I raise my voice against injustice in my own personal way, and manage to support a good cause - intently, silently and peacefully.
Life without newspaper is still very much the same, however with a small twist - I am at peace with myself. I no longer get hyper with useless rage or shake my head in disdain and mindlessly blame the authorities over some remote mishap or glitch. I read what I want to read and make an informed decision on what I want to do about it. Now, for me, some news is surely good news.
News is about making you do something, and not just to sit and do nothing. Think about it?
Are you still reading the Newspaper?
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
Breaking News! Breaking News! Breaking News!
Are you kidding me? Do you still think, there is any breaking news left for us to see or hear? Same shit - New day - Every day, is what breaking news is all about today. Each day is a reminder of how miserable and monotonous our life has become. You turn to any page of a news paper, and you are sure to notice black & white words of failed marriages, brutal killings and rape, attack on a senior, this political party or that throwing foolish tantrums and much more non-sensical stuff splashed all over, day in and out.
Sometimes I wonder, life would be so much better without the news papers. I don't mean in any way to run away from reality or live uninformed in my alter world, but just think about it; I feel, it prepares me to be knowledgeably desolate and gloomy for the rest of the day. Imagine instead, getting up in the morning to the music of the birds, the morning sun smiling on your face, the gentle breeze greeting you great morning and your wife making a cup of the best coffee for you...WOW!!!
Are you still kidding me? Stop dreaming. Nothing of this sort either happens, for goodness sake.
Day to day life is losing it's flavor by over sensationalism and professionally inked gossips. We have become a breed of prying humans, feasting our senses on people's issues and troubles. I strongly think, this mass flow of unedited information is making us callous and heartless individuals, waiting to pass our expert comments or judgement to say the least. We gasp a bit in righteous shock and it's all over for the day. Life continues waiting for another piece of sensational news the next day. No doubt, the information age has made us better informed and up to date, however it has cost us a huge price in return. We have lost our peace of mind and the simple pleasure of being truly and blissfully ignorant of all these dubious and mind polluting information.
I remember my childhood days, when my father woke up early in the morning, took the day's newspaper, and set out to the nearby park to read it with deliberate ease and pleasure. Although later, he had to travel a clean distance everyday to his workplace, this daily morning ritual never changed for years. After the reading stint, he would come back a happy man, replete with enough information to face his day with unassuming joy and confidence.
Coming back to the present day, my sister carries on this legacy of addictive and ritualistic reading of the newspaper, before plunging ahead in the day to day activities. Albeit, the outcome of this activity is exponentially different from what my father experienced ages ago. As my sister begins ingesting the daily dose of reality, her facial expressions goes from seemingly serene to frantic rage. She doesn't hesitate a bit to express her mounting anger by mouthing off refined local abuses against the perpetrators of the day. New Day - New News - Newer Abuses seems to be her unsung daily motto.
Comparing my dad and sister's tryst with the newspaper, I see a sea of changes in views and temperaments. Those day's were simple and uncomplicated, and today we are trying to make sense of our senseless existence, with newspapers adding to the ever-abundant woes. Maybe we are well connected with the world, but we are miles away from the basic connection - Human Connection. We fret and fume over the day's happenings with renewed vengeance, only to lose out on the day itself. We carry the day's informational burden in our heads, and spread the good (bad & ugly) word to one and all, making their day as miserable as ours.
News has lost it's true potential and intent. It no longer prompts us to take informed measures, instead it makes us cringe or sympathize in our chairs with an irresponsible detached heart. That's one main reason I quit reading the daily newspaper. It was filling me hollow anger and pessimism and slowly poisoning my soul with hopelessness. Any news was no good news for me. My mind was looking out for the dark clouds, minus the silver lining. I was seeing only rattling about the various flaws in the system, least bothered to do anything about it. How many of you share the same plight as mine - Talk and only talk. Do nothing ever after knowing everything.
My mornings now, are less cluttered and stress free. I start my day with a hot cup of coffee and a positive read. I no longer crave for morning gossip at other's expense. In no way, I miss the important happenings of the day; as the day proceeds, I skim the information and digest the necessary and let go the unwanted. I raise my voice against injustice in my own personal way, and manage to support a good cause - intently, silently and peacefully.
Life without newspaper is still very much the same, however with a small twist - I am at peace with myself. I no longer get hyper with useless rage or shake my head in disdain and mindlessly blame the authorities over some remote mishap or glitch. I read what I want to read and make an informed decision on what I want to do about it. Now, for me, some news is surely good news.
News is about making you do something, and not just to sit and do nothing. Think about it?
Are you still reading the Newspaper?
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The Magic Of Listening
Dear One,
I prefer to listen more than I like to talk and that sometimes, become my undoing. Yet, in my opinion, listening is the finest aspect of effective communication. It's the magic key to open to locked doors of life long relationships.
We all know the power of words, and the effect it has on our inter-personal relationships. However in recent times, we have become impervious to the benefits of soulful listening. In terms of communication many are excellent when it comes to writing. Others are highly effective when it comes to speaking. But the third key communication skill is still lacking in most of us - Listening. Many struggle when it comes to listening. Why? Well, often the reason is that unlike speaking or writing, we are never taught the fine art of listening, and more so ever we just like listening to our own voices and opinions, let alone anyone else's.
I recollect an incident that has left a powerful impression on me and embossed deeply the life-transforming effects of genuine listening. I had long gone on a recreational tour to a distant state, and while traveling in train, I happened to befriend an old couple. They had a sad, forlorn look on their wrinkled faces and they were too engrossed in pondering about their own pitiable existence, than talking to anyone else. Most part of my day was spent in staring at the beautiful ever-changing sceneries or perhaps in reading a book to kill time. Suddenly, the old man caught fancy to the book I was reading and struck the first note of unexpected conversation.
'What book are you reading, son?'
'Oh! This one'. I said, with a slight smile, 'is a book about following your dreams.' He was quizzical about the answer and reconfirmed once again, 'About following your dreams, is it?'
'Yes sir!' I said playfully. It teaches you how to decipher, learn and live your dreams. His face eased up after hearing my clarifying response. He moved in closer to his seat and almost whispered ruefully, lest people might hear him say, "Will you help me read my dreams?"
I laughed it off saying that, I was not a professional dream reader or anything of that sorts, it was just a passing fad of mine to kill time in the moving train. But he was insistent on me listening to his untold dreams and help him make sense of them. I humbly relented to his sincere plea and accepted to hear his story.
His story was one of love and deceit, loss and pain, life and death. He was a successful trader in his prime, with his wife being his constant companion in good times and in bad. He had three children, who he said with an unshed tear in his eyes, were all settled abroad with their families. He now stays all alone and secluded with his wife in a remote part of the city suburb, doing nothing worthwhile, waiting eagerly for Brother Death to make it's timely presence. I was listening with rapt attention to every word the old man was saying, as if my very life hung on them for some queer reason.
The old lady seemed not much interested in talking, as much as she was in looking outside blankly with shallow, tear-filled eyes. The elderly man on the other hand, donned on his best oratory cap and was belting out incidents from his tragic life one after the other, silently acknowledging my intent listening with a faint smile. I listened to him ever so patiently, with a sense of respect for his ripened age.
I truly lost the touch of time, listening intently to the tales of old as the night passed away to welcome a brand new morning. I saw the old man awake with a smile on his face and the old lady too was up and reading a magazine; but something I knew was not the same. As I took my seat, the old man ordered coffee for the three of us, with me courteously insisting to pay the bill. He ignored my repeated pleas with a flick of his hands and gently took out an worn out note from his pocket and handed it over to the coffee vendor.
As we neared our destination, he turned to me and said with a grateful smile that I can never forget, 'Thank you son, for talking to me. This was the most memorable train journey of my life.' I openly wondered as to what he was talking about and just continued smiling at him with a quizzical look. As he took his baggage, ready to disembark, he glanced at me with filial affection and said, "If you hadn't spoken to me, I wouldn't have seen the light of the day. I, along with my wife were planning to put an end to our miserable lives. But now, I have gained new strength to carry on and a ray of hope to cling on to.'
Bewildered at the unexpected answer, I kept looking at the fading silhouette of the elderly couple now walking with a sense of purpose. It was then the old lady slightly turned back for a second and smiled at me as if to say, "Thank you son!". A tear of unsaid fulfillment rolled down my eyes.
I never spoke much on that fateful day, but much was heard to unknowingly salvage a lost life. What words couldn't do, soulful listening did. We often get irritated with people who speak much, or write them off as talkative show-grabbers. But sometimes, all they need is a listening ear to mend their broken hearts and hope to rebuild their unfulfilled dreams. True communication is to know when to talk and when to keep quiet and just listen.
Talk less. Listen more.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
I prefer to listen more than I like to talk and that sometimes, become my undoing. Yet, in my opinion, listening is the finest aspect of effective communication. It's the magic key to open to locked doors of life long relationships.
We all know the power of words, and the effect it has on our inter-personal relationships. However in recent times, we have become impervious to the benefits of soulful listening. In terms of communication many are excellent when it comes to writing. Others are highly effective when it comes to speaking. But the third key communication skill is still lacking in most of us - Listening. Many struggle when it comes to listening. Why? Well, often the reason is that unlike speaking or writing, we are never taught the fine art of listening, and more so ever we just like listening to our own voices and opinions, let alone anyone else's.
I recollect an incident that has left a powerful impression on me and embossed deeply the life-transforming effects of genuine listening. I had long gone on a recreational tour to a distant state, and while traveling in train, I happened to befriend an old couple. They had a sad, forlorn look on their wrinkled faces and they were too engrossed in pondering about their own pitiable existence, than talking to anyone else. Most part of my day was spent in staring at the beautiful ever-changing sceneries or perhaps in reading a book to kill time. Suddenly, the old man caught fancy to the book I was reading and struck the first note of unexpected conversation.
'What book are you reading, son?'
'Oh! This one'. I said, with a slight smile, 'is a book about following your dreams.' He was quizzical about the answer and reconfirmed once again, 'About following your dreams, is it?'
'Yes sir!' I said playfully. It teaches you how to decipher, learn and live your dreams. His face eased up after hearing my clarifying response. He moved in closer to his seat and almost whispered ruefully, lest people might hear him say, "Will you help me read my dreams?"
I laughed it off saying that, I was not a professional dream reader or anything of that sorts, it was just a passing fad of mine to kill time in the moving train. But he was insistent on me listening to his untold dreams and help him make sense of them. I humbly relented to his sincere plea and accepted to hear his story.
His story was one of love and deceit, loss and pain, life and death. He was a successful trader in his prime, with his wife being his constant companion in good times and in bad. He had three children, who he said with an unshed tear in his eyes, were all settled abroad with their families. He now stays all alone and secluded with his wife in a remote part of the city suburb, doing nothing worthwhile, waiting eagerly for Brother Death to make it's timely presence. I was listening with rapt attention to every word the old man was saying, as if my very life hung on them for some queer reason.
The old lady seemed not much interested in talking, as much as she was in looking outside blankly with shallow, tear-filled eyes. The elderly man on the other hand, donned on his best oratory cap and was belting out incidents from his tragic life one after the other, silently acknowledging my intent listening with a faint smile. I listened to him ever so patiently, with a sense of respect for his ripened age.
I truly lost the touch of time, listening intently to the tales of old as the night passed away to welcome a brand new morning. I saw the old man awake with a smile on his face and the old lady too was up and reading a magazine; but something I knew was not the same. As I took my seat, the old man ordered coffee for the three of us, with me courteously insisting to pay the bill. He ignored my repeated pleas with a flick of his hands and gently took out an worn out note from his pocket and handed it over to the coffee vendor.
As we neared our destination, he turned to me and said with a grateful smile that I can never forget, 'Thank you son, for talking to me. This was the most memorable train journey of my life.' I openly wondered as to what he was talking about and just continued smiling at him with a quizzical look. As he took his baggage, ready to disembark, he glanced at me with filial affection and said, "If you hadn't spoken to me, I wouldn't have seen the light of the day. I, along with my wife were planning to put an end to our miserable lives. But now, I have gained new strength to carry on and a ray of hope to cling on to.'
Bewildered at the unexpected answer, I kept looking at the fading silhouette of the elderly couple now walking with a sense of purpose. It was then the old lady slightly turned back for a second and smiled at me as if to say, "Thank you son!". A tear of unsaid fulfillment rolled down my eyes.
I never spoke much on that fateful day, but much was heard to unknowingly salvage a lost life. What words couldn't do, soulful listening did. We often get irritated with people who speak much, or write them off as talkative show-grabbers. But sometimes, all they need is a listening ear to mend their broken hearts and hope to rebuild their unfulfilled dreams. True communication is to know when to talk and when to keep quiet and just listen.
Talk less. Listen more.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Life's Most Important Choices
Dear One,
“When it comes down to it, it isn’t the major choices we make in life – career, marriage, etc. – that count the most. It is the everyday, minor decisions that make life work for us.” –Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D.
Have you ever stopped to think about the impact your choices have had, or are having, on your life? When I was thinking about a topic for the next blog post and the word “choices” came to mind. Occasionally I hear people say, “I have/had no choice.” And I couldn’t understand why they felt that way. See, they had a choice, they just didn’t like the choices. I guess you can say it was a choice between the “lesser of two evils.” Or they felt they were not able to make the choice they really wanted.
Well my feeling was….if you can’t do it now, then plan for it so you can do it at some future date. Just come up with a plan, take action, and stick to it until you achieve whatever it is you want. Nobody said it would be easy, however, it can be done.
In his book “Choices,” Dr. Shad Helmstetter came up with a list of the 100 Most Important Choices in your life. Before we get to the list, here’s a little of what Shad Helmstetter had to say about making choices:
“When we begin to take a careful look at the choices we make, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that the most important choices are the choices that guide and direct the major areas of our life.
It is easy to think that if we make good choices about our career, marriage, education, income, family, etc., we should be able to do just fine. But what about the other choices – the thousands of almost unnoticed choices that all of us make (or do not make), day in and day out? How important are those “little” choices?
They are exceptionally important. It may be the big choices in life that set the direction for where we’re going, but it is the little choices that get us there.
Here is a list of 100 odd choices. Some of them seem important; others seem so insignificant that we might wonder how they could be important at all. But each of them makes up some part of what we call “life.”
As you read through this list, notice that any one of the choices, no matter how seemingly insignificant, affects something about us; what we do, how we spend our time, what we think and how we think, how we feel, what we like or dislike, what works for us and what does not.
Your 100 Most Important Choices:
1 – Who you spend most of your time with
2 – How you comb your hair
3 – What your favorite foods are
4 – What you eat most often
5 – How often you call home
6 – The books you read
7 – Your posture
8 – How much or how little you smile
9 – What you watch on television and how much you watch
10 – Your hobbies
11 – How much you exercise
12 – Whether you argue more than you should
13 – The style and color clothes you wear
14 – Who you invite to a party
15 – Whether you write letters
16 – Which telephone calls you return
17 – The appearance of your home
18 – How long something stays broken before you fix it
19 – How late you stay up at night
20 – What time you get up in the morning
21 – How well you listen to others
22 – Whether you smoke
23 – Whether you gossip
24 – How well you are able to concentrate
25 – The political candidates you vote for
26 – Whether you like or fear computers
27 – How fast you drive
28 – How much risk you are willing to take
29 – Whether you save money
30 – Whether you are a leader or a follower
31 – The amount of time you spend with your kids
32 – How organized you are
33 – Whether you go to church
34 – Whether you belong to a social or service organization
35 – How often you change shoes
36 – Who you admire most
37 – How often you are late for something
38 – What you do about a traffic ticket
39 – Who pays the bills in your household
40 – Who decides what to have for dinner
41 – How much time you give yourself to get ready in the morning
42 – What you do at the end of the day
43 – What you drink, if, and how much
44 – Where you buy your groceries, and why
45 – How calm you are
46 – Whose opinions you ask for
47 – How you handle problems at work
48 – Whether you attend concerts or cultural events
49 – How often you eat out
50 – How interested you are in other people
51 – How you show your emotions
52 – What newspapers or magazines you read
53 – Whether you give free advice
54 – What kind of car you drive, and what shape it’s in
55 – How you react to negative attitudes or opinions from others
56 – What sports you participate in
57 – How you spend your holidays
58 – How important it is for you to follow the trend
59 – How much time you spend talking to your spouse or mate
60 – How important you feel you are
61 – How you use credit cards
62 – How you look at problems in the past
63– How you treat or relate to members of the opposite sex
64 – How often you feel sorry for yourself
65 – Who upsets you the most
66 – Whether you like a challenge
67 – Who controls the conversation
68 – How you feel about world problems
69 – What you think about while you’re getting ready in the morning
70 – How much you worry
71 – How much patience you have
72 – How many compliments you give
73 – What gets you angry
74 – How often you almost run out of gas in the car
75 – What you do when you don’t get your way
76 – How much you spend, and on what
77 – How often you criticize
78– How happy you are
79 – How you feel about what other people think of you
80 – How often you do not tell the truth, and why
81 – How you take care of yourself
82 – How much you respect yourself
83 – How often you complain
84 – How often you have to be reminded of something
85 – Who you talk to when you have a problem
86 – How you leave your desk or work space at the end of the day
87 – What movies you attend
88 – How often you get a haircut
89 – How often you have friends visit
90 – How much encouragement you give to others
91 – How polite you are
92 – When you do your Christmas shopping
93 – What you think about, when you have time to think
94 – How much time you take to sell your ideas
95 – Whether you eat breakfast
96 – How you feel when you come home from work
97 – What you do when you’ve made a mistake
98 – What you do when someone else has made a mistake
99 – How you react to being stuck in a traffic jam
100 – What you think about just before you go to sleep at night
For further reading you may refer to Dr. Shad Helmstetter’s website : http://www.shadhelmstetter.com
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
“When it comes down to it, it isn’t the major choices we make in life – career, marriage, etc. – that count the most. It is the everyday, minor decisions that make life work for us.” –Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D.
Have you ever stopped to think about the impact your choices have had, or are having, on your life? When I was thinking about a topic for the next blog post and the word “choices” came to mind. Occasionally I hear people say, “I have/had no choice.” And I couldn’t understand why they felt that way. See, they had a choice, they just didn’t like the choices. I guess you can say it was a choice between the “lesser of two evils.” Or they felt they were not able to make the choice they really wanted.
Well my feeling was….if you can’t do it now, then plan for it so you can do it at some future date. Just come up with a plan, take action, and stick to it until you achieve whatever it is you want. Nobody said it would be easy, however, it can be done.
In his book “Choices,” Dr. Shad Helmstetter came up with a list of the 100 Most Important Choices in your life. Before we get to the list, here’s a little of what Shad Helmstetter had to say about making choices:
“When we begin to take a careful look at the choices we make, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that the most important choices are the choices that guide and direct the major areas of our life.
It is easy to think that if we make good choices about our career, marriage, education, income, family, etc., we should be able to do just fine. But what about the other choices – the thousands of almost unnoticed choices that all of us make (or do not make), day in and day out? How important are those “little” choices?
They are exceptionally important. It may be the big choices in life that set the direction for where we’re going, but it is the little choices that get us there.
Here is a list of 100 odd choices. Some of them seem important; others seem so insignificant that we might wonder how they could be important at all. But each of them makes up some part of what we call “life.”
As you read through this list, notice that any one of the choices, no matter how seemingly insignificant, affects something about us; what we do, how we spend our time, what we think and how we think, how we feel, what we like or dislike, what works for us and what does not.
Your 100 Most Important Choices:
1 – Who you spend most of your time with
2 – How you comb your hair
3 – What your favorite foods are
4 – What you eat most often
5 – How often you call home
6 – The books you read
7 – Your posture
8 – How much or how little you smile
9 – What you watch on television and how much you watch
10 – Your hobbies
11 – How much you exercise
12 – Whether you argue more than you should
13 – The style and color clothes you wear
14 – Who you invite to a party
15 – Whether you write letters
16 – Which telephone calls you return
17 – The appearance of your home
18 – How long something stays broken before you fix it
19 – How late you stay up at night
20 – What time you get up in the morning
21 – How well you listen to others
22 – Whether you smoke
23 – Whether you gossip
24 – How well you are able to concentrate
25 – The political candidates you vote for
26 – Whether you like or fear computers
27 – How fast you drive
28 – How much risk you are willing to take
29 – Whether you save money
30 – Whether you are a leader or a follower
31 – The amount of time you spend with your kids
32 – How organized you are
33 – Whether you go to church
34 – Whether you belong to a social or service organization
35 – How often you change shoes
36 – Who you admire most
37 – How often you are late for something
38 – What you do about a traffic ticket
39 – Who pays the bills in your household
40 – Who decides what to have for dinner
41 – How much time you give yourself to get ready in the morning
42 – What you do at the end of the day
43 – What you drink, if, and how much
44 – Where you buy your groceries, and why
45 – How calm you are
46 – Whose opinions you ask for
47 – How you handle problems at work
48 – Whether you attend concerts or cultural events
49 – How often you eat out
50 – How interested you are in other people
51 – How you show your emotions
52 – What newspapers or magazines you read
53 – Whether you give free advice
54 – What kind of car you drive, and what shape it’s in
55 – How you react to negative attitudes or opinions from others
56 – What sports you participate in
57 – How you spend your holidays
58 – How important it is for you to follow the trend
59 – How much time you spend talking to your spouse or mate
60 – How important you feel you are
61 – How you use credit cards
62 – How you look at problems in the past
63– How you treat or relate to members of the opposite sex
64 – How often you feel sorry for yourself
65 – Who upsets you the most
66 – Whether you like a challenge
67 – Who controls the conversation
68 – How you feel about world problems
69 – What you think about while you’re getting ready in the morning
70 – How much you worry
71 – How much patience you have
72 – How many compliments you give
73 – What gets you angry
74 – How often you almost run out of gas in the car
75 – What you do when you don’t get your way
76 – How much you spend, and on what
77 – How often you criticize
78– How happy you are
79 – How you feel about what other people think of you
80 – How often you do not tell the truth, and why
81 – How you take care of yourself
82 – How much you respect yourself
83 – How often you complain
84 – How often you have to be reminded of something
85 – Who you talk to when you have a problem
86 – How you leave your desk or work space at the end of the day
87 – What movies you attend
88 – How often you get a haircut
89 – How often you have friends visit
90 – How much encouragement you give to others
91 – How polite you are
92 – When you do your Christmas shopping
93 – What you think about, when you have time to think
94 – How much time you take to sell your ideas
95 – Whether you eat breakfast
96 – How you feel when you come home from work
97 – What you do when you’ve made a mistake
98 – What you do when someone else has made a mistake
99 – How you react to being stuck in a traffic jam
100 – What you think about just before you go to sleep at night
Choices affect the quality of your life and it's varied outcomes. So choose wisely!
For further reading you may refer to Dr. Shad Helmstetter’s website : http://www.shadhelmstetter.com
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Mumbai's Most Haunted
Dear One,
Mumbai is famous for it's legendary landmarks such as The Gateway Of India, the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, the beautiful Queen's Necklace and much more for the eyes to feast on. But there is also a dark side of Mumbai, which is unknown to many Mumbaiites - A Mumbai, which is filled with urban legends of ghosts and goblins, haunting the very places you often visit everyday, forming the dark under-belly of this famous city.
There are many stories of haunted buildings in Mumbai; residence to many humans and their ghostly neighbors. One such place is the railway quarters in Byculla. This cluster of high-rise residential buildings form the backbone of Byculla, standing tall and strong. Yet it has a murky history attached to it. Many cases of suicides and murders still haunt the lonely stairways of these tall structures.
As a renegade collegian, I often visited this area, as one of my close friend was put up there along with his family. The first few visits were filled with mute curiosity and fear, as my friend recounted many tales of mysterious happenings in and around that damned area. Our heads were filled with stories of sightings of apparitions, mysterious clawing of invisible prying hands, unknown voices from the past and unexplained human possessions. We were a mix of hard nosed skeptics and gullible believers, and some of us were both put together. Taking this cue as a challenge, we set out, as every hot-blooded collegian would, to explore these "haunted" corners of Mumbai. (Later we changed our mind, and decided to focus on studies instead lest our parents haunt us)
Many places in Mumbai, some known and many unknown have a silent tale of untold suffering and eerie haunting. The residents of these areas swear by their lives to lend credibility to these mysterious happenings. One such area is the Gokuldham Towers, in Goregaon (E). For years, these queer identical towers had no takers, due to ghostly presence circulating around the vicinity. This prime property was up for grabs for a mere pittance, yet no one wanted to invest for the fear of losing their lives or least said, their sanity. For many years, it continued to hold a deathly sway over the locals; then the rumors died down just as it appeared and now it's fully sold out. People say, it was a marketing gimmick to bring down the soaring property rates, but nobody knows the real story.
Other such "ghostly" stories are splattered across Mumbai for the skeptics and the brave to authenticate and live to tell the tale. Few urban legends are given below to make your blood and imagination race beyond control.
- D'Souza chawl, near Canossa School, has a well with no boundary walls. A woman once fell into the well while filling water and died. Ever since, locals say, her ghost comes there every night, strolls around, and disappears by dawn.
- In one of the flats at Grand Parrari Towers in Kemps Corner, all three generations of the family committed suicide, with the last case in 2004. The flat is unsold because it is said to be possessed by spirits.
Mumbai is famous for it's legendary landmarks such as The Gateway Of India, the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, the beautiful Queen's Necklace and much more for the eyes to feast on. But there is also a dark side of Mumbai, which is unknown to many Mumbaiites - A Mumbai, which is filled with urban legends of ghosts and goblins, haunting the very places you often visit everyday, forming the dark under-belly of this famous city.
There are many stories of haunted buildings in Mumbai; residence to many humans and their ghostly neighbors. One such place is the railway quarters in Byculla. This cluster of high-rise residential buildings form the backbone of Byculla, standing tall and strong. Yet it has a murky history attached to it. Many cases of suicides and murders still haunt the lonely stairways of these tall structures.
As a renegade collegian, I often visited this area, as one of my close friend was put up there along with his family. The first few visits were filled with mute curiosity and fear, as my friend recounted many tales of mysterious happenings in and around that damned area. Our heads were filled with stories of sightings of apparitions, mysterious clawing of invisible prying hands, unknown voices from the past and unexplained human possessions. We were a mix of hard nosed skeptics and gullible believers, and some of us were both put together. Taking this cue as a challenge, we set out, as every hot-blooded collegian would, to explore these "haunted" corners of Mumbai. (Later we changed our mind, and decided to focus on studies instead lest our parents haunt us)
Many places in Mumbai, some known and many unknown have a silent tale of untold suffering and eerie haunting. The residents of these areas swear by their lives to lend credibility to these mysterious happenings. One such area is the Gokuldham Towers, in Goregaon (E). For years, these queer identical towers had no takers, due to ghostly presence circulating around the vicinity. This prime property was up for grabs for a mere pittance, yet no one wanted to invest for the fear of losing their lives or least said, their sanity. For many years, it continued to hold a deathly sway over the locals; then the rumors died down just as it appeared and now it's fully sold out. People say, it was a marketing gimmick to bring down the soaring property rates, but nobody knows the real story.
Other such "ghostly" stories are splattered across Mumbai for the skeptics and the brave to authenticate and live to tell the tale. Few urban legends are given below to make your blood and imagination race beyond control.
- D'Souza chawl, near Canossa School, has a well with no boundary walls. A woman once fell into the well while filling water and died. Ever since, locals say, her ghost comes there every night, strolls around, and disappears by dawn.
- A man committed suicide at Vrindavan Society, Thane. Security guards here have reported some bizarre incidents, including the one, when one of them was slapped so hard he fell off his chair. The only other guard so far off, he says, could not have touched him.
- Forest guards at the Borivali National Park, swear that a ghost often asks people for lifts late into the night, and also throws stones at the homes of staffers.
- Goregaon Aarey Milk Colony is an infamous site for ghost visitings. Many film actors, even today, refuse to shoot here after 6 pm due to the rumour that there is a ghost in this area.
- Juhu locals claim they have heard ghostly sounds from a forsaken bungalow on 12th Road, Juhu. The bungalow is still unsold.
Any takers???
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Questions On Afterlife?
Dear One,
"What happens 'to me' after death?"
"Is there an afterlife?"
"Do we reincarnate?"
"Is death the final destination or is there more to it?"
These poignant questions have eluded man and his understanding for centuries. When he loses his most loved ones, a subtle chord snaps in his heart, pushing him further to think of afterlife and what happens thereafter.
So what does happen after death anyway?
Hindu philosophers and yogis have pondered long and deep about the mysteries of life and death, and have concluded that the soul has to undergo any of the following three, depending on your karma -
- Reborn as one of the 84 lakh species
- Go to hell, suffer for your misdeeds, and be reborn again
- Go to heaven and attain Moksha or Salvation
Religion, primarily view life after death as a punishment or a reward, making their followers cringe in fear or want in expectation. Religion, then becomes a ruthless dictator of dreams or nightmares.
For the modern Hindu, hell and heaven are plain hogwash and senseless dogma. But if you care to go a bit deeper into it's esoteric philosophy, it sheds a new light on what modern scientists are beginning to discover. Recent scientific studies have convinced modern physicists of parallel universes and co-existence of multiple realities, in the same space and time dimensions. It is although a matter of much debate and counter-arguments, nevertheless modern science is opening up to the fact of afterlife, that ancient Indian scientist-philosophers had already researched and documented in their various masterly treatises.
At a much deeper level of understanding, Hindu scriptures do not conclude with the description of just one hell and one heaven. They believe in multiple heavens or worlds of light and hells or worlds of darkness, stretching across the vast spaces of the manifest universe. According to Hindu cosmology, creation is an endless phenomenon and as mysterious as the the mystery of the Divinity itself. It says, the universe consists of multiple worlds, layers and planes of existence, some known and many unknown, some within the field of awareness and sensory knowledge and some much beyond. These worlds are inhabited and controlled by different powers, beings, objects, energies, deities and mysterious events.
It is very interesting that today's scientists are also talking about similar concepts in a more scientific and organized way trying to explain the mysteries of life and death. This is very much akin to the vision of a spectacular kind, which the ancient Indian seers saw, that does not preclude the possibility of either evolution or theories of quantum physics, mathematical or particle basis of the origin of the universe or relativity.
In Hinduism, we also encounter another argument concerning the possibilities of life after death. According to this, the body is made up of 5 elements, known as pancha mahabhutas. These are earth, fire, air, water and ether or space. After the death of a person, elements of the gross body merges into the the gross elements of the earth, which are basically earth, fire, air and water, while the subtle elements such as mind, intellect, and consciousness go to the ethereal worlds along with the soul. After exhausting karma in each of these planes and shedding the respective bodies there, the soul returns again to earth with a few memories of the individual soul to undergo further evolution.
On the individual plane, Hindu scriptures identify the heaven and hell in the precincts of the human body also. The heaven is the pleasure principle in our consciousness and it's created by the movement of the senses. Hell is the pain principle, created by evil thoughts and desires and the suffering we undergo due to our misdeeds. Beyond these two, are the world of dreams, the world of deep sleep and the transcendental world of bliss.
Thus we can see Hindu cosmology offers a very complex structure of the universe, in which heaven and hell are just two worlds, which are not necessarily the only places to which human beings go after death. Heavenly existence is not permanent, so also the existence in hell. It is the individual karma which is the ultimate deciding factor. And it is through karma a person moves in the labyrinth of worlds, till he or she is permanently released into the highest state of existence - Nirvana, Moksha or Deliverance.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The Lost Years Of Jesus
Dear One,
A long time ago, I stumbled upon a strange old book, that managed to arrest my immediate attention and curiosity. It was rotting in a heap of other decrepit books waiting for similar salvation. I moved in for a closer look at this dusty and tattered volume, whose first few pages were completely destroyed by the unforgiving clutches of time. Rightly said, time destroys everything in it's way - good or bad alike.
Opening what was left of the queer book, I gleaned onto it's contents wearily. The rear page was hardly legible with yellow stains of decay. I gently dust the ancient residue with my bare hands, hoping to catch a fleeting glimpse of the author's words, peering at me invitingly. The book itself was in a state of abject despair, and to read it further was like pushing it's luck to the extreme.
I am a student of ancient literature and it never fails to fascinate me to pick up an old book, run my fingers across it's bruised pages and re-live it's magic anew. As I began to scan the near faded words, a thrill of awe and excitement ran down my spine over what I saw. I paid the bookseller in full without haggling further, as the price for such an invaluable book was nothing more than a pittance. I reverentially took the book and rushed home to immerse myself in it's hidden mysteries, waiting to be retold, probably for one last time.
The name of the book was, "The Unknown Life Of Christ" authored by a traveling Russian Doctor - Nicolas Notovich. It was an old publication, probably published in the 1800's, and it had caused an instant uproar and controversies galore, among the devout as it came in to print even then. The prologue of the book itself was enough to prove it's controversial volatility and content. It read -
- Ancient scrolls reveal that Jesus spent seventeen years in India and Tibet
- From age thirteen to age twenty-nine, he was both a student and teacher of Buddhist and Hindu holy men
- The story of his journey from Jerusalem to Benares was recorded by Brahman historians
- Today they still know him and love him as St. Issa. Their 'Buddha'
A long time ago, I stumbled upon a strange old book, that managed to arrest my immediate attention and curiosity. It was rotting in a heap of other decrepit books waiting for similar salvation. I moved in for a closer look at this dusty and tattered volume, whose first few pages were completely destroyed by the unforgiving clutches of time. Rightly said, time destroys everything in it's way - good or bad alike.
Opening what was left of the queer book, I gleaned onto it's contents wearily. The rear page was hardly legible with yellow stains of decay. I gently dust the ancient residue with my bare hands, hoping to catch a fleeting glimpse of the author's words, peering at me invitingly. The book itself was in a state of abject despair, and to read it further was like pushing it's luck to the extreme.
I am a student of ancient literature and it never fails to fascinate me to pick up an old book, run my fingers across it's bruised pages and re-live it's magic anew. As I began to scan the near faded words, a thrill of awe and excitement ran down my spine over what I saw. I paid the bookseller in full without haggling further, as the price for such an invaluable book was nothing more than a pittance. I reverentially took the book and rushed home to immerse myself in it's hidden mysteries, waiting to be retold, probably for one last time.
The name of the book was, "The Unknown Life Of Christ" authored by a traveling Russian Doctor - Nicolas Notovich. It was an old publication, probably published in the 1800's, and it had caused an instant uproar and controversies galore, among the devout as it came in to print even then. The prologue of the book itself was enough to prove it's controversial volatility and content. It read -
- Ancient scrolls reveal that Jesus spent seventeen years in India and Tibet
- From age thirteen to age twenty-nine, he was both a student and teacher of Buddhist and Hindu holy men
- The story of his journey from Jerusalem to Benares was recorded by Brahman historians
- Today they still know him and love him as St. Issa. Their 'Buddha'
I personally admire Jesus - The man and his Mission, as much as I admire Lord Ram or Gautama - The Buddha. As a student of liberal spirituality and religion, I love to explore various religious texts and literature without any inherent prejudice or malice. My sole aim is to understand and decipher, the role of history and circumstance in transforming the lives of ordinary men and women, catapulting them to soaring heights of power and influence; capable of impacting the very foundations of human civilization and thought.
I knew the story and the message of The Bible, and I was also aware of the quaint legend of Christ's mysterious disappearance at the age of 13, only to reappear miraculously in Jerusalem, later in his 29th year as a worthy spiritual leader and The Messiah. What transpired in between those years remain a holy mystery, and modern day followers of Christ over rule or side step it as unimportant figment of worthless history or imagination.
However, this book reiterates with tangible proofs and hard facts, the arduous journey Christ undertook in search of true wisdom. His search for knowledge, it ruefully claims, led him to the land of spirituality - India.
India at the time of Christ, was a Mecca for spiritual studies. Formidable stalwarts and sages mingled together to create a byzantine civilization of advanced technology and infra-structure. It was also the land of Master Yogis - The super human scientists of the inner realms, and Christ very well knew that the answers to all his questions, lay with them to be re-discovered.
An ancient Indian text, Bhavishya Mahapuran, records an encounter between King Shalivahana and one St.Issa, at the foothills of Srinagar, Kashmir. It also follows in detail, the spiritual journey undertaken by The Christ himself, under the able tutelage of several Buddhist and Hindu Yogis, gradually transforming Himself into a spiritual dynamo, fit to carry the message of love and peace to distant lands.
In modern day Ladhak, there is an ancient monastery which houses the records of a man who was known as Issa, and his spiritual exploits undertaken to help ease the burden of the locals. It records many miracles Jesus performed on the plains of this arid land, making way for him as a future Messiah. Hence we know him in India as 'Issamassih' or Issa - The Messiah.
In modern day Ladhak, there is an ancient monastery which houses the records of a man who was known as Issa, and his spiritual exploits undertaken to help ease the burden of the locals. It records many miracles Jesus performed on the plains of this arid land, making way for him as a future Messiah. Hence we know him in India as 'Issamassih' or Issa - The Messiah.
In the later years of Christ and his ministry, his teachings bear an uncanny coherence to the teachings of the ancient masters of the East. Many are also the similarities between the ritualistic practices of Hinduism and Christianity, striking a loving yet distant chord between the two. Many worshipful practices of Catholicism and Hinduism, I dare say, are like two sides of the same coin; divided by modern day prejudices.
I do wish to believe that Christ, once lived in India, the holy land of the blessed and the best, but this is a controversial thought to support; as these days God and His messengers, have become a copy-righted propriety material for the over-zealous followers of the faith. They fight over the Man and the Way, only to forget all about his pristine life and teachings to follow.
Christ for me, is the epitome of a man, who had the courage and wisdom, to identify himself fully with His Creator - His Father; Our Father. The so called "believers of faith", can very well question the credibility of Christ's unknown connection with this holy land and can fight their wits to prove it otherwise; however one thing stands out clear and straight for anyone to refute - Christ or Krishna belongs to all humankind, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. They are Universal Messengers of peace and love; hence they cannot be slotted by any human standards, filled with hypocrisy and deceit. They rightly belong to me, as much as the sun or the moon belongs to you or anyone else.
The one who understands this is wise, the rest otherwise.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
P.S - By the way, it's been long since I have donated this book to a worthy library for due preservation and upkeep. It rests there in peace, hoping to find it's final deliverance, in the hands of the worthy.
P.S - By the way, it's been long since I have donated this book to a worthy library for due preservation and upkeep. It rests there in peace, hoping to find it's final deliverance, in the hands of the worthy.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Legends Who Shaped My Life - Swami Vivekananda
Dear One,
"Arise! Awake! Stop not till the goal is reached."
Thus roared Swami Vivekananda, proclaiming aloud the message of the Upanishads. Vivekananda, brings a lot of fond memories of my eventful childhood. As a cent percent diffident child of circumstance, I turned to Vivekananda for inspiration and he did complete justice nonetheless. Vivekananda was my childhood hero, I clearly remember. When my friends were in awe of Superman and Bahadur, I dreamt of becoming a Vivekananda - The True son of the Indian soil.
The life of Vivekananda was filled with catastrophic upheavals and turmoils. From being born in an aristocratic family, to being reduced to a life of a pauper makes the reader wonder and admire the mettle of the man. His famous teacher, Sri Ramkrishna Paramahansa, was said to have once quoted, 'If it wasn't for someone like Naren (His pre-monastic name), nobody else could take on the blows of destiny with a broad smile.'
Vivekanada was raw power personified. It is said, his spiritual aura was so palpable, that no one could come near him for a few meters. Yet, the man had a heart of gold. He used to weep when he saw his country men spending sleepless nights of hunger and abjection. He avowed he shall not rest in peace, till the last man in his country shall not be fed with a square meal. Many are the anecdotes of Vivekananda, that show the strength of his sterling character. I have reproduced a few for you to adjudge and be inspired by India's famous and legendary warrior monk as he was rightly called.
1. Once at Varanasi, as Swamiji was coming out of the temple of Mother Durga, he was surrounded by a large number of chattering monkeys. They seemed to be threatening him. Swamiji did not want them to catch hold of him, so he started to run away. But the monkeys chased him. An old sannyasin was there, watching those monkeys. He called out to Swamiji, 'Stop! Face the brutes!' Swamiji stopped. He turned round and faced the monkeys. At once, they ran away. Many years later, Swamiji said: 'If you ever feel afraid of anything, always turn around and face it. Never think of running away.'
2. In America, Swamiji was watching some boys. They were standing on the bridge trying to shoot at egg-shells that were floating on the river, but they always missed the target. Swamiji took the gun and aimed at the shells. He fired twelve times and every time he hit an egg-shell. The boys asked Swamiji: 'Well Mister, how did you do it?' Swamiji said ' Whatever you are doing, put your whole mind on it. If you are shooting, your mind should be only on the target. Then you will never miss. If you are learning your lessons, think only of the lesson. In my country boys are taught to do this.'
3. Swamiji became well-known in America. Once he was given a rousing reception at a railway station as he got down from the train. A Negro porter went forward to shake hands with him saying: `Congratualations! I am extremly delighted that a man of my race has attained such great honour! The entire Negro community in this country feels proud of you!' Swamiji eagerly shook hands with the porter and said warmly, `Thank you, brother!' He refused to deny he was a Negro.
Swamiji was insulted, humiliated and refused entry into many hotels in the South an suspicion that he was a Negro. But he never protested or explained that he was an Indian. A Western disciple once asked him why he did not tell them he was from India in such situations. `What!', Swamiji replied, `Rise at the expense of another! I did not come to earth for that!'
Today, as the man I stand in front of you, is mainly due to the influence of Vivekananda and his powerful message. The skeptic who became a disciple and later a monk, only to make the whole world tremble in awe under his gigantic spiritual persona. To him I pay my humble tribute and gratitude - Swami Vivekanda, The Warrior Monk of India.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
"Arise! Awake! Stop not till the goal is reached."
Thus roared Swami Vivekananda, proclaiming aloud the message of the Upanishads. Vivekananda, brings a lot of fond memories of my eventful childhood. As a cent percent diffident child of circumstance, I turned to Vivekananda for inspiration and he did complete justice nonetheless. Vivekananda was my childhood hero, I clearly remember. When my friends were in awe of Superman and Bahadur, I dreamt of becoming a Vivekananda - The True son of the Indian soil.
The life of Vivekananda was filled with catastrophic upheavals and turmoils. From being born in an aristocratic family, to being reduced to a life of a pauper makes the reader wonder and admire the mettle of the man. His famous teacher, Sri Ramkrishna Paramahansa, was said to have once quoted, 'If it wasn't for someone like Naren (His pre-monastic name), nobody else could take on the blows of destiny with a broad smile.'
Vivekanada was raw power personified. It is said, his spiritual aura was so palpable, that no one could come near him for a few meters. Yet, the man had a heart of gold. He used to weep when he saw his country men spending sleepless nights of hunger and abjection. He avowed he shall not rest in peace, till the last man in his country shall not be fed with a square meal. Many are the anecdotes of Vivekananda, that show the strength of his sterling character. I have reproduced a few for you to adjudge and be inspired by India's famous and legendary warrior monk as he was rightly called.
1. Once at Varanasi, as Swamiji was coming out of the temple of Mother Durga, he was surrounded by a large number of chattering monkeys. They seemed to be threatening him. Swamiji did not want them to catch hold of him, so he started to run away. But the monkeys chased him. An old sannyasin was there, watching those monkeys. He called out to Swamiji, 'Stop! Face the brutes!' Swamiji stopped. He turned round and faced the monkeys. At once, they ran away. Many years later, Swamiji said: 'If you ever feel afraid of anything, always turn around and face it. Never think of running away.'
2. In America, Swamiji was watching some boys. They were standing on the bridge trying to shoot at egg-shells that were floating on the river, but they always missed the target. Swamiji took the gun and aimed at the shells. He fired twelve times and every time he hit an egg-shell. The boys asked Swamiji: 'Well Mister, how did you do it?' Swamiji said ' Whatever you are doing, put your whole mind on it. If you are shooting, your mind should be only on the target. Then you will never miss. If you are learning your lessons, think only of the lesson. In my country boys are taught to do this.'
3. Swamiji became well-known in America. Once he was given a rousing reception at a railway station as he got down from the train. A Negro porter went forward to shake hands with him saying: `Congratualations! I am extremly delighted that a man of my race has attained such great honour! The entire Negro community in this country feels proud of you!' Swamiji eagerly shook hands with the porter and said warmly, `Thank you, brother!' He refused to deny he was a Negro.
Swamiji was insulted, humiliated and refused entry into many hotels in the South an suspicion that he was a Negro. But he never protested or explained that he was an Indian. A Western disciple once asked him why he did not tell them he was from India in such situations. `What!', Swamiji replied, `Rise at the expense of another! I did not come to earth for that!'
Today, as the man I stand in front of you, is mainly due to the influence of Vivekananda and his powerful message. The skeptic who became a disciple and later a monk, only to make the whole world tremble in awe under his gigantic spiritual persona. To him I pay my humble tribute and gratitude - Swami Vivekanda, The Warrior Monk of India.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Magic Of Tarot
Dear One,
Since childhood, I was drawn to the mystical realms of the unknown, like an iron to a magnet. The sheer fascination for the occult sciences led to many magical adventures along the way. Over the years, I have observed and learnt many new facets of human ingenuity and depth. The occult is not a taboo, as some of us believe; but it is just a covered truth. Once uncovered, it will shine in it's fullest glory, making you one of it's treasured patrons. Till then, it's best not to pass any judgement, lest it is misunderstood and vilified.
One such highly misunderstood art form is the Tarot (It's pronounced Taa-ro). It's origin is shrouded in obscurity and mystery, some claiming, it was a form of divination that existed in the early Egyptian civilization, and made famous by the wandering gypsies of yore. The word Tarot itself, some say, is an anagram of sorts, which holds the key to the mystery of the cards. No historic evidence supports all the claims nor there are any conclusive facts to prove otherwise.
You are free to think, that such kind of trickery or mind-washing was just to fool innocent people and make them emotionally dependent slaves. It was rampant in the middle ages, where select men and women, had a powerful sway over the general public, by their extra-ordinary abilities to predict the future and all things mundane. They were known as Soothsayers. Later, after the advent of organized religions such as Christianity and Buddhism, they were branded as practitioners of the black art, and ostracized as pagan or devil worshippers - Hence the term Dark Ages.
Humans throughout history, have been afraid and insecure about their own faith. Religion and their representatives, played catalysts to make it even worse. If they saw any other religion or belief's apart from their own, gaining ground, they immediately swung into action to pull it down (Refer to the famous witch hunts of Europe). They acted the part of moral police, promoting what they believed to be true and trouncing what they never understood. This is the insensitive frailty of us humans; we support blindly what we understand and openly criticize and censure what we don't. Does it mean, only what you understand (and believe) is true and the rest a fallacy or heresy?
Tarot, as some historians believe, was primarily a card game. Later down the ages, it became a symbol of revolt against organized orthodoxy, later transforming itself into encrypted messages for the devout. Now a days, it's used as a tool of divination, to foretell the past, present and future. There are thousands of Tarot readers in the market, trying to pass off as genuine, with their own imagination and interpretation of this ancient card mystery.
The ancients too had their own quirks and fantasies. True knowledge is that which endures the test of time. Time is the greatest misinterpreter. It spares no one. Look at Krishna or Jesus or The Buddha. Every one of them have been misinterpreted and quoted according to individual ramifications. The teachings of the bygone sages and saints were simple and straight, but their blessed followers twisted it to make it more dramatic and palatable over time, for us now to accept it as miraculous and divine.
Tarot, in it's purest form is yet unknown. Was it a card game or a tool for divination is open for speculation. Never the less, it has a vibrant history waiting to be re-discovered. History is a mystery, for those who don't want to understand. It is also a mixture of facts and fiction. Open your mind and decipher the facts from fiction; it will uncover itself through the light of new human awareness. By studying ancient history, one can prepare and alter the course of a new future.
Take up the study of history; and I am sure you will stumble upon some unknown facts that can forever change the way you think and see. (And the world, if lucky)
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
P.S - I have kept this post open. I am presently studying the history and the mysteries of Tarot. Once done satisfactorily, I shall write on it further. Till then, don't misinterpret, just let it be.
Since childhood, I was drawn to the mystical realms of the unknown, like an iron to a magnet. The sheer fascination for the occult sciences led to many magical adventures along the way. Over the years, I have observed and learnt many new facets of human ingenuity and depth. The occult is not a taboo, as some of us believe; but it is just a covered truth. Once uncovered, it will shine in it's fullest glory, making you one of it's treasured patrons. Till then, it's best not to pass any judgement, lest it is misunderstood and vilified.
One such highly misunderstood art form is the Tarot (It's pronounced Taa-ro). It's origin is shrouded in obscurity and mystery, some claiming, it was a form of divination that existed in the early Egyptian civilization, and made famous by the wandering gypsies of yore. The word Tarot itself, some say, is an anagram of sorts, which holds the key to the mystery of the cards. No historic evidence supports all the claims nor there are any conclusive facts to prove otherwise.
You are free to think, that such kind of trickery or mind-washing was just to fool innocent people and make them emotionally dependent slaves. It was rampant in the middle ages, where select men and women, had a powerful sway over the general public, by their extra-ordinary abilities to predict the future and all things mundane. They were known as Soothsayers. Later, after the advent of organized religions such as Christianity and Buddhism, they were branded as practitioners of the black art, and ostracized as pagan or devil worshippers - Hence the term Dark Ages.
Humans throughout history, have been afraid and insecure about their own faith. Religion and their representatives, played catalysts to make it even worse. If they saw any other religion or belief's apart from their own, gaining ground, they immediately swung into action to pull it down (Refer to the famous witch hunts of Europe). They acted the part of moral police, promoting what they believed to be true and trouncing what they never understood. This is the insensitive frailty of us humans; we support blindly what we understand and openly criticize and censure what we don't. Does it mean, only what you understand (and believe) is true and the rest a fallacy or heresy?
Tarot, as some historians believe, was primarily a card game. Later down the ages, it became a symbol of revolt against organized orthodoxy, later transforming itself into encrypted messages for the devout. Now a days, it's used as a tool of divination, to foretell the past, present and future. There are thousands of Tarot readers in the market, trying to pass off as genuine, with their own imagination and interpretation of this ancient card mystery.
The ancients too had their own quirks and fantasies. True knowledge is that which endures the test of time. Time is the greatest misinterpreter. It spares no one. Look at Krishna or Jesus or The Buddha. Every one of them have been misinterpreted and quoted according to individual ramifications. The teachings of the bygone sages and saints were simple and straight, but their blessed followers twisted it to make it more dramatic and palatable over time, for us now to accept it as miraculous and divine.
Tarot, in it's purest form is yet unknown. Was it a card game or a tool for divination is open for speculation. Never the less, it has a vibrant history waiting to be re-discovered. History is a mystery, for those who don't want to understand. It is also a mixture of facts and fiction. Open your mind and decipher the facts from fiction; it will uncover itself through the light of new human awareness. By studying ancient history, one can prepare and alter the course of a new future.
Take up the study of history; and I am sure you will stumble upon some unknown facts that can forever change the way you think and see. (And the world, if lucky)
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
P.S - I have kept this post open. I am presently studying the history and the mysteries of Tarot. Once done satisfactorily, I shall write on it further. Till then, don't misinterpret, just let it be.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Chappal Diaries
Dear One,
The road of life, will be filled with gravel and splinters to cut your feet at every step. Yet, you have to keep on walking...for without moving on, you will never find true freedom.
A true friend is the one who walks with you when others prefer to stay. A much neglected friend of ours, in a way, is the one who protects us night and day with it's very life, yet we seldom acknowledge it's existence.
This is the story of the humble Chappals.
Although, an odd thought to conceive of; but few things are really odd in the apparent level. But, the minute you dive deep into it's hidden mysteries, the veil of ignorance is lifted to reveal a grand lesson for you to learn and pass it on.
This is the diary of those very chappals, that have guarded my feet in the sun, rain or when I am just in pain.
The Birth:
'I am born. An animal had to die so I could live. That's the natural law of nature. Human birth is definitely less painful than mine. I had to bear the heavy poundings of the hammer and the harsh treatment of chemicals to make me what I am today. What a painful way to see the light of the world, only to be kept at feet's length. But I don't have any regrets, as everyone has a responsibility to fulfill; to protect and serve is mine.'
The Journey Begins:
'I am sold. My value is hardly recognized, as I am sold at a pittance. My new owner gleans over me with pride, feeling me with his feet, thumping me against the ground, to see if I am able to take the beatings without giving away. I do. I am built for that very purpose. My journey begins. I am glad to be of some purpose. Most of you humans, don't even know the purpose of your existence - at least I do. My new owner, discards my worn out brother for me and I fit snugly on to his calloused feet. He takes me almost everywhere he goes and in return, I ensure his feet doesn't get exposed to the harsh conditions of life. He walks on and I give him company, silently yet steadily protecting him from all the unknown perils below his feet.'
The Trials:
'The journey of life is determined by the trials and tribulations you encounter on the way. That makes it worthwhile or worthless. What's the point of being born with a golden spoon when you can't even taste life and it's true flavors. My owner is a hardworking man and I have to work harder to keep up to his pace. I seldom get respite from his busy schedule. It seems to me, that both of our destinies are tied together by a common thread - Hard work. Nevertheless, working hard is the way of life. The fruits of diligent labor are very sweet indeed.'
Mid Life Crisis:
'Time flies when you are bound to a cause. I never knew when time just flew past, giving me not a chance to ponder over my own well being. I can sense many signs of aging in me, when I see and hear cracks and groans all over. I am afraid, that my owner too might have noticed it. I can see that he has not treated me the way I am supposed to be. The quality of my life is rightfully in his hands - no in his feet. But, in a way, you tend to take for granted the things that are very close to you, till the time it no longer serves your purpose. Then you start finding faults with it and make ways to render it useless.'
The Breakdown:
'I finally give in. It came at a very unexpected moment for me and my master. He wore me with careless abandon and was walking in full stride over sharp rocks and that was when one of my limbs got badly ruptured. He was shocked and clueless at first, but then started hurling abuses on me and my maker for not making me right. I was too numb to react, to my master's taunt and felt sad, not on losing my limb, but on my master's thankless behavior. After serving him for years, with utter dedication, I was about to be declared hopeless. Mysterious and thankless are the ways of you human beings. When someone offers to help fulfill dream, you accept it without shame and the minute your dream's fulfilled, it takes no time for you to turn indifferent and thankless.'
The Repair:
'Well, my master is not planning to repair or rebuild me. A few years back, he would have done so, as he was poor and couldn't afford a new pair. But now, he has three new pairs to choose from. Money and success changes your priorities and perception drastically. Does it not?'
The Meltdown:
'I am lying on a shoe rack completely neglected and forlorn. I smell and reek of agony, not over myself, but the fact that, I could not serve my master any more. You have to pay a high price for loyalty. I paid the price with my very life. I don't know what my future is, but I wait patiently for my master to change his mind and use me once again. What an irony, even when you are put in such hopeless situations, you still cling on to a thing called Hope.'
The Aftermath:
'My purpose is finally served, that's what my master has concluded. He has thrown me away in a heap of garbage for the elements to break me to down to dust. I wait for deliverance and a miracle happens. A man, with an equally weather beaten look like mine, happens to see me rotting in the putrid heap and comes over to pick me up. He cleans me up with his smelly and gnarled hands and I see a faint smile break out on his worn out face. He puts me down and slides his hideous an dirty feet over me. But, deep inside I feel happy to have been granted a fresh lease of life. I realize, that life always gives you a second chance. Don't lay much stress on the package it comes in. It's up to you to recognize it or let it pass away in disdain. I chose to make the best use of it.'
The Conclusion:
'Your loss is someone else's gain. I understand that clearly now. My new master treats me with respect. When life gives you in abundance, you tend to lose sight of values it brings along. But, when life deprives you of almost everything, all things irrespective will be valuable. The one who is wise, will choose to remain equanimous in times of pleasure, so as in pain. Both are impermanent and fleeting so why attach and embitter yourself to the things that are transitory in nature. What goes, shall come back; and what comes back, shall go someday.'
'My journey continues. I walk on, despite the odds. Come rain or sunshine, my job is to serve humankind and relive them of their walking miseries. Whether you recognize my humble services or not, I care not; for, selfless service, you know not.'
Peace in yourself. Peace in the world.
The road of life, will be filled with gravel and splinters to cut your feet at every step. Yet, you have to keep on walking...for without moving on, you will never find true freedom.
A true friend is the one who walks with you when others prefer to stay. A much neglected friend of ours, in a way, is the one who protects us night and day with it's very life, yet we seldom acknowledge it's existence.
This is the story of the humble Chappals.
Although, an odd thought to conceive of; but few things are really odd in the apparent level. But, the minute you dive deep into it's hidden mysteries, the veil of ignorance is lifted to reveal a grand lesson for you to learn and pass it on.
This is the diary of those very chappals, that have guarded my feet in the sun, rain or when I am just in pain.
The Birth:
'I am born. An animal had to die so I could live. That's the natural law of nature. Human birth is definitely less painful than mine. I had to bear the heavy poundings of the hammer and the harsh treatment of chemicals to make me what I am today. What a painful way to see the light of the world, only to be kept at feet's length. But I don't have any regrets, as everyone has a responsibility to fulfill; to protect and serve is mine.'
The Journey Begins:
'I am sold. My value is hardly recognized, as I am sold at a pittance. My new owner gleans over me with pride, feeling me with his feet, thumping me against the ground, to see if I am able to take the beatings without giving away. I do. I am built for that very purpose. My journey begins. I am glad to be of some purpose. Most of you humans, don't even know the purpose of your existence - at least I do. My new owner, discards my worn out brother for me and I fit snugly on to his calloused feet. He takes me almost everywhere he goes and in return, I ensure his feet doesn't get exposed to the harsh conditions of life. He walks on and I give him company, silently yet steadily protecting him from all the unknown perils below his feet.'
The Trials:
'The journey of life is determined by the trials and tribulations you encounter on the way. That makes it worthwhile or worthless. What's the point of being born with a golden spoon when you can't even taste life and it's true flavors. My owner is a hardworking man and I have to work harder to keep up to his pace. I seldom get respite from his busy schedule. It seems to me, that both of our destinies are tied together by a common thread - Hard work. Nevertheless, working hard is the way of life. The fruits of diligent labor are very sweet indeed.'
Mid Life Crisis:
'Time flies when you are bound to a cause. I never knew when time just flew past, giving me not a chance to ponder over my own well being. I can sense many signs of aging in me, when I see and hear cracks and groans all over. I am afraid, that my owner too might have noticed it. I can see that he has not treated me the way I am supposed to be. The quality of my life is rightfully in his hands - no in his feet. But, in a way, you tend to take for granted the things that are very close to you, till the time it no longer serves your purpose. Then you start finding faults with it and make ways to render it useless.'
The Breakdown:
'I finally give in. It came at a very unexpected moment for me and my master. He wore me with careless abandon and was walking in full stride over sharp rocks and that was when one of my limbs got badly ruptured. He was shocked and clueless at first, but then started hurling abuses on me and my maker for not making me right. I was too numb to react, to my master's taunt and felt sad, not on losing my limb, but on my master's thankless behavior. After serving him for years, with utter dedication, I was about to be declared hopeless. Mysterious and thankless are the ways of you human beings. When someone offers to help fulfill dream, you accept it without shame and the minute your dream's fulfilled, it takes no time for you to turn indifferent and thankless.'
The Repair:
'Well, my master is not planning to repair or rebuild me. A few years back, he would have done so, as he was poor and couldn't afford a new pair. But now, he has three new pairs to choose from. Money and success changes your priorities and perception drastically. Does it not?'
The Meltdown:
'I am lying on a shoe rack completely neglected and forlorn. I smell and reek of agony, not over myself, but the fact that, I could not serve my master any more. You have to pay a high price for loyalty. I paid the price with my very life. I don't know what my future is, but I wait patiently for my master to change his mind and use me once again. What an irony, even when you are put in such hopeless situations, you still cling on to a thing called Hope.'
The Aftermath:
'My purpose is finally served, that's what my master has concluded. He has thrown me away in a heap of garbage for the elements to break me to down to dust. I wait for deliverance and a miracle happens. A man, with an equally weather beaten look like mine, happens to see me rotting in the putrid heap and comes over to pick me up. He cleans me up with his smelly and gnarled hands and I see a faint smile break out on his worn out face. He puts me down and slides his hideous an dirty feet over me. But, deep inside I feel happy to have been granted a fresh lease of life. I realize, that life always gives you a second chance. Don't lay much stress on the package it comes in. It's up to you to recognize it or let it pass away in disdain. I chose to make the best use of it.'
The Conclusion:
'Your loss is someone else's gain. I understand that clearly now. My new master treats me with respect. When life gives you in abundance, you tend to lose sight of values it brings along. But, when life deprives you of almost everything, all things irrespective will be valuable. The one who is wise, will choose to remain equanimous in times of pleasure, so as in pain. Both are impermanent and fleeting so why attach and embitter yourself to the things that are transitory in nature. What goes, shall come back; and what comes back, shall go someday.'
'My journey continues. I walk on, despite the odds. Come rain or sunshine, my job is to serve humankind and relive them of their walking miseries. Whether you recognize my humble services or not, I care not; for, selfless service, you know not.'
Peace in yourself. Peace in the world.
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