In Greek mythology, the Sirens are creatures with the head of a female and the body of a bird. They lived on an island and with the irresistible charm of their song they lured mariners to their destruction on the rocks surrounding their island. The lure of their song was such that no man ever sailed through the island could listen to -- and still resist the temptation to go to Sirens. The beach was full of bones of people who got attracted to the Siren’s Song and eventually killed there.
In “The Odyssey”, Homer’s epic poem (written in 800 B.C.E), the hero – Odysseus’s ship has to pass through this island. To save their life, Homer had all the six sailors put wax in their ears, so that they will not hear the song. Odysseus was not willing to put wax in his ears as he wanted to enjoy that beautiful songs. But at the same time he did not want to die. So what is the solution? He tied himself to the ship and asked the sailors not to release him, no matter how hard he begs, until they are at a safe distance from the island. The Sirens sang when they approached, their words even more enticing than the melody. They would give knowledge to every man who came to them, they said, ripe wisdom and a quickening of the spirit. Odysseys' heart ran with longing but the ropes held him and the ship quickly sailed to safer waters.
Do you know what your Siren’s Song is? In our daily life, we too are influenced by negative temptations – the Siren’s Songs. We all have negative behavior patterns of some size, shape or personality. For some it is gossip, while for others it is just wasting time. It could be food, the internet, sarcasm, or worthless jokes.
While in real life we do not have a constructive solution like Odysseus had, never forget that we are blessed with the power of choice, a super entity that separates the faculty of human beings from the kingdom of animals. Before you respond favorably to a negative trait, try to consider the alternatives too – or simply ask yourself “Is it possible for me to respond in a better way?”
Merry X’Mas & Happy New Year to All!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
What will u do with 500 rupees?
This will really be an unsettling video for almost any Indian. Every Indian should watch this
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=M0XTPSYdP08
After all, we do live in "two Indias", where:
where crossing the distance between a slum and a mall can be a stroll - or an arduous, but diginified, struggle
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=M0XTPSYdP08
After all, we do live in "two Indias", where:
where crossing the distance between a slum and a mall can be a stroll - or an arduous, but diginified, struggle
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Help Me Doctor, I am Rich!!
Rupees, Dollars, Euro, Won, Dirham....I have handled so many incarnations of money.....but it was without knowing what money really is!!
"Money is a neutral object, a tool that can be used positively or negatively," said Dr.Dennis Pearne -- a psychiatrist and specialist doctor for the emerging field of Wealth Counselling. "The power of receiving a lot of money is so great it can destroy someone's life or empower someone to have a much better life. It all depends on how you deal with it", he said.
It's damn hard, in fact nearly impossible, to think about money honestly.Having lots of money can be like a drug. It can make you feel powerful and giddy. It can convince you that everything's going to be okay. Years ago they asked the great fighter Joe Louis what he thought about money, and he said, "I don't like money very much, but it calms my nerves." Money makes us unjustifiably feel that we're better and more important than we really are. When money can make you feel humble, then I think it's really useful. But if it fattens your ego, which it often does, then....watch out.
Our misconceptions suddenly get dressed and hide their nakedness the moment we think about money. I read an interesting story about moeny which I would like to share with you here....because I geuss the story relates to each one of us.
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-finned tuna. The banker complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied: "Only a little while." The banker then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish. The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The banker was puzzled and then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, swim a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, Señor."
The banker scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you'll have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middle man, you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles, and eventually to New York City where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, Señor,(Sir) how long will this all take?"
To which the banker replied, "Five to ten years."
"But what then, Señor?"
The banker laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company's stock to the public and become very rich. You would be worth millions!"
"Millions, Señor? Then what?"
The banker said, "Then you would retire, move to a small coastal fishing village, take siesta with your wife, play with your kids, stroll to the village in the evenings where you would sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.
How remarkable. The very things that the fisherman could look forward to at the end of a long and arduous process that would require him to put his life on hold are those all-important parts of life he already enjoys in his semi-poverty.
What would having more do for him? Prevent him from presently enjoying family and friends, laughing and living, being independent and free of the worries associated with major financial investments. And of course we all realize that the five to ten years the banker estimated would be all the time needed will stretch out far longer as greed for more as well as unexpected difficulties turn the project into a lifelong journey. How much smarter to remember the advice of the first-century Roman philosopher, Juvenal: "It is sheer madness to live in want in order to be wealthy when you die
Dealing with moeny is another important topic which I will share with you another day, when I am damn drunk and prefer not to sleep.....now its almost 12 am here in Seoul, my dear reader!!
"Money is a neutral object, a tool that can be used positively or negatively," said Dr.Dennis Pearne -- a psychiatrist and specialist doctor for the emerging field of Wealth Counselling. "The power of receiving a lot of money is so great it can destroy someone's life or empower someone to have a much better life. It all depends on how you deal with it", he said.
It's damn hard, in fact nearly impossible, to think about money honestly.Having lots of money can be like a drug. It can make you feel powerful and giddy. It can convince you that everything's going to be okay. Years ago they asked the great fighter Joe Louis what he thought about money, and he said, "I don't like money very much, but it calms my nerves." Money makes us unjustifiably feel that we're better and more important than we really are. When money can make you feel humble, then I think it's really useful. But if it fattens your ego, which it often does, then....watch out.
Our misconceptions suddenly get dressed and hide their nakedness the moment we think about money. I read an interesting story about moeny which I would like to share with you here....because I geuss the story relates to each one of us.
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-finned tuna. The banker complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied: "Only a little while." The banker then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish. The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The banker was puzzled and then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, swim a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, Señor."
The banker scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you'll have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middle man, you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles, and eventually to New York City where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, Señor,(Sir) how long will this all take?"
To which the banker replied, "Five to ten years."
"But what then, Señor?"
The banker laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company's stock to the public and become very rich. You would be worth millions!"
"Millions, Señor? Then what?"
The banker said, "Then you would retire, move to a small coastal fishing village, take siesta with your wife, play with your kids, stroll to the village in the evenings where you would sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.
How remarkable. The very things that the fisherman could look forward to at the end of a long and arduous process that would require him to put his life on hold are those all-important parts of life he already enjoys in his semi-poverty.
What would having more do for him? Prevent him from presently enjoying family and friends, laughing and living, being independent and free of the worries associated with major financial investments. And of course we all realize that the five to ten years the banker estimated would be all the time needed will stretch out far longer as greed for more as well as unexpected difficulties turn the project into a lifelong journey. How much smarter to remember the advice of the first-century Roman philosopher, Juvenal: "It is sheer madness to live in want in order to be wealthy when you die
Dealing with moeny is another important topic which I will share with you another day, when I am damn drunk and prefer not to sleep.....now its almost 12 am here in Seoul, my dear reader!!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
challenge
If eternity is to challenge transcendence
and life is to challenge death,
If good is to challenge evil
and truth is to challenge lie,
If love is to challenge hatred
and kindness is to challenge cruelty,
If morality is to challenge reality
and duality is to challenge oneness,
If boldness is to challenge cowardice
and freedom is to challenge restraint,
If desire is to challenge aversion
and smile is to challenge gloom,
If happiness is to challenge sadness,
and high is to challenge low,
If faith is to challenge reason
and light is to challenge darkness,
If trust is to challenge distrust
and passion is to challenge indifference,
If marriage is to challenge singlehood,
and prosperity is to challenge poverty
If shopping is to challenge wallet,
hoping is to challenge despair
If adulthood is to challenge childhood,
and wise is to challenge fool
If hunger is to challenge satisfaction
and refersh is to challenge tire
If hot is to challenge cold
and tranquility is to challenge turmoil,
If day is to challenge night
dusk is to challenge dawn,
If still is to challenge move
and fake is to challenge real,
If rude is to challenge polite
and nice is to challenge wise,
If rise is to challenge fall
and success is to challenge failure,
If clean is to challenge dirt
and safe is to challenge risk,
If silence is to challenge noise
and patience is to challenge frustration,
If craze is to challenge balance
and daze is to challenge expect,
If beauty is to challenge ugly
and naughty is to challenge obedient
If make is to challenge loose
and create is to challenge destroy........(sorry the list is endless!)
then......isn't everything in life is fragile???
So isnt it better not to worry about anything and enjoy life??
Remember, to START IS JUST TO CHALLENGE WAIT!!
and life is to challenge death,
If good is to challenge evil
and truth is to challenge lie,
If love is to challenge hatred
and kindness is to challenge cruelty,
If morality is to challenge reality
and duality is to challenge oneness,
If boldness is to challenge cowardice
and freedom is to challenge restraint,
If desire is to challenge aversion
and smile is to challenge gloom,
If happiness is to challenge sadness,
and high is to challenge low,
If faith is to challenge reason
and light is to challenge darkness,
If trust is to challenge distrust
and passion is to challenge indifference,
If marriage is to challenge singlehood,
and prosperity is to challenge poverty
If shopping is to challenge wallet,
hoping is to challenge despair
If adulthood is to challenge childhood,
and wise is to challenge fool
If hunger is to challenge satisfaction
and refersh is to challenge tire
If hot is to challenge cold
and tranquility is to challenge turmoil,
If day is to challenge night
dusk is to challenge dawn,
If still is to challenge move
and fake is to challenge real,
If rude is to challenge polite
and nice is to challenge wise,
If rise is to challenge fall
and success is to challenge failure,
If clean is to challenge dirt
and safe is to challenge risk,
If silence is to challenge noise
and patience is to challenge frustration,
If craze is to challenge balance
and daze is to challenge expect,
If beauty is to challenge ugly
and naughty is to challenge obedient
If make is to challenge loose
and create is to challenge destroy........(sorry the list is endless!)
then......isn't everything in life is fragile???
So isnt it better not to worry about anything and enjoy life??
Remember, to START IS JUST TO CHALLENGE WAIT!!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Green Eyed Monster
Old one.....somehow it resurface to my mind today
I never thought this would happen to me
And this was not how things were meant to be
I was so green with jealousy
to see you with him, so happy
I should be happy for you, a voice inside me says
But then I remember all those long-forgotten days
When we were together,albeit for a brief time
And another voice tells me You should be mine.
I am sorry for feeling this way
But the green eyed monster refuses to fade away
I have become obsessive about you
believing we could make a fabulous two
I think you are made only for me
and so I get so angry, as to why cant you see
That I will keep you happy as well,
And I can even hear the ringing wedding bells.
The world would then be a much better place to live in
And whatever we might have to face, we would win
My only hope is that you will soon realize it too
That there is only one truth : I love you.
I never thought this would happen to me
And this was not how things were meant to be
I was so green with jealousy
to see you with him, so happy
I should be happy for you, a voice inside me says
But then I remember all those long-forgotten days
When we were together,albeit for a brief time
And another voice tells me You should be mine.
I am sorry for feeling this way
But the green eyed monster refuses to fade away
I have become obsessive about you
believing we could make a fabulous two
I think you are made only for me
and so I get so angry, as to why cant you see
That I will keep you happy as well,
And I can even hear the ringing wedding bells.
The world would then be a much better place to live in
And whatever we might have to face, we would win
My only hope is that you will soon realize it too
That there is only one truth : I love you.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
On Achieving Dreams
Randy Pausch.....
I need not intriduce this man to anyone....I hope every one of you knows him, perhaps much better than I do.
Glamour, Wealth, Achievements, Character, skills, wisdom......there are a myriad of reasons that makes a person famous. Randy had all these, but he became famous for a slightly different reason -- "DEATH"
When Randy came to know that he is a victim of pancreatic cancer and will live only for a few more months, he prepared what is famous in the blogosphere as "Last Lecture" which has inspired more than 6 million people online!!
I too had watched that before, but without knowing that he is a victim of pancreatic cancer and will live only a few more months!! Lacking this critical background information, I just felt "GOOD" about the presentation.
Randy died on July 25th. When I came to know that he was the person who gave "last lecture", I viewed it again on the net, but in an entirely different light!!! And at the second time, I felt "last lecture" was super awesome!! I have no words to explain how I felt then.
Randy's death was indeed his victory over death. What a blessed man he is.
Worh watching it. Have a look here.
My tearful tribute that GREAT MAN, WHO LOOKED DEATH ON FACE.
Just for Children
How to prove that a sheet of paper is a lazy dog in three steps?
Ans:
1. A sheet of paper = an ink lined plane
2. An inclined plane means a slope up
3. A slow pup = a lazy dog!!
A poem for children
Sir Humphrey Davy
Detested Gravy
He lived in the odium
Of having invented Sodium
Ans:
1. A sheet of paper = an ink lined plane
2. An inclined plane means a slope up
3. A slow pup = a lazy dog!!
A poem for children
Sir Humphrey Davy
Detested Gravy
He lived in the odium
Of having invented Sodium
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The Best Reason to Smile
Cloudy and dusty are my memories
Strange and dark are my dreams
Fortunes were never kind to me
Struggle being my best companion
All my questions are bachelors
Never being married to an answer
I am still a solitary sailor in the deep sea
Driving the boat of my sad life
Broken and shattered are my dreams
Pitting the paint on the walls of my mind
And I fail to understand why every time the
destiny bombarded the little hopes I had too
I don’t remember at what point did I
loose that luminous smile on my rosy face
And when and why were the dark clouds
Filled in the bins of my expressions
The world may look empty and standstill at times
But the show of life must and will go on
As the paddle of life’s boat never cares
If the driver is weeping or warming!!
The meaning of life is akin to a lotus
Majestic in look, but connected to mud
Best meaning always sprout on no meaning
And no reason is the best reason to smile!!
Strange and dark are my dreams
Fortunes were never kind to me
Struggle being my best companion
All my questions are bachelors
Never being married to an answer
I am still a solitary sailor in the deep sea
Driving the boat of my sad life
Broken and shattered are my dreams
Pitting the paint on the walls of my mind
And I fail to understand why every time the
destiny bombarded the little hopes I had too
I don’t remember at what point did I
loose that luminous smile on my rosy face
And when and why were the dark clouds
Filled in the bins of my expressions
The world may look empty and standstill at times
But the show of life must and will go on
As the paddle of life’s boat never cares
If the driver is weeping or warming!!
The meaning of life is akin to a lotus
Majestic in look, but connected to mud
Best meaning always sprout on no meaning
And no reason is the best reason to smile!!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination--By JK Rowling
I never read a Harry Potter Story Book....nor watched a Harry Potter Movie fully.... I hated the very basic idea of a magical world in those stories as oppossed to the real life....However, after reading the below speech made by JK Rowling at Harvard University, I simply became a fan of her (not the Harry Potter!) too!!
Awesome reading........worth spending time to read it.
Here is the link: http://harvardmagazine.com/go/jkrowling.html
Awesome reading........worth spending time to read it.
Here is the link: http://harvardmagazine.com/go/jkrowling.html
Sunday, May 18, 2008
What Difference Does It Make?
This week I am too busy to write something. So publishing this old story, which is definitely one of my favourites.
This true life story is about a little boy and the famous writer Lauren Eisely. Lauren writes that he was on holiday by the sea side when one night there was a big storm. Very early next morning as he was walking on the beach he saw that among the debris of the storm were literally hundreds of starfish which had been thrown up on the sand the previous night.
As he walked along, Lauren saw someone in the distance doing what looked to him, like a dance. The person was bending down and standing up and moving along as he did this. As Lauren neared him, he saw that it was a little boy who was picking up starfish from the beach and was throwing them back into the sea. Lauren was a man of the world with a lot of education and life experience.
He went up to the boy and asked, “What are you doing?”
The boy said, “I’m throwing these starfish back into the sea so that they don’t die. They can’t move on the sand and if the sun comes out, they will dry out and die. So I am throwing them back so that they will live.”
Lauren says, he laughed at this statement. He then proceeded to put things in ‘perspective’ for the boy... So Lauren said to him, “Look, do you realize that on this beach alone there are literally thousands of starfish? And then of course there are hundreds of beaches in the world, on which are thrown up millions of starfish in every storm. You are one kid, throwing one starfish into the sea! For God’s sake, what difference does it make?”
The boy looked at Lauren; he looked at the starfish in his hand, he turned and threw it far into the waves and said to Lauren, “It made a difference to that one!”
Lauren writes, “I walked away and kept walking for a long time. Then I returned to the boy who was still there, picking up and throwing the starfish into the sea. I silently picked up a starfish and threw it into the sea. And we did this together for a long time.”
This true life story is about a little boy and the famous writer Lauren Eisely. Lauren writes that he was on holiday by the sea side when one night there was a big storm. Very early next morning as he was walking on the beach he saw that among the debris of the storm were literally hundreds of starfish which had been thrown up on the sand the previous night.
As he walked along, Lauren saw someone in the distance doing what looked to him, like a dance. The person was bending down and standing up and moving along as he did this. As Lauren neared him, he saw that it was a little boy who was picking up starfish from the beach and was throwing them back into the sea. Lauren was a man of the world with a lot of education and life experience.
He went up to the boy and asked, “What are you doing?”
The boy said, “I’m throwing these starfish back into the sea so that they don’t die. They can’t move on the sand and if the sun comes out, they will dry out and die. So I am throwing them back so that they will live.”
Lauren says, he laughed at this statement. He then proceeded to put things in ‘perspective’ for the boy... So Lauren said to him, “Look, do you realize that on this beach alone there are literally thousands of starfish? And then of course there are hundreds of beaches in the world, on which are thrown up millions of starfish in every storm. You are one kid, throwing one starfish into the sea! For God’s sake, what difference does it make?”
The boy looked at Lauren; he looked at the starfish in his hand, he turned and threw it far into the waves and said to Lauren, “It made a difference to that one!”
Lauren writes, “I walked away and kept walking for a long time. Then I returned to the boy who was still there, picking up and throwing the starfish into the sea. I silently picked up a starfish and threw it into the sea. And we did this together for a long time.”
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Characters of Virtues and Vices
I was so moved after reading the below paragraph written by J.D. Hall, a 16th century Bishop of then Norwich. What an eleoquent way of saying that moderation is the key to happiness!!! As I read each words, I realized my ego is gradually melting away and his powerful words are contributing so much to my moral economy. I was simply overwhelmed by the wisodm of this 16th century man and devastatingly underwhelmed by the discovery that how little did I know. Especially the last sentence highlighted in blue was an eye-opener.
Here is the extract from Hall's 16th century Book: "Characters of Virtues and Vices" . The English is slightly different it seems.....but that is ok given the glory of the wisdom it carries.
"He is an happy man, that hath learned to read himself, more than all books; and hath so taken out this lesson, that he can never forget it: that knows the world, and cares not for it; that, after many traverses of thoughts, is grown to know what he may trust to; and stands now equally armed for all events: that hath got the mastery at home; so as he can cross his will without a mutiny, and so please it that he makes it not a wanton: that, in earthly things, wishes no more than nature; in spiritual, is ever graciously ambitious: that, for his condition, stands on his own feet, not needing to lean upon the great; and can so frame his thoughts to his estate, that when he hath least, he cannot want, because he is as free from desire, as superfluity: that hath seasonably broken the headstrong restiness of prosperity; and can now manage it, at pleasure: upon whom, all smaller crosses light as hailstones upon a roof; and, for the greater calamities, he can take them as tributes of life and tokens of love; and, if his ship be tossed, yet he is sure his anchor is fast. If all the world were his, he could be no other than he is; no whit gladder of himself, no whit higher in his carriage; because he knows, that contentment lies not in the things he hath, but in the mind that values them. He is an happy man, that hath learned to read himself, more than all books; and hath so taken out this lesson, that he can never forget it: that knows the world, and cares not for it; that, after many traverses of thoughts, is grown to know what he may trust to; and stands now equally armed for all events: that hath got the mastery at home; so as he can cross his will without a mutiny, and so please it that he makes it not a wanton: that, in earthly things, wishes no more than nature; in spiritual, is ever graciously ambitious: that, for his condition, stands on his own feet, not needing to lean upon the great; and can so frame his thoughts to his estate, that when he hath least, he cannot want, because he is as free from desire, as superfluity: that hath seasonably broken the headstrong restiness of prosperity; and can now manage it, at pleasure: upon whom, all smaller crosses light as hailstones upon a roof; and, for the greater calamities, he can take them as tributes of life and tokens of love; and, if his ship be tossed, yet he is sure his anchor is fast. If all the world were his, he could be no other than he is; no whit gladder of himself, no whit higher in his carriage; because he knows, that contentment lies not in the things he hath, but in the mind that values them.
Here is the extract from Hall's 16th century Book: "Characters of Virtues and Vices" . The English is slightly different it seems.....but that is ok given the glory of the wisdom it carries.
"He is an happy man, that hath learned to read himself, more than all books; and hath so taken out this lesson, that he can never forget it: that knows the world, and cares not for it; that, after many traverses of thoughts, is grown to know what he may trust to; and stands now equally armed for all events: that hath got the mastery at home; so as he can cross his will without a mutiny, and so please it that he makes it not a wanton: that, in earthly things, wishes no more than nature; in spiritual, is ever graciously ambitious: that, for his condition, stands on his own feet, not needing to lean upon the great; and can so frame his thoughts to his estate, that when he hath least, he cannot want, because he is as free from desire, as superfluity: that hath seasonably broken the headstrong restiness of prosperity; and can now manage it, at pleasure: upon whom, all smaller crosses light as hailstones upon a roof; and, for the greater calamities, he can take them as tributes of life and tokens of love; and, if his ship be tossed, yet he is sure his anchor is fast. If all the world were his, he could be no other than he is; no whit gladder of himself, no whit higher in his carriage; because he knows, that contentment lies not in the things he hath, but in the mind that values them. He is an happy man, that hath learned to read himself, more than all books; and hath so taken out this lesson, that he can never forget it: that knows the world, and cares not for it; that, after many traverses of thoughts, is grown to know what he may trust to; and stands now equally armed for all events: that hath got the mastery at home; so as he can cross his will without a mutiny, and so please it that he makes it not a wanton: that, in earthly things, wishes no more than nature; in spiritual, is ever graciously ambitious: that, for his condition, stands on his own feet, not needing to lean upon the great; and can so frame his thoughts to his estate, that when he hath least, he cannot want, because he is as free from desire, as superfluity: that hath seasonably broken the headstrong restiness of prosperity; and can now manage it, at pleasure: upon whom, all smaller crosses light as hailstones upon a roof; and, for the greater calamities, he can take them as tributes of life and tokens of love; and, if his ship be tossed, yet he is sure his anchor is fast. If all the world were his, he could be no other than he is; no whit gladder of himself, no whit higher in his carriage; because he knows, that contentment lies not in the things he hath, but in the mind that values them.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Was this the quest for incest?
The austrian incident is something far beyond my comprehension. There are extensive media coverage on the issue and I have read almost everything, every single word written in the british news paper "guardian" about this cruellest incident I have ever come across in my life. Analysts and experts are still in the process of soul searching to understand the whats and whys of the episode. As type this, my head is burning like a furnace and my hands are ice cold. I am in a state of utter confusion and emotional distress.
The story for sure challenges the nazi concencntration camps Austria witnessed before in the degree of horror it reflects. Joseph Fritzl - 73 years old now, a father of seven children kpet captive of his daughter for 24 years in a cellar, repeatedly raped her and fathered (simultaneously grandfathered!) her seven children, without being noticed by anybody! Still unfathomable it to me how could a human being do this.
Life is bizzare to a degree much higher than what I understood so far. Currently, as I could cognize it, here is a war of ideas in my mind about morality, sex, mind and life. I find it very difficult to conclude something. As a matter of fact, this incident can be cited as the pinnacle of tragedy in human history itself. I am not able to see the letters on the keyboard as well as the computer screen, because just for a moment I thought about the life of those children of Elizabath Fritzl. Undoubtedly, the life of thos children in cellar hammer more hardly on my mind than the father's rape of his daughter.
What might have gone wrong fundamentally? Is it man's insatiable quest for sex? I guess no. If this was the reason, Joseph Fritzl had more easy options than going for this hideously ugly activity. Also, experiencing sex without morality attached to it is no more important than urination or shitting (Forgive me prostitutes, I know it is not that way for you)! I guess the explanation could point to a complex interply between mind and moral, perceptions and conceptions, reality and illusions. What I could conceive from the media reports is that, Joseph Fritzl had two major compartments in his mind -- the one at the top enabled him to live the normal family life externally and the other on bottom (his mind's cellar compartmnet!) enabled him to live his beast life in cellar!
Most of what I will say about this incident is already said by Nicci Gerrard in her much appreciated article "A monster from the pages fo Grimm tale".
Link to the article:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/04/austria.internationalcrime
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Maintaining Relationships
Many times, the reason why a good relationship is ruined in the due course is that the parties involved try to change each other!
Trying to change others is both futile and frustrating. Furthermore, we cannot see other people the way they truly are, as long as we are preoccupied with trying to change them to the way we would like them to be. The people we should know the most intimately are those who are closest to us. Yet it is precisely these people whom we wish to mould into the image we have developed for them. As long as this attitude prevails, we cannot see them for what they are. How ironic and tragic that those we care for the most may be those we know the least!
Some things in the world are givens, and others are modifiable. The only thing we can really modify is OURSELVES!! All other people are givens. Unfortunately, many people assume the reverse to be true. They accept themselves as givens and expect everyone else to change to accommodate them. (There is one limited exception. When it comes to children, we can teach and guide them. When they mature, however, we can no longer mould them.)
This is clear in the words of Marquis de Custine, a nineteenth century French aristocrat when he said: "As a young man, I was determined to change the world. As I matured, I narrowed my goals to changing my community. Still later, I decided to change only my family. Now I realize that all I can do is to change myself"
So, the key to successfully maintain a relationship is to focus on changing oneself rather than attempting to change others. Let others determine for themselves what/how they wish to be.
Trying to change others is both futile and frustrating. Furthermore, we cannot see other people the way they truly are, as long as we are preoccupied with trying to change them to the way we would like them to be. The people we should know the most intimately are those who are closest to us. Yet it is precisely these people whom we wish to mould into the image we have developed for them. As long as this attitude prevails, we cannot see them for what they are. How ironic and tragic that those we care for the most may be those we know the least!
Some things in the world are givens, and others are modifiable. The only thing we can really modify is OURSELVES!! All other people are givens. Unfortunately, many people assume the reverse to be true. They accept themselves as givens and expect everyone else to change to accommodate them. (There is one limited exception. When it comes to children, we can teach and guide them. When they mature, however, we can no longer mould them.)
This is clear in the words of Marquis de Custine, a nineteenth century French aristocrat when he said: "As a young man, I was determined to change the world. As I matured, I narrowed my goals to changing my community. Still later, I decided to change only my family. Now I realize that all I can do is to change myself"
So, the key to successfully maintain a relationship is to focus on changing oneself rather than attempting to change others. Let others determine for themselves what/how they wish to be.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
"Monkey" Brand Beer!
The clock in my room showed a bloody1:00 pm when I got up today. I was blind with hunger. Its almost 24 hours since my stomach found some food in it. After finishing my daily routines I drove my body directly to the kitchen with the hope of finding something to eat there. But there the empty utensils laughed at me. "Suffering in the midst of plenty", I thought. This is exactly what the English Poet William Blakes calls the "Mind Forged Manacles". Anyway, my life is like that...no regrets and no complaints.
Crestfallen, I Sat on the sofa. While pondering over the alternatives to solve the stomach's complaints, suddenly last night's (means today afternoon's!) dream knocked the doors of my memory. Normally I dont see dreams. Even if I see something, perhaps I will not remember it. But this one was different dream.
The dream goes like this:
Myself and my mother was in a taxi in Singapore. We were there to visit a zoo. The place was unfamiliar to me and also to my mom. So I mumbled to my mom
"Mom, I think this taxi driver will cheat us -- He will take us through the longest root to take more money. I dont believe any taxi driver in the world"
Mom: "Dont worry buddy, I already checked with the taxi driver how much will he charge. He said 6 Indian dollars (Indian currency is not dollar!) and it seems to me thats fine. Also, you cant tell all the taxi drivers are bad. Good and bad are there everywhere. Even within you and me it is there. So let alone the taxi driver"
Then the taxi stopped under a tree where so many other taxis were also parked and I guessed we reached the zoo. We got out of the taxi. I went to take the entrance ticket.But then returned to mom and said:
"Mom,my purse is empty. All the money I had I spent in a bar. Also you know that I am jobless"
Mom: "Oh, sorry I forgot that. Here is the money to buy ticket. And whatever amount you need to survive, you take from this bag"
I went and collected the ticket. First we went to the monkey section. So many monkeys big and small jumping here and there in their cages.
Mom: "Are you enjoying it?"
Me: "Yes, I am. Its fun to watch monkeys. See one monkey is looking at me" I shouted
Mom: "I am not enjoying it. My heart is sinking. You are a cruel man. There is only evil in you. Thats why you are enjoying this. You are deriving pleasure at the pain of a caged animal. This is cruelty. "My mom cried inconsolably
Me: "Mom, please keep cool. Apart from these monkeys Mr.Tiger and Mrs Peacock is also watching you. please stop.... " I tried to comfort her
"Afterall why do you need to cry? Its right that these animals are caged. But what about me? Your son is also caged. Only difference is that my cage is little bigger. But my life is no different from these animals. I am tied in all the directions.....by unseen ropes. There are people who are deriving pleasure out of my pain too. Probably these animals also are deriving pleasure on seeing the way I live. Its our fate to be caged. Nothing to worry"!!
Mom smiled as if she is happy with my animal life and then disappeared. That was the end and I opened the eyes.
I cant remember when I saw a dream last time. But such a strange dream I have never seen before. May be last night's beer did the trick. Tonight I have to check whether I was drinking "monkey" brand of beer yesterday!!
Crestfallen, I Sat on the sofa. While pondering over the alternatives to solve the stomach's complaints, suddenly last night's (means today afternoon's!) dream knocked the doors of my memory. Normally I dont see dreams. Even if I see something, perhaps I will not remember it. But this one was different dream.
The dream goes like this:
Myself and my mother was in a taxi in Singapore. We were there to visit a zoo. The place was unfamiliar to me and also to my mom. So I mumbled to my mom
"Mom, I think this taxi driver will cheat us -- He will take us through the longest root to take more money. I dont believe any taxi driver in the world"
Mom: "Dont worry buddy, I already checked with the taxi driver how much will he charge. He said 6 Indian dollars (Indian currency is not dollar!) and it seems to me thats fine. Also, you cant tell all the taxi drivers are bad. Good and bad are there everywhere. Even within you and me it is there. So let alone the taxi driver"
Then the taxi stopped under a tree where so many other taxis were also parked and I guessed we reached the zoo. We got out of the taxi. I went to take the entrance ticket.But then returned to mom and said:
"Mom,my purse is empty. All the money I had I spent in a bar. Also you know that I am jobless"
Mom: "Oh, sorry I forgot that. Here is the money to buy ticket. And whatever amount you need to survive, you take from this bag"
I went and collected the ticket. First we went to the monkey section. So many monkeys big and small jumping here and there in their cages.
Mom: "Are you enjoying it?"
Me: "Yes, I am. Its fun to watch monkeys. See one monkey is looking at me" I shouted
Mom: "I am not enjoying it. My heart is sinking. You are a cruel man. There is only evil in you. Thats why you are enjoying this. You are deriving pleasure at the pain of a caged animal. This is cruelty. "My mom cried inconsolably
Me: "Mom, please keep cool. Apart from these monkeys Mr.Tiger and Mrs Peacock is also watching you. please stop.... " I tried to comfort her
"Afterall why do you need to cry? Its right that these animals are caged. But what about me? Your son is also caged. Only difference is that my cage is little bigger. But my life is no different from these animals. I am tied in all the directions.....by unseen ropes. There are people who are deriving pleasure out of my pain too. Probably these animals also are deriving pleasure on seeing the way I live. Its our fate to be caged. Nothing to worry"!!
Mom smiled as if she is happy with my animal life and then disappeared. That was the end and I opened the eyes.
I cant remember when I saw a dream last time. But such a strange dream I have never seen before. May be last night's beer did the trick. Tonight I have to check whether I was drinking "monkey" brand of beer yesterday!!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Springing back to life
The most important characteristic of life is that, whenever you are down life thorws another lifeline! In my case, these photos will testify the above statement! I strongly believe that there is a reason behind everything that happen in our lives. So if I look "HAPPY" in these photos, there IS definitely a reason behind it!!(I dont want to be responsible for reducing your IQ level by saying it openly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am just springing back to life from the gutters of tragedies!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Commitments
"The cook is the mind, and the ingredients are decisions. The dish is self-confidence, and the one who eats is the heart.
"The dish is ruined if not fully cooked, and if the cook puts nothing in the pot, what is there to eat?"
Making commitments is an inevitable part of our lives, I guess. But many times we are not able to fulfill it. Why this happen so is largely due to the game between mind(intellect) and heart(emotions). In the calm and quiet, we commit to being the cheese in the trap. But when the rat approaches, the cheese begins to crumble! We've all made commitments in the calm of a comfortable arm chair, only to lose our initial enthusiasm when the consequences of those commitments become clear.
How many decisions have we made, only to look back a year or more later and say, 'how naive we were'? It's easy to make decisions. But keeping that commitment is difficult - because we are fighting the strength of our heart and emotions.
Suppose you are starting a love affair. Initially you feel it a very nice experiece. But the moment he/she ask you to marry him/her, suddenly you will find yourself in the reverse gear! Why? Because at that point of time you start thinking realistically.....at that point the awareness unrolls the outer skin and comes out. That will force you to see things from an entirely different angle. If both of you had full awareness of the consequences initially therewont be any major problem -- the love affair will grow into marriage. Otherwise it just fails pathetically.
So what is the solution to this problem? The solution is never to make any decisions with mind alone. You have to involve your heart at the beginning. The heart and mind is a partnership. Would you buy a house without the agreement of your spouse? Don't make choices without the agreement of your heart.
Don't think this means we should make decisions with the heart alone. The mind has to lead the way. The mind is the best tool for the job. But don't neglect the heart. The key is to get it to agree, by showing it the advantages of your decision.
Remember the Golden Rule: Never break a commitment because of your heart's complaint. If you do, your heart will never take you seriously again. If you always keep your commitments you will gain an inner feeling of self-respect and confidence.
Furthermore, when your heart is naturally in on every decision, it 'knows' it's serious. But if you don't follow through on a decision, then the heart says, "Why bother making a fuss now, I'll wait until it gets difficult. Then I will just puff a little, and he will give in." Your heart is the seat of emotions. If your heart thinks you are not serious, if your heart has no confidence in you, then that is the emotion you will feel. In modern lexicon, this is called "low self esteem."
If you want your heart to have confidence in your mind, you have to start by following the decisions of your mind. And if you really want to gain self confidence, don't avoid making decisions, look for them.
May you be able to fulfill your commitments in life!
"The dish is ruined if not fully cooked, and if the cook puts nothing in the pot, what is there to eat?"
Making commitments is an inevitable part of our lives, I guess. But many times we are not able to fulfill it. Why this happen so is largely due to the game between mind(intellect) and heart(emotions). In the calm and quiet, we commit to being the cheese in the trap. But when the rat approaches, the cheese begins to crumble! We've all made commitments in the calm of a comfortable arm chair, only to lose our initial enthusiasm when the consequences of those commitments become clear.
How many decisions have we made, only to look back a year or more later and say, 'how naive we were'? It's easy to make decisions. But keeping that commitment is difficult - because we are fighting the strength of our heart and emotions.
Suppose you are starting a love affair. Initially you feel it a very nice experiece. But the moment he/she ask you to marry him/her, suddenly you will find yourself in the reverse gear! Why? Because at that point of time you start thinking realistically.....at that point the awareness unrolls the outer skin and comes out. That will force you to see things from an entirely different angle. If both of you had full awareness of the consequences initially therewont be any major problem -- the love affair will grow into marriage. Otherwise it just fails pathetically.
So what is the solution to this problem? The solution is never to make any decisions with mind alone. You have to involve your heart at the beginning. The heart and mind is a partnership. Would you buy a house without the agreement of your spouse? Don't make choices without the agreement of your heart.
Don't think this means we should make decisions with the heart alone. The mind has to lead the way. The mind is the best tool for the job. But don't neglect the heart. The key is to get it to agree, by showing it the advantages of your decision.
Remember the Golden Rule: Never break a commitment because of your heart's complaint. If you do, your heart will never take you seriously again. If you always keep your commitments you will gain an inner feeling of self-respect and confidence.
Furthermore, when your heart is naturally in on every decision, it 'knows' it's serious. But if you don't follow through on a decision, then the heart says, "Why bother making a fuss now, I'll wait until it gets difficult. Then I will just puff a little, and he will give in." Your heart is the seat of emotions. If your heart thinks you are not serious, if your heart has no confidence in you, then that is the emotion you will feel. In modern lexicon, this is called "low self esteem."
If you want your heart to have confidence in your mind, you have to start by following the decisions of your mind. And if you really want to gain self confidence, don't avoid making decisions, look for them.
May you be able to fulfill your commitments in life!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The Beck & Brick Theories of Working
We all are characters in a "divine work drama", in which scientists wanted to become painters and doctors wanted to become actors!!
At some point of your career, you might have thought that this was not the career you had actually wished for. What happens in most of the cases is that, instead of we choose a career, most of us (of course including me) fell victim to a career!! Our necessity for earning money makes us accept whatever comes in our way. Later on when we realize there are certain things in life which are more important than money (unfortunately this we realize after we earn a threshold level of money!!), the frustration starts ringing its bell. This article is an attempt to understand the dynamics behind the job frustration, through the prism of my own experience.
Many times I felt that I am wasting my life wrestling with the keyboard and the content of the papers on my table, demanding different requirements for the equipments installed to serve the process industry. I think that this is due in large part to the fact that I stare at a computer every day performing menial tasks that I feel trivial. On top of that, my brain is not the only thing that is hurting -- my heart is not doing well either because as I sit here and think back to what I thought I would do with my life, I can't help but get depressed.
Two Types of Approaches Towards Work
1. The Beck Theory of Working
I have sought outside comfort and advice from friends, family and some experts I know to try and give me perspective on this issue. One day, while discussing with one of my friends, he told me about the life of a musician called “Beck”. Beck's life goal was to play music -- so much so that during the day he would work any odd job he could find so that he could have enough money to live. This would leave his evenings, and any other free time he had available for his real passion: music. This approach is what I would like to call the “Beck Theory of Working”
The Beck Theory of Working considers our job only as a support mechanism for the higher purposes in life and hence we should not worry about the job. It insists you go to work even though you don’t like it, so that you can earn money to live and utilize any “spare time” available for holier purposes. It’s a good idea to get rid of job frustration, isn’t it? But the problem is that I will have a nervous breakdown in the due course if I subscribe to “Beck Theory of Working”
2. The Brick Theory of Working
The "Brick Theory of Working," is based on a parable I read elsewhere. A wealthy and idiosyncratic king hired a poor farmer to do his bidding for him, for which he paid him handsomely. The work assigned to the farmer was to move piles of brick from one end of the field to another, and then back again -- all day long, and without reason!! At first the farmer was appreciative because he was poor and was finding it difficult to make ends meet on his farm. However, in time, he began to resent the work. Despite the fact that the farmer was being paid handsomely, within a few weeks, he quit. The incredulous king asked why, especially in light of his salary. The farmer responded, "I don't care how much you pay me. All I do is move piles of brick back and forth for no reason. I can't live with myself because I don't accomplish anything useful."
The Brick Theory of Working explains that human beings will not be happy with professions that simply require them to move bricks without reason, or other similar professions because at our deepest level, we are creative beings. One of the goals of life is to strive to be "like God" and just as God is creative (He is the ultimate Creator -- after all, He created the universe), we too must create in some way, and we will never feel fulfilled in our professions until we are able to unleash that creative energy.
It's probably no surprise to learn that I have come up with at least one answer in my search: I ascribe to the Brick Theory of Working. The advantage of this school of thought is that I don't have to accept the idea of spending a lifetime in an unfulfilling career. The disadvantage is that I have to come to terms with my present job and the fact that it will discourage me to see any alternative career avenues in the short term anyway.
Although I continue to struggle to understand my place in the working world, I take solace in my belief that everything ultimately happens for a reason (believe me dude, no one will pay you for no reason!!). Even though I cannot see the value of what I am doing now (apart from sitting idle and writing mails!!), there is certainly some purpose in it. And when I finally find the career path that I am destined for, I know that what I have learned over the past few years will make me better in whatever I do.
In the interim, seems like I have no choice but to continue to move piles of bricks. Hopefully, soon I'll be able to take those piles of bricks and build a beautiful castle (may be a 100 storey building!!), who knows?? I am waiting for the right time to come. At this moment I can only say “Que Sera Sera” (Whatever will be will be).
At some point of your career, you might have thought that this was not the career you had actually wished for. What happens in most of the cases is that, instead of we choose a career, most of us (of course including me) fell victim to a career!! Our necessity for earning money makes us accept whatever comes in our way. Later on when we realize there are certain things in life which are more important than money (unfortunately this we realize after we earn a threshold level of money!!), the frustration starts ringing its bell. This article is an attempt to understand the dynamics behind the job frustration, through the prism of my own experience.
Many times I felt that I am wasting my life wrestling with the keyboard and the content of the papers on my table, demanding different requirements for the equipments installed to serve the process industry. I think that this is due in large part to the fact that I stare at a computer every day performing menial tasks that I feel trivial. On top of that, my brain is not the only thing that is hurting -- my heart is not doing well either because as I sit here and think back to what I thought I would do with my life, I can't help but get depressed.
Two Types of Approaches Towards Work
1. The Beck Theory of Working
I have sought outside comfort and advice from friends, family and some experts I know to try and give me perspective on this issue. One day, while discussing with one of my friends, he told me about the life of a musician called “Beck”. Beck's life goal was to play music -- so much so that during the day he would work any odd job he could find so that he could have enough money to live. This would leave his evenings, and any other free time he had available for his real passion: music. This approach is what I would like to call the “Beck Theory of Working”
The Beck Theory of Working considers our job only as a support mechanism for the higher purposes in life and hence we should not worry about the job. It insists you go to work even though you don’t like it, so that you can earn money to live and utilize any “spare time” available for holier purposes. It’s a good idea to get rid of job frustration, isn’t it? But the problem is that I will have a nervous breakdown in the due course if I subscribe to “Beck Theory of Working”
2. The Brick Theory of Working
The "Brick Theory of Working," is based on a parable I read elsewhere. A wealthy and idiosyncratic king hired a poor farmer to do his bidding for him, for which he paid him handsomely. The work assigned to the farmer was to move piles of brick from one end of the field to another, and then back again -- all day long, and without reason!! At first the farmer was appreciative because he was poor and was finding it difficult to make ends meet on his farm. However, in time, he began to resent the work. Despite the fact that the farmer was being paid handsomely, within a few weeks, he quit. The incredulous king asked why, especially in light of his salary. The farmer responded, "I don't care how much you pay me. All I do is move piles of brick back and forth for no reason. I can't live with myself because I don't accomplish anything useful."
The Brick Theory of Working explains that human beings will not be happy with professions that simply require them to move bricks without reason, or other similar professions because at our deepest level, we are creative beings. One of the goals of life is to strive to be "like God" and just as God is creative (He is the ultimate Creator -- after all, He created the universe), we too must create in some way, and we will never feel fulfilled in our professions until we are able to unleash that creative energy.
It's probably no surprise to learn that I have come up with at least one answer in my search: I ascribe to the Brick Theory of Working. The advantage of this school of thought is that I don't have to accept the idea of spending a lifetime in an unfulfilling career. The disadvantage is that I have to come to terms with my present job and the fact that it will discourage me to see any alternative career avenues in the short term anyway.
Although I continue to struggle to understand my place in the working world, I take solace in my belief that everything ultimately happens for a reason (believe me dude, no one will pay you for no reason!!). Even though I cannot see the value of what I am doing now (apart from sitting idle and writing mails!!), there is certainly some purpose in it. And when I finally find the career path that I am destined for, I know that what I have learned over the past few years will make me better in whatever I do.
In the interim, seems like I have no choice but to continue to move piles of bricks. Hopefully, soon I'll be able to take those piles of bricks and build a beautiful castle (may be a 100 storey building!!), who knows?? I am waiting for the right time to come. At this moment I can only say “Que Sera Sera” (Whatever will be will be).
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Spam mails!
I am sorry if you are one of the victims of a spam message from my email id. I am not a member of "Yaari". Somebody hacked my mail and sending mails to all people in my mailing list, on behalf of me!! So, if you get a mail from me asking you to be my friend, just ignore it. Probably the wireless connection I am using here caused the problem!
Even my mail box is flooding with mails from "me!" and some friends who respond to the spam mail
Thank you very much for your patience and Sorry for the inconvenience caused to you.......
Regards,
Kannan
Even my mail box is flooding with mails from "me!" and some friends who respond to the spam mail
Thank you very much for your patience and Sorry for the inconvenience caused to you.......
Regards,
Kannan
Monday, March 10, 2008
X Men!
Rohit (semi-sitting) and myself (full sitting) at Snow Park in "The Mall of Emirates" - Dubai.
A Memorable Lunch
”Food is for the Stomach; Gossip is for the Soul!!!” The world famous author of this blog, Mr. P.R. Kannan wrote once!!
Perhaps the most fertile ground for Gossiping is a dining table. Whatever exotic dish you eat, it is incomplete without a dose of gossip added to it! This is true for almost anybody – (accept it!) and myself and my colleague+dear friend “Mr. Rohit Patel” were no exceptions to this general rule too, when we used to converge around the dining table in Saipem Sharjah Engineering(my previous company) with a lunch packet in our hand. We used to talk a lot during lunch time. While Rohit being a God fearing man, used to talk only about harmless topics like Piysuh Patel's Share Market Gambling, Quality of food supplied by "Aryas Hotel" or the price of Electronics goods in the E-mart, myself was a fearless warrior of comment and used to talk about more HOT topics like Company Secretary's underworld sexual affairs with the consultants, about the "nymphomaniac" Romanian girl, Impotence of the Company's top management, the foolishness of their decisions, Office Politics in various levels or the bullshit military uniform Mr. Essam is wearing in office etc. etc. Just for FUN! Lunch without gossip was like underwear without elastic for us!!
But one day, more precisely on a “Dark Ramadan Day” we have taken our lunch in utter silence. We not only did not talk but also did not look at each other, till the lunch is finished and our plates were glittering as if they were new!!
So, here is the story of that “Silent Lunch” -- perhaps the only one of that sort I ever had in my life. A lunch devoid of Gossips!!
Getting breakfast and lunch during Ramadan was really a daunting task in Sharjah (UAE), especially for bachelors who depend solely on hotels for food. Even in that unfavorable circumstance also, I was able to manage it with the kind help of my friend Mr.Rohit, who used to share half of his lunch with me. Thanks dude!!
It was a sunny day.
I had nothing to do and was feeling bored when the idea of going to "The Mall of Emirates" struck my mind. Immediately I took the phone and called Rohit and asked him to come in front of Abu Shagra Park(a park near to where we were staying and still he is staying!), where I proposed my idea of going the Mall to him. I think his time was too bad on that day to agree with my idea. With his trademark ear deafening digital bass boost laugh, he gave his consent immediately. The power of his laugh had amazing effects such as it caused some of the tress in the Abu Shagra Park to nod their head in Happiness! The crow sitting on a tree branch raised its tail and shitted! A stray cat on the road stopped eating the meat, craned its neck and looked us in doubt! The “Pom Pom” exercise lady reduced the speed of her jogging, turned back and gave us a sexy look! Awesome dude, your laugh attracts almost everything in this world – including “Mr. Jadhav”!!
That day, since Rohit preferred not to cook, we had only air and water for the breakfast and lunch. With empty stomachs and shameless faces, we started our journey from Sharjah to Dubai around 1:00pm! We had a trace of hope that Dubai being a modest emirate compared to Sharjah, will not enforce the Ramadan fasting rule so tightly and hence we will be able to find something to eat there. At least some restaurants will be open there and we can fulfill the aspirations of our stomach without much difficulty in Dubai, we thought!
But we were wrong!
In the mall of Emirates, we were greeted by wonderful scene of a series of open restaurants displaying exotic dishes! I praised Sheikh Mohammad and “Allah” for their commonsense and benevolence! Also, in my mind I abused the Sheikh of Sharjah, where no restaurants were allowed to open during day time. If we were ready to accept any dish from any restaurant just 5 minutes before, seeing all these restaurants we became so choosy suddenly! We declared McDonald, KFC etc. are junk and Pizza Hut is useless. Finally we applied brake in front of an Indian restaurant.
“Menu card please” I asked the waiter, posing like a prospective customer.
I had a quick glance of it and decided to order “Masala Dosa”.
“You can only get parcel. You should not eat here” I got shocked hearing this conditional statement from the waiter!
“But some people are eating here. Why not us?” I asked in hunger and humility, pointing to the lady and a kid sitting and eating there, without being interrupted by anybody
“You can feed the kids”, was the response of the waiter. (Adding insult to injury, that f****r was smiling!)
To feed a kid, first I have to find a lady, make her pregnant, then she has to deliver……it will take a long time I knew. So we decided to cancel the order and walked away in despair. While moving from there, I just noticed the way that lady was feeding her (or rented?) kid. A small piece of bread is given to the kid and followed by that, two large pieces will find its way to her own mouth!! She is struggling to gulp it fast, without being noticed by others! Nice Idea. I felt jealous of that lady!
Forced by the circumstances, we bid adieu to our hunger and meandered in and around the Mall for some time. The thought that we will be able to eat only at 6 o’clock made our hunger more severe. We both were frustrated with the fasting rule of Ramadan. Around 3 o’ clock, when we were standing near to a movie theater in the mall, a nice idea hit the doors of Rohit’s mind!
“See, its movie time now. We will get the parcel, go inside the theater and eat there”!! He uttered in hunger!
“What an excellent idea! My friend Rohit is nobody else, but divine incarnation of God himself “ I thought for a moment. However, before getting the parcel, we just went up to check the condition outside the theater. And we have seen they are screening the bags and no food is allowed to take inside!! Voila!!!!!!
Again we continued to wander here and there, fluctuating ourselves between ideas and starvation. "What about a lunch in disguise? We will dress like Sheikh Mohammad and ask for food?" Or What about the idea of renting a kid from someone on the mall? If someone was ready to rent their kid at that time, we were ready to pay 1000 dirhams per hour also!!
It was around 4 o’clock when this foolproof idea struck my mind! “Let us get parcel, go to the TOILET and eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Nobody including original Allah will come there to check”….I mumbled in a complex state of hunger and emotion. Out of nowhere, I saw a flower of light blossoming on Rohit's face. "He may be imagining himself as sitting a toilet and eating a burger" I thought. Finally we did not accept that idea also since we were afraid that if we do that, tomorrow we may use kitchen/dining room as toilet also! We didnt want to do that. Rather, we chose to die of starvation!!
Attempting to forget everything, we went to the snow park and had some fun. But we didn’t forget to come near the restaurants around 6 o’clock. When the signal indicating the end of fasting period came, there was a “Human Tsunami” in front of all the restaurants. On that day, I witnessed the real smartness of my friend too. Rohit was one of the first to stand in the Q!
I went and caught seat for both of us. After 5 minutes, Rohit came with a tray full of food – quantity sufficient for a big family!
On that day, Office Politics, secretary’s sex, philosophy, climate, bar, war etc. didn’t come to our mind at all!! We both were silent, till the entire food is finished. There was literally no time to talk!!
Sometimes in life we take some decisions only to bring unwanted agony to us. The best way to overcome this situation is to think, “If I had taken the opposite decision, some terrible accident would have happened to me”!! My decision to visit “The Mall of Emirates” on that Ramadan Day was one such decision I made! After experiencing the agony of that visit, I found relief in my thought that, “If I didn’t go to “The Mall of Emirates” that day, I would have died of a snake bite”!!
Anyway, after the food is finished, we looked at each other and smiled. Still I don’t know what we meant by that. May be it was a sign of recovery, success, happiness or relief.
But one thing is sure: That was a “memorable lunch”!!
Perhaps the most fertile ground for Gossiping is a dining table. Whatever exotic dish you eat, it is incomplete without a dose of gossip added to it! This is true for almost anybody – (accept it!) and myself and my colleague+dear friend “Mr. Rohit Patel” were no exceptions to this general rule too, when we used to converge around the dining table in Saipem Sharjah Engineering(my previous company) with a lunch packet in our hand. We used to talk a lot during lunch time. While Rohit being a God fearing man, used to talk only about harmless topics like Piysuh Patel's Share Market Gambling, Quality of food supplied by "Aryas Hotel" or the price of Electronics goods in the E-mart, myself was a fearless warrior of comment and used to talk about more HOT topics like Company Secretary's underworld sexual affairs with the consultants, about the "nymphomaniac" Romanian girl, Impotence of the Company's top management, the foolishness of their decisions, Office Politics in various levels or the bullshit military uniform Mr. Essam is wearing in office etc. etc. Just for FUN! Lunch without gossip was like underwear without elastic for us!!
But one day, more precisely on a “Dark Ramadan Day” we have taken our lunch in utter silence. We not only did not talk but also did not look at each other, till the lunch is finished and our plates were glittering as if they were new!!
So, here is the story of that “Silent Lunch” -- perhaps the only one of that sort I ever had in my life. A lunch devoid of Gossips!!
Getting breakfast and lunch during Ramadan was really a daunting task in Sharjah (UAE), especially for bachelors who depend solely on hotels for food. Even in that unfavorable circumstance also, I was able to manage it with the kind help of my friend Mr.Rohit, who used to share half of his lunch with me. Thanks dude!!
It was a sunny day.
I had nothing to do and was feeling bored when the idea of going to "The Mall of Emirates" struck my mind. Immediately I took the phone and called Rohit and asked him to come in front of Abu Shagra Park(a park near to where we were staying and still he is staying!), where I proposed my idea of going the Mall to him. I think his time was too bad on that day to agree with my idea. With his trademark ear deafening digital bass boost laugh, he gave his consent immediately. The power of his laugh had amazing effects such as it caused some of the tress in the Abu Shagra Park to nod their head in Happiness! The crow sitting on a tree branch raised its tail and shitted! A stray cat on the road stopped eating the meat, craned its neck and looked us in doubt! The “Pom Pom” exercise lady reduced the speed of her jogging, turned back and gave us a sexy look! Awesome dude, your laugh attracts almost everything in this world – including “Mr. Jadhav”!!
That day, since Rohit preferred not to cook, we had only air and water for the breakfast and lunch. With empty stomachs and shameless faces, we started our journey from Sharjah to Dubai around 1:00pm! We had a trace of hope that Dubai being a modest emirate compared to Sharjah, will not enforce the Ramadan fasting rule so tightly and hence we will be able to find something to eat there. At least some restaurants will be open there and we can fulfill the aspirations of our stomach without much difficulty in Dubai, we thought!
But we were wrong!
In the mall of Emirates, we were greeted by wonderful scene of a series of open restaurants displaying exotic dishes! I praised Sheikh Mohammad and “Allah” for their commonsense and benevolence! Also, in my mind I abused the Sheikh of Sharjah, where no restaurants were allowed to open during day time. If we were ready to accept any dish from any restaurant just 5 minutes before, seeing all these restaurants we became so choosy suddenly! We declared McDonald, KFC etc. are junk and Pizza Hut is useless. Finally we applied brake in front of an Indian restaurant.
“Menu card please” I asked the waiter, posing like a prospective customer.
I had a quick glance of it and decided to order “Masala Dosa”.
“You can only get parcel. You should not eat here” I got shocked hearing this conditional statement from the waiter!
“But some people are eating here. Why not us?” I asked in hunger and humility, pointing to the lady and a kid sitting and eating there, without being interrupted by anybody
“You can feed the kids”, was the response of the waiter. (Adding insult to injury, that f****r was smiling!)
To feed a kid, first I have to find a lady, make her pregnant, then she has to deliver……it will take a long time I knew. So we decided to cancel the order and walked away in despair. While moving from there, I just noticed the way that lady was feeding her (or rented?) kid. A small piece of bread is given to the kid and followed by that, two large pieces will find its way to her own mouth!! She is struggling to gulp it fast, without being noticed by others! Nice Idea. I felt jealous of that lady!
Forced by the circumstances, we bid adieu to our hunger and meandered in and around the Mall for some time. The thought that we will be able to eat only at 6 o’clock made our hunger more severe. We both were frustrated with the fasting rule of Ramadan. Around 3 o’ clock, when we were standing near to a movie theater in the mall, a nice idea hit the doors of Rohit’s mind!
“See, its movie time now. We will get the parcel, go inside the theater and eat there”!! He uttered in hunger!
“What an excellent idea! My friend Rohit is nobody else, but divine incarnation of God himself “ I thought for a moment. However, before getting the parcel, we just went up to check the condition outside the theater. And we have seen they are screening the bags and no food is allowed to take inside!! Voila!!!!!!
Again we continued to wander here and there, fluctuating ourselves between ideas and starvation. "What about a lunch in disguise? We will dress like Sheikh Mohammad and ask for food?" Or What about the idea of renting a kid from someone on the mall? If someone was ready to rent their kid at that time, we were ready to pay 1000 dirhams per hour also!!
It was around 4 o’clock when this foolproof idea struck my mind! “Let us get parcel, go to the TOILET and eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Nobody including original Allah will come there to check”….I mumbled in a complex state of hunger and emotion. Out of nowhere, I saw a flower of light blossoming on Rohit's face. "He may be imagining himself as sitting a toilet and eating a burger" I thought. Finally we did not accept that idea also since we were afraid that if we do that, tomorrow we may use kitchen/dining room as toilet also! We didnt want to do that. Rather, we chose to die of starvation!!
Attempting to forget everything, we went to the snow park and had some fun. But we didn’t forget to come near the restaurants around 6 o’clock. When the signal indicating the end of fasting period came, there was a “Human Tsunami” in front of all the restaurants. On that day, I witnessed the real smartness of my friend too. Rohit was one of the first to stand in the Q!
I went and caught seat for both of us. After 5 minutes, Rohit came with a tray full of food – quantity sufficient for a big family!
On that day, Office Politics, secretary’s sex, philosophy, climate, bar, war etc. didn’t come to our mind at all!! We both were silent, till the entire food is finished. There was literally no time to talk!!
Sometimes in life we take some decisions only to bring unwanted agony to us. The best way to overcome this situation is to think, “If I had taken the opposite decision, some terrible accident would have happened to me”!! My decision to visit “The Mall of Emirates” on that Ramadan Day was one such decision I made! After experiencing the agony of that visit, I found relief in my thought that, “If I didn’t go to “The Mall of Emirates” that day, I would have died of a snake bite”!!
Anyway, after the food is finished, we looked at each other and smiled. Still I don’t know what we meant by that. May be it was a sign of recovery, success, happiness or relief.
But one thing is sure: That was a “memorable lunch”!!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Truth of Life
A friend sent this to me. I read it again and again; may be more than 100 times
This is exactly the same lesson I learned about life.
"We make them cry who care for us
We cry for those who never care for us
And care for those who never cry for us"
What a wonderful observation. Why are we like this?
Why to waste our life for those who never care for us?
How do we know wo really care for us?
There are a lot of people around us who "pretends" to be caring for us. Only for their own selfish motives! Once their intention is met, we become no one to them.
It is not even worth to remember such people's name. Live only for those who really care for you! And die for those who cry for you! That will give the GREATEST meaning to your life
(But it takes a discerning eye to understand who really care for you!)
Beware of "counterfeits" and live in reality.
Yes, its never too late to change!!!
Thank you "pravasworld.com" for changing me!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Why to ask "WHY?"
Once upon a time there lived a man who owned a pencil factory. He manufactured, sold, and shipped millions of pencils every year. There was only one small problem. He was losing money.
This puzzled him greatly as business appeared to be brisk. Orders were coming in. The employees were working hard. The pencils were of the highest quality possible. And truck loads of pencils were leaving the factory every day. Even the accounts receivable seemed to be in order.
So he called in an accountant who specialized in business analysis and trouble-shooting to figure out the problem. For two weeks this finance maven scrutinized every facet of the operation -- big and small -- and then he filed his report.
"I have audited every aspect of the Acme Pencil Corporation with a fine toothed comb. The firm is indeed doing an enormous amount of business. The reason the company is losing money, however, is rather simple. It is costing them three cents to make each pencil and they are selling them for two cents apiece."
The owner had fallen into a classic trap -- he forgot "WHY?" he went into business in the first place.
Was he there to make pencil Or to make money?
Now, coming to our life, we are watching lot of people whizzing by everyday. Some are moving quickly, others just sauntering.
Some of them might be going to catch a bus; others would be on their way to school. Some might be going to the gym; others to the doctor. Some might be taking their children to the park; others would be going to pray. Nothing unusual about that. And we dont know nothing more than that. But a lot more can be learned from them if could ask them a question "Why?"
The lady catching the bus might tell you that she is traveling to work. The fellow going to school might explain that he is trying to get a degree in engineering. The gym rat likes to stay in shape and the patient wants to be healthy.
Whizzing people may not take kindly to the "But why" inquiry. They prefer to whiz, not wonder.
But don't stop there -- ask one more question: "But why?" Why be healthy and why do you need a degree in Engineering?
At this point you need to be a bit more careful. Whizzing people may not take kindly to the "But why" inquiry. They prefer to whiz, not wonder. Your innocent query may be pressing some buttons that they would much prefer never, ever be tampered with. Now you are asking people to seriously contemplate the ultimate purpose of their actions -- how annoying it can be! Just Imagine!!
The "why" game, as ominous as it may be, can also be a rather protracted one. Why do we go to sleep? To feel rested. Why should we feel rested? So we can work better. Why must we work better? To advance in our careers. Why? To make more money. And why do we want more money? To buy things. And why.......................................................
So many of us are zombied into this never-ending carousel of AIMLESSNESS -- living for the moment, marching proudly toward some obscure, undefined station. So much of what we do appears to be just a preparation for something else.
Probing into the underlying purpose of our actions and decisions is something we are resistant to doing. It takes courage (man, I mean sheer courage like mine!) to know clearly where we are headed and why, because we may not know exactly how to get there or if our destination is even achievable or truly worthwhile. It's a lot safer to just meander around the block and pretend to be on the road to somewhere -- as long as we look important. (Man's Strive for recognition I will cover in future blogs)
Even more threatening is the realization that we may never really get to where we want to go. So if we design our goals to be eternally vague or virtually unknown, failure may never need to be confronted... how convenient!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then there is one more "advantage" to avoiding a purposeful life. By never truly contemplating the finish line we can always pretend that whatever it is that we are doing right now is just fine. No action of ours really needs to be goal-directed or meaningful. We can just wile away the time, indulge in our little amusements, guilt-free. Without an itinerary, we can, by default, just choose the scenic route and gaze out the window.
However, living with purpose is NOT EASY. So how do I know what my particular purpose should be? After all, no two people are alike and your goal and my goal will probably be very different.
Answering this question requires a lot of soul searching, but my sense is that your true calling should at least meet these three prerequisites:
1.It must be something that you seem to be naturally good at.
2.It must be something you enjoy.
3.It must be something you find it curiously difficult to attain! In other words, it takes work to get there. If it's too easy, you may be in the wrong neighborhood.
Of course, these same questions could apply for career counseling as well, not life purpose. These are just basic guidelines. When seeking your own particular calling in life, you need to do more. You need to reach down into a different realm of your psyche -- somewhere almost indescribable -- and see if you are truly moved by the experience.
Most people say, "You'll recognize it when you see it, when you feel it." They're right. When you involve yourself in something you enjoy, have talent for, but need a certain measure of exertion and you sense that you are touching something truly sublime, you probably are. But your antennae must be fully extended, to pick up the clear signal.
Tomoji Tanabe of Japan, at 111, acknowledged the oldest man alive today, recently attributed his longevity, in part, to drinking a glass of milk each day. "I don't want to die," he explained.
We all seem to want to live as long as possible and take great lengths to do everything in our power to do so.
But to get there, the question we need to ask ourselves is, "WHY?"
This puzzled him greatly as business appeared to be brisk. Orders were coming in. The employees were working hard. The pencils were of the highest quality possible. And truck loads of pencils were leaving the factory every day. Even the accounts receivable seemed to be in order.
So he called in an accountant who specialized in business analysis and trouble-shooting to figure out the problem. For two weeks this finance maven scrutinized every facet of the operation -- big and small -- and then he filed his report.
"I have audited every aspect of the Acme Pencil Corporation with a fine toothed comb. The firm is indeed doing an enormous amount of business. The reason the company is losing money, however, is rather simple. It is costing them three cents to make each pencil and they are selling them for two cents apiece."
The owner had fallen into a classic trap -- he forgot "WHY?" he went into business in the first place.
Was he there to make pencil Or to make money?
Now, coming to our life, we are watching lot of people whizzing by everyday. Some are moving quickly, others just sauntering.
Some of them might be going to catch a bus; others would be on their way to school. Some might be going to the gym; others to the doctor. Some might be taking their children to the park; others would be going to pray. Nothing unusual about that. And we dont know nothing more than that. But a lot more can be learned from them if could ask them a question "Why?"
The lady catching the bus might tell you that she is traveling to work. The fellow going to school might explain that he is trying to get a degree in engineering. The gym rat likes to stay in shape and the patient wants to be healthy.
Whizzing people may not take kindly to the "But why" inquiry. They prefer to whiz, not wonder.
But don't stop there -- ask one more question: "But why?" Why be healthy and why do you need a degree in Engineering?
At this point you need to be a bit more careful. Whizzing people may not take kindly to the "But why" inquiry. They prefer to whiz, not wonder. Your innocent query may be pressing some buttons that they would much prefer never, ever be tampered with. Now you are asking people to seriously contemplate the ultimate purpose of their actions -- how annoying it can be! Just Imagine!!
The "why" game, as ominous as it may be, can also be a rather protracted one. Why do we go to sleep? To feel rested. Why should we feel rested? So we can work better. Why must we work better? To advance in our careers. Why? To make more money. And why do we want more money? To buy things. And why.......................................................
So many of us are zombied into this never-ending carousel of AIMLESSNESS -- living for the moment, marching proudly toward some obscure, undefined station. So much of what we do appears to be just a preparation for something else.
Probing into the underlying purpose of our actions and decisions is something we are resistant to doing. It takes courage (man, I mean sheer courage like mine!) to know clearly where we are headed and why, because we may not know exactly how to get there or if our destination is even achievable or truly worthwhile. It's a lot safer to just meander around the block and pretend to be on the road to somewhere -- as long as we look important. (Man's Strive for recognition I will cover in future blogs)
Even more threatening is the realization that we may never really get to where we want to go. So if we design our goals to be eternally vague or virtually unknown, failure may never need to be confronted... how convenient!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then there is one more "advantage" to avoiding a purposeful life. By never truly contemplating the finish line we can always pretend that whatever it is that we are doing right now is just fine. No action of ours really needs to be goal-directed or meaningful. We can just wile away the time, indulge in our little amusements, guilt-free. Without an itinerary, we can, by default, just choose the scenic route and gaze out the window.
However, living with purpose is NOT EASY. So how do I know what my particular purpose should be? After all, no two people are alike and your goal and my goal will probably be very different.
Answering this question requires a lot of soul searching, but my sense is that your true calling should at least meet these three prerequisites:
1.It must be something that you seem to be naturally good at.
2.It must be something you enjoy.
3.It must be something you find it curiously difficult to attain! In other words, it takes work to get there. If it's too easy, you may be in the wrong neighborhood.
Of course, these same questions could apply for career counseling as well, not life purpose. These are just basic guidelines. When seeking your own particular calling in life, you need to do more. You need to reach down into a different realm of your psyche -- somewhere almost indescribable -- and see if you are truly moved by the experience.
Most people say, "You'll recognize it when you see it, when you feel it." They're right. When you involve yourself in something you enjoy, have talent for, but need a certain measure of exertion and you sense that you are touching something truly sublime, you probably are. But your antennae must be fully extended, to pick up the clear signal.
Tomoji Tanabe of Japan, at 111, acknowledged the oldest man alive today, recently attributed his longevity, in part, to drinking a glass of milk each day. "I don't want to die," he explained.
We all seem to want to live as long as possible and take great lengths to do everything in our power to do so.
But to get there, the question we need to ask ourselves is, "WHY?"
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Most Meaningful Smile
Sometimes, intelligence alone is not sufficient to solve a problem we are facing with. It should be coupled with smartness to penetrate the dark screen of “solution”. On 24th Feb. 2008, ie last Sunday, both of these elusive capabilities merged together in me and saved me from an apparently harmless but utmost important problem I ever faced in my life.
His majesty (I mean “I”) was on meditation (means half sleep!) when I received a call from my friend Mr.Sandeep. Sandeep stays just opposite to my apartment and our buildings are separated by a road called “Dongbu Express Way.” After a 2 minutes chat on mobile, he asked me about my plans for the evening. Before our hands pressed the red button on the mobile, we decided to meet in front of his apartment at 6 pm and then go to “Lotte Mart” (a nearby shopping mall) to buy the groceries for the coming week.
It was only 4:30 pm then and since I thought there is sufficient time to take bath and get ready, I lighted a “Malboro Lights” cigarette and continued my meditation for some more time.
Giving “comfort” to my throat and heart, a portion of the smoke rode towards my stomach. The remaining part of the smoke I used to pollute the air in my room. As I sat on the sofa keeping the legs in wide-angle position, one part of my brain engaged in observing the abstract shapes the smokes make in the air, in vain. Some other subtle part of the brain was busy in displaying the vague images of the items to be procured from the mall. There was nothing much to buy and so I was quite relaxed.
But that relaxation lasted only till I took bath at 5:45 pm!
After taking bath, when I walked to the living room, I didn’t have any clue that things are going to get difficult only! By the way, for your information, on week days, after taking bath, I go to the living room in fully naked form, assimilating the movements made by Mr. Adam in the Garden of Eden! This I do even if the window curtains are open! However, the point to be noted here is that I never did it purposely. It happens naturally because everyday I forget to take an underwear with me to the bathroom. (Anyway, this is an exclusive privilege for people like me, who stays alone ad I take full advantage of the situation). As a matter of fact, it just happened so on this particular day also!
In the living room, I observed one minute silence (A new habit called prayer, I developed in Korea!) before reaching to my suitcase to get an underwear. “Where’s gone all the under wears?” I mumbled as my hands fumbled for finding one! No underwear was found in the suitcase and so I decided to extend the search to the cupboards. The cupboard also said “No” to me. Crestfallen, I stood there for a moment. Then, like the US military in Afghanistan searching for Osama Bin Laden, I searched everywhere in the room only to see the result remains intact in “No”!!
I had 8 under wears and all are in used condition now! And I wanted to go out urgently! The gravity of the situation hit square between my eyes like a thunder bolt? In that cold climate also, I started sweating. I peeped angrily to the bathroom where all the 8 underwears were hanging like troubled souls in the nether world waiting to get salvation!
Time did not wait for me, but my friend was! It was already 6:10 pm and I was hit by the “what to do next?” question. It was too late to say “No” to him. Also, going out for shopping with him is an experience to be cherished (he has extensive knowledge of all the products) and I didn’t want to miss that.
“Who is going to check if I go out without wearing one?” I asked myself. However my mind did not vote for that idea. Anyway, before it was too long, my “Engineer’s Brain” found an excellent solution to this problem and within 5 minutes I found myself walking towards Sandeep’s apartment’s gate, happily and “fully” dressed!!
Sandeep was standing there expecting my arrival. I apologized to him for being late. Placing honesty to the top in that difficult situation also, I projected “lack of underwear” as the reason for me to get late.
“So you came without wearing an underwear?” Asked Sandeep ( may be he was in a mild state of shock)
“No, no. I am wearing one. I have taken a used underwear, placed a tissue on the “critical part” of it and then wore it (like ladies do during their menstrual period) ” I replied humbly!!
Sandeep did not say anything. His character is like that – calm & cool. He only looked at the sky and smiled, without looking at my face.
And that was the most meaningful smile I have ever seen in my life!!
His majesty (I mean “I”) was on meditation (means half sleep!) when I received a call from my friend Mr.Sandeep. Sandeep stays just opposite to my apartment and our buildings are separated by a road called “Dongbu Express Way.” After a 2 minutes chat on mobile, he asked me about my plans for the evening. Before our hands pressed the red button on the mobile, we decided to meet in front of his apartment at 6 pm and then go to “Lotte Mart” (a nearby shopping mall) to buy the groceries for the coming week.
It was only 4:30 pm then and since I thought there is sufficient time to take bath and get ready, I lighted a “Malboro Lights” cigarette and continued my meditation for some more time.
Giving “comfort” to my throat and heart, a portion of the smoke rode towards my stomach. The remaining part of the smoke I used to pollute the air in my room. As I sat on the sofa keeping the legs in wide-angle position, one part of my brain engaged in observing the abstract shapes the smokes make in the air, in vain. Some other subtle part of the brain was busy in displaying the vague images of the items to be procured from the mall. There was nothing much to buy and so I was quite relaxed.
But that relaxation lasted only till I took bath at 5:45 pm!
After taking bath, when I walked to the living room, I didn’t have any clue that things are going to get difficult only! By the way, for your information, on week days, after taking bath, I go to the living room in fully naked form, assimilating the movements made by Mr. Adam in the Garden of Eden! This I do even if the window curtains are open! However, the point to be noted here is that I never did it purposely. It happens naturally because everyday I forget to take an underwear with me to the bathroom. (Anyway, this is an exclusive privilege for people like me, who stays alone ad I take full advantage of the situation). As a matter of fact, it just happened so on this particular day also!
In the living room, I observed one minute silence (A new habit called prayer, I developed in Korea!) before reaching to my suitcase to get an underwear. “Where’s gone all the under wears?” I mumbled as my hands fumbled for finding one! No underwear was found in the suitcase and so I decided to extend the search to the cupboards. The cupboard also said “No” to me. Crestfallen, I stood there for a moment. Then, like the US military in Afghanistan searching for Osama Bin Laden, I searched everywhere in the room only to see the result remains intact in “No”!!
I had 8 under wears and all are in used condition now! And I wanted to go out urgently! The gravity of the situation hit square between my eyes like a thunder bolt? In that cold climate also, I started sweating. I peeped angrily to the bathroom where all the 8 underwears were hanging like troubled souls in the nether world waiting to get salvation!
Time did not wait for me, but my friend was! It was already 6:10 pm and I was hit by the “what to do next?” question. It was too late to say “No” to him. Also, going out for shopping with him is an experience to be cherished (he has extensive knowledge of all the products) and I didn’t want to miss that.
“Who is going to check if I go out without wearing one?” I asked myself. However my mind did not vote for that idea. Anyway, before it was too long, my “Engineer’s Brain” found an excellent solution to this problem and within 5 minutes I found myself walking towards Sandeep’s apartment’s gate, happily and “fully” dressed!!
Sandeep was standing there expecting my arrival. I apologized to him for being late. Placing honesty to the top in that difficult situation also, I projected “lack of underwear” as the reason for me to get late.
“So you came without wearing an underwear?” Asked Sandeep ( may be he was in a mild state of shock)
“No, no. I am wearing one. I have taken a used underwear, placed a tissue on the “critical part” of it and then wore it (like ladies do during their menstrual period) ” I replied humbly!!
Sandeep did not say anything. His character is like that – calm & cool. He only looked at the sky and smiled, without looking at my face.
And that was the most meaningful smile I have ever seen in my life!!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
"Pass the salt" Syndrome
Time for introspection!
When you fail, commit mistakes or when you witness something inspiring, difficult, cataclysmic how do you respond to it?
How many of you think there is a message exclusively for you in whatever happens around you?
In real life, if we witness something aweful, we exclaim. If we see something difficult, we cry. But what happens after 5 mins?
WE FORGET ABOUT IT!!
Our mind will as usual wander around things that give us comfort! May be drinking, smoking, flirting or for some it could be SEX! This is a psychological disorder! We are all prone to it and it is called "Pass the Salt" Syndrome!
Consider a dining table conversation between three people:
1st person: "Can you believe it about the bomb in the school down the block?"
2nd person: "Yeah. I heard the explosion all the way here. Crazy that there was nobody in the school at that moment. Five minutes later and it would have been a disaster."
3rd person:"WHEW...!! YEAH. Could you please pass the salt?"
So, "Pass the Salt" is how we pass the buck on spiritual change. We behave as if wre programmed to exclaim and then forget immediately! Imagine how ridiculous it is!
The way we react to the awesome things that happen in the world around us, speaks volumes about who we really are.
Everytime we fail to see the message God has sent exclusively for us. Every time we turn back to our own quest for a spiritual change. And hence every time we miss the opportunity to become a better person.....the opportunity to live a better life!
When the world around us seems chaotic, let's open up our eyes really wide. We may just see the writing on the wall that was meant just for us.
After all, life can provide a whole lot of flavor even without the salt.
And for your info, I stopped drinking! Thank God
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Seoul is where the Soul is!
First of all, for those who care, I reached Seoul hale and hearty. While landing again at Incheon International Airport, all the old memories resurfaced to the top layer of my mind. For what I don't know, but I felt like crying! Since I am yet to learn how to cry in Korean, I controlled my feelings! Outside the airport, one man was waiting for me holding a plackrd and Incheon airport has seen my name on it for yet another time. An invigorating smile made by our company representative welcomed me to Korea again! He has taken my luggage and led me to the company car ( and man, it was a Mercedes Benz car!!). After one hour of drive from the airport, I found myself in my new Apartmet, located in a sexy location of Seoul city. After five minutes, two girls from the HR department came to my home and assured everything is in order.
Evening, my friend came to my room and we went for some shopping. I bought a bed (Kingsize as usual!), microwave oven, vacuum cleaner a TV (everything else is already there) and we went to "Lotteria" for dinner
We ordered chicknen burger sets and was waiting for the dish to get ready when this Korean lady approached us. She asked in Korean mixed English:
"Are you from indo(India)?"
Me: "yes, I am"
She: "Wow!!Indo is a great country and Indians are really nice people"
"Hearty Welcome to Korea!!"
She gave us two icecreams and then went away!
It is not that I am so keen to get praised by somebody -- and I know what she told me about India & Indians is.....******!What mattered to me was the attitude exhibited by her. And that was the moment when I felt I have made the right decision to come back here!
After all, for me Seoul is where the Soul is!!
Evening, my friend came to my room and we went for some shopping. I bought a bed (Kingsize as usual!), microwave oven, vacuum cleaner a TV (everything else is already there) and we went to "Lotteria" for dinner
We ordered chicknen burger sets and was waiting for the dish to get ready when this Korean lady approached us. She asked in Korean mixed English:
"Are you from indo(India)?"
Me: "yes, I am"
She: "Wow!!Indo is a great country and Indians are really nice people"
"Hearty Welcome to Korea!!"
She gave us two icecreams and then went away!
It is not that I am so keen to get praised by somebody -- and I know what she told me about India & Indians is.....******!What mattered to me was the attitude exhibited by her. And that was the moment when I felt I have made the right decision to come back here!
After all, for me Seoul is where the Soul is!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
"Fittest" Will Survive!
"Do not enter the house
after drinking alcohol"
yelled the mother bacteria
at her elder son
"How can I skip drinking
when I stay in Kannan's stomach?"
Wondered the young bacteria
trying to figure out the next course of action
The young bacteria decided
to make me ill critically
by opening the output valve
and then diconnnecting the shitting break!
I got loose motion
made several trips to toilet
making the young bacteria to laugh loud
thinking I will not drink again!
The sun moved to western horizon
went the day and came the night
the board of bars got illuminated
pulling my mind towards them!
I went to the bar again
drank till the young bacteria faints!
proving there is "no bar" for me to drink
and nothing can prevent me from doing so!
Guys,
stay "fit" always.....never stop drinking and try to drink as much as possible....challenging your capacity
Because as the famous quote says,
"Only the fittest will survive"!!
after drinking alcohol"
yelled the mother bacteria
at her elder son
"How can I skip drinking
when I stay in Kannan's stomach?"
Wondered the young bacteria
trying to figure out the next course of action
The young bacteria decided
to make me ill critically
by opening the output valve
and then diconnnecting the shitting break!
I got loose motion
made several trips to toilet
making the young bacteria to laugh loud
thinking I will not drink again!
The sun moved to western horizon
went the day and came the night
the board of bars got illuminated
pulling my mind towards them!
I went to the bar again
drank till the young bacteria faints!
proving there is "no bar" for me to drink
and nothing can prevent me from doing so!
Guys,
stay "fit" always.....never stop drinking and try to drink as much as possible....challenging your capacity
Because as the famous quote says,
"Only the fittest will survive"!!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Education Vs Indoctrination
What is meant by "education"?
"Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in a man", wrote Swami Vivekanda It means to draw out a person’s inner beauty, a beauty that is a function of relationship. It translates into how well you relate to yourself, your friends, your community, the world, and the reality beyond all which we call God. Through the relationship and its harmony, an inner beauty will emerge. The word education comes from the Latin word "educare", which means to “draw out.”
To educate, therefore, means to draw out something that fundamentally is already there. In the process of education, you actually become aware of yourself! You grow, you transform and become the real you. Rather than simply memorizing a bunch of information, you absorb ideas that draw out the inner you and bring you into the world of relationships. As you discover your own inner beauty, you discover the beauty of all people from the inter-relatedness we all share.
Indoctrination is the complete opposite. Indoctrination seeks to put something into you, while education tries to bring something out of you! At the very early stages of education, we go to kindergarten (I never went; because the expense was far beyond my parents could afford at that time!) Anyway, Kindergarten comes from German and literally means a children’s garden! What kind of name is this for a children’s school? A better name would be kinder- workshop or, better these days, a kinder-factory(hahaha)!! But if education is likened to a garden, then the educator is really a spiritual gardener. A gardener interacts with a seed. If he has a pear seed, then he wants to identify it is as a pear seed so that it will become a pear tree. If he has a carrot seed, he will want it to become a carrot. An educator’s job is to create an environment that feeds you ideas that will nourish you in a manner in which you will grow and flourish. An educator only wants you to be who you are. While an educator is like a gardener, an indoctrinator is like a carpenter. A carpenter imposes his vision on a raw material, while a gardener sets his vision according to his seed; whatever you are, he wants you to become. To indoctrinate is to coerce. It involves imposing the teacher’s values—aspirations, identity and character—on the student, so that the student will become like the teacher and reflect the teacher. In the process of indoctrination, a conflict is liable to arise between the teacher and the student because the teacher has a message he wants the student to accept, even at the expense of the student’s unique identity and individuality. Because the teacher may be physically or mentally more powerful than the student, he is able to coerce the student to bend and submit to the teacher’s position. There are teachers who are brilliant in their logic yet coercive in their brilliance, rather than concerned with whether the growth is coming from the student. Conversely, the educational process starts first with a genuine patient and caring relationship with the student. To educate also is to communicate. Communication is not simply two people taking turns speaking. It can be one person listening and the other person speaking. What’s the difference? The word communication is from the same source as the word community. In an indoctrination experience, the teacher is imposing himself or herself on the student. The object is to impose the teacher’s views in such a way that they become the student’s own view. However, in an educational experience, the object is to communicate truth. Therefore, the teacher’s message will resonate from without and from within the student. The message the student hears is something that she would have heard from inside had she been open to it or had someone helped her to be open to it. When you hear truth it resonates inside, not just outside. And there is something inside that tells you that you knew it all along.
To indoctrinate is to impose, but to educate is to expose what is inside. The educator is simply sharing truth.
"Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in a man", wrote Swami Vivekanda It means to draw out a person’s inner beauty, a beauty that is a function of relationship. It translates into how well you relate to yourself, your friends, your community, the world, and the reality beyond all which we call God. Through the relationship and its harmony, an inner beauty will emerge. The word education comes from the Latin word "educare", which means to “draw out.”
To educate, therefore, means to draw out something that fundamentally is already there. In the process of education, you actually become aware of yourself! You grow, you transform and become the real you. Rather than simply memorizing a bunch of information, you absorb ideas that draw out the inner you and bring you into the world of relationships. As you discover your own inner beauty, you discover the beauty of all people from the inter-relatedness we all share.
Indoctrination is the complete opposite. Indoctrination seeks to put something into you, while education tries to bring something out of you! At the very early stages of education, we go to kindergarten (I never went; because the expense was far beyond my parents could afford at that time!) Anyway, Kindergarten comes from German and literally means a children’s garden! What kind of name is this for a children’s school? A better name would be kinder- workshop or, better these days, a kinder-factory(hahaha)!! But if education is likened to a garden, then the educator is really a spiritual gardener. A gardener interacts with a seed. If he has a pear seed, then he wants to identify it is as a pear seed so that it will become a pear tree. If he has a carrot seed, he will want it to become a carrot. An educator’s job is to create an environment that feeds you ideas that will nourish you in a manner in which you will grow and flourish. An educator only wants you to be who you are. While an educator is like a gardener, an indoctrinator is like a carpenter. A carpenter imposes his vision on a raw material, while a gardener sets his vision according to his seed; whatever you are, he wants you to become. To indoctrinate is to coerce. It involves imposing the teacher’s values—aspirations, identity and character—on the student, so that the student will become like the teacher and reflect the teacher. In the process of indoctrination, a conflict is liable to arise between the teacher and the student because the teacher has a message he wants the student to accept, even at the expense of the student’s unique identity and individuality. Because the teacher may be physically or mentally more powerful than the student, he is able to coerce the student to bend and submit to the teacher’s position. There are teachers who are brilliant in their logic yet coercive in their brilliance, rather than concerned with whether the growth is coming from the student. Conversely, the educational process starts first with a genuine patient and caring relationship with the student. To educate also is to communicate. Communication is not simply two people taking turns speaking. It can be one person listening and the other person speaking. What’s the difference? The word communication is from the same source as the word community. In an indoctrination experience, the teacher is imposing himself or herself on the student. The object is to impose the teacher’s views in such a way that they become the student’s own view. However, in an educational experience, the object is to communicate truth. Therefore, the teacher’s message will resonate from without and from within the student. The message the student hears is something that she would have heard from inside had she been open to it or had someone helped her to be open to it. When you hear truth it resonates inside, not just outside. And there is something inside that tells you that you knew it all along.
To indoctrinate is to impose, but to educate is to expose what is inside. The educator is simply sharing truth.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Help - When and to Whom?
Are you planning to help someone? Is so, read this story and evaluate yourself before doing that great act!
This story was shared to me by one of my friends during yesterday's party. I agree, its very important to know the "Whom" and the "When" before helping others.
"Where are you going?" the Mad Hatter quizzed Alice.
"To the doctor," Alice replied courteously.
"But Alice, you look so sick, this is no time to be walking around!"
"But if I don't go to the doctor I won't recover from my terrible illness!"
"But Alice," the Mad Hatter asked, "when you arrive at the doctor, will he tell you to stay in bed or to walk around?"
"Why, stay in bed of course,"Alice replied.
"Then for goodness sake, to get better you have to listen to the doctor. Now get in bed immediately!"
This story was shared to me by one of my friends during yesterday's party. I agree, its very important to know the "Whom" and the "When" before helping others.
"Where are you going?" the Mad Hatter quizzed Alice.
"To the doctor," Alice replied courteously.
"But Alice, you look so sick, this is no time to be walking around!"
"But if I don't go to the doctor I won't recover from my terrible illness!"
"But Alice," the Mad Hatter asked, "when you arrive at the doctor, will he tell you to stay in bed or to walk around?"
"Why, stay in bed of course,"Alice replied.
"Then for goodness sake, to get better you have to listen to the doctor. Now get in bed immediately!"
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Yes, Life is Mundane!
It is said that the average person will spend 13-15 years of their life eating, another two years in the bathroom, four years commuting, and 26 years sleeping!
Imagine if scientists invented a way to do life's chores in one long successive time span. Activities would be grouped together as opposed to the present "installment approach. "For instance, instead of eating a little bit each day, we could simply spend the next five years just gorging ourselves!
Exciting? No, depressing.
How meaningless those days would be! Imagine four solid years just travelling back and forth to work without ever stopping, and two whole years of going to the bathroom!
But does life become any more meaningful when our quota of sleep is fulfilled in spans of eight hours as opposed to 26 years straight? Think about it, man think......think seriously! If life is filled with activities that - when grouped together become extremely meaningless - then life is surely no more meaningful just because those activities are in many short increments!
After all, the total is the same as the sum of its parts no?
I dont want to specify the escape roots I am following to deal with this situation. They are little dangerous and hence not advisable to follow. So, find your own ways!
Imagine if scientists invented a way to do life's chores in one long successive time span. Activities would be grouped together as opposed to the present "installment approach. "For instance, instead of eating a little bit each day, we could simply spend the next five years just gorging ourselves!
Exciting? No, depressing.
How meaningless those days would be! Imagine four solid years just travelling back and forth to work without ever stopping, and two whole years of going to the bathroom!
But does life become any more meaningful when our quota of sleep is fulfilled in spans of eight hours as opposed to 26 years straight? Think about it, man think......think seriously! If life is filled with activities that - when grouped together become extremely meaningless - then life is surely no more meaningful just because those activities are in many short increments!
After all, the total is the same as the sum of its parts no?
I dont want to specify the escape roots I am following to deal with this situation. They are little dangerous and hence not advisable to follow. So, find your own ways!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
History Repeats Itself!
It is said that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. In my opinion, the consistent lesson to be learned from history is that people don't learn! The paradox is clear, we can only learn from history that because people don't learn from it, they will do in the future what they have done in the past!! To put it in the other way, If people did learn from history then the past would hold none of its lessons to what the future will bring.
OK, let me test your IQ (rather FQ: foolishness quotient!) by asking a simple question. What was the most meaningful invention of the 20th century? There were many, but which one was the best? You may answer penicillin, the telephone, the computer, etc. But none of these made life more meaningful, they only made it faster. They allowed us to do the things we had done before, but faster, cheaper, easier. My question is, which invention completely turned human history on its head?
Give up?
OK, let's look at the First World War. Do you know what it was originally called?
It wasn't the First until the Second came along! It was called "The Great War".
It was supposed to be the war to end all wars. After WW1, mankind pondered, what can we learn so that we don't do this again?
They sure got that one wrong. Obviously. Because we got the Second World War.
Now, do you think the story is over? No, I reckon.
By all accounts, the Cuban Missile Crisis should have been WW3. If it had, there wouldn't have been a Fourth World War. "I don't know what will be used in the next world war, but the 4th will be fought with stones" -- Albert Einstein.
Are you getting a frightening picture as to where our life boat is cruising to?
Why is it so difficult to learn from history?
Simply put, the first step to learning from history is not to blame the other guy. If we aren't willing to accept responsibility for what happened, then we will surely repeat it.
The reason the Cuban Missile Crises was not WW3 is not because people "got it," but rather technology, or I should say, God came to the rescue. Where will Iran issue lead the world to? Who knows!
The Atom Bomb should have been, by all accounts of history, the last thing man invented. Mankind always, always, used its most potent weapons. No country ever developed a better gun or missile just for show.
But "The Bomb" changed the course of history. It is the reason western f**kers has enjoyed the longest period of sustained peace in its history.
It not only changed the way we do business, war business that is, but it changed our whole way of thinking about the other guy. We had to consider his opinion. I personally believe it was this that sparked all kinds of social reflections: the Civil Rights movement, the Equal Rights Movement, etc.
So, in a nutshell, its very important to train the next generation to respect others! They should be trianed to hear the other voice and respect the other opinion.
Being great is good and being good is great! But living together in peace is better.
Let History not repeat itself!
OK, let me test your IQ (rather FQ: foolishness quotient!) by asking a simple question. What was the most meaningful invention of the 20th century? There were many, but which one was the best? You may answer penicillin, the telephone, the computer, etc. But none of these made life more meaningful, they only made it faster. They allowed us to do the things we had done before, but faster, cheaper, easier. My question is, which invention completely turned human history on its head?
Give up?
OK, let's look at the First World War. Do you know what it was originally called?
It wasn't the First until the Second came along! It was called "The Great War".
It was supposed to be the war to end all wars. After WW1, mankind pondered, what can we learn so that we don't do this again?
They sure got that one wrong. Obviously. Because we got the Second World War.
Now, do you think the story is over? No, I reckon.
By all accounts, the Cuban Missile Crisis should have been WW3. If it had, there wouldn't have been a Fourth World War. "I don't know what will be used in the next world war, but the 4th will be fought with stones" -- Albert Einstein.
Are you getting a frightening picture as to where our life boat is cruising to?
Why is it so difficult to learn from history?
Simply put, the first step to learning from history is not to blame the other guy. If we aren't willing to accept responsibility for what happened, then we will surely repeat it.
The reason the Cuban Missile Crises was not WW3 is not because people "got it," but rather technology, or I should say, God came to the rescue. Where will Iran issue lead the world to? Who knows!
The Atom Bomb should have been, by all accounts of history, the last thing man invented. Mankind always, always, used its most potent weapons. No country ever developed a better gun or missile just for show.
But "The Bomb" changed the course of history. It is the reason western f**kers has enjoyed the longest period of sustained peace in its history.
It not only changed the way we do business, war business that is, but it changed our whole way of thinking about the other guy. We had to consider his opinion. I personally believe it was this that sparked all kinds of social reflections: the Civil Rights movement, the Equal Rights Movement, etc.
So, in a nutshell, its very important to train the next generation to respect others! They should be trianed to hear the other voice and respect the other opinion.
Being great is good and being good is great! But living together in peace is better.
Let History not repeat itself!
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