Why news"paper" still..

Whenever I step out early mornings, am surprised to note that news"papers" (the hard-copy) are still in circulation. We went to a friend's home who'd moved to Bangalore recently, and I noted they were signing up for not one, but multiple newspaper subscriptions. It got me thinking...

Maybe because newspapers in the US weaker on content (at least the reasonably priced ones) having an ads-to-news ratio of 10:1, and with news again largely focused on domestic sports leagues, I easily got rid of the habit of subscribing to newspaper hard-copies with a span of months there. When in India earlier (and this was the pre-smartphone era) I couldn't do without a daily dose of "The Hindu" and "The Economic Times". But in the US, WiFi was ubiquitous and I slowly started adapting to opening up news websites to read. And over time, with the advent of smartphones, to the newspaper apps, and now to news aggregator apps So the key I think is: Adapt!

Now back in India I see WiFi is equally fast and reliable, and news aggregator apps are aplenty the world over. The "Google News" App I relied on in US, is equally good here. In the sense, with sourcing content from local news and newspaper editions. It was surprising! India's come a long way in adapting to the digital era in the past decade.

So now it's time for mine and the generation after to think of weaning ourselves away from newspapers. I haven't done any research, but common-sense says that big bundle of "Times of India" which is half-filled with sleaze and gossip, and the rest mainly in ads and then content, comes with an environmental cost to manufacturing it. A cost higher that if you'd have opened up their website or their app, or added them as a preferred content provider in the Google News (or any other aggregator) app.

The cycle of supply-and-demand still subsidizes the annual news"paper" subscription cost, so we don't feel the pinch in continuing to subscribe. And this in turn keeps the vicious printing cycle going.  I know some who have "Think before your print" under their email signature but don't think much about subscribing to newspapers. Reasons varying from habit to eye-strain to the smell of the newspaper to well, nostalgia.

It's time to put an end to this. For it is only we, the readers, can put an end to it. And when the solution is only more convenient that the alternative, why not!

I can understand the generation before ours will find it harder to adapt.

But for the rest of us, my slogan is: Cmon, logon!

What is my Dharma

This is a call to all those, who like me, living in today's world, have lots to do but less time for it. It's a call for especially workalcoholics. People who think since they have to provide for family, or some who think work's what they do best or enjoy most. Pause. Ask yourself the question: "What is my Dharma (duty) at this moment?"

This simple question, when asked at any moment of perplexity, has managed to open by eyes. Give me insight as to what's the best action at that moment. You must firstly, of course, know what are the things you are responsible for. As a human given this birth, you are responsible for this temple you possess, your body. Then your mind, and every aspect of it (emotions, intellect, memory) and some things there that you need to control (ego, desire, greed, envy). You then have the duty towards your parents, your teachers (need not be all your school teachers, but those who your heart says imparted you something lasting; and including those who through experiences in life have taught you). Then you have the duty towards the spouse, the child, and the various fora of society you participate in (the place you live in say the society, the city/state/country i.e. social service), and to your occupation (your job or business that earns you a living to support your family) and your talents (hobbies or interests). Well, that's a lot, and I'm not expert, I might have missed something. But really, that doesn't matter. It's up to each individual's karma. For him to assume responsibility or not.

And from this sense of responsibility, flows various other actions in life. Optimum is the key. I can exercise the whole day, but it will be at a cost, of not giving my due to the other responsibilities I shoulder. Once this priority is set, it's also easier to manage time. Hygiene, optimal health (what's really needed to maintain it, including optimum diet and exercise), time and care for family and well-wishers, and dedication to work. And realize that automatically with this priority, many other things may fall at the bottom, with lesser time spent (wasted?) on them.

As we get better, we begin to make better decisions at a moment's notice. For example, as we all do, when we get a phone call. Whether to pick it up or not. What should I be doing now. Does my family need me at this moment. Have I given them my due, or is it the most relevant time now to give them time. Or haven't I done justice to work yet, and will plan to make up for this.

Also, we make more prudent decisions. Along with the priority, I'm talking about the ethical nature of it. Am I lying (tainting my soul and hurting someone else for personal benefit), or am I hurting the environment with this. Not every decision can be perfect, but let's do our best.

The most important thing is to dedicate every action to God. To lose attachment to any outcome. To thus award oneself forever bliss of existing (just being), and the process (with an attitude of devotion and inner peace, no matter what).

Wear your helmets

It is a very simple matter. A seemingly most obvious thing. But yet we see ourselves and those around not implementing it. The easy part of wearing the helmet when driving or ferrying someone on a two wheeler.

I'm not sure why it takes legislation. It's a striking matter that following this requires enforcement. I'm sure there must be even some pressure / lobbying against further policying on this. Which is why even in metros like Bangalore I see the driver putting on his helmet (because the traffic cops do a good job) but never bothering about the passenger they pillion.

This is not a question of driving skills. No, I'm not questioning skill, care while driving or experience. It's the simple fact that an accident is just that, an accident, a happening. And there is an equal if not higher chance of it happening due to external factors beyond your control. It might be purely the other driver's fault. Or bad roads or natural causes like poor visibility or rainy weather. But who loses, in the absence of the helmet!

It's a different matter that in my opinion Indian driving standards and traffic congestion are not even the place for two wheelers. But this is the bare minimum a two wheeler driver should ensure before he/she takes himself and someone along for a ride.

It was a heartening sight recently though to see a mother who was taking her kid along (who was standing in the front space of the scooty)making sure the kid had small helmet on. I've seen them going thus multiple times now.

I feel admiration but ask myself why. Isn't it that obvious!

The Goal of Exercise is Health, not Fitness

I see a lot of people putting a lot of effort into fitness. Body-building, running, ab exercises, those in effect to stay in shape. But these people forget the very reason why exercise is prescribed. A recent article of a youngster who collapsed running a half-marathon pressed me to write this today.

The Goal of Exercise is to stay healthy. At the very basic level, this is the fact. Staying in shape, or being lean or having muscles, are not really the goal; rather a distraction. If they happen, let them, but really, it doesn't matter.

At the next level, we'll get to introspect that even health is not an aim or end in itself. It's just the means to an end, and even the healthiest person, can die in a road accident! But let's delve into that later..

Ever since man walked out of the forest, his primary strength is his intelligence. Although he can, he's never required to build muscle. It really plays little role towards the goal of life. Of course, if your Dharma as  a soldier and sportsperson warrants these attributes, you need to do it as duty. But where your prescribed Dharma has turned out to be some other task, there rather focus on that task than the exercise itself.

More often than not, effort and time spent in exercise steals time away from your Dharma. It injures you, as any bodily regimen is bound to, and where you cannot maintain regular effort, it steals that "shape" with double the vigor. Instead, if you realize that the goal of exercise is to keep you healthy and not fit, then you will automatically look for exercises to maintain body flexible, breath calm, and mind at peace; rather than focusing on muscle toning or stamina building.

Meditation, Pranayama and Hatha-Yoga in that order are all the threefold "exercise" you need. And most importantly, they aid rather than come in the way of our daily Dharma. This they do by the added benefit of promoting inner health and  keeping you stress-free, sharper and more flexible/balanced.

Baby Kangaroo and Big Giraffe - 1

Once there was a Baby Kangaroo, one who walked past a Big Giraffe. Each had their unique gifts, different from most nature. The admiration was but mutual, and only difference was their age.

So this Kangaroo was a child, curious with lots of questions. And the Giraffe was wise, his mature stature even exceeded his height.

So this Kangaroo asked Giraffe: Why are fish so small, when they eat what we do.
The Giraffe smile and replied: Because they eat small as their size, you what you can hop on to, and I the way big trees!!

And the Kangaroo said: Just one more question.
For the Giraffe was about to sleep.
Kangaroo: How do I know what time of day
Giraffe: When Sun rises it's morning, when it's up high noon, and when it's setting it's evening. When no sun it is night! It's just that baby Kanga, we adults make it complex!!

Austerity

Woke up bathed in the sun, the time had past 9
Where was I in sleep, was it Sringeri or in bliss

There were many people I met, some family some friends
Do not know but that one, whom I befriended at once

He was tied up by the customs, some embraced and some thrust
I know not if he knew that, this was to be this life

In the rigor path that austere, what is gained and what lost
One learns much but still, remains innocent and untouched

The gains and loss are after, this life was just be shed
In Service and Sacrifice, giving away He earned most