Graceful Mother

Graceful mother, she sits in temple
Of mind and hearts that purity define

She is patient, no she is patience
She is ever, the shining divine

I think so not, she meant no more
Even when she anger expressed

Her love and protection
Is all she meant
Pay back, ever, if you can in smile

Karma keeps writing destiny..so turn off the lights

Sanatana Dharma (or Hinduism as the manipulated word placing location identification to the religion) is often claimed to be something that places destiny and fate above self-will and choice. This is actually just half-truth.

What the Law of Karma within Sanatana Dharma says instead is that your Karma determines your Destiny. In colloquial words, as you sow, so you reap. You are writing your destiny by your very actions every moment. As simple as, if you are resting now, you are writing the destiny that you'll be more energetic after the rest. Or if you study now, you'll have success in your studies.

Sometimes it's not immediately apparent. We study hard for an exam, as I used to do in Engineering, but the results show otherwise. Well, the results will come. The best advice is to let go of the attachment to results. Let them be whatever. Just do Karma as your duty.

Taking this further, many of the Karmas (good or bad) could bear fruit in subsequent births only. This is what explains children born in struggle, poverty or with birth defects. Or people who, due to lack of opportunity, struggle through life.

Spread the message, and let's make it a mantra for environmental conservation: If you conserve resources today, your destiny will be to share the saved resources. If you are wasting today, be sure to be struggling tomorrow, be it in this life or the one(s) after!

The power in ashrams and temples

While I completely agree that our own Self is the God we search about, that we pray to. But note that we are not that yet. That Self does exist, but until irrevocable realization, we still are covered by Samskaras and influences of Nature that divert us.

And there are holy centers of power the spiritually elevated ones among us have created, that these powers continue to get concentrated further, for the benefit of all that visit these spots. And that's the role temples and ashrams play, or the value they add to society and the ordinary folk.

But I also admit I'm not convinced just a physical visit to such a holy spot means how much. Or to put it differently, wouldn't I need to also be meditating and receiving the positive vibes stored in these places. I don't like the jostle and clamor in crowded temples, and sometimes think any place in isolation is better than this. But maybe just like a dip in medicinal waters washes off sin no matter what, presence in a holy environment does benefit no matter what the conditions around. Perhaps the devotion that each devotee adds by his visit, by his mind full of charity and gratitude, does add to the kindred and spiritual status of the place. I'm not sure on this point yet.

But the power bestowed to a stone, an carved idol, or a guru is not his own. It is contributed to by each one of us, by our concentration, if even for a second, on that object. Which is why these objects are ornamented to invoke the feeling of devotion in us. Concentration is Samadhi. It is what heals us in sleep, refreshes us in meditation. It is this same concentration when invoked that adds the power over nature on this idol. Some of which gets absorbed by the pleading, miserable person who comes praying. And benefits from. And in true cyclic effect, on better days, he repays back with a visit filled with gratitude and devotion.

To understand and realize this nature is fueled by our very Self, is at first incredible, then overwhelming, and eventually truly enlightening.

Nature has no control over you unless you want it to

I know this is true, I believe this is true, but this is so oh hard to imbibe..

One is you, your own Self. Which is neither this body, this mind, or feelings. Which just stands apart, and perhaps doesn't even direct, but only wills, and experiences. A mother is closest to this Self.

Then there is the Nature, the everything around us, including the body, mind, feelings. The trees, relatives, friends, even the play of circumstances, karmas and reactions. This world, this existence in here.

Straight to the point: This Nature can do nothing to me. At best, blow up my body to pieces, but still it cannot touch me. Like Swami Vivekananda said, even a snake's bite cannot kill us unless we want it to. At worst, Nature can only torment me through physical and mental tortune through its own medium, and perhaps make me forget temporarily that all this is just its play. An example of how Nala possessed by Kali forgets the true nature of his relationship with Damayanthi.

The Yogi stands at this other extreme of both perfect realization and response. He can be living among us, married or bachelor, man or woman, young or old, but has true bodha. The way to identify him is only in how he responds to external situations. No matter what nature does to torment him, he stands firm. It is not lack of compassion, but rather the true knowledge of how things are...And it simply doesn't affect how his response should be, to an external situation. Even if persecuted, he lives to serve and do, and do what's correct and apt..

Rickshaws drivers killing own business

An auto-rickshaw from Electronic City Infosys office to Sarjapura Road Wipro in Bengaluru costs me Rs 200. No meter, no negotiation. While an Ola Cab at standard rate costs me Rs 175, all calculated and charged on actuals.

Even the rickshaw driver admits the Ola cab will come cheaper. Well, then've you've had it buddy, don't complain later for being a savant to a corporate.

No wonder Ola has been able to intake Ola Auto service. I'm sure auto-rickshaw drivers were equally obliging to this. For no planned trip nowadays happens without Ola or Uber cab bookings.

And it's for the good of the customer, this movement to Ola/Uber cabs. Now that auto-rickshaws are finally metered rides in Bengaluru. The notoriety of the auto driver charging his own rates, and rounding off to Rs 20/30 more without giving change was indeed going overboard.

I really missed Mumbai autos where the driver used to return 50 paise change. I'm sure Ola, Uber won't take off there. Because the customer is happy enough with the ubiquitous auto with fair, metered rates.

Back to Bengaluru, the auto-driver has no reason to complain either for aligning himself with the cab service corporates. They let him charge convenience fees/higher rates during late hours. Plus he chooses if he wants to pick the customer. I've had times when Ola shows the auto nearby, but the driver doesn't pick the request.Just further proof of the fate he wrote for himself with the treatment meted out to the customer..