I burnt down the house where calamity struck
Not wanting a home with memories on walls
I destroyed all desires, all want for a future
And from those ashes rose Maya whom I carried forward
Maya ever the servant of the one with no wants
She ever has been waiting upon the Vairagya Deva
I finally won my peace by giving up everything
And she got back her Lord when I gave up her World
Just like identifying yourself with the physical body is a sign of underdeveloped spirituality, so is identification with the subtle body, albeit at a mature spiritual level.
We understand it's a mistake to identify ourselves with the physical body even with a little probing. We identify ourselves with our minds and thoughts and take our body for granted except when in pain or illness.
We the expiry of the body, "we" leave the body. But it's only a fall from one trap to another. The subtle body (Jivatman) which includes our minds and sense powers, move to other planes and suffer/enjoy the results of our actions (quite similar to the Abrahamic religions' theory). And then again take rebirth to suffer/enjoy some of the leftover results and make another effort at liberation.
True liberation is realising, while in this physical body itself, that one is not even the Jivatman, but the one illuminating the Jivatman itself.
This is what makes Moksha harder, and also why we need the help of the scriptures to realise this. Without the medium of the physical body, when in the subtle planes, it is not possible to achieve Moksha.
Even the Gods have to be reborn as humans to realise Brahman. So make use of this human life to the highest level!
All your warmth can't match,
The smile of an innocent child
Your graceful walk won't get
The attention a tripping child will
Your beautiful smile still won't
Raise a cheer as a child's antics
You are a beauty I admit
But nay can't stand to a child's glow
If you give in to an illness, it will claim is victory! Fight it!! Remember that an illness is due to a foreign body, a bacteria or virus that has attacked your body and won an initial battle against your immune systems. Support your immune systems so they win the war, faster! And the mind is the biggest weapon in this fight. Rest is the next best. Diet the one after. Medicines only after that.
We all know how if we are busy with something more pressing, the feeling of being ill doesn't manifest. It is equally important to keep work at manageable levels than tiring, during a period of illness. Mainly the takeaway here is to keep the mind happy and strong. Distract it away from the illness with interesting thing, and train it to not give the illness too much importance. This might sound radical but is factual: Worse case your body dies, the mind and self lives on!!
Never ever give the illness victory. Be like a warrior in battle who may die, but never loses!!
What I learnt from a viral fever last week, is to not treat it with medicine. If not accompanied by accompanying cough, loose motions or such symptoms, then the fastest way to treat it is with rest.
I had a fever that touched 102 degree Fahrenheit. What I was amazed to find is whenever the body felt really weak, I was also able to get half-hour naps. That is very much unlike me who is unable to otherwise sleep during the day. But last Sunday I took 3-4 such naps during the day, each time going to sleep feeling shivery and weak, and waking up better and energetic. I also slept early and still woke up at my usual time in the morning, giving myself a full night sleep of 9 hours, even if waking up in the middle at times.
The other factor was appetite. I would have small meals as the stomach felt hunger in spurts and would yet not be able to consume much. I think I had lunch a couple of times, avoided snacks, and had chai only because it was already made.
I could not take an evening bath and I think that was for the better. I'd taken a morning bath and that had triggered the temperature, but I hadn't known it then.
Taking it easy, like walking around slowly was another thing. Although I picked up and played with my children whenever I could, especially after the energizing naps.
Medicine is best avoided in my view especially the pain killers like Dolo, which have their benefits but not for this. They generate fall responses like sweat etc to fight the fever in turn giving a wrong message to the body's immunity to turn their guard down.
Another thing I learnt was not to measure temperature right after waking up. It'll always be a degree higher, don't know why. This was so the previous day and also the next morning too when I woke up to 99 degrees, and an hour later found it at 98. The fever was gone!
If I've to point to one thing, it would be the multiple naps I took. Rest is best to fight a fever!
What sets flight, with the newborn wingspan
When the stage performance is flawless
When the output is applauded
Is not just what, sustains survival
But the confidence of life, beyond mundane
Of freedom, of dignity, of being wanted
In this large expanse, of having made a place
A final settling, of restless mind
As dust settles, and the road gets clear
Getting the opportunity, to grow yourself
After the storm, as trees grow strong
What matters is the moment, the years don't
What matters is the home, the world doesn't
What matters is your health, generational existence notwithstanding
First set your life right, then think of all others problems
First pick up your life skills, then think of picking up hobbies
First discipline your own mind, then think of doing so to them kids
It is an faulty argument when some Advaitins try to side step the need for Karma Yoga (selfless activity), Raja Yog (meditation, breathing and physical well being including proper sleep and diet) and Bhakti Yog (devotion to God). They must understand that first and foremost, Advaita is only an advanced level of philosophy, based on Jnana Yog.
When we say Sadhana Chatushtaya is needed in the journey towards realisation, we are implicitly admitting the importance of the other Yogs. Think about it:
- Viveka implies Jnana Yog
- Vairagya implies Karma Yog
- Shat Sampathi implies Raja Yog
- Mumukshatvam implies Bhakti Yog
Moksha for Advaitins in short is not by Jnana Yog alone. It precedes not the mastery but the inner alignment with the other Yog paths, whether one realises / acknowledges or not.
Based on above, one must also admit that one is not a true Advaitin if not giving all paths their due contribution in having achieved Moksha. Another way to look at it, for Advaitins struggling to achieve Moksha is that it may be because of their not giving due regard to the other paths.
The greatest Advaitin Adi Shankaracharya's life itself is a glowing example of the merging of all these paths.
- Karma in the selfless propagation of his teachings
- Bhakti in his devotional hymns
- Raja in the painstaking efforts to walk the length and breadth and to the references in works like Aparokshanubhuti
- Jnana which is most prominent due to his Bhashyas of the Prasthaanathraya
So when a so called Advaitin says that doing wrong incurs no paapa on him, it's not true. One who has achieved Moksha and is established in Brahman won't do wrong, and the others are fooling themselves by saying so.
An Advaitin is one who through displays true Viveka in the role played by all the Yogs in the realisation of the Ultimate non dual reality.
Not asked for lot, a little water
A thirst for only, a simple life
Why then it got, so complicated
That needs and given, are not a match
Give or take, we all a bit
But not this much, and for so long
Give me sight, and your blessing
That little water, will see light
Go to sleep, hungry
Be healthy, be grateful
Know that none, have suffered
One time meal, who gave up
Realise also, that many
Do so, with no choice
O mind when not in control
You torment the very soul
And when absolutely reined
It is bliss that you rain
Wherefrom such power
A creation such I wonder
An opinion you hold
Create illusions two-fold
The scale of magnificence
Indeed something to behold
I recently noticed that Amazon provides one more shipping option to Prime members "No-Rush". This obviously saves them some costs of the next-day shipping commitments to Prime members. Due supply chain management will allow them to club purchases and optimise shipments and inventory levels in warehouses.
And to entice customers to this option, Amazon is even offering ₹15 cash back for each such transaction.
For customers, this is free cash inflow. I'm sure that 80% transactions if not more will soon fall into this category. Bhartiya folks love free cash. We have chosen Prime mainly for the online movies than the fast shipping.
Many like me will now be aiming to make up the annual prime subscription with these cash backs itself. Not sure if Amazon will share alongwith their financial results if this is reducing costs or increasing it. Time will nonetheless tell us customers, by way of whether Amazon retains or further increases the cash back with the scheme, or perhaps scrap or put a cap to the cash back limit to it.
When you see a relative after years
And you wonder how time has flown
Don't stop wondering, for you are close to truth
Realise that something, within you hasn't changed
Even if they, and the mirror says otherwise
Reflect on what, is that something
For that is where, the answer lies
The early morning walk, in crispy morning chill
The sip of chai hot, to warm you up from inside
The meditation on Sun, the japa of the Mantra
The refreshing bath, and the warm breakfast
Prayers to your deities, protector of your family
The hurrying off to work, the coming back to gym
The early evening supper, after relaxing bath
The talking to your family, and a little bit of film
The cuddling up to book, and drowning into sleep
Too many are the salons I've been to where the barber makes desperate attempts to cross-sell. The customer ends up cringing as we are stuck to the seat and tired repeating "no".
It also makes the customer conscious as many a time the barber makes negative comments on the customers hair in order to sell other services.
For example saying that you have lots of grey hair or it's full of dandruff etc.
Effectively the bad memory means the customer does not go back to the salon.
This is something salon owners should know. They should train their barbers to ask one question: " Would you like any other services like a hair colour or shampoo". If the customer says "no", stop bothering him/her anymore!
To tell apart the freshness of infatuation with love
Like appreciating the tubelight in sunlight
The routine day, lacks the mirthful pain
The laughing at common things, unlike the glee of day-dreaming mind
The realisation of being trapped, not half bad as crushed heart
The joy of feeling complete, much better than restless pining
Let there not be judgement
Of why that happened and who got what
The aim of life is to burn out Karma
And not to build new ones
Selfless service be the action,
The purpose and the Sadhana
Be free from desire, and calm of mind
And gain a happy life and Moksha
In the blink of an eye was the whole field wiped out
Decades and generations of technology notwithstanding
A reminder belated to those who looked down upon the spiritual
To those who exploited Nature supported by the empirical
The path of the righteous will always be protected
Their lives blissful and souls elevated
Sharadamba Devi, Guru of the Jagadguru
Purify my mind, set free from Vasana
Bless my heart, grace it as thy abode
As a Mother please protect, me from going astray
As a Guru please bestow, the Jnana of Moksha
Lead me, my way, my spoken word be yours
Guide me, this life, every action be yours
In one of the spiritual talks I heard a reference that:
- One who eats twice a day is a Bhogi (Rajasic deluded in world pleasures)
- One who eats thrice a day is a Rogi (Tamasic who is bound by negativity)
Medical science also asks to keep a four hour gap before a meal. Jain teachings advice is to have your last meal before sunset. Even Akshay Kumar claims our stomachs don't need anything after 6pm in the evening.
Well, I've used the recuse of migraine. But as my age increases and metabolism slows, it might be a good idea to stop indulging at night.
I even feel the stiffness and slightly constipated especially in winter season, with the current food habits, where one isn't going to bed hungry.
I'm also not a fan of the evening cook.
So overall want to give the evening fruits-dinner, or at least light-dinner mode a try.
It would be interesting to see the results. And to hear from others whom I try to recommend this, about their experiences.
The dew drops hadn't started drying yet
The mist was still in midst of them
Not clear to eyesight the foggy morn
As if the clouds had come down to rest
And then this bright one rose from bed
Spreading his rays around the horizon spread
The crimson yellow dawn han broken
Witness the birds and flowers beholding its grace
Keep aside the excuses of Karma. They do not apply as even Karma Yoga prescribes selfless service.
Poverty is the greatest disease a human life can withstand as it breaks not just the body, but also the self esteem, morality and self worth of an individual. It is the duty of every privileged person, and by which I mean any person who is able to earn a living, to spend a portion to uplift the underprivileged. We must all learn and abide by the Islamic tradition of Zakat for this. Which requires a person to donate a third of his wealth in charity. This is very much needed to equitable living.
And no, it won't be that you'd be giving away your hard earned well deserved money to someone who hasn't. Remember that you are at this place because of the opportunities you received. If you just look out of your balcony you will find many labouring much more than you in the intense tropical heat. It's not that they do not have the intelligence to do the work you do. You got the opportunity via God's grace to get yourself educated to have this job. While you must give back by doing your best towards your country, you must also give back to those who labour and work so hard while trying to make ends meet. Those who did not get the opportunities you got in life.
And no, you won't be doing them a favour. You'd only be favouring yourself in every way:
- The scriptures say that a person becomes wealthy only because his forefathers gave a lot in charity. That's how the law of Karma works. So by being charitable you would be benefiting your coming generations
- You will have peace of mind. You will feel the blessings come to you in the relaxed sleep and good health
- You will have self esteem. You will have confidence to motivate others too on this path of charity since you would be walking the talk. Which in turn will earn you more punya
Please do make it a habit and contribute!
It is truly the Genius of Nature in setting the source of happiness within us, than in external sources.
And it is the Irony of Nature that this Truth is kept hidden from us.
Nature wants Continuity. And in order to keep that, it needed to generate Desire. And Desire is always due to a sense of incompleteness. And the true understanding that quenching this sense of incompleteness will give Happiness.
Now to ensure Continuity, Nature has to keep Desire alive. Once Happiness is achieved the net effect is tranquility and no more having any Desire. So the feeling of Incompleteness that gives rise to Desire has to live, and keep living in every life, in order to ensure Continuity of Nature.
And this feeling of Incompleteness will live if the Truth of the source of Happiness is kept hidden; if the mind is kept confused by feeding it a sip of Bliss by fulfilling small desires.
The Truth though is to realise that Happiness is Within. The needs of the body, the mind, of those around are illusions from the absolute aspect. This is why those who taste the highest bliss in Nirvikalpa, over time shed the body.
At a more pragmatic plane, that is why the rich have hollow lives if they live chasing external fame and fortune. And the poor, even with little, are filled with so much joy.
The secret to a start is to understand that Happiness is within, just like all the sorrow and complaints. And to choose Happiness is our choice, by slowly reducing and letting go of Desires and Wants and Expectations and Complaints.
This vast country, that gained independence
Standing on shoulders of leaders idealistic
But later run by leaders who were first selfish
Has it managed to live up to goals
Of values and cherished desires
Of equality and equal opportunity to all
Of justice and freedom to be free to all
I am held back in thought, that we are still governed
By powers and ideals that are completely foreign
Our money and people, both flying abroad
What is left if the best, think of only themselves
If we not create and export, how will economy thrive
If we not uphold our traditions, how will culture survive
Repressed desires, of what be the gain
If sitting isolated, but mind be in pain
Truly let go, when the time be it so
Work with the senses, and control their flow
Looking back, nor looking forward
Be in the moment, and enjoy the glow
Want nothing, whatever comes and goes
Know yourself, as witness to the core
A loneliness where they wouldn't let anyone walk into
A loneliness their consider their own, as their one true friend
A loneliness that gives them most comfort, where they want none to enter
Beware of this loneliness, and such minds who have embraced it
Beware as it can poison, if you escape even with these minds
For this loneliness has pervaded, the very mind you thought rescued
And with this illness, such mind will infect you
With misery and regret, and finally inflict you
With-you guessed right-this very loneliness they wallow in
The lake has now grown up in size
As a youth dancing in waves
Its joy and mirth a resplendent grace
Converting sunlight into a dazzling maze
May your waters be in ever bloom
Bestowing solace to witnessing eyes
May it nourish the parching roots
A wave of green embellishing beauty
The Brahma Jnanis, the Jivamuktas
Those that can appear more that one place at once
Those not bound by time space and body
Those that appear even long after physical death
These Brahma Jnanis, these Jivamuktas
They live and dissolve in bliss and love
They see all as one and none beyond
They transcend Maya free from desire
Be thus, O devotee blessed
Be thus, as all pervading self
Be thus, convinced and absorbed in self
Be thus, ever a guiding light
In the evening Sun
Looking at your pleasing face my son
I realised the pursuit of pleasure as fruitless
Time wasting and disturbing to the mind's peace
I realised the pursuit of bliss far more fulfilling
Satisfying, elevating, an upholder of self esteem
May the Gods and Goddesses give me their grace
The fortune to enjoy the bliss far supreme
The resolve to avoid false gifts of the world
This post I hope will lead to a series. This post is to investigate the link between the Black Holes in the universe with Consciousness.
The conclusion I'm coming to is that the mysterious Black Hole where time, space and matter converge into "nothingness" is the seat of Universal consciousness. Similar to the thumb-sized Jiva residing in the heart.
The Jiva is the subtle body that has come with its load of impressions from births past. It transcends time, space and matter and yet is hosted in these three. You can't see, detect or perceive it.
The Black Hole likewise seems to absorb an imploding massive physical body as a star. And as we know, there are many such Black Holes owing to many such stars. This is at the level of physical objects and how they come to a convergence of time and matter.
In Consciousness too, we talk of how a single Paramatman or Brahman is what appears or manifests as the multitude of Jivatman that manifest life. At the beginning of the Yuga (if one can say so in terms of time) they are all converged into a single Brahman/Paramatman. There is no difference at the time be it in the sense of space, causation. Whether in terms of time or not, theoretically not, but needs better understanding.
Embodied in this being, I the vital breath
The Prana, life giving force
That runs every function of this machine the body
I'm the fuel that runs the car
I'm separate, not this body which is just a vehicle for me
And I'll leave this body
When it longer can serve my purpose
I am the true you, I'm not the one you see in the mirror
I am the one searching for myself, I am the one asking
And know that you, the true I, am immortal
Advaita does not deny any philosophy. It is time Hinduism / Sanatana Dharma stopped fighting within itself.
The other thing Sanatana Dharma should learn is to allow conversion, accept those who love and want to embrace its philosophy and way of life.
Advaita is a subtler, higher realm of philosophy within Sanatana Dharma that simply conveys below: The subjective Self that you feel yourself as is Brahman. And Brahman is all there is.
This is such a powerful statement!
A word of caution that when it says Self, it doesn't mean the individual person, but that Brahman is the common self that pervades all existence, nay is existence itself.
It doesn't deny that as one is spiritually progressing, one will definitely need the support and grace of the Gods of dualism. You will see many Advaitins are also great Bhaktas. They do very much believe that these Gods exist. Advaita is only attempting to explain the deeper secret or the essential principal of the reality. So it's called the Ultimate truth, so as to not deny that Dvaita also is truth!
With this in mind, let's all move forward, spread the word, accept many more into the fold, and further enrich Sanatana Dharma.
As the first step towards dissociating with the body, is to keep associating yourself as the Prana that is embodied. As the inner force that is guiding all actions and thoughts.
Then the next powerful association is with the mind. Break it up with the witness behaviour as watching your thoughts.
Someday the grace will arrive to realise that even the witness is a reflection of what you truly are, a complete irreversible freedom!
Why the feeling of incomplete
What curse of Maya is this
When all was not to be well
Why Maya plans such path
Why so much effort when
In the end it means not
Why all these games when
The very purpose liberation
Read in the news that Google Plus plans to close down because of the security breach in March of some user accounts.
I believe in these situations companies should let impacted users know and have them change password and beware of any impact due to the breach. These users may then opt to not use these products / services citing loss of trust.
However, I'm surprised why Google Plus shut down this service itself.
For one, it has been the closest competitor to Facebook. Google Plus' concept of circles was the closest to the real world. Where you have circles of work friends, home friends, relatives, etc some of whom overlap. I really liked it.
The other was the concept of communities (aka Following in Facebook, which isn't really an intuitive name).
The only reason really Google didn't come close to Facebook was because it had lost the early mover advantage. Also Facebook did keep bringing in newer features with Google Plus just playing catch up.
I always thought it could have limited the Google photos unlimited images option to only Google Plus users. This would have helped the social network gain more traction
Nonetheless, Google Plus always had the option of building on its relatively lower user base with design enhancement ideas before competition catches on. That's ever the advantage of being the underdog. And until then, keep cost low with lights-on support.
I hope Google revisits its decision on these considerations.
Your problems will come by itself
Don't go and invite them for yourself
If you see a troubled soul, offer help
But don't involve and jump into the well
Else their karmic bonds, will wring your neck
Well all said and done though
All happens in nature as meant to
These words may help those meant to survive
Others will drown whether reading or not
Your shy smile and twinkling eye
I saw in someone and remembered today
For a moment untouched, that memory dusted
It shone as mirth, in my heart today
Lifetimes pass, people meet
And separate because, of Karmic wills
But that memories live, and fulfill destinies
Is what I learnt in a flash today
The best example is when a child needs an injection or even a surgery.
The parent, despite the bond and sensitivity to how much pain the child would go through, gives permission to the doctors to go ahead.
The parent is rational, looks at the longer term as to what's better for the child, and accordingly makes the choices.
Also the reason why parents let the children leave the country in pursuit of better pastures. Despite knowing that they'd have lost once and for all, support of their own children during old age.
It is up to the child, now an adult, to make the choice as to what's the correct decision, for the long term, in this case, balancing between giving care to parent or comfort to the child.
If you are in a war zone or impoverished country, the choice is a no brainer, in the interest of continuity of life, to leave your native until the situation gets better, if at all.
In countries like Bharat though, the choice should definitely lean towards coming back to take care of parents. Not just because the country is safe, with development opportunities, and culturally better to bring up children. But also because our culture is rooted in taking care of the aged.
An artist's is the heart that pains
Without sensitivity can't an artist be
Painting a picture irrespective of time
Doing a task for the joy of mind
Who expresses the Love
Who cares not for reward
Whose art is the very reward
Who just wants to just let be
So an artist is, encourage and nourish
Trouble him not, his soul is already pained
And he will create for you, timeless wonders
Ones transcending time, that no gratitude can repay
Do service without expecting return
Do not feel others got more for same
There is work meant for you
There is reward set aside for you
There is expense owed by you
There is gratitude due to you
All will come in their due course
Whether you like it or want it not
So focus instead on breaking the cycle
Of making sure you build not burden
So focus instead on giving not taking
And letting go even the result to God
The subtle bodies that elders see
Are they too unreal, as a schizophrenic's visions
Or these aged blessed, as they move closer to God
But these manifest as fears, for what they see feels genuine too
Why do these spirits roam, could they not let this attachment go
To body discarded and senses linked, or afraid to see what awaited beyond
May that be as it were, may the subtle spirits be blessed
May they accept, and happily leave
May the elders here be free from fear
And happily ready to end journey here
My greed to see you run, will never tire my son
Or to watch you letting the sand, slip through your hand
Blessed I have felt, your sight in midst of life's strife
Blows off my tiredness, your laughter my dear child
May you keep happy, blissful and peaceful
My blessings if empowered, may they shower upon your path
There is memory of a world glimpsed but not lived
How can it be still, that the scent lingers
How can it be then, that the heart pines
If but has to be then, the impressions of lifetimes past
A village bullock, and burning leaves
The scent in winds, of rain soaked earth
The temple bells, perched on sloping cliff
Friendly runs, under blazing sun
Will this village be ever back
For my children and the lives ahead
I will miss it more, if memory serves
I pray of your, to rather leave me alone
Every night the silver moon shone
Every morning the crimson son rose
But holed up in your computer
You didn't realise the passing life
You did not hear the washing rains
Nor the barking dogs aloud
You forgot to hear your baby giggle
Or to walk him around the house
You only saw that you got beaten
Not the reason why you got hurt
If you only saw that the only reason
Is you, and Prarabdha alone
The world would not flare up in aflame
The fever of stress and lust are the same
Your head feels hot, not a good feel at all
The body feels pleasure, but far far from bliss
And the mind feels guilt, all this marks of lust
The mind feels disturbed, far far from peace
Blaming God as why me, all this marks of stress
Both are best stayed away from, a good life if one wants
Avoid them as sink sands, and try to come out as soon can
That blissful feeling pervading the hall
And the mind and thought after leaving the hall
Comes from calmness and rest to thoughts
That blissful feeling that blesses us all
Music divine in the name of lord
Has none to compare behold ye all
Created in rhythm a perfected tune
Can grace and confer moksha to all
Give me bliss, the focus to not distract
To not be tempted, by world's tastes
Both gross and refined
Hold me close, in your name and thought
Bless me with rest, and lack of distress
Both worry and ambition, be far from reach
Let there be giving, balance and peace
A life well lived, an example to cherish
A freedom forever, from the samsaric cycles
Post the body's death, there are no senses
There are no more eyes nor ears to hear
There are only impressions, that stay alive
Post the body's death, you are limitless
You realise that, hankerings were, pointless
Post the death, you realise life, was precious
Oh post the death, you realise life's, true purpose
Use your senses, to do what's right
Oh please listen, to your conscience
Be humane, no didactic
They all are right, from where they stand!
I've no doubt seeing some of Sridevi's earlier, works in Tamil cinema, that the Tamil Film industry is what gave her full opportunity to explore her creativity and give it full expression. Be it 16 Vayathinile, Moondram Pirai, Varumayin Niram Sivappu to name a few, you can see the amount of footage and complex, women-centric roles she got to play at such a young age. I'm sure working alongside a talent like Kamal Hassan in many of such films also would have immensely honed her talents.
It's no surprise that after a few years of moving on to Hindi films, she was getting frustrated and began picking and choosing films and reducing the number of films she signed up. This in turn might have distracted her from acting leading to the mistakes in personal life and general unhappiness that plagued her throughout.
She was lucky though that Yash Chopra got her memorable roles in Lamhe and Chandni. And credit to her for only opting for films where she had enough expression for talent like Chalbaaz, Judaai, English Vinglish even though these became few and far between. Good that she didn't get typecast in B Grade Jeetendra remakes of Tamil mass hits.
Yet, one who'd seen Sridevi's innocence, natural child like vice and easy body language in Tamil critically acclaimed films, would immediately notice that these did not suit her in Hindi films. And that she never got those kind of complete roles in Hindi, which over time, would have matured into National award winning characters if she'd stuck to Tamil.
Well, but life has its way with things, and even the beautiful Sridevi chose to go under Hindi cinema for money, and under the knife for beauty, all leading to disastrous results...
Yesterday on the way from Anantapur to Bengaluru, went to use the public toilet next to airport toll. And believe me - and I'm from Mumbai who's seen a lot in suburbs - this was the worst toilet one could have seen.
No celebrity, no politician would have stood next to it irrespective of their claims.
What is the use of an outer shine when inside it's this dirty. And how come such a toilet in even such a prime area. The response I'm sure would be that there is no government funding for maintanence of toilets, funds are perhaps only to build new ones. As a gentleman did so yesterday, better than use such a toilet is to defecate in the open. It is akin to the movie Joker, where as part of free toilet schemes, just the toilet seat was handed to the poor in a well promoted event. What about the piping and drainage, no point in even asking.
Be it toilets or demonetization, a weakness of this government has been to not consider and plan for the aftermath. I hope it takes this feedback and builds on the good work of creating a non-corrupt administration.
Not in the villages, all this social media, why when people know each other already.
It's not the traffic or roads that win votes, where basic amenities of water and shelter a concern.
The Bharat in cities, is a speck in this ocean, of cultures diverse. All bound by the thread, of Sanatana Dharma.
If you want to live a life truly tranquil, not that all do, but the opportunity still resides in its villages
Where trees still cool down, the breeze and paths, and the minds of many a mendicant.
Despite the marauding invasions of Mughals, hell bent upon wiping out cultures, how wonderfully are the Rajasthani traditions preserved.
In the desert heat that nurtured, vegetarian rugged features; where aesthetic music and graceful dances despite prevailed.
How blessed we are that the will persevered, even with scarce resources battling biting cold nights and tempting offers to convert.
This culture great of the state and country, is slowly eroding by a youth nonchalant.
Fed with education that looks at the West as great. As ourselves made up of orthodox mindset.
They look down at themselves their potentials great. And measure success with ability to immigrate..
In every religion they make sure to teach
That this world is not the end in itself
This life is not the only one
That death is not the end of ways
We spend in here a little time
Souls who have come to reap their fruit
Why then this mad rush to destroy at will
What in first place not belong to us
The riches here don't fly aboard
The ship that we take to reach beyond
So share and care for your own good
Earn eternal bliss on Earth and Heaven
The symbol of innocence, the mother cow
With no expression except of love
Always giving and not asking much
The mother cow, watches over us
May she be fed, with food and care
She will bless us as ever, with milk and calm
May she be protected, venerated as Life
Her destiny is ours, we will realise
Flow of time, resembling waves
Inconspicuous little, but precious moment
If you are tensed, the one that freezes
And when in love, the time that flies
I know the time, I feel one moment
And then that moment, passes by
Before I can understand it well
The moment bades me, goodbye
There is a general flow to things
The baby runs in optimum speed
The children find mirth in company
The flowers bloom to impress the sun
I feel this thing on certain days
As if all is fallen to place
The rhythm of life like the beating pulse
Is quiet yet moving like the passing time
To understand the Bharatiya mindset, look at RK Laxman's "Common Man".
He is typically a Witness. That's how Bhartiya spirituality, to be specific Advaita, defines the true self. As the unchangeable witness. It asserts this life at Earth is just a passing dream. Things will happen as per the role of Karma. So the Bhartiya just watches mostly, and moves on. If needed, he'll stick around to clean up the remains. But raising his voice for course correction is not his typical inclination.
The other aspect is his Simplicity. How he makes silly mistakes or looks in wonder and disbelief at happenings around him. He doesn't question or scratch his head to solve. He just observes, accepts it like that and moves on..
The third aspect is his lack of Resources. He's dressed in simple dhoti shirt, an old umbrella-cum-walking stick. Clothes rugged and the general feel of an average lower middle class aging man.
Humorous but much different - thankfully in some aspects - from the Bhartiya of 2018. Not to be taken for a ride, middle class on average, and most importantly, young, with an average age of around 30!
But definitely the mindset of the "Common Man" is our true legacy, something that we should look back upon, cherish, and retain in parts.
For love of the art form
And the artist within
He who explores within
And lives in his own world
The one who feels at peace
When left to his own means
That artist who lives
In closest connect to God
That artist as this poet
Is this my very soul
Dear middle class friends,
In your subconscious want to "belong", let not yourself get fooled.
To be able to grasp for your family what your parents couldn't afford, let the well saved money not get drained.
It was a surprise to see Columbia Asia in Sarjapur so relatively empty yesterday. And all their TVs were running promotional videos. But as a downward spiral unravels, it wasn't hard to see why: When we went to ER, were given a shoddy guesswork diagnostic exercise, with a blatant explanation that they don't have all specialists since it was evening (6pm by the way)!!
I learnt from my ayurvedic doctor today that these corporate hospital managements set surgery targets to the doctor staff, leaving the staff under pressure, violating their oaths and acting unethically and unprofessionally.
But then think about it logically: How would these hospitals that keep up the glossy look and costly machines maintain these. They have made these investments keeping an "estimate" of returns. So they obviously have to create and stick to a "plan" to pay up their bills and debts.
Let's not be foolish as consumers when making our choice of doctors by falling into these honeyed traps. The best doctors I've seen in Bengaluru were practicing still in plain bland offices, not within spanky corporate houses. Which shows that this is the results even the best would be able to earn if they practice ethically.
It is also our responsibility to ensure our ₹ are getting invested, and casting our support behind quality, not a plastic mask!
I often awe my children young
Blessed as you'll are from heaven
Have come to earth to live in here
In this my little humble home
I hope I have made you'll feel welcome
Special and as your own
It's so nice to see you comfortable
To hear you calling this as home
Though I know your truth my little lords
Having graced me the chance to clean your feet
And why this very home is yours
I'm only the servant who kept it clean
I've often mentioned the solution of Bharat's traffic woes lies in public transport.
There's wise reasoning in Singapore taxing cars exorbitantly. The country is so small that it doesn't have the space for more clutter. And actually we've failed to learn experience from the wise: the reason Singapore doesn't want many cars is per capita population and quality of life both.
Bharat, especially Mumbai's efforts are in the correct direction:
- Local trains connecting South Mumbai with North
- Metro trains beginning to connect East Mumbai with West
- Bus transport that has always supported across all directions connecting via main roads
- Autorickshaws and Cabs that help connecting the last mile
With all this, you wouldn't consider taking your car out!
What Bengaluru and other cities need today is to emulate this model just when you see population growth trend crossing a specified threshold.
Since not everything can be affordable to government, especially in the country with poor tax compliance as Bharat, you have to open up infrastructure and transport to private partnership and even majority ownership.
Cars and private vehicles then need to slowly be made pricier with taxes, to give residents the nudge to start adopting public transport. This will in turn increase revenue and make further investments into upkeep and upgrade of transport worthwhile.
In India, with its population, any public transport initiative will surely give profitable returns.
Private vehicles is a model for countries with less per capita population where it won't make economical sense to have (say) a bus run through a route with just 3-4 passengers in it!
Discarded and disrupted, I belong where I am not
Trying and fearing, I fit not where I am
Disillusioned and wavering, the mind longs for calm
Waiting in impatience, the Atman wants to break free
The creative genius always hurting
The one who has sipped the nectar of bliss
When in process of his last creation
He is thirsty again and nothing will quench
As once more that touch of genius
He is restless for inspiration once more
And he feels peace only at the work sublime
Dear lord I cherish, that bliss of devotion
Half opened eyes, in early crimson dawn
Heart filled with love, a joy erupting out
The burning scent of firewood, the chanting of the mantras
The fragrance of ghee, and the calm presence of mind
My lord make me like that, give me back my way
Dear mother who rocks me to sleep
How can I ever repay you
Sacrificing rest you console
My tears in middle of dark night
You feed and forgive and sing for me
While all you need is good sleep
O mother dear mother how can I
Ever repay you
When growing up I forget this
But see this same repeating
When my child's mother wakes up
To cajole to console my child's cry
O mother dear mother how can I
Forget that all you did for me
The sweet ordinary better than bitter greatness
The healthy human is one filled with frailties
This world of irony where the pauper's blessed
Is worth escaping for its sink-sand nature
Give and expect to get nothing
If you ironically want to be happiest
Stay away from money and things it buys
If you ironically want to be richest
There are three categories of people as regards music:
1) Ones who practice and perform it for a living
2) Ones who listen to it and may practice or even may perform it, but mainly for enjoyment
3) Ones who do not like music
The majority of the world falls into the second category. And I think it's better that way.
We see the ones performing music are in deep joy when performing. Of course they might be trying their best to get into the mood of the song so that it comes out well.
And yes they must also be feeling that joy when practicing it, but to get to that stage must be requiring a lot of rigour also.
Still, I feel somehow it causes a side effect. For if you see their lives, of those who live by music alone (or any art form for that matter), their lives end up being quite complex.
The reason in my view is that they get addicted to the high. They expect the same enjoyment in every other aspect of life. Which is not really meant to be so!
And not knowing this, they take steps which are rash, immoral, unhealthy, and eventually at times takes a toll on their practice itself. It sometimes shows in the performance and they fall in self esteem.
The ordinary always has to be balance the divine. Else by the very nature of life is that it tries to balance it with the worst, and the net effect is worse.
We see all companies claiming or patting themselves to be innovators. And yet, you see them pruning budgets at all places which motivate employees: be it salary, benefits, facilities or perks.
The cost cutting measures in Indian companies have reached a limit where toilet paper I hear is sometimes in shortfall. I'm sure they ensure this is not so in the restrooms used during client visits!
Then there is the question of bandwidth: innovation as a goal as trickled down. But not the time to innovate! This leads to unplanned, half-hearted measures just to fill up appraisal forms. You can bet that the ones who come up with significant monetization worth innovation ideas are definitely spending 80% of their bandwidth on it.
If companies want to ingrain innovation, the the way to operate it is to have a focused team. Let me put it more clearly, a "swat" team of developers, architects and leads, under an " innovation" unit. This team then has to pick up one production/implementation project at a time (priority to multi year production support), and walk through their use case with the production team, and maybe even collate some potential ideas from them, but that's it. The existing team has the task to support/implement, and can't be doing justice to both the delivery at hand and the out of box innovation aspired. This should be the task of the innovation team.
There will be projects where the cost to innovate will be higher than the benefits. The innovation team can consider if the cost can be recovered in case the innovation idea can be replicated across other other projects. If not, just drop it and move on to the next project.
If any company is serious about moving beyond bits and pieces innovation, this is the model. Will be an investment or at best a break even for some time. Until reusable code base is created, and thereafter it'll be about picking and plugging the right one. The idea is to have Central control on innovation.
They will search for your loving eyes
They are your children after all
They just need your reassuring smile
They want your hug, your sweetest kiss
They will look at your eyes, for the twinkle in it
As to how special, carrying them is
They will wait to walk with you
They laugh most playing with you
There be no joy, a bliss as father
Dear lord I waited, two lifetimes for this
Since ages and for all around
Has this running race been life
The means to security and daily wage
Has become the very purpose
Why this life, and life after life
Is noy thought even through lifetimes
Just this chase of rush and pleasure
Desires and expectations feeding each other
When will feverish mind calm down
Why not it take a step higher
Why does it fail to see within
And manifest the ocean of bliss
There was once, a beauty called Simplicity
Decked in Austerity, its radiance aglow
Then came the charming, prince called Pleasure
Who gave dreams of Desire, erstwhile unknown
He took her to places, where Greed adorned
Even Simplicity changed, her name to Selfishness
Today was coming through "Fast Tag" toll lanes on Hyderabad to Bengaluru Highway, and was finding the fast tag lane slower than the cash lanes.
This shows why ideas in Bharat are received with cynicism.
The reason here was four-fold:
1) Non-fast tag vehicles were being allowed in the Fast Tag lanes: what's the point of promoting Fast Tag (which carries a device cost btw) when you are not going to give them an incentive.
2) A person has to show his bar code gun to the car Fast tag sticker: Why not have seamless detection. If the technology adopted is weak, know that the idea will be used as an example of weak, patchy implementation.
3) The fast tag lanes are at the extreme corners: This means they are also occupied by big trucks.
4) No feedback mechanism: The government does not keep a ready feedback mechanism even for those who adopt Fast tag. In this case, if they simply would keep a toll free number or email id inviting feedback, citizens like me and others inconvenienced would have a direct means to provide suggestions
I'm not bringing out the issues I faced ordering the fast tag itself. Citizens understand and are willing to tolerate one time or initial glitches.
This is a very beautiful world my lord
Your creation very detailed by cause
The emotions given of love and care
Being the very basis it lives
You have shown all has high and lows
And lives and feeds by their nature
And then you alone have come inside
And watch how far they can go
May parents not be separated from child
For the pain in the hearts of both sting
May life not throw situations
That you have to abandon newborn
Or you have to go far for work
For that very life lost meaning
When it broke the fabric of bonding
Merciless time
Please go back once
Let them relive
That memory lane
Give them a chance
To say what they want
Give them some time
To do it again
Whatever happens, to shining stars
Why do they come, thus shooting down
Do they not see, that burning bright
Is not all why, sun's glory is
Calm down and lighten
In smiling grace
Teach all around
What talent is
Do not bite dust
In such a rush
Let it be
In soothing gaze
Siva in my meditation
May your silence deepen
Krishna in my prayers
May your bhakti rise
Sharada when I read and learn
May jnana reflect vast
Devi in my very actions
May your purpose bloom
When no matter what he says
Just keep speaking, you feel
When her steps sound like
The soothing of music
When life has thrown open
Dams of bliss at moonlight
Know my dear, love has, beckoned your heart
There is, a link, a thread unseen
Why the moon's reflection, aches a heart
Where the world and time
Seem all too floating
Know my dear, has love, made you realise The Self
She never cared for the body
It was the true personality that really mattered
She wasn't into the outer charm
The inner warmth is what she sought
There were no two ways to it
Generous to depths unfathomable
Easily forgotten these steps of life
Piled under timeless generations
Don't be conscious of the world around
Just witness yourself and the world inside
The very awareness of body and mind
Brings out the truth of entire existence
You are One, the only witness
Unknot slowly the ego's effects
The loyalty to a nation
Asks sacrifice of life and family
Where do these people come from
Who weigh intangible over what could have beens
No heavenly palace is too big for these
Who wept tears silent in love of motherland
No salute of yours will suffice
To those who have walked those paths
When one touches
What belongs to you
When you feel cared
Special well treated
When you see oneness
A common purpose going
You get a tingling sensation
A feeling of goosebumps under your skin
Will all the machine learning in this world
Ever bring this subjective touch to life
There couldn't have been a beginning or an end to creation cycle. Because we can see everything going in cyclic form.
Be it night and day or seasons of the year, there is always a cyclic pattern. Life and death and rebirth effect l even if. Health and sickness, poverty and richness, success and failure.
It is all too evident that creation is moving in a cyclic pattern.
If we take it a step higher, it is thus clear that creation and dissolution are cyclic in nature.
As Vedanta puts it, after one dissolution also, what happens is that existence goes unmanifest. Just waiting as the genes/DNA in a seed waiting to manifest.
There is no death. There is no liberation in sense of an escape. There is only a realisation. This realisation "spoils" the game per se. And hence rebirth stops for such a Jiva. All karma good and bad are burnt out leaving no reason also to undergo Samsara.
But know for sure that they exist, unmanifest perhaps from our point of view. But actually, more manifest from the higher point of view, always around and within us, not bound by time or space!
Forget the cursing of the noon time heat
The migraine the mirage to beat a retreat
Just awe at wonder the rise and set
When leaving the world, you will miss the sun
Keep all the worries aside, Just watch it rise
Both ancient yet, taking all in its stride
Was there ever a wonder, than this life giving heat
Was there ever a beauty, than the illumining sunlight
The light green leaves on American soil
They looked a beautiful and flowing colour
They were aplenty across grassland hills
But they were different, I missed something
The dark green colours, many dusted brown
Raise the fragrance of Earth, upon rainy shower
These bright dark green, are what eyes love
Find it familiar, call it their own
When I say I didn't like lunch
You made sure my dinner a feast
When I raise voice losing temper
You keep calm and later forgive with love
When I was sad, crying unhappy
Your tears reflected pain more than mine
Mother can ever a child pay his debt
Mother I am ever so grateful
And the smiling rays bathed me with beauty
I could see them dodging the maze of leaves
The anxious grass grasping for the touch of light
It means a lot to birds and animals alike
To feel the embrace of one that nurtures
The sun is no different
Let there be benediction and respect alike
For the one that enlivens our life on Earth
The mother is quiet
Her expression cold
Bitterness and pain
Have numbed her old
She has lost babies
She has wailed to no worth
This mother O mother
Bears the cross and glows
O Vishnu with your Virat rupa
The angst of life fulfill and make whole
There be not peace in the world distressed
When each is searching and coercing his way
When will you awaken me and filled with love
Spread the joy as never witnessed
The restlessness of when
Pleasure is unfulfilled
The desires torment
Even sleep is not restful
Walking awake seeking more
But there are no sources to take you there
You become a crazy maniac
Stop before you start seeing haze
Step in to let go, bring back the mind within
Do not pursue, accept what comes
Do not want, you will get what's in need
Beneath the big exteriors
The gnawing hollow interiors
A biting cold breeze blowing
Mercilessly cutting
The glass walls easily shatter
At slightest tremor of disturbance
There is not beneath the greenery
The eastern earthworm that lived there forever
I enclosed myself in darkness
Because I fell in love with it
Don't blame this heart for innocence
I'd rather retain its purity
Is not this world destroyed
By those who are its rational force
Let me burn this lamp
To enlighten a few lives
There is not a life lived
On this world the creation of marksmanship
That has lived if not seen
The rising ball of sun at dawn
And the brightened full moon at night
May you not miss the sunrise
In work and senseless pleasures that arise
And keep awake at dead of night
Sleep well and witness the morning glory
Bask in blessings of fresh morning
From none other than the ancient sun
With the touch of simplicity
Does life come to bloom
Simple thoughts simple needs
A simple joy abounds
A deep satisfaction
That no pleasure can buy
A kind of smiling sleep
That no medicine can assure
The bitter sweet tinge
Of the morning wake
Well slept and rested
At sight of cold day
No worries as a child
The craving of the heart
Cherish the simple life of past births
Now beaten to dust by greedy concrete
Bending breaking doing all you can
You make plans build dreams of you will do
You do it thinking it's all in our control
Only to find that it never was in true sense
You do a thousand things right
And get pointed for the one wrong that slips
If you thought it will get overridden
Well no that is considered the most brutal mistake
So set aside these expectations
You have no control over life
Do what you have to
Accept happily what comes back
Your duty only was to do what's right
The result was already written far ahead
This is a world of magic and dreams
Even life and nature no less than magic
Science is only magic you know
The rest is called magic, until you know
The love that bonds, a creature and it's young
The fight that precedes, the choosing of the mate
If this beauty not magic, what word would you choose
But hark remember, not the value you lose
And beyond all this magic, is the magician watching
He who understands, but has sadly forgotten
And stuck in his magic, engrossed and brooding
Searching for the way, out of his own maze
I've learnt some things with the experiences and observations of being part of apartment association.
There are 3 types of individuals you will see when you want to plan an activity, event or anything at involves a change in general:
1) The Doers: These are the people worth emulating. If you are bringing up children, encourage them to be doers. These individuals are on the lookout for opportunities. They just need to be given the right platform to excel. And if not given the platform, they will make one themselves! They thrive in doing, in action. They are the champions, the celebrities, the young leaders, the role models and inspirations of the world. If it involves patient planning, they'll be in for the planning part and might need some motivation and support on the patience part. With experience, they learn the right skills for success in life. To put efforts, to be persistent, and to not be disheartened by failure.
2) The Planners: These are the people who create the platform for the doers. They are the planners on which platforms to be created. They are the ones who identify the doers, and groom nascent abilities to full potentials. These are the coaches, the Guru, the teachers, the senior leaders of the world. They have a huge role to play in the culture, the values, the development and progress of the institution. They have a duty to keep an eye on the big picture always and tread the thin line of what's the direction to give. To make sacrifices, to distinguish between right and wrong, ends and means, truth and false. Not always would they be recognised or appreciated. Nor might be what they want. They are behind the doers, motivating and supporting. Akin to the coach of a champ or the board of director or management consultant behind the CEO. They are the foundation of civilization and the ones who give shape to destinies.
3) The Cribbers: Yes I use a strong word, for what is perhaps an essential role. These are the cynics and criticisers. But without them, there would be no independent thinking. And without that, a team will be made of yes-men which means a lack of introspection and reflection. A major cause of failure to course correct when needed leading to failure in achieving the goal. However, given a free leash, the Cribbers have the enough negative energy to damage, destroy and even enjoy killing projects and the potentially potential in Doers. Hence it is very important to keep them away from the doers. The doers like all humans have their phases of self doubt, and the last thing they need is the shadow of the Cribbers. But it is essential for the Planners to have Cribbers in his team. Importantly, he needs to groom them because he is eventually going to consider the cautions in their advise and not really kill the initiative like the cribber would really like to. So he needs to groom them to have a balance in approach while appreciating and even encouraging his independent thinking.
There will always be Doers and Cribbers in the world. But the direction the world takes ever has been the burden of the Planner.
O Narayana, most loved Jagannathan
Each of your incarnations have led many to bliss
As Rama to Thyagaraja
As Krishna to Meera
As Venkatesa to Annamaya
Bless me with bhakti
At Sabarimala to the divine saint
And Bhadrachalam to Ramadasa
Grace this heart, with ever your presence
A lifetime is wasted, if the bliss of Bhakti not felt
O Dear Mahavishnu, one with the thousand names
May in minds and lips, be always your music
The rain that brings with it, the wafting scents of Earth
The rain that sends messengers, as cooling breezes that blow
The rain that's carried fro, by heavy clouds with gait
That rain I look forward to, my heart with mirthful wait
Keep me immersed in your love dear Mother
Keep me enchanted by your forms O Vishnu
Let me not get distracted by the fleeting
Keep me absorbed in meditation Parameshwara
A thousand lives and still counting
This shortened memory trapped in life's cycle
Deluded to believe everything around as real
Give me Viveka to be engaged in the eternal
The pendulum at one end,
Is the same at the other end
Austerity is as admonishing as Depravity is
You say one religion is violent
The reaction in name of defence, is also violence
As is war murderous of bodies
So is peace only through murder of souls
There never can be just happiness
And pray that there never is
For it would be, the end of all fulfillment
The depth and silence in meditative mind
Takes me there to where peace lies
To the bliss that deep sleep enjoys
But refuses to share and let me keep
I go about mistakes in waking world
I need step back and shrug it off
For none that happened with my intent
Is nothing but Prarabdha in itself potent
This is the kind of service why I discourage people from buying Apple products: It's not enough that they tie up the hardware and software components and do not share their OS software with other manufacturers. Hardware that only works with their own types of charges. And versions that copy features from tried and successful ones from Android. In turn earning around 50% profit while all the while trying to skip tax.
When my iPhone 6 stopped working, I walked into an apple store and be tells me they can't fix. I've to choose among the one of 2-3 icare center' far off in the city (speak of inconvenience).
So I try to show it in tech garage franchise who tells me the bad part is out of stock (Apple won't supply on time).
I walk in finally into icare and they are offended I tried someplace else. They call it "unauthorised service performed" and won't fix it.
Really!! Stop calling it "iCare". They only care for profits.
Maha Vishnu Bless me with devotion
May the thirst of pleasures be gone forever
Replace it forever with the bliss I feel now
Replace it I pray with overflowing love
Your beauty magnificent
As Narayana and Krishna
May this bubble over my world
May I lord not forget this feeling
May it not lose it and pain for it
May I not be deluded by all that the world offers
I fall at your lotus feet to fulfill this prayer
Dear Sharade, whose one thought drives away all impurities in mind
Mother Sharade, who keeps her children always under her watch
May your grace always be upon us
Jnaana pradaayani, one with face radiating austere calm
Who carries a book, that initiates children on Vidyarambham
May you remove the ignorance that clouds our knowledge
Moksha pradaayani, with the rosary in hand
Be my Guru and grant me my mantra
Give me your vision that frees me from Samsara
There is this ill-advised rush to emulate role models. Definitely do so in their work ethic or sadhanas which are in tune with Dharma. But please do not let it supersede your logic and values.
What the role models i.e. the succesful ones in their field of work, and their fans / followers need to realise that we all are just the medium. Instruments in the hands of a higher force, or God to put it simply. This higher force carries out both the good and the bad and also the destruction of the bad by the good and the rekindling of the bad. For that is the balance of nature.
Even these role models are not the doers but the agents. The followers need to realise that it could very well have been them. But instead this person was made to be the agent. And that too primarily due to his Karma in the previous birth! Knowing this fact, will keep you at peace with yourself. Without disturbance in mind, this knowledge let's you focus on what is right, on what is good.
On keeping the balance, because it's definitely not worth getting success at work losing out on family. Or success in studies without sports and all-round personality development. May parents realise this, and refrain from pressuring their children for not doing enough. The child has come with his set of karma. Your duty is in making sure he/she has a complete childhood, to the best you can. Let go the results!
With this knowledge, do not emulate your role models and drink liquor because they do, or use swear words because the class topper also does. Do not likewise be upset that despite all your efforts you don't get the results that people putting half the efforts have achieved. They've earned it, in their previous life!
Likewise those at the other end, the succesful ones, may they realise this too and let success not go over their heads. To inspite lead a balanced life and also accept that even with doing all things exactly the same way, success could even elude them some day. Don't worry about it. Go about living a good, complete life at all times.
In short, do your best and lead a balanced life.
In love at its purest form, the body is not seen
The face is seen to recognise the individual
But otherwise even that didn't matter
Only matters is the presence of the person
One that evokes the sweetest pain
It even comes along with memory or thought
Involving that one closest to heart
One pines the presence to deepen the memory
To variegate the experience, still not needing even touch
This purest love, hope all have loved
And moved on too to leave it unblemished
Only to love and cherish, as fragrant memory
Wake up from Tamas, don't force yourself sleep
If child awakes after 5, let him enjoy sunlight
Call not it rest, forcing body back to sleep
If you have been laying, for 6 hours at night
The early morning dreams, do nothing than agitate
Of what use that sleep, where tamas rouses rajas
There is nothing more of beauty, than that of sunrise
Let those rays brighten mind and body, ushering a majestic day
The rising red ball of fire
The one that turns into a rounded laddoo
My love that comes with cool morning air
That golden sun may I see once
The nights are busy, my child weeps
He refuses to go into a good night's sleep
He demands stories and wakes up late
I wish he were there to welcome you home
The work and calls and needless thoughts
They all that keep me away from beloved
The beautiful sun that brightens my day
I wish to pray to my each morning
Where is it now, the freedom to walk
To run and fly, on the water trail
The freedom to cherish, to fulfill a desire
To caress and kiss, the fleeting butterflies
Where are the carefree, moments of day
The windy afternoons, the cosy nights
Advaita, as some might know, is that viewpoint of Vedanta which talks in terms of 'Non Dualism'. It simply says "Aham Brahmasmi". That we all are that one Atman.
And among the best of the corrolaries of this philosophy, is that it accepts all viewpoints. It's equally accepting of all religious paths and even atheists.
Advaitins do not see a difference between one and other, be it living or non-living. We in essence are the witness consciousness in all of us, projecting whatever we see and perceive around us.
Advaita doesn't stop us from whatever we follow or do as spiritual practice. The foundation or Sadhana of Advaita are the Sadhana Chatushtaya including Viveka (Being able to separate the eternal from the fleeting), Vairagya (renunciation of the fleeting), Shatsampat or six-fold disciplines (Kshama or mind control, Dhama or sense control, Uparati or withdrawal from the external world, Titiksha or forbearance or tolerance of external situations, Shraddha or a starting faith or belief to start on the path, Samadhaanam being a contentment out settling for the spiritual path chosen) and Mumukshatvam (desire of moksha, the highest purpose). Note that none of the above expect a belief in God or a higher power.
While the final goal is the dawn of realisation or Samadhi, Nirvana as other religions, the sadhanas / practices itself are totally accepting of all faiths. Be it a religious path or not, it implies that if the Sadhana Chatushtaya is followed, Advaita is open to you. One must point out that the Sadhana Chatushtaya, placing a premium on withdrawal from the external, fleeting and eternal, is very much thus based upon general morality while at the same time being tolerant of practices that are not in contradiction to the conscience.
One must also point out, that in Advaita, external includes, at the highest level, everything witnessed by the Atman or witness consciousness, which includes the mind and selfish ego. We all are one, then why the feeling of lust or the feeling of hatred. All this is a projection, then what is there to possess and what is to achieve. This feeling logically leads to a feeling of peace at the individual level and a natural tendency to use this body-mind tool for helping all around. Want or a sense of possession of nothing for self clearly is established. Which today is the root at all that ails us.
If Bharat, and the world, goes about accepting the principles of Advaita as the guiding factor for governance and policy making, two things will be achieved. Religious tolerance, no policies with religion in mind, no conversions or berating or drum beating. Religion becomes a part of one's personal/social spiritual practice but not having a bearing of how we as a society should live. Tolerance truly sets in not only religion but also day to day living.
Advaitic meditation ascribes the continuous awareness that everything around (this includes the thoughts) are being reflected in one consciousness). Such mindfulness will automatically lead to a person responding to a situation in a more pragmatic way once the me/you influence of ego is set aside. One would also stop abusing nature considering it as one's own.
Then will truly dawn the potential of a different, harmonious way of measuring progress in economy and society, than the sliding slope we are on now.
They ignore the polluted lakes and rivers
And fight over human rights and religion
They turn away from dignity the poor struggle to retain
And strut with high talk of morality and values
You talk of the castes, the minority and poor
When you are the one, who keep them so..
Like a Love of the long lost kind
Like a tree that dries by day
Like that moment, you regret the most
Time does not, travel backwards
I wish the mind had stopped tearing my head
I wish I collected, calmed it right then
I wish there are moments under our control
A wish that ever stands the test of time
Where the mud digs deep
And pulls out the water in thirst
Not bothered ever, what about my kids
Where the rain is disrespected, taken for granted
And their course decides, that of governments
That sort of a shallow marsh, has all this come to
Where it's considered orthodox
To even pray to Gods
That sort of a complex
Have we unashamed developed
Whom all should I be thankful to
To parents who sacrifice all
To teachers who personify patience
To friends who shared their time and care
All those who willingly shared their love
Who else is left to be thankful for
Who else completed this delusional field
All these bodies that I give life
All these lives are projections of mine
See yourself as playing a role.
And one day you will be able to see yourself as even the producer (not the director, which is the karmic law). You will realise yourself as the one that projects this all.
Let go of all fear, that of being one in a crowd, or of losing things you value, or of even death. See yourself as just the agent, never the doer. What was meant to happen, will happen. You just plan and do the tasks being assigned by the empirical world. Don't even worry about both the plan and the tasks turning up wrong. The outcome will be what is meant to be. Your duty is only to have the correct intention.
And one day you will realise you are the not even the agent. Just a witness of all these agents. And these agents, and even the time and place they are in, is also within you.
Sitting by the ghats, I waited my dear
As lifetimes passed away, drowning sorrow in my tears
The mistakes that I made, were perhaps due to haste
Maybe I didn't wait, for eternal love's bait
The moonlight now reflects, showing me the path
At the dawn of realisation, beckoning me to bath
Advaita called complex is made so only to explain in depth.
But the very essence of it is the same as Bhakthi.
Advaita speaks of all as a projection. From the very consciousness that gets reflected in us all. Suggesting that in essence we all are one. Including all living and also non living.
In so many words it says we are pervaded and that it's like a dream and that it even can't be expressed in words. Or even to lengths we can't ask why as causation is within Maya.
This is because the great philosophers took it upon themselves to explain Advaita.
But listen to Sri Ramakrishna, look at his life story. Or Swami Vivekanand or even Adi Sankaracharya. These greatest proponents of Advaita did not shun Bhakthi.
So don't pay much heed to the scholars looking too deep into Advaita and in essence confusing everybody by saying things like there is no birth itself then why rebirth, a sort of avoiding the questions.
Look at Advaita as simply telling us: We all are projected out of love. Which is also what is implied in saying that all are one.
Lose all concerns and rest assured that all is well taken care of.
Don't worry and do your duties with no tension. Try and stop seeing others as "others". Keep reminding oneself that we all, living and non living are one and love everything and everyone equally.
Sweeter than the sweet pain of love is this bliss
Stronger than the stormy wind is this bliss
Deeper than the ocean with calmness within
Potent than the forest fire is bliss
Use all the means of spirituality you like
Do not fight over which is right
Indeed they all have their place in flight
Choose each one and transcend that
The world was not meant for spreading religion
Nor was life to enforce religion
These are meant for your own Nirvana
Do prevent Adharma and be at peace
Know all religions and religion's practices
As sadhanas the pole vaults for progress
Prepare to let go at the right time
And leave attachment itself towards freedom
There is a good series from the Fit Tuber channel on YouTube about healthier Bhartiya options about various daily used consumables. This includes soap, toothpastes, oil, shampoos.
Recently the anchor Vivek covered a 5 minute review of biscuits. It is very valuable and informative like his other videos.
I have been a big fan of Parle since it was not part of a conglomerate unlike Brittania (belonging to Wadia group) or Sunfeast ( belonging to ITC- Indian Tobacco Company).
But had been shocked recently to realise that all their biscuits including the non-cream varieties like Krakjack and Monaco and even the ubiquitous Parle G was loaded with Transfat.
I felt cheated that generations of loyalists had been slowly been poisoned by the Parle brand itself.
I would never back ITC which has made its money by selling cigarettes and is now trying to rebuild its image albeit without even showing remorse by changing its name.
But was pleasantly surprised to realise that Brittania products are always zero transfat. Including their cream biscuits.
The video by Fit Tuber makes the case that even these Brittania products are not healthy (he seems to have missed mentioning that all Parle products contain transfat).
Vivek has advised to look for other ingredients to avoid like Artificial sweeteners. This was an eye opener to learn that all products claiming 0% sugar actually add artificial sweeteners. As Vivek rightly mentions, better to feed sugar to children that Artificial sweeteners. He even shows biscuit labels mentioning the same!
The other ingredients to look out for and avoid are raising agents, refined flour, artificial flavours and colours.
The video also provides healthier alternatives that are made in Bharat.
A must watch, must know and better followed!
This is a critical piece of self value evaluation each professional has to do: What is he valued more for in the organisation he works at. Is it for his knowledge and skill. Or is it for his hard work and team player attitude.
Because the aim of every professional in this era of knowledge and technology at the driving seat of rapid change, you need to reach the stage where you are valued more for your professional skills than just your work ethic.
This is not to downplay the importance of having the right attitude to work. I must also hasten to add that the best in any field will be those who have both: the skill as well as the work ethic. But always remember that this is the era of machine learning, of robotics, of artificial intelligence. So no matter how hard working you are, you are replaceable if you don't have the knowledge and skills to stand apart from them.
I'm sure your managers perhaps value you more for toiling for them, at least that would be their first impression. But believe me, if you have the skills to speak for you and your performance, in the long term, they will overlook and even spend time mentoring you on the soft skills part.
So spend time in a disciplined manner daily towards skill enhancement. There would be nothing that you can learn in a day. It'll require identifying a course online (I use Udemy), working towards studying, assignments and getting a certificate to show for.
But this discipline to study and learn daily will be the key to your survival and success!!
There lay in the mind desiring a feverish soul
Mistaking it to be a true heart's wish he burnt
All that was happy, content and truly worth
To ashes that howled and cursed their lot
The diseased mind imagined
Though wrong as a must
The ego claiming pride
Over Mother Nature's trust
Training and initiating children to take up games or sports, especially competitive is an art in itself.
Some children have an innate talent for certain sports (and not others) while others won't. Sport is seldom taught for them to excel in it, but more so they developed the skills to collaborate and develop healthy competitiveness in a social environment.
But what one wouldn't want is the child losing interest in the game due to many losses early on. Or worse, lose confidence and self-belief in his ability to succeed in social dealings.
Here the parent or coach should play a guiding role. Initially, find out the child's calibre. Then, make him play with others lower in calibre so that the child wins and develops interest and confidence. The parent/ coach could even themselves play with the child and deliberately lose the overall game. But one may win some points all the while teaching the child the mistake he made due to which he lost the point.
The fact that he overall could still win the game will instill confidence. And prod himself to improve and try harder.
As the child thus nurtured in basic and core abilities is then exposed to peers of similar calibre and made to taste an equal number of victories and defeats, he learns to take defeats in the stride and deal with them in a balanced manner.
The child's training can stop at this point unless he has the interest to continue training further, or has the talent needed for going to national/international levels of the game.
If not, even then the coach has done his job and apart from teaching the rules of the game and the techniques of how to play it, he has instilled life- skills in the child for how to deal with social / professional settings involving a mix of success and failures.
Leave while the sun shines
Before the darkness envelopes in blindness
There is no going back
To hear the chirps of evening birds
Gleeful in the joy of homecoming
There no imagination to match
The imagery of the crimson setting sun
The rays rising from the back of palatial clouds
The glory of nature to be held by all
The brave warriors once
Relied on their kings
Lives though short lived
Spent in battle fatigues
The body and mind endured
Yet found their greatest joy
No longer monotonous life then
Could get back the thrill
Benevolent Guru, accept me
May thy grace be upon me
Mother Sharada, watch over me
May thy Jnana enlighten me
There be no birth after this
Jagannatha please ensure this
Two pretty boys
They jumped with joy
At their birthday party
They wish not did
But come it did
Their wonderful party
Mummy's planning
Her joy organising
And Daddy's all over the place now
With you two steps nimble
The twosome tumble
Their joy knows no bounds forever
A lot of AI's success will hinge on ROI. That it's very costly is not debated and also explains why it's taken a long time to come along. An of course, also because it's still in the learning curve.
The venture capitalists and Angel investors will still keep looking for a lot of data and evidence before they would want to put their money. And that POC is too early to even exist.
So choosing the right use cases in terms of cost and feasibility will be critical. This is where I think companies with experience in doing due diligence before investing money will success i.e. IT service companies.
These companies are closest to the clients and know what will bring the biggest bang for the buck. The startups of the world will be either niche / narrow-focused which could lead to limited success. Or disconnected to what are the biggest pain points companies will be willing to invest on AI to address.
The focus of the Service industry today should be to dig into their body of experience and rank use case candidates for AI implementation using a combination of Cost, Feasibility and Customer pain point as parameters.
They should validate this list with the relevant clients across domains.
This body of knowledge will be a gold mine using which the foundation of "Pragmatic AI" can be established.
And when you've found
Your space in this world
You breathe the oxygen
Out of the air
And when you've tasted it
What you most like
There is nothing that can
Take out the happiness from smile
If it weren't for the sensual wholeness of Kalidasa
If it weren't for the love of rains and nature in Tagore
If it wasn't for the Bhakthi in Sankara
I wouldn't be the poet that I realise to be today
Driving indiscipline, especially among the cab drivers, is growing. Due to this, even those who've recently returned from foreign trips with the resolve to drive the same defensive way here, lose hope and go back to their old ways.
If you show the lane change signal for example, the car behind steps up the accelerator so he can block you, instead of letting you come this way. To add effect, he'll also blow the horn to confuse and suggest that he's already fast and you mustn't get this way.
Then there is the usual scene where if one is waiting on the lane to turn right at an intersection, cars will come from other lanes and get into yours when the traffic lights turn green. Complete disrespect for those following the rules and staying in queue.
Today I saw similar behaviour when coming out of a parking lot, in a school no less. Parents fail to realise that they are indirectly teaching their children to take short cuts this way.
There is nothing in life that can achieved through short cuts. Those who get ahead this way - and I mean not just on the road - will only get blocked and end up frustrated, apart from having already suffered the pricking conscience.
Have we really forgotten these basic lessons? Or lost trust in them??!!
It is not so hard, this Life that we live
We confuse and collate, and don't know what to say
The happiest life is by, forgetting what we don't need
We hang on and plot, and invite diseases within
I feel as if all of humanity's remorse for generations past and those to come will not even be enough to pay for the sufferings endured during slavery..
The movie is gut wrenching and very disturbing.. That it's based on facts makes it credible.
Why did humanity have such persecution available in the system.. And this is just perhaps a sample.. Similar terrible things have happened across the world and in India..
It is only now we read these in the papers and prevalent media.
No wonder there is so much anger simmering even today.. There are pained souls who seek solace.. May they find it in moksha, bliss and peace than retribution and wrath.
Why this world became non residable for purists
Why idealism is mocked, by people to whom entrusted
Why there is no trust, and aggrandizement the norm
If the laws and economy doesn't encourage distribution and hard work
Isn't it time to find a new way
Today was reading an article of how trafficking of North eastern girls is rampant in Mizoram and Manipur. Where three sets of agents first lure them to Myanmar, then change their identity and then post them in Singapore as someone else respectively...
When I go around in Bengaluru, I'm impressed to see so many North eastern. Since they resemble Asian foreigners, there is a sense of awe and class bestowed automatically by the rest of us with the hinterland Indian looks. I'd prefer that than the erstwhile violence a few years back against North Easterners in Bengaluru leading them to leave the city en masse.
Connect the two above and my advice is: There are enough jobs and opportunities within India itself. Please North eastern brothers and sisters, do not fall into the lure of fast money and put your lives at risk.
Let's integrate as a nation. As you migrate within, you'll be embraced and understood better. You'll prepare the nation to be more tolerant of immigration from foreigners be it Africans or Caucasians. You'll marry within the country and lead to the cross pollination of cultures. This is very much needed if India is to stay as one country than disintegrate under foreign rule as has happened many times in the past!
Why the jitters, when I am good
To talk to present, to express confidence
Fake it till you make it
And make it you always did
I'm not the doer, why then any anxious
They all are me, imbibe as fact is
I enjoy it, I want to do it
I am blessed, by Saraswathi herself
It'll all be well, settle in this trust
No amount of life is enough for peace
Who is right, nobody actually is wrong
There is only one way, for freedom from Samsara
The path of Moksha, of Thyaga, Vairagya
This world is thus, it's not those who inhabit
It's nature is opposites, it's neither you nor me
In a different World, where all around it's perfect
There will be no need, of happiness or sadness
My confused child, called you the sun at night
And why not, you looked like the sun at dusk
Though not with, the painted clouds
Your glory was, an incomparable beauty
I bid you well, your burning haze
Oh take some rest, come out bright and white
Your look of intent and sometimes piercing
A mix of calmness and fearless intensity
You laughter careless, innocence beguiling
O child you teach us indeed on how to live
Your tightening embrace, the amount of trust
You hold my hand, and follow into the world
You suckle your mother, eat out my hand
I feel so special, blessed and entrusted
Great Atman you have chosen this
To live out your karmas you have chosen this
As I watch you sleep your divinity aglow
There is no fulfillment that matches this feeling
Beautiful, Talented, Hard working! Those are perhaps just three qualities to describe the immensely gifted Aishwarya Rai.
Crowned Miss world in 1994, committed to donatingher eyes after death, chose the film line and definitely didn't have it easy.
She has struggled as any successful star has, to gain recognition and reaching the top.
Her performances improved and reached their peak with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Sarabjit and Devdas.
Her discipline with dancing skills also kept improving and reached their with Devdas and Dhoom 2.
Aishwarya had her share of heartbreaks but maintained a steady dignity in public. Eventually settling now as a mother of a beautiful girl with nice guy Abhishek Bachchan.
It is at times sad to see some call her plastic, maybe she should take it as a compliment for her looks.
I think Aishwarya has definitely can play senior roles and grey shades well as has been seen in a couple of her movies. She should continue to choose and play good roles!
