10 Day YOU Challenge/Quest: 7 Wants

As Swapna thought aloud at the end of her last post, shortlisting your wants to 7 is a big challenge; we all have more that are equally important!

Want is what has driven human progress. If humans had innately been happy with what they have, we would still be in crouching in the darkness of the caves and the jungles. People only quote part of what Gordon Gekko says in the film Wall Street: “Greed is Good”...but listen to the full quotation, and there’s more than meets the eye: “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures, the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge, has marked the upward surge of mankind”.
I agree, and I believe the main question is one of balance, or the ‘pendulum-effect’, where neither extreme is right, or good in the long run.

So here’s my list of wants, almost indulgences..

- Cars: A BMW for work, a minivan for family, and an SUV, well for the mountains?? Hope maine zyaada nahi maanga :-)

- Flexible job: A job or career which isn’t concerned with where I am; so I can be in India or a tropical country during winter, and in Europe or US in summer :-D

- Home(s): Well, since I’d be visiting multiple places in a year, I’d rather have a home in each. Makes sense right. ;-) But ya, I dream of having a mansion with a garden. I have a vivid picture of how it’d look. I just hope Jyothi agrees :-)

- Poetry Club: I write poetry for my satisfaction, but it really isn’t introspective. Neither am I trained. So I want to start a club of like-minds where we can share our poetry, interpret it in different ways, and have debates and discussions on it, and form opinions. The poetry could be on any topic, even current affairs. We could then periodically choose some selected ones and publish the consensus of our interpretations. Think about it, this could be used as a medium to spread awareness. Who knows, it might get to be a catchy trend.

- A Fulfilling family life: I’m not too much of an outdoorsy person. Give me a choice and I’ll go out only for a quick run :-D..I find more joy within the home, doing things of my own, but also with family. And want to have it all, like everyone else, happy spouse, happy kids and happy parents.

- Lead something with meaning: It could be a country (ironically, the tune “main zyaada nahi maangta” is playing in my head right now..), a company (..still playing..), or even a social organization (..hmm..stopped now).
But seriously speaking, something where I can put my vision in action, and leave behind something of value.

- Find my purpose: Every life is born to fulfill some role, some purpose. We all have our unique talents, passions, gifts which we are uniquely good at. I want to know what that is for me, and make it a full-time career. Do good at it. Leave my mark in that field, footprints on the sands of time.

10 Day YOU Challenge/Quest: 8 Fears

I’m really late to draft and publish my third installment to the “10 Day YOU Challenge”. Maybe it’s because I didn’t want to face my fears :P
And just this past weekend I was watching “Zindagi Na Milegi Dubara”, which was all about conquering fears and following you dreams! How apt :-)

So here goes the list of 8 Fears:

- Losing loved ones: Surely this comes way on top of everyone’s minds, and their lists. So I won’t elaborate, for even thinking about it would be painful.

- Stage-Fright: It is very difficult to get me to face a crowd and start speaking/performing. But once I start, I’m damn good! I’ve accepted that it’s just going to be like it, and work with it. Consolation is, so do the greatest in their fields: Mohanlal, Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar!

- Free-fall: ..although I’m in a constant struggle to overcome it, for it’s not really vertigo. And doesn’t everyone go through this? Or is it just that some people naturally act brave and enjoy the Level-5 rides? But given a choice, I just woudn’t go for them. Never done bungee-jumping; and no skydiving: I could completely empathise with Farhan Akhtar in ZNMD.

- Insects and Bugs: Although anywhere you go, bugs are the most resilient, tenacious and ubiquitous creatures around, I can’t stand any of them. I think it started with a childhood “traumatic” experience that I haven’t been able to shake off till date: I woke up one morning and found a dead cockroach in the drool near my lips! Now don’t ask me if it came from inside my mouth, or how it got killed, for I don’t know and have imagined a 100 different things (Yuck! Yes, exactly how I feel too). Since then, if I see an insect scurrying around, I resemble the Gorgs chasing the Fraggles in “Fraggle Rock”. Well, this habit in general keeps my home bug-free ;-)

- Horror movies/stories: I don’t believe in ghosts. I can stay alone. But I sometimes wonder if what The Joker said was true: “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stranger”. Watching a good horror movie makes me highly sensitive and suspicious of everything around. Not the zombie flicks, but the ones like Bhoot and Raat that show horror in everyday life, or after hearing an "incident" that happened in someone's village. I really begin feeling a “Paranormal Activity” within and around for days together. But I agree with what scientists say: Horror is born in our minds, and it’s a reflection of the mind’s fear of the unknown.

- Terminal Illness: It’s a salute to the human spirit to live in the face of death. As do so many people in this world. I keep hoping and praying that I or people I care for, don’t have to go through this. If it’s time, let it be peaceful and quick.

- Financial Dependance: I guess every man has this feeling, ever since he’s a college guy I guess. Or perhaps society keeps harping this into him. That someday he has to stand up on his own two feet, be self-sufficient financially, have a family and be able to provide for it. This feeling really drives the world. Indeed, if every person were willing to throw it all away to live his dreams, the world would have been chaotic :-); nobody wanting to follow anyone, everyone his own master, and doing what he pleases. Pretty scary although it’s supposed to sound nice! But men are willing to compromise, because the filial responsibility overbears all. And he is willing to gulp a bit of his pride, and bite the dust, and at times even do wrong, to keep his family well-provided for. I wouldn’t want to depend on anyone financially, and hopefully it’ll never be so.

- Radical views: I generally keep away from people who have extreme views. For I don’t understand how people can be “just so sure”, or stubborn to put it bluntly. And we all are adults, so I can air my opinion, but not really change anyone’s hardline view unless he himself is willing to. I have an opinion, but am willing to build up / compromise on it. It is better to bend than to break. Go to any martial arts master, and they’ll advise, where you find yourself overpowered, just start running! If you live today, you live to fight another day. So I shun radical or extreme views at either end. The pendulum has to swing around the center, and not from one extreme to the other. If everyone were so sure and hell-bent on things being their way, there really is no way we can achieve peace. And there truly seems to be where the world has always been. We never really have got along. We keep fighting, killing, and stealing in want. This endless cycle, driven by the extreme nature of human greed, and unwilling to compromise on anything in its wake, makes me fear for the planet the generation after will inherit.

10 Day YOU Challenge/Quest: 9 Loves

Here goes the second installment, for this week:

- My wife, and my relationship with her: Early on in life I realized man is incomplete without the influence of woman. I realized that, in how at various stages of maturity, my mother, sister, cousins and friends influenced me. Men honestly know deep within the mystery of the Shiv-Shakti duality: How man is only potential unless there is expression (woman) and how the two enrich each other. My marriage has been the most complete, fulfilling experience in my life. Living, loving and sharing with a woman can change entire perspectives, even more than any friendship can bring. True sharing includes listening, absorbing and introspecting on our biases, before you build opinions, decide, act and live the consequences together. Truly the most important relationship and experience, and Pradeep has his Jyothi to thank for it :-)
- Family and Friends: This would be obvious for anyone’s list. Our family and friends genuinely care for us, protect and nurture us. Only they can forgive us for all the pain we give them in the process. What selfless love is, one learns from our own parents. What unconditional love is, is tested by life’s vagaries to mold true friendship.
- Writing and Poetry: It is writing and poetry, loves that grew within me in the past decade (my 20s) that taught me how life is lived. That just like any physiological function, or activity in nature, we need to build a rhythm to be able to truly accomplish anything truly well. Poetry is rhythm, and it definitely only flows out in rhythm. Many times has it been that I’m driving and lines just flow out in my mind; lines (or even thoughts) that I find hard to re-create thereafter. So too when writing. Not saying entire companies are built, or mahakavyas or epics are built in a single stretch. Rest completes rhythm (think of a wave motion), and your individual rhythm decides when and how much you rest before you resume the task, and this just naturally fills you will deep satisfaction. Writing and poetry have helped me with this tuning.
- Music and Maths: To me, music and maths are the highest form of nirvana or blissful joy one can experience. There was a time in India, when both of these were considered the highest forms of learning, and hence expressions of Goddess Saraswati. It is no surprise that most modern practitioners of either practice tend to depend upon alcohol, for nothing else can provide higher intoxication. It’s because they lose balance and get addicted to the intense exhilaration these provide. I may be technically good at neither, but I derive mirth when I engage in them.
- Exercise: Since childhood every form of physically strenuous activity makes me feel good. Even to date, I enjoy running the most. Followed by pranayama, workouts and yoga.
- Movies: In “The Namesake”, Ashoke’s grandfather told him books are the window to the world. That struck, for I felt the same about movies. You may visit, but you really cannot “see” or know the whole world. But watch a movie (including, but not just documentaries), and you’ll know much more. Movies really have the potential to shape culture and bond people. The advantages being it’s visual (hence easiest to remember), its message is packaged (unlike serials which can change script and color at any time), it can convey its message in multiple modes (visual, sound, expression, action) and it can be most easily distributed in it’s complete form. I love movies in all genres and languages, as long as they have something to convey (and that’s a subjective term I know).
- Reading: It’s not that I disagree with Ashoke’s grandfather. I love reading too :-) For eras, books have been the documents of our history and sources of knowledge. Thoughts and opinions can be shared in complete only in writing.
- Meditation, Spirituality and Philosophy: If one has doubt of existence of a soul, then it’s because one doesn’t know meditation. Meditation is but to introduce you to your true identity. We are nothing but empty space in gross body and ethereal intellect. Close your eyes and envision yourself when you were younger and imagine yourself when you would be older; realize that part of yourself which doesn’t change. That is your-self. This is all genuine Hinduism is about; even the Mahabharata records it. Not the idol-worship, ritualism and casteism it turned out to be later. But the idols do have powers today; because generations of our forefathers empowered it with prayer. This inner quest gives me true bliss.
- Work and Service: Nobody can deny social service makes them happier. Because it is scientifically proven that what gives humans most joy is to be a part of something bigger than themselves. When you can relate how your work is part of a bigger purpose, now be it sweeping the floor or building a nation, you’ll find a lot of happiness in it. In the IT field, it’s to see your deliverable successfully execute.

It's over...

Listening to me breathe, while people sleep
Do you realize, the pain I feel
The darkness envelopes, the eyes can’t see
But your sight in blinding light, the mind perceives

The brightest sunshine, will bring me no smile
The chirping birds, will make me now cry
Have you no mercy, want me to die
Soak me in sorrow, while quietly you lie

Whatever happened, to games of glory
Why did I end up, in a state so sorry
I have no present, no future, no worry
Just a knife, a dead man, and a tale of gory

10 Day YOU Challenge

Informed and encouraged by Deepa, I too plunge into the 10-Day You Challenge. Initiated (and perhaps created) by one of her friends, it a unique soul-searching experience if you introspect deep enough

 And I must add that from my understanding, it's not really a "Challenge" per-se. It should be called "10-Day You Quest", for that's what it's more like (if the creators are listening..)

So the concept goes thus: Over 10 days, we soul-search and list the the following in our blog-




Well, one of Deepa's secrets was that she should've been a lawyer. I agree! For she found a loophole in the law, and said: "Nobody said it has to be 10 consecutive days". And so the new (and convenient for all of us) rules are that we'd do it over 10 weekends days (I've even late by those standards!)


In our case, there's me, Deepa, Swapna, and a few more of their friends I guess.
But any of my readers, if you want to take it up, I think it's a good exercise in introspection. Perhaps would help reset some of our priorities a bit.

So without further delay in this hour of night, here goes my list:

• When in a quarrel, I only look at the other person’s weaknesses (typical Virgo). Have learnt to not blurt it out, but it still happens within
• I am the cause my friendships have drifted away. I just didn’t keep in touch, although I think a lot about them.
• Embarrassed at episodes in my life, when I told what I felt not considering what the other person would go through. Just being true to oneself is not enough, it is rather immature. Still look back and feel equally sorry and embarrassed for those instances.
• When emotionally charged, can’t keep my voice steady. Cannot shoot back and argue if it affects personally.
• Unable to let go of the biggest dreams I couldn’t fulfill.
• I did not pursue some things I most loved to do (maths and music).
• I consider myself a good singer, poet, actor and cricket opening batsman!
• I’m a foodie with weakness to sweets. I still deny that my metabolism has slowed now (and it shows!)
• My role models: Rina Panigrahy, Wasim Akram, Shah Rukh Khan
• Of the Gods, I am most devoted to Lord Shiva. Of Nature, I admire the Sun the most (all life is provided for by the sun).
• My closest friends are Jyothi, Vikas, Crispino and Renjith. Why: For I can tell them anything without being judged (or losing the relationship) and can trust them with it.

 Pretty honest, ya? Well, what can I say, I try, hehe :-D
But I did not say this earlier (or you wouldn't have bothered to read ahead): Keep your dirty secrets to yourself! Sorry, I mean, your real secrets.. :-)
Seriously, think about what you are prepared to deal with if someone sees you sharing a mutual secret on the internet, or that no one feels offended...like my other close friends, hahaha..:-)

Enjoy maadi!

Rain and Mountain

One quenches the skin, the other enters the blood
Both are manifest, by events magical
Not understood, not predicted, but yet related

Both represent nature, in its enormity
They sustain life, yet test your will

You try to force it, will do no good
But look up to it, show humility due
And you realize it is, but part of you
Just as Earth and Water, are we made of

Rain and Mountain, just breathe them once
You will fall in love, with a memory etched

Shiva

Dear Shankara, have I forgotten you
Why do I fail to feel, you in inner strength
You the one, with most control, yet expressive
Are my teacher and guide, even from my father’s name
My devotion and love for you, I seem to have left inert

Dear Neelakanta, one who can behold poison
One who blessed wisdom, on my guru Adi Sankara
One who can be, as beautiful as Chandrashekhara
As ferocious as Veerabhadra, as abhorable as Bhairava
And yet as innocent, as gracious as Bholenatha


As Nataraja, your inhibitionless Tandava
A metaphor for confidence supreme
Only you, dear Vishwatma, can master over all nature
In you third eye resides the mystery, of destruction and resurrection


O beloved Ishvara, indeed are you all in One
A true mirror of humans, their Mahadeva if there is One
Only you could have resonated, the all-creating Aum
Given us water from the Ganges
And moonlight over your mane


You have set examples, that mistakes everyone can make
But in us also lies, the capacity for deepest penance
For the one most powerful chooses, to reside aloft Kailasha
Practice yoga, austerity and meditate, in harshest weather of all


May you guide this Jeevatma, as the one supreme Parmatma
May all fears be cast aside, be trampled in your tandava
May all humanity work towards, the soul’s true meaning and purpose
We can, for you have created me us, in your very own reflection


I bow to you in Humble Prayer, bless thee devotee, your son
Your conscious Self, watching within, may it bless me with my purpose
Untiring energy may I have, to see the purpose, to it’s end
And live a bliss Life bestows, on ones who live their roles

To Stay On Top, Is Tough

For every rise, there is a fall
Ask the meteor, once a twinkling star

Fire turns to ashes, life nurtured through generations
As a wild one pierces out, life in food cycle

You climb a mountain, a step at a time
And roll below, in the blink of an eye

Its difficult at the top, lonely with no balance
Although it is where, we look up in silence

About First Love and Indian Cinema's exploring it in 90's

Ah the unquenchable pangs of first love. A feeling one never ever experiences after. The heart lives in a ceaseless feeling of pining for being with the loved one. A couple of movies recently brought back the memory. Significantly, Indian movies. The decade of the 90's was spent by Hindi movies exploring various forms of love. There were numerous boy-loves-girl and wins over the obstacles in various films including "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge" in 1995 (the topic was so coming-of-the-age that this movie became the longest running in theatres, beating the previous record held by Sholay in 1975). This decade itself was heralded by the biggest movie of this kind (until then), when "Maine Pyar Kiya" released in December 1989. The various themes of love were explored by most of the films of this decade. Most of the successful films in this decade were of this genre. Some of the facets explored, were obsession ("Darr" in 1993), the fine line between friendship and love ("Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" in 1998), familial love ("Hum Aapke Hain Kaun" in 1994), loving a person much older than self ("Lamhe" in 1993), first love in the midst of class-war ("Raja Hindustani in 1997) and maturing into marital commitment winning over first love ("Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" in 2000). No other decade, before or after, has Hindi films experimenting to such depths on the concept of First Love. Not surprisingly, this is also the only decade where films exploring facets of first love were the best film Filmfare award winners of the decade.

Here's the list of love story award  winners during the 90's:

- Qayamat se Qayamat Tak (1989): Exploring love staying true despite all odds, in life and tragically, death

- Maine Pyar Kiya (1990): Love wins this time, against all odds

- Lamhe (1992): Exploring contentious issues at the time, like loving a girl older than oneself, and then marrying a woman much younger than self

- Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993): A simple love story

- Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1995): Saga of love, pouring within a joint family

- Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1996): As mentioned earlier

- Raja Hindustani (1997): Love in struggle against class barriers

- Dil To Pagal Hai (1998): Just what was missing, a love triangle in this decade of love stories

- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1999): Exploring the intriguing theme (but taking a safe stand) of mixing friendship and love

- Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (2000): It's remarkable that this film tries to give some rationality to the heady feeling of love, pitching commitment over love. Almost a sign that the trend was coming to its natural end.


If you observe the best film award winners, these start leaning towards love stories as you approach the 90's, and likewise start leaning away from "first love" stories, as you move into the 2000's. Uncanny, but its simply the sign of the times. In one sense, a decade of first-love stories, is too much of sweetness; people must have had enough. If you look the big picture of the economy, India had liberalized in the 90's. The economy started booming. People were happier, and happiness, well, has more room for love. With the heralding of the new millennium, India started realizing it's rise was not just a fluke. It had an important role to play in the century ahead. People started feeling more mature. So, guess what goes first out of the window: adolescent concepts as first love!

Verses for the Day

Snow ablaze white
Only Gusty winds in sight
Though us at home in fright
I see gutsy birds in flight


In human will, lies his fortitude
And in his greed, is the breach


Corruption brings misery, or the other way round
Would this have happened, if honor were abound


My friendship has failed, in the fire of expectations
It could have prevailed, in the warmth of your trust


Fail to believe in self, narrowed by our thoughts
Of what use are dreams, if broaden horizons naught?

Beauty is what, you felt within

Butterflies speak, that beauty is tender
If beheld, ever pleasing to eye
But touch it and, diminished in a breath

Try not ever, to contain beauty
It is to sense, and not to obtain
Capture the essence, never the object

Beauty is actually, felt by you within
Not the object but you, found its beauty
Not appreciated, beauty, is any other

If you like a song, a poetry, a tune
Wish not that others do, for you felt, not they
Rejoice in the feeling, for it is the same
As wished for by saints, in spiritual quest

Life, Fruitless

Tired spirit, frustrated mind,
Oh how long will you, bide your time

If not now, it never will be
Only older, you'll not get younger see!

Piercing pain, the pang of heart
Weary eyes, in search of path

If this is life, a prolonged wail
Why this life, do we live in vain?

Do you mean what you say?

I dream about you, I said to her
Could I have been, more false to her
For dreams are not, actually true
Unless you choose, to make them to

I think of you, I surmised to her
Could I have been, ever so sure
For thoughts are fleeting, come to think of it
It's what you hold, that matters if at all

I love you, of course I blurted
Could I have been, really that artless!
For love is not, a feeling my dear
It is commitment to self, more than to you

Life By Water

Sweet Rain, pouring on Street
black, lacking in country Dust
soft, with fragrance as perfume

Caring Cloud, bathing the Tree
green, laden with fresh Fruit
ripe, with taste as nectar

Loving River, meeting the Ocean
blue, pregnant with water Life
waiting, as for mother's milk

I don't know mySelf

"I", am the one who is watching, from behind my eyes
Watching me see

"I", am not the body, my hands and feet
For consciousness, I don't feel in them

Difficult, but true, that "I" am not the mind
As I do observe, my thoughts flying

"I", then, am far superior
But someone, I don't know mySelf

"I", can Will, to stroke a flame
For this world around, is my projection
And the laws of nature, govern my body
But not even my mind, so they can't touch "I" 

"I", can Know, your very thought
For you and I, the same with cages different
Bound by one law, that of Karma

But How and Why, am "I" here
Why are we, so tied up
And what happens, to "I" on death?

Kuttapettan uncle passed away yesterday.

We all knew him by default as uncle. Kuttan uncle, Sethu uncle, etc had their prefixes to identify. But if I said uncle, it was him. My dearest cousin Prakash Ettan's father, he was a close friend and elder-brotherly to my father and all of his brothers. By relation, he was my father's elder sister's husband. He shared the same name as my father - Sankarankutty.

We all liked him a lot, as he was always moderate. I've seldom seen him angry or moody. He was pleasing and easy to talk to. He had a wonderful balance of discipline and friendliness in his personality. I've all through life known him to be the fittest and healthiest of all elder relatives I've known.

He loved watching cricket and that was the first topic one could get into conversation with him. By default being the eldest sibling's (in Mumbai) husband, he was the most regarded in our family. I never knew of his side of the family, and never even felt the need to, he was that close and dear to all of us.

A true role model in personality and nature. He would always keep busy and kept employment until the age of 75. It was just a couple of years back that he voluntarily sought retirement. His early career had been in the military, and my childhood memories are filled with memories of this eldest uncle we knew.

The last time I saw him and spoke to him, this April, he had lost weight. The independent nature that he had, during the moments alone we had, he shared his feeling that he was burdening others with his illness. My heart grieved and I put out as many consoling words I could on how things were turning for the better with his health. I realize and thank God I could see him, and I feel equally sorry I'll not be able to see him.

I've loved him and I miss him. This is perhaps the first instance where I've lost someone I've known all my life and I feel deep sadness and listlessness. I perhaps share the feeling of all the others who've known him in saying that he's truly left a vacuum in our lives that we'll have to learn to live with.

Lakshmi (Oppa) Aunty, Prakash Ettan, Prasanna Chechy and the immediate family have suffered a long time along with uncle during his prolonged fight with stomach cancer. I keep praying that the Gods give them calmness and the strength to bear this pain and get adjusted.

I

I, am a writer, and a poet
I, am a thinker, and philosopher
I, like to solve logic, and mathematics

I, am a singer, a good voice
I, a hard worker, tireless
I, a great orator, and communicator

I, with good attitude, reflective
I am even One, with no Ego

But who is this I

For are You, not I too?

Ashame, Arise

Forget the way the world is now
Forget the ways of Gods above
Forget that you were born a child
Helpless as an insect small

Attack, abuse, the nature that
Brought you up to her peril
Sit,not work; sleep, not dream
Spend the fortune left ahead

Shrivelled skin, the age of old
Will dawn on mind, with wisdom late
To think you are a human Is
to put to shame the Divine will

"Natural" Laws

As I watch and cherish the Planet Earth DVD series, a lot of thoughts come into mind. First and foremost is the realization how small we are. This Earth, our home, is vast, varied and complex. One can never fully know it or realize its laws. We can never fully know all the life forms that have taken birth and live along with us here, or even understand all the forms of land and water, formed over millions of years of natural evolutions.

The best one can do is to cherish life, enjoy this phase in our birth as humans, who can consciously observe around and appreciate all this. We are just one organism in one of the species here, but yet each of us is significant. In there is life, leave your mark in some good way. Avoid extremism of any nature, nature and its laws clearly forbade. Any extreme, both good or bad, will only do harm. Know yourselves to be humans and you best peform at the optimum.

Every human needs principles, and as social beings, society needs its laws. And every country, every religion, every community, and any such social organization, has formed its laws. And one must respect the laws of the organization if one wishes to be part of it. Else one must be free to move out expressing his dissatisfaction. Humans are thinkers. It is our capability to think that has brought us to this position to rule Earth. Hence, no organization should seek to blind or obtrude the choice of the thinking man. If individual thought, opinion and decision is appreciated, practices that are incorrect will by themselves be weeded away. If more people leave the organization owing to dissatisfaction of its practices, the organization will definitely change its practices. It is blind faith, and the end justifying the means that one should rather be wary of.

But there have to be certain "human" laws if you will, that should form as a premise for any society acting as its subset. And this premise could be as simple as: Would the receiver of the action (object) be agreeable to it by the doer (subject). Or would the doer, in the place of the receiver, have accepted it. Within rational terms.

For example, a victim does not want to be killed by the murderer. So it is wrong. Likewise, no one would want to be thieved of what he has earned. So theft is wrong.

But these "human" laws aren't to supersede the laws of nature themselves. Like every person will succeed in life to levels based on his capabilities. Society cannot progress if it decides not to move ahead until every human catches up. In effect, not all will have it equal. But each will justly have what he has put effort for, and earned.

I think many democracies understand these and frame their laws around this. Hence, for example, adultery is not punishable by law because both the people involved consented. But this is not to say all laws created by every social organization (country, religion or community) have to follow the the above premise. My point is the above premise should definitely but apply to protect other humans. For example, no religion should say kill someone or steal from someone else.

But the detailed laws to run any society or group can have its influences. Of culture and history predominantly. For example, gambling would be banned in some countries. Now you may or may not agree with it. Point is, if you disagree, don't be part of that country.

The next level of thought would be: Would these laws apply to our interactions with other life forms on Earth. Would a tree want to be cut, even a crop? Would animals want to be hunted? But then, animals hunt other animals and eat plants too. That is the food chain! Thus, the premise of natural law as suggested above only applies to our interactions with other humans, and not non-humans. But man must be think and realize that greed-in the wake of not being bound the laws-could have short term benefits with long term harm to future generations, and our own survival, and hence needs to be kept in check. This again falls under the purview of the next level of laws, thus adding "thought" to culture and historical influences to the shaping of rules.

The good effects of natural laws is very clear in the functioning of what is called the "market" economy. Thus, businesses are created based on the needs and fulfill them. If another business does it better, it thrives (equivalent to the laws of nature). Businesses are not allowed to in direct action destroy another businesses property or people working there, nor to steal their product ideas (the "human" laws proposed above). And we need to keep greed (monopolies and resource-exploitation) in check (the "detailed" laws).

A thought I got today, on what natural laws ought to be. Whatever is shaped by the free will of individuals involved, should be legalized, with rules to define perimeters. Like Gambling has been, strip clubs were. Murder cannot, for the victim does not want to lose his life. So too about theft. But what about prostitution, which when legalized by countries controls its better. Thus in the natural law, wars are illegal. But how about hunting, the animal does not want to lose its life, and although I am a vegetarian by diet, understandably this philosophy does not naturally cover non-humans. Why, even nature's laws live up to the food chain.

Maya

Oh mind, beautiful mind
You see this world, and you see its beauty
You see something of dislike, and say it is ugly
It is you who has, created this world
I am just watching, it is you who is living

This life is about, fulfilling your wishes
You suck out my force, to make me tired, distracted
You give me my dreams, to make me feel free
But yet these but are, within perimeter of your experience

Everything I see around, is only your creation
My memory, my thoughts, were planted by you
Those people I see around, are born out of you
The universe I see beyond, also the same within

I write these lines, but know that you listen
And will revolt against I, so the bondage won't be broken

Don't Stop Short

I'm a strong believer in the Law of Karma. If you observe nature and life around you, you will undeniably see the law playing out. As you sow, so you reap. You do wrong, you pay for it. But you pay sooner if you stop short. For example, I see a lot of Hindi movies where the glorified protagonist commits murder, does smuggling (and the worst of vices), but would stop short of (say) gambling, because (believe it or not) he has values! I can assure you, per the law, such people would sooner or later be wiped off in real life.

If you have taken a path, just stick to it and do all that it takes. If you are not ready to go beyond a point, then be ready to give it all up (and perhaps that is good for you).

To take the theory a step further, if you start something, dream of something, be sure to just doggedly try to reach it. Life is eventually won by those who persevere. The ones who are more capable end up working for these gutsy achievers. Be it in love or any other situation in life, if you keep trying, the universe just conspires you to succeed. That's simply the law of nature. Skills, capabilities and even talent have limited influence if not followed up by perseverance. Life does not run by Logical, rational laws, but by the law of Karma; by what has added up based on your actions.

My Two Cents: How to improve the American (or any other) economy

My two cents would be to subsidise the sectors that provide manufacturing and low skilled call-centre jobs. Because these would keep the vast majority of the masses and low-skilled people employed.

However, it is imperative to encourage immigration in high-end IT services and retain students who have completed their masters and PhD (and higher) studies.

This is the group that will innovate for greater intellectual capital and / or invest to grow companies based on their ideas and create more jobs for the masses.

Free Yourself

Desires in the heart, chirp aloud from within
But lack the courage, it takes to set flight
As younglings in a nest, with a vast world at sight

Feelings deepest, are hardest to fathom
But equally difficult, to silence and forget
As the unattainable nectar, of true first love

It is nothing but inhibition, that can set us back
Realize, have faith, leap off that cliff
You have been born before, you have nothing to fear
Except the gnawing regret, if you fail to act

The Purest Love

The love from a child is love at its purest
Unconditional, giving, and with bliss eternal
Most divine it is, just been touched by the Gods
As easy to please, as difficult to let go

A love that can melt, stone and gold alike
A love that can please, as sunflowers in the morning
A love than can meld in, as when water touches skin

Let us try to remember, such love we once had
Relive that innocence, as fragrant as the sandal
For we too were once, this child who looks up to us
Trusting and smiling, as the Gods when created us

Going Paperless, but will Feel it Soon!

Life is going paperless. You can email instead of writing a letter and mailing it. You can take a picture, download it straight on the computer and upload it to an online album for others to see. Why send a fax, when you can scan and email as attachment? Why subscribe to a newspaper, when mashups and portals are freely customizable with real-time RSS feeds?

Well, recently they also invented an e-book reader. Contact the publisher online, buy the book, and read it from the software. A book-sized slate of plastic. You turn pages as a real book, keep a marker where you last drooped-off, and now can even exchange your books with friends!

But in all this, don't you feel we are losing something? For example, with everything going online, I miss the sense of touching a newspaper. That fragrance from a book: new ones, those from the library and the ones from a second-hand seller all have their own distinct aroma, and it doesn't really take an avid reader to tell. I'm sure all those who grew up in India like me would now be thinking of how the daily newspaper felt. Crispy just like the morning, one would gleefully think! Tea or coffee next to you, and newspaper in hand, is how our day would start.  If you think of it now, you'd feel they should give that smell of paper, a distinct name; as one entitles a new perfume fragrance.

(Ahem) Coming out of my reverie, I think technology-wise, we are in the "middle of things". The next strides will be to give humans this feel of how it was before computers (and more specifically the internet) came into the picture. I'm sure very soon the they will be able to trigger aroma in the brain of the reader. I read recently about an audio set which is also connected to the chest to trigger emotional impulses (http://immerz.com/). Toshiba comes next year with a 3D TV for which you would not need glasses.

It shouldn't be a decade before you get to look at a flower on your tablet computer and smell it too! Well let's take that a step further: to touch it too! And feel the same fragrance and touch as if that flower for real. Well, it better turn true, for by then those flowers itself will be few and far-fetched, as would libraries and bookstores, and (unlike) the tablet computers today!!

Right or Wrong?

I saw beautiful clouds today, but only because the sky was blue
A bright beautiful background blue
A perfect contrast, to the dark graying clouds

And so too do we find things wrong
For we have the right, to measure against
If not for the right, what can we call wrong
But how is to judge, the right for wrong?

O Friendship, must you always sour

Through good times and bad, you always pour

But in times of extreme need, you always go low

O Friendship, Dear Friendship, must you always sour

Humans need to, find out their own

Need to step up, grow up than always moan

And friendships last, yes stronger than blood

Yet in turns crucial, it does drop the thread

For not barriers and questions, but based only on trust

A Friend can answer back, refuse, and be himself

So do not expect, and as with anything in Life

Unless you want, the Friendship, would never go sour

What Drives Us?

It is wonderful to write. It is but what gets left behind. The spoken word has greater effect, but not long-term. The written word stays on, open to interpretations, and forever available to enrich the reader.

Every human wonders what he will leave behind when he goes. We are but blessed visitors to this miracle of a Life. Most of those who reside with us on the planet, don't even have the intellect to appreciate this (humans have the intellect, but sadly not enough appreciation). Blessed on average with less than a 100 years (per the Julian calendar) to live, it’s a marvel how much we've progressed. Indeed, challenged ourselves, and built things bigger than our frail bodies. We rule this Earth, well for now at least..

Its but practical that we each think of ourselves. Its our survival instinct, that even if a hundred of us die around, we'll just keep moving on. As wondrous it is, most species somehow seem to be ingrained with this need to reproduce, bear offspring, and ensure continuity of species. So do us humans. It is the understanding of those in the spiritual path that domestic life binds us to the Karmic cycle; prevents us from breaking the chains and achieve true enlightenment. But there are among those who also say that domestic life, just as anything else, cannot bind you unless you are attached to it. The true yogi is compassionate, not attached. He sees the universal soul in each and us, and all living on Earth, as manifestations of it.

So this is the other thing that people contribute, Opinion. A product of our intellect, its important we have them. It is what separates us from a Robots / artificial intelligence. A lot has been done and undone (good and bad) owing to individual and collective opinions. And they all matter. For together they form our culture, our identity. Nothing new can come out unless we each had our opinions. As someone wise once told me, if we all thought everything was perfect just the way it is, or if at some stage of our evolution/scientific progress we all would have been completely satisfied with things, then nothing, absolutely nothing new would have been created.

And thus come the creators. The innovators who took us forward, in forms of society, forms of recording and passing on, in forms of art, in forms of science, in forms of spirituality and everything else that exists today. This order was created by us, our ancestors, humans like us. It's so huge, one feels at awe to perceive. The greatest drivers for these people included the need to make change happen (for what they believed to be for the better), to leave their footprint behind (to be remembered even after death, even if it really might not matter) and (I believe) to a certain genetic level, they were programmed by nature, for the laws of nature actually govern us all.

But what drives all of this: The survival instinct, the opinion, the innovation. What lies beneath? A Sense of Purpose. One way or the other, we are all driven by a Purpose. Including the one who says he is attached to nothing; he is pursuing moksha, a higher goal. From one viewpoint it binds us, but from another it's also what keeps us going. Day in and day out, we cannot live for living's sake. We want our children's education, and them to have better lives. And that becomes our purpose in life. Ironic it is, but even when we retire from active work-life, we pursue relaxation! 

In ways a noble purpose is important, for a lack of opportunity to pursue one, is what disillusions people into terrorism.  I'm not sure governments completely realize this, else their strategies to combat it would be different. Terrorism gives them two-fold relief: a venue to relieve the angst against unfair forces responsible for the lack of opportunity, and..you guessed it, a purpose! Religion has been a heady, potent mix for an ideal to pursue does not get bigger than that, at least for the common man. Well, government can counter it by using the religions themselves as channels and bring about social, economic welfare. Money wouldn't be spend so much on wars: a chaotic approach, an expression of our basest, animal instincts. An Eye for an Eye definitely sounds like you've chosen the wrong purpose; as Gandhiji said, it'll only turn the whole world blind!

Thus at our core is the need for a purpose. Our ultimate pleasures lie in fulfilling these; however great or small these be, is all relative. And the fact this sense of purpose extended beyond the need to reproduce, is what separates us from other species on Earth and brought us to the top. Be it the terrorist or the scientist, the yogi or the materialist, we all want to  know, and fulfill a purpose. And if we chose it too, there is no greater joy!

You Were Here

Do you feel lacking, that you were not here before
Do you feel you missed it, or that they deserved more

Then do not, for you were there
As the ant, and even the plant
As the man-eater, and even the man

You discovered fire, and landed on moon
You killed another, and even gave birth
And all this you did, with conscious thought

You were here, and will always be
For just five elements with Life are you

And yes, do remember, the childhood stories
Those who go, might watch as stars

Marital Harmony

Have we needed, to speak it all
Much untold, our minds we read

An expression here, or a touch there
Is all it took, to understand

Who are we, but feelings serene
Souls united, by Karmas supreme

Our fights make us, love each other more
Watch the demons within, keep them in control


I love thee, my devoted beloved
In sickness and health, stood by my stead

We laugh together, see the same things
We share our food, and our journey too

Of all God's graces, family and friends
You ardhangini, most exalted status

Search Nature, For Purpose

I have loved nature, as any else
Looked up with awe, admired solemn
Thought in to depths, cried often

Eaten fruit, drank from rivers,
Bathed in rain, gorge and fall
Risen with the sun, and rolled on mud

But all this craze, the mist and haze
Yet deny me the vision, of why this Life

Take the Plunge!

In life, you look back, and see what you did
And you will only feel pride, in steps of risk

In life, you think back, and cherish memories lived
And you will only remember, the moments on edge

Each life may be meant, for a purpose but
A step on sand, takes a whole-hearted effort

Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan, the epitome of style and good taste. I will always remember him as a symbol of good taste and a good life. At least his public and on-screen persona. He always seem to potray how one can start from scratch and have it all. He started as a struggling actor, but maintained his own mannerisms, style, dash and on-screen persona. Irresistably handsome and self-assured, confidence always seemed to be oozing out of him.

Apart from his acting, Feroz Khan ventured to direction showing he's not just someone to rest on his laurels. And direct he did tastefully. He also boldly got into production to make the kind of films he loved to. Some of these were inspired from other classics, but still created with flair. I admire how all the lead characters were given a lot of scope to perform, in most of his films. He also propped up actors who had the sparkle but were yet to be noticed. Every film by Feroz Khan had tasteful music or musical themes.

An example of how good a role model he was is seen when his son Fardeen was caught with drugs. In the press conference the next morning, there was not one defensive word from Feroz. He knew where the line needs to be drawn so his son doesn't end up wayward.

Feroz Khan struggled and rose like a phoenix. Made his fortunes and achieved all he wanted in style.

He may have truly looked back and said I lived life king-size!

You'll be missed.

Idol Worship and Spiritual Progress through Worship of Nature

While there may be speculation whether the Ramayana was a true story or work of fiction, there is enough historical evidences to prove that the Mahabharata era and war actually happened. I was struck then, to read in a book "Yuganta" by Iravati Karve-which happens to be one of my favorites- that the people during the time of the Mahabharata never practised Idol worship. Hinduism at the time had been more about self-inquiry towards realizing one's purpose in life and life's purpose to one and all.


Strikingly, I read elsewhere that Shri Krishna actually advocated idol worship realizing that humans are able to identify more with objects of sense-things they can perceive-than abstract concepts, although the latter is the truer means to spirituality. No wonder idol worship is heard of more after the era of the Mahabharata. And perhaps Shri Krishna, the all-round genius, for he is historically known for his might, intelligence, philosophy and especially a deep understanding of the laws of nature. Idol worship apparently got entrenched only from 3rd to 7th Century AD.

What has however been increasingly forgotten, that Idol Worship is perhaps the first stage to spirituality. Over time the means became the end, as it was easily reachable. Today, its easier to meet God at the temple rather than within Self. Most would find it incredulous that we are none other than the Gods we pray too. For, focused on Idol Worship, spiritual education has gone awry. We know we are not perfect, and "want" God to be. But even in the lives of mythological Gods, or in the lives of Shri Krishna or the greatest of Gurus, we see this lack of perfection. Perhaps our forefathers realized, that "God" is one who has his/her weaknesses, but also mastery, control or moderation over them.

Adi Sankara would likewise recommend 'Inquiry' as the path to progress. Why am I here? What is the purpose of life? Meditating on these questions is more pertinent that asking favors from paintings and sculptures.

It is the Laws of Nature are that are actually perfect. They are guided by the Law of Karma. We have built our lives, habits, civilisations and culture around these laws. At the risk of sounding paganistic, if anything, Nature and its wonders deserve veneration (and at least thus, preservation and protection). But can the laws of Nature be completely understood? You have a better chance with perception. Which is why a Leader is one whose decisions are based more upon this perception, this rhythm with Nature; not all are born with (or perhaps adapt) this quality.

The other difficulty in accepting Nature as one's master is because its incompassible as well as ruthless. How would you define the scope of Nature? Humans are left humbled when they keep searching for the end of the Universe and are unable to even fathom it. Neither the beginning or end of time. How small we are is understood by the fact that 90% of Earth's history was the Precambrian era. And we humans have lived lesser (1.8 millions years now) than even the dinosours (69 million years).

Yes, we are the most intelligent and self-aware species that Nature created. And I believe Nature created us for a purpose, which might even be the destruction of Earth. For through its history, the Earth has had 6 mass extinctions. And we humans happen to be the first species in the history of Earth causing another mass extinction.

Connecting this back to our topic, idol worship played a role in making humans further dependant upon sense pleasures. All the advances of science were focused upon making the senses more comfortable, instead of the earlier ideals of understanding nature and preserving life.

An Idol, instead of acting as a role model or reminder of our progress towards spirituality, instead became something for us to project our wants on. Apart from becoming our ideals, they became life-like. And projecting upon them thus, we gave them their powers too. Do we realize that we, born of Nature, as Buddhism or contemporarily "Star Wars" would put it, have the "force" strong within us. By considering Idols all-powerful, we made them all-powerful and began considering ourselves servile. I truly today believe the Idols listen to us, for we gave them those powers, instead of seeking to empower ourselves!

A Drive at Night

Driving against the wind, on a pretty moonlit night
Hopes of soaring, made by the mind feeling light
Is it alcohol, or has the speed-limit shot by
Or my Mustang afire, company on this bright lonely ride

Curves and bumps, cannot sag the spirits now
The blue rivers and mountains, color my life anew
The passing lights keep me, from feeling this as heaven
But does it matter where to go, when we all live and then die

Will the US Continue to Retain Numero Uno

There is a lot of debate on whether the US will retain its number one position in the world. Will it continue to remain the richest (which by current statistics of its mounting debt is also in doubt), greatest (depends on what standards are we talking of) country of the world.


True, China has become the manufacturing hub of the world. India has become the IT hub of the world. But none of those countries have the intellectual capital that the US has. The Harvard, MIT, Stanford are all here. The most innovative companies leading in the technology and business forefront are based out of here.

Cutting edge scientific research and technology happen and exist here.

And so, while these companies will continue to outsource for manufacturing (China) or IT services (India), the driver is primarily cost.

The currencies across the world are pegged at the dollar giving it a high value that would not go down in some time. Hence the the highest margins for sale of products continue to be from the US. This means the best quality of product and life would continue to be available here.

Few countries in the world have the infrastructure, or made the investments to research, as the US has. China especially has mainly lived off by pirating/replicating/copying products made out of years of innovation in the US.

Few countries provide the basic facilities for continuity of human life: One dollar can get you half a gallon milk or a meal to help you survive. No person can go hungry here. Restrooms and potable water are ubiquituous. Most importantly, racism is almost non-existent. By its very nature, the country was built by immigrants and there has been respect for hard-work.

Offshoring is good for balanced development of the world. But it must be a level-playing field. With China forcibly devaluing its currency, manufacturing, not just in the US, but across the developing world, is being dealt a body blow. The premise is my belief that economy is basically driven by solid outputs created from nothing. These primarily constitute agricultural and manufacturing output. A service product only exists to support the former.

So in an ideal world, where currency is driven by market forces, the Yen should have increased a long time back. This would have raised the living standards of people in China in the long run, and also given an edge to other developing countries as suitable sources of manufacturing. One day the economic viability would catch up and give the US its due too. But this is not to be so, and China is taking up an unfair advantage.

So the US continues to lose what any country's economy is based up on: manufacturing jobs. Obama should stopped commenting about service-oriented jobs being taken up by India, as those are white-collared jobs. The base of the economy (and employment) is the blue collared jobs going out to China, and that is what needs to be addressed. Note that white-collared citizens will be more accepting of a global world and willing to travel where the best opportunity exists; the blue collared cannot afford this.



If the US has to maintains its ranking, that is what needs to be focused upon.