A simple life

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

A morning reflected

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

And then was i broken

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

Magic

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

Doers, Cribbers and Planners

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.

Bhakti

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

Come hither rain

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

Bhadra-Kali

You show your roudra bhava
To scare the world's miseries away

Why do the world's gullible people
Shun you in that glorious form
Ignorant they verily keep away
From the very sight that can liberate

Merciful Kali, invoking fear and love
As every mother precious to child

Bless me with vision of your enchanting form
Free me from the chains that drag and drown

Pray for Viveka

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

Extremes are extreme

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

Meditate and move on

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

iCare! Really?? They care only for profits..

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.

Sweet devotion

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

Bless me Sharade

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

All those successful are agents not doers

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.

The purest love

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

Sleep is done

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

Give me the chance to see my love the sunrise

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

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 for world peace

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.

Dirty politics

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..

A moment's patience

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

Shallow Marsh

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 to be thankful to

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

Consider yourself the actor.. And step by step do deeper

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.

Eternal Love is God's

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's projection is made by love

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 love is bliss

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 means for spirituality as pole vaults

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

Which biscuits to eat

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!

Are you valued for doing more or knowing more

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!!

The mind that destroys

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 children on games

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 before sunset

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

Warrior life

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

Plea for Moksha

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

Birthday Party

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

Service industry will ride the AI wave with their focus on ROI

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.

Your space in this world

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

The reason I'm a poet

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

The lack of driving discipline

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??!!

Forget it

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

12 years a slave leaves a gnawing heart..

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 social distribution fails

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

North East merging in India

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!

Confidence

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

The Nature of World

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

Crimson Moon

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

Child you are a God

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

Aishwarya Rai - A complete talent

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!

O memories hold on

The orange painted sky
That magnificent view daily different
The rich canvas viewed from building terrace
O memory its sweetness do not wipe

The cycle that I loved
That I learnt my cycling from
That built my muscles for life

Took me every road to school and home
That I would shine every Thursday afternoon
That cycle may I remember, always even if it never could

Those books and chess and football tests
The poetry recitations byheart
The days of life in old years gone by

This Life is made of trifles as school father said
O memories may these you always carry ahead

Anand ki Leela

Holding my hands, first both then one, walking all around, home, and stairs outside.
You are always full, of laughter and mirth, couldn't be more, true to your name
You want whatever, your brother holds; you don't like if anyone, has an upset frown.
You have slowly learnt, in your thirteenth month, how to have it, all your way. Your stubborn cry, till we get it right, has me smiling, when I look behind.
And you show the same, love for music we have; Dancing in rhythm, to Amritavarsham tunes!

The happiness through touch

Don't you think he feels by mirth
When being carried around in search of sleep
The bliss and happiness I feel in his hug
And when I think of him wailing to be picked

I believe our minds, our feelings are porous
Just as the food carries the mind of the cook
Babies sense the mood changing, cries when his brother does
And rolls in laughter at even things that make no sense

Shivalinga

The glorious Shivalinga is truth
The form of Shiva just for our eyes

But the Shivalinga is him
As we just the Atman within

A thumb sized flame
Part of that blazing pillar

I bow in prayer and devotion
To that endless truth

A newborn touch

The touch of bliss the human feels
When he holds the child, and the child holds tight
There is no greater, feeling of trust
Than the child smiling back, a toothless joy

The blessings worth, the newborn bundle
The showers of mirth, the calmness within
You look with happiness, at the baby crying
There is tiredness, but  with strength of giving

Don't miss it

A part of you, belongs there
You miss it, and long to go back there
You grapple your sources, your friends and resources

There is all here, you don't deny that
But a pang exists, and one can't deny that
It's all right, like the memory of first love

Places and people, they all are of nature
There isn't a cause here, of the joys and knots felt
You will be led, like every life is
Karmas fulfilled, until you exhaust it

Not the doer

As leaves blown away by afternoon winds
As the ripples of the lake  scurry outward nowhere
I have sitting under trees watched all this and wondered
Isn't that just how life goes yonder

No matter what you think, you believe or feel
There was not one thing, you did on your own
Led by karmas of the past, weaving those to the future
Futile until realised, bound by none at all

The results in current life is Prarabdha, the actions lead to Agama

Indeed complicated are the behaviours and manifestations of Karma. We are taught that the current birth is the result of that past Karma. We are exhausting our current (Prarabdha) Karma. Even Jivanmuktas who stop accumulating Karma, have to live on until their Prarabdha Karma gets exhausted.
Sanchita Karma on the other hand is Karma from the past that has expired.
And Agama Karma is what most of us humans are accumulating, which will show results in future birth.
But there is also the apparently direct experience that when I sow the seeds, the crops grow. If I do not, they won't. If I study hard, then I'll get good marks, else I won't.
It really does seem so, but is it truly so? If it was indeed as simple as that, why does direct experience also report results to the contrary. We all have seen that we prepare hard at times, and yet the result is not in our favour. You slip when running the race, or your train is delayed to the exam location. Or you make that silly mistake in the exam or project.
Why do you think one of Krishna's best advices was to not get anxious about the result. That you don't have any control or even the right to it. That indeed the best approach is to surrender all efforts to God. This we because of two reasons:
- The purpose of life is to get moksha and stop the constant accumulation of Karma. Surrendering effort as service to God stops any expectation of results, and helps stop the accumulation of Karmic results that have to bear fruit later.
- The mechanics of the working of Karma: It's hard to believe but based on the experience of our ancestors who developed the theory of Karma, all the results that you get today were actually earned by efforts in the previous birth. There is also an exception to the rule that if the effort was intense, it shows result early i.e. in the current birth itself. This is difficult to explain and has a level of subjectivity. It is also difficult to prove from the standpoint of direct experience.
But also understand this is why Life does not look fair which all of us experience. People seem to get results despite not having earned them.
First lesson is to accept that they have earned it indeed, even if in the past life. And that for their wrongdoing now, they will get the resultant punishment, if not now then in the next Life.
Life and Karma are really most fair!

No comparing

Why to compare, when your purpose is known
Yes those you worked with, earn far more or less today
Those you laughed with, cry or are in bliss today
Those with varying skills, are doing things totally different

But can you ever see, what's inside them, when that's what only matters
Is there the peace, or even pursuit of it
Is there the blessings, of being with loved ones, when it matters most

There can be no comparing in this
To each his own, the purpose known
Not here you to earn the most
Indeed rather to earn what comes

Let go, you are not the doer

There is the laughter, the chuckle of children
The bubbling joy of being born, the mirth of playing in mud
We think our life is full of tensions
Just watch how children live with none

It is nothing but ego, the feeling of importance
The feeling that I am the doer of all
Forgetting that there is a higher power
That brought us here, gave us this all.

Buy organic or settle for cheap

We all know it's good for us. We all know feeding ourselves with pesticides and some also agree that eating genetically modified or artificially grown stuff does not seem correct. Yet, we do it..

And the reason for this reflects the short-sightedness with which people live life today: The immediate cost

Gone are the times when our forefathers prayed and thanked God before eating. Or mentally offered the food first to those we are indebted to for this Life. Who knows, even the gods rather not eat the chemicals mixed into our food..

Organic food is grown sustainably, and using natural ingredients for seed, soil, fertilizer and pesticides. It is even scientifically shown that usage of chemicals makes the soil arid over time.

Of course, this investment to ensure we use nature's gifts while not abusing or exploiting it means an artificially created higher cost today than natural options. But isn't it worth it, considering we would thus be protecting it for our children!
Think about it: We humans have been cultivators for centuries. It's only now that with the use of chemicals that resources are getting poisoned. Isn't that reason enough to put an end to it and go back to natural means of growing things.

And when you go back to root causes for this, it started with human greed, to achieve a higher yield per capita. Not very different from consuming steroids at the peril of our own long term health for a short term advantage!

It is also known these days through scientific studies that keep getting muffled in the noises made by vested interests that reading chemical laden stuff is carcinogenic.
Yet common sense is not common, very much like how the stacks are put up against Ayurveda.
And we continue to eat the proliferated poisons.

Prayer to Devi and Maheshwara

Shiva Maheshwara Jatadhara Deva
Guide this ignorant one, you keeps repeating folly

With Devi thy consort, this delusioned soul seeks comfort
As a mother cajoles, to wake up and go forth

May you both forever reside
Light the darkness of my heart
Clear the cobwebs of desire
And fill the emptiness with nectar

Silence in Love

Silence marked the love in both
They needn't words just as nature works

They held hands, she trusted him
Which in turn, gave him confidence

Leaves swaying in breeze, would best describe
The union of two, bound by silent love

When ignorance is tired

In this world of Avidya
Where we live out the wishes of senses
Mother Devi please bless me
Relieve me from the cycle of lifetimes

Tired my soul, has seen it all and again
Forgets the past and fooled into repeating again
Meant to live out karmas but keeps building on
Mother wake the Tired Atma, from sleep in your lap

Four feathers that fell

Didn't complain at the irony of destiny
They fell to the ground with no one around
They left a mark in Karmic path
That till today inspire peace

World out there, Life in here

We miss the beauty of the world around
In routines the world has tied is to
The schedules the commutes the various chores
Leaves no time but still focus
Not supposed to look around

The expectations we let others set up for us
Makes mind ruthless with this Life
A life that's gifted, meant to live complete
A Life with purpose, to achieve Moksha is forgotten

Excel with what you do right now
But plan and set expectation to stop, no matter what the cost
Look past the crimson sun, at birds flying to their nests
Absorb the vast blue sky we live beneath,
And the green pond reflecting trees

Sit down in quiet and search within
For emptiness precious, throw out the rest
Forgive and let go, enjoy the music and walk
The opinion of others never mattered, don't fret and burn out in it

Let our voice and vote ask for more
Not just money, but a Life fulfilled

Last and most important of all
Insist life is joy, and all you do

The Nimitham Maatram

The desires ripened will fall off
And free the branches to grow high

Blow as the leaf and realise
The Gods of the senses do it

You, fellow creature
The Nimitham Maatram

The Mind inside exhausted
Does the God's bidding, acting

Comes to the point of Karma fulfilled
And there lays down all ties

You, the Karmic mind
The Nimitham Maatram

The Atman entrapped realises
That It is something greater

It was never, can never be curtailed
Expands the Atman to all
Transcends time and space

Laughs and smiles with compassion
It all is just so simple

There never were two, but the creation of one's mind
You the Atman were Never
The Nimitham Maatram

Prayer to set free

O Devi your child
Moves deluded in darkness
Eats poison fruits ignorant
Bless me Amme, set me free

I know not Maya
I love thy richness
But from rebirth waves
Do lead me ashore

The demons within
Destroy as Kali
The firm truths teach
As Devi Saraswati
And hold my hand
Guide me Parvathy!

Apply AI with ROI

There is currently a lot being talked about AI (Artificial Intelligence). It's being portrayed as having the ability to automate almost all use cases involving human intelligence. Cognitive i.e. being able to apply learning to real life unpredictable situations is being touted as the underlying foundation of this path. And the driverless Google car or the Sophie the Robot which received a Saudi citizenship are the best examples.

While all this may be true and rosy, the basics of Why and at what Cost should not be lost upon.
There are a plethora of instances where the services of a human at the other end will cost lesser than employing an automated solution, or worse, a robot.

I'll use the scenario of av automated solution or a robot to replace say bank customer service.
I'll first tackle Cost: Typically metrics are shared about ROI in terms of cost of human services multiplied by a number of years by which time the cost of building, teaching and deploying the robot would prove worthwhile. What's conveniently forgotten in these metrics is the cost of maintenance. Continuous teaching, fixing bugs, upgrading to latest Security threats and processing requirements. These could all drive up costs proportionality. Investment one could rather have made in building new businesses.
The other is Why: If you got fooled by the above ROI calculations, you are not an astute businessman anyways. But if you are looking at replacing specific areas of customer service then it might as well be smart! The reason for automation should be to provide better customer service in the first place, than to reduce cost. There should be no wait times for any customer who calls. If there are things than automation can immediately service, then give that route. Else if customer needs to speak to a human, give them that option in the main menu itself.

This is not to say that there are very valid scenarios like driverless cars where AI makes total sense.
But I can foresee a day when businesses will market that customers will speak to real humans for service calls, as a selling point for whatever product or service they are trying to sell.

This will really turn the tables on AI!

Sequence of Mahavakyas

We know the four Mahavakyas of Vedanta which are meant for contemplation on our reality and oneness with Brahman.

I have also thought and felt that there is a sequence in which these need to be meditated upon and realised.
The Mahavakyas also display a sequence of maturity. Below is the way I would sequence them in terms of profoundness and depth of meaning, from lower to higher:

1) Ayam Atmava Brahman: My Atman is Brahman. There is no enforcement of the fact that I am the Atman alone. I could well consider myself a combination of Atman (soul), Mind and body. And that one of these components (Atman) is Brahman.

2) Prajnanam Brahman: My consciousness is Brahman. That takes me to the next level of depth. We all feel conscious. And a sense of individuality. Also Prajnanam means a lot more, at the superficial level itself I understand that I and this feeling of consciousness, is Brahman. This consciousness some may even associate with the brain our mind. So now I understand that part is Brahman. I may still feel I have other parts as body and soul, of which soul also is Brahman. It should lead me to contemplate that if two parts of mine are Brahman, I might be the combination and two separate parts of soul and mind. And thus inferring, my body also could be Brahman. And that I'm Brahman as a hold. But is that so? The intellect might look for validation if the mind is thinking too much.

3) Tat Tvam Asi: You are That. Voila! This is the validation the intellect was looking for. So I am that Brahman. It clearly implies that. Isn't it?

4) Aham Brahmasmi: I am Brahman. Reinforces the idea and specifically calls it to be a fact.

So Aham Brahmasmi is the culmination of all the Mahavakyas. But to understand it's true import, the previous Mahavakyas are equally important to be meditated upon, and first!

Freedom is more important than independence

Imagine a situation where the country is independent from foreign rule, but after that the society imposes more restrictions on its own countrymen than the foreign powers did. Of what use would be such freedom?

The essence of being "independent" is not being exploited. One aspect is where foreign powers rob the country of its manpower and natural resources to benefit that foreign country's profit. But the other aspect is also where you stop education and basic liberties of your women, of those supposed to belong to lower man-made castes or tribals. Such independence will not be sustainable, leading to civil strife, loss of precious peace and monetary/manpower expense to maintain peace. And eventually get manipulated by vested interests (including politicians) and foreign powers for their self-interest.

This is not to say a total chaotic rule or lack of values in the name of "freedom". It's a thin line that I'll elaborate in a subsequent article. Balance is essential.

However, when rules are formed, care must be taken for universal health, education and freedom of choice within legal limits.

After educating the citizens of values and karmas leading to a happy peaceful life, it is then upto the citizens to live as has been advised or waste away life in the pursuit of short sighted pleasures and desires. When the right knowledge of the true reason of existence and that we all are essentially one is instilled by education, it is truly a matter of individual destiny and choice after that to follow them or not.

About those that passed away

On January 18 2018 it was Aravindakshan Mama. On December 27 2017 it was Amuma.
Elders of the Moothedath family. Passing away ripened by old age.
Amuma was suffering from Alzheimer's that grew severe since around after Deepu's marriage in late 2014. Ironical that a lady who was well read and could speak fluent English, had to go through this.
In the end though, she passed away peacefully at Lily Velyamma's home who, along with Sindhu Chechy and Sumana, Sneha had taken so good care of Amuma in these hardest years. Even earlier, Amuma used to be mostly with them.
God will bless them amply for this.

Mama passed away in the hospital, but still spared of any prolonged illness. Failure of a risky cardiac operation, which if not done would have made him suffer for the 6 months of life that would have been left. God bless his children who, keeping aside any consideration of cost went ahead with this chance. The rest is anyways God's will..

Given a choice though, I wouldn't want to go through costly procedures and would rather prefer letting the body suffer till the karmas burn out and the Prana lets go..

The Greater God only Witness

The Gods that punish, and are pleased and served
Those are called, the Saguna Brahmas
Those are not, the greatest God

The Nirguna Brahma, who manifests the Saguna
Is the one true God, silent witness, in all of us

He intervenes not, in our behalf
For he needn't, and is in all of us
Justice is served, for that also is him

He gives existence to stones
Also consciousness to life
Also eternal bliss, to the one who knows

This Nirguna Brahma, is also in us
Realise his presence, and the you are Him

Experiences in parenting

When you get irritated with your child
And still witness with love
His every reaction, your protective love cautious

To not cause him much hurt, only to kick as giraffe
So he can stand on his feet

When he hugs you after, even though you just showed anger
Realise that the bond, has now forged in fire
Hug him back with love, you mock anger forgotten
Shower him with affection, so he feels protected

Not just happiness and sadness, are moments that make memories
It's such moments of upheaval, that prove truly fulfilling

Learning and Teaching

A little curious on how the process of learning works:
- When new to the subject matter, be it a project or a new topic as a student, everything seems confusing. One is trying to get a hang of things and connect the dots. What helps at these times is writing it down oneself. It really helps the mind anomeric streamline thoughts, come with questions, and at times the answers too due to focused and systematic thought process

- When one is in auto drive mode and in control of the subject matter, one at times wonders if anything's known at all. Everything seems to be flowing as a fountain from a pool of common sense and logic. Doing a weekly status tracking helps actually getting a sanity check of how much progress is made

- It is next only when teaching the subject matter, or a handing over or transitioning the project, that one gets a reality check of how far we've come. All the content and the various contexts! There seems to be not enough time to tell it all. And it perhaps isn't even completely possible also. The best advice one can give to the learner is what helped when one was learning: documenting what was learnt. The process of an exam or reverse KT which should include direct and logical questions, also helps.

In summary: There is no substitute to direct experience and the ability to learn and track what's learnt from experience is a lifelong skill!

Aparokshanubhuti not likely authored by Adi Shankara

It is my sincere view that the Prakarana Grantham Aparokshanubhuti is not likely to be authored by Adi Shankaracharya.

Below are my reasons for this:

1) Like there are controversies about Veda Vyasa being given credit for more that what he could likely have achieved in a lifetime, or Shankaracharya's authorship of Shvetashwara Upanishad, this book is also under cloud with readers like me and scholars questioning Shankaracharya's authorship.

2) The English translator of this book Swami Vimuktananda himself has a slight doubt regarding the authorship. The author mentions how some of the stands taken by the writer of this book is different from Adi Shankaracharya's take in the Prasthanathraya Bhashyas

3) The writer taunts Yoga in multiple stanzas, asanas and Pranayama. This is unlike Adi Shankaracharya whose greatness was to accept all paths to moksha even when representing Advaita par excellence. This is very well expounded in his devotional hymns (Path of Bhakti) for various deities (Dvaita philosophy)

Death not to regret

For the fire that leapt
In flames with no escape

For the tears that wept
In the dust and swept

I held no remorse
It was time to celebrate

Yes truly why do you feel
That death doth separate

You think more of the person
You hardly otherwise do

Memories refresh mind
Like waves on a beach do

What kind of freedom

Not freedom meaning lack of discipline
But freedom based on values and conscience

Not freedom if there is pride of doing nothing
But freedom led by duties and responsibilities

Not freedom without a direction
But freedom built on sense of purpose

Is the freedom that gives peace and happiness
Is the freedom that gives true satisfaction

Action in Inaction and Inaction in Action

Was listening to Swami Sarvapriyananda explaining what was Shankaracharya's wonderful elucidation of the Bhagavad Gita's verse which goes "One who can see action in inaction, and inaction in action, is enlightened"

Shankaracharya used the example of a person sitting on moving boat and watching the bank of the river.
He sees the trees passing behind well knowing that the trees are not the one in motion (inaction in action).
He knows that he is seated in one place but witnessing this motion (action in inaction).
His action in witnessing the event is what is leading to the perception of the moving trees. The two actions are thus even dependant and related.

There is no way that the consciousness lights something that isn't at least existing for the consciousness to witness.

This very consciousness is actually the one projecting the objects witnessed. Objects which are constantly in action, objects which really are nothing more than a lighting/projection in consciousness, that would cease to act and exist when the consciousness does not light them up, as in sleep. So all this action really doesn't happen without the consciousness that lights it up, that projects/creates it as in a dream.
There really is thus no action happening from the perspective of the illuminating consciousness!

However this lighting up, this illuminating what exists around us, is the only action there is while one does not realise it. Being the product of its very  own power Maya, the fact that objects around us are illuminated, is the only action that happens while it's not directly clear, as the senses focus on the actions of the objects around.
This apparent doing nothing is verily the only action there is, which makes all the apparent actions that we experience with objects around us.
This is how there is action in only the witnessing / illuminating / projecting of the sensory world via the power of Maya. This apparent inaction is the only action that actually happens!

All modes dualist, qualified and pure non dualism are true

All modes are true, as Hanuman seems said
Dual, Qualified and Pure Non Dual
It's just the stage of one's own growth

Bears no merit, to fight each other
When the world outside is led astray

Go forth, move ahead, respect all views
Focus on spreading, your word of God
Let who's attracted accept

Keep it simple, informing masses
Save philosophies for those ready
Service, Love, Knowledge eternal
Isn't that what all prescribe

Why Krishna exhorted Arjuna to war

There are various view points on why Krishna did not stop Arjuna from fighting the Mahabharata war when he had the chance.

What's forgotten here is that at this point it was too late:
- Krishna had tried every means to secure peace
- Even the Pandavas had tried every means. Even just seeking 5 villages to rule, which too was refused
- Arjuna was facing delusion than anything else at the cusp of war. A feeling of attachment and a sense of losing relatives. It wasn't based on Dharma/Justice
- Arjuna leaving would probably not have avoided the war
- Instead leaving the battlefield at this point would have meant that one is a coward towards injustice. This is why Krishna tries to enthuse him with similar words.

There is a beautiful example by Mata Amrita:
If someone tries to take possession of something that belongs to us (material or person). Note it need not be a human, it could even be an animal, not very different from how humans are when senses are blurred (through intoxication of desire):
- First we can try to wake him from his stupor by alerting him on the wrong action
- Next we can try reason with him, that this action is not logical and ethical
- If even then wrong action is to be averted, you would have to apply force.

In today's world it would be an act of self defence if it can't wait. Else it can go to the police and court in defence of what belongs to us.

Accepting wrong and walking away is cowardice and not acceptable in any religion/culture/social norm.

This is simply what Krishna understood.

The dream sequences

The only way to express love
The surprise kiss can none surpass

And then I learnt that she was mute
It was that bad she wanted me

We have met not just now but a lot before
And meet again birth after death, to profess love for each other

The playful girl, she jumped on back
A child so heavy, I strained my back
I still reached home and told my wife
To give her candies for sharing mirth

Every addiction is won by first denial, then the joy of it

No addiction can win by indulgence. There has to be a discipline to keep away. And then when gradually given the choice, one will be happier not to indulge.

In the battle against addiction, one must first accept the power of the object, the addictive power of Maya.
Admit that surely the object is a source of much pleasure. But also that one seeks higher happiness. The satisfaction felt in not indulging in that object, the source of addiction.

And it truly needn't be a victory in one birth. The vasanas could reside dormant. But the effort is worth it, even if temporary. The satisfaction during the period when one keeps away from the addictive object, one needs to keep contemplating upon and relishing. That happiness only if imbibed will the mind ever let the vasanas be completely destroyed.

Realise that you are no smaller than the Rishis, nor greater than those steeped in addiction.
You were once the one drowning in addiction, and you will once be the Rishi who has destroyed all vasanas for the object.

Let onward be your journey!

Two kinds of missing: when there are 10 and one goes and where there are 2 and 1 goes

In Vedanta we have the example of the 10 friends who upon crossing a river try to check if all have crossed safely. The person counting forgets to count himself and they all end up ruing the loss of one friend in the waters.
The example is used to show how the Self can never really be experienced or understood as an object. For it's the very subject trying to look for the answer.
Note here that the friends lost someone, they know so. They don't know who but still mourn it.

But different is the experience when there are 2 and 1 is lost. For the loss is numbing than expressive. You express when there are others watching and you sub-consciously look for consolation.
But if there were only two and one is lost forever, there is no one else to express this to. It doesn't matter. Such loss is deeper. You go quiet.
Such vacuum either leads to freedom by realisation of the true self that knows no attachment. Or into a black hole that knows not how to handle this and takes the mind into depression.

Can't there be a single nation on earth

Have we ever thought
From where did spring all these countries
These borders and the wars for them

We belong to nature and she didn't create these
Why can't we just share and get along

Will these fights exist if are from one nation
If our country and citizenship is One?

All these man conceived concepts of nationality
Would that bluff not be called out

We die and kill and hate and live
With this thing called patriotism we create

Let's love us all, let's not exploit
Let's help one another, no rich nor poor

Of All the previous births gone by

When you admire the Acharya of Sringeri
Or the martial artists defying gravity
Know these all to be tendencies
From births gone by, your own history

We are dragged back here by desire
Lost chances for the release we aspired

Each birth a blink in eye of eternity
Yet unending our vanity, the ego of importance

Pursue the Sadhana Chatushtaya
Watch through the wrong desires rising
Spread the word of Vedanta
Let life be service selfless

Let devotion be like free breeze

Not like a river, enbanked and diverted
Not like the dams that channel a waterfall
Not like fire left burning in furnaces

Let the devotion in heart be like a free breeze

Be it rotating the windmill or chasing the clouds
Be it climbing mountains or caressing leaves
Be it evaporating water, or even fanning a fire

Let devotion be sincere, to the one attended

The wind does settle, on nights heavy and humid
It does at times, not even dry a farmers cries
It does need rest, and time for itself too

Let devotion be not judged, and free from all deceit

Life's too short for unbridled freedom

.. One only has to see the lives of Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson and other such celebrities who had it all, and from the practical standpoint, simply blue it. But this is also an over simplifying the phenomenon itself.
There was also the case of a super rich person simply committing suicide because he had done it all - everything there was that could offer pleasure - and got bored by them, and hence only had suicide left to give some thrill!

People who could rather have done so much more with their lives...

"Freedom"  is not more precious than the value of human life.
Inculcating the 4 Purusharthas (In order of priority: Duty/Charity, Wealth/Means, Pleasure/Happiness, Moksha/Spirituality) is needed very much needed in every human life, than letting life sway away like a wayward dry leaf.
So that one always has a reference or a guiding light to the order of priority and sense of purpose in each life.
Each child be taught that freedom pursued within these broad parameters is a sure guide to a fulfilling life!

It is a jiva right now. Brahman is later

All through Advaita and Advaitins keep harping that we are Brahman, and so is all around.

There are Advaitins who go to great lengths with this view to even explain (rather deny) the Vyavaharika and Sukshma. For example, when asked about reincarnation they say there is no life, then what to say about reincarnation. Likewise when asked about expressing anger, they say it's only in mind and not in Brahman. This doesn't help the common man and instead confuses and drives them away from Advaita as something very abstract and not helpful for practical life.

Of course the true masters of Advaita as Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and even Swami Sarvapriyananda and others understand this, and hence always recommend that we start with Bhakti. This is the simplest means for the masses. Then to pair it with Raja Yoga (meditation, Pranayama, asanas). And then to grow into Karma yoga. And only later into Jnana yoga / Advaita.

Vedanta itself says that the world is considered Mithya not because it's false but appears as something else.
Likewise all of us are Jiva right now, a combination of pure Brahman with impure Sukshma that carries vasanas across births and bound by causality, space and time.

Knowing this, we all need to adhere to Sadhanas, respect and follow all the Yogas, for now only "knowing" that the truth that Brahman only Is. But something that we have to yet "realise" at some point in time (yes within the confines of Maya before being freed from it)!

Lessons from Airlift

A great movie with its foundations on content than cast. A patriotic sentiment and most of all, based on a true story of how Indians were evacuated from war-torn Kuwait.
Also realistic on how the Indian embassy wasn't proactive, but instead had to rely on the guts of an Indian-Kuwaiti with the right connections.
A lesson on the need for a private logistics that need to be subservient to government orders during war-time, something to be cautious about when Air-India gets privatized.
A lesson most of all, on overall government disaster-recovery plans. Truly an introspection / readiness-audit is needed than them lambasting "creative liberties" if any taken by the film.
And the need for the common man, whether in Bharat or abroad, to understand the strength in numbers, united-we-stand proven experiences!

Tech disruptions and impact on society

The world is said to be disrupting, and once more due to technology.
There was a time when computers made the jobs of data entry and space/process for manual archival redundant.
But this in turn reduced the costs associated with running a business and led to many not opening up; in turn this led to more number of jobs being created.

There have been social impacts due to this: society became more consumption-driven. Less cooking is happening at home and refrigerators, microwave ovens, washing machines have become a staple at homes. This meant the cost of living went up and both husband and wife had to work. This in turn is leading to filial tensions and less care and attention involved in the upbringing of the next generation. This is the state of things as it stands now.

Now they said AI will take away some more jobs. First the white collar rudimentary ones like on-call customer service that has already started. Then the complex blue collar ones that machines already hadn't like that of house maids.

While this has to lead to opening of new sectors, this is not necessarily a wave that will lead to the opening of newer sectors.
The bulk of any population is the middle class. When their jobs are at stake there will be a lot of heartburn. The previous data entry disruption or the e-commerce boom did not really touch the bulk of blue collared. That had been done and consolidated by the industrial revolution a century ago.

There is the other risk of machine learning being a continuous process and gulping more jobs than one can fathom.

It behoves nations to have the vision and enforce strict population planning. And to give visible benefits thereof by providing free high quality education to be skilled enough to ride the wave of controlling machines than being controlled/replaced by them!

The Village lost forever

Where we spent lifetimes past
Memories buried in sweetest dust
Where the lucky few and grown this big
Are you too willing, to bade it bye

A village is a community, a self sufficing one
Where give and take, they did of all
Not a place like a building
Where we meet only, when needs it be

Village is where, our culture has grown
Language, feasts, the festivities too
What we wear and how we behave
It was all, thanks to Village

Now it seems, time for byes
Time to let go, a centuries old structure
It's time to move, into your cages
One above the other, the sleep depraven

Forgive

In this world, that has never seen peace
Where somewhere or else there is war
Where people are instigated by their very minds
There is no hope, for a spiritual growth

There is mob hysteria, out of control
There is the revenge, called an honour that too
Are we all not brethren, do we all not make mistakes

I may be just mere words
There are ones facing deep hurt
Can they for once submit
To a higher will that we all learn..

A nation hard working

Forever content, the five great lakes
That quench the thirst, of a nation hardworking
With people that both, work and play hard
With people that once, cared for family and God

The nation built, as close to nature
With equal opportunities, and outcomes earned
Today it bleeds, on violence and lust
Ain't not the roots, on which it thrived

And someday the lakes, will have questions to ask
Of what they served, are those men past
Is it a shadow, of the glory that was
That nation beloved, built on sweat to last

Meditation Sadhana

When in meditation, listen to music, preferably divine. Say a Carnatic song in praise of a Devi or Devatha, or a chant in praise of the Atman. This elevates the mood, the feeling of the beauty in life, and avoids the mind from getting distracted.
It is better if half-way through the meditation, the music ends and one can stay immersed in the silence.

While starting off meditation, I try to repeat the same sequence so the mind is prepared for going into the meditative waves:
- Repetition of Om when breathing in and out: Say 7 times
- Repetition of Ma when breathing in and Om when breathing out, visualizing Amma: Say 7 times
- Repetition of Om when breathing in and Namah Shivaay when breathing out, visualizing Sri Shiva: Say 7 times
- Repetition of Om when breathing in and Namo Narayana when breathing out, visualizing Sri Vishnu: Say 7 times
- Repetition of my Sahaj Samadhi Mantra once visualizing my Guru Sri Vidyaji
- Repetition of Om Dakshinamurthaye Namaha 3 times and chanting Guruve Sarva Lokanaam while visualizing Sri Dakshinamurthy appearing at the center of the eyebrows and settling on a Lotus in my heart region
- Invoking my Isha Devi Sri Saraswathi 3 times and chanting Saraswathi Namasthubhyam while visualizing Sri Saraswathi Devi appearing at the center of the eyebrows and settling on a Lotus in my heart region

Thereafter going through the regular sequence of (not everything in a single session of 20 minutes, but continuing across sessions):
- Invoking the 7 Devatas / Devi from top of the head to the base
- Going through the chakras from the Muladhaar to the Sahasraar praying to the residing Devi / Devatas
- Meditating on "Who Am I" as taught by Sri Ramana Maharishi
- Pancha Kosha Neti Neti meditation
- Asanghoham and Asangha, Sat-Chit-Ananda, Swaprabha, Dwaita Varjita sequence
- Meditating on the 4 Maha Mantras from the Upanishads
- Awareness of the Breath and "Hollow, Empty" feeling taught by Sri Sri Ravishankar
- Repetition of Om in a focused manner for the rest of the session
- Keeping the mind silent for the rest of the session

At any given point anytime during the above session, if the mind goes silent, that is given precedence. The steps all above are only the means to keep the mind away from distraction, and focus the mind towards reaching this silence.

Witnessing the mind, and then feeling as the witness to all around. As the one who is in the All...is the final realization..

Sweet remembrance

I just came to say goodbye
Couldn't touch you and just leave you by

A melting of emotions is an embrace worth
I think not it wasn't worth the regret

A sweet remembrance of beautiful days gone by
Can be desserts for a lifetime of swinging desires that fly

Mother Nature and Father Earth

Usher in, the big blue sky
The wind and sun, let them in bright

Your Matchbox homes are not for living
They are best, only for sleeping

Let your feet, kick up dust
Let your legs, wade in waters

Learn to climb, the mountains strong
Let your arms, do help to all

Without this nature and sky, you are nothing
You were created, as their own children

Bela from Ahmedabad

I met this middle aged woman in Mumbai airport. Professionally dressed in white shirt and trousers, she was headed to Ahmedabad.

Her incomplete American accent gave away that she was raised in Bharat. But what impressed me was her spirit of Entrepreneurship!

Although having a home in North Carolina, Bela now spent most of her time in Bharat. She headed a school in Ahmedabad and was keeping busy with it. Unfortunately, I couldn't gather much further information about the school itself. But it was interesting to note that she was actually lending a helping hand to her son who was actually running the school.

Typically women in India of her age would sit by the cot killing time in gossip. Though a significant lot help with home or get involved in spirituality, religious activities, most don't get the needed opportunity/encouragement/support and will power to get involved in social and volunteer services.
Bela not only understood the opportunity she was getting and chose to get involved than live off her son's efforts.
Truly laudable!

Hold off the ego

It's not that needed, the flight to worth
By proving I am better than thou

We all live for just few years
After which who cares who won

I am of Bliss, and so are you
And we talk even if not in words

Then why the anxious need to fight
Let's work out something that holds for now

Until there are, better times..

Chaitanyam after body's death

There are a lot of documented experiences on those who go through near-death experience on how they seem to have "eyes and ears everywhere". Are able to communicate with the creator. And how Sri Sri Ravishankar explains that this is a 2-3 day phenomenon. After which the body mostly chooses to move "forward" to the heavenly realm away from this world and experiences, than stay on.
The most important lesson for the loved ones left behind is to apart from mourning the loss, also encourage the departed soul to move on, not worry about us, and to express gratitude for all that they gave us during this life. This can be in silence, in thoughts, for the departed are not restricted to feel and know anything during this time.

My interest now is to share my point of view on how, from the Advaitic standpoint of Chaitanyam, does this work:

We know that when the Sthoola Shareera (body) dies, the Sukshma Shareera (prana/life force, mind) moves out, rests and comes back to take up another body unless it has realised its oneness with Brahman. Its next birth in this world will be determined by its karmas stored as vasanas (impressions) in the mind.
If it has realised its oneness with Brahman, then there are no impressions left due to its utter conviction about the nature of life, and so the Sukshma dissolves into Brahman, never to return unless divinely ordained, as the Avataras come back. (What isn't clear to me still is that for me, a Jivamukta state is necessary to reach this. If Videhamukta, it means the Sukshma Shareera after losing the body only realises Brahman, but that's too late in my view and would have impressions before body's death).

This Sukshma, which includes the Prana, and pervaded by Chaitanyam, is the reason why there is life throbbing. Without the Chaitanyam, Life would exist without "Awareness" of its existence. And this role of Chaitanyam convinces me that the tiniest insect, the plants, they all are aware. Of their existence and of those around. And that the only reason humans raced ahead is the added gift/tool of "mind".

And this Chaitanyam that pervades all is also the reason why Sukshma uses its awareness to see and hear those around. To take stock of its new status (as without a body) and settle to that fact. And then Sukshma leaves for an abode which I don't understand much. Apparently also a place where one meets ancestors (pithru), Gods, and then plans for its next birth into a body, to rid itself of its impressions.

The pursuit as always being to dissolve into Brahman..