Bite the bullet: If it's chewable you made it, if not it's experience!

Why hold back, just go chew it
What prevents you, from being struck by lightning

You know not how much, time you have in hand
You know not the next crippling experience that arrives

You have been blessed, you were born and grew up
Consider yourself, the most special to be here

Just don't go back, on the couch into a shell
Go out there, or the drawing board, make the big plans

There's nothing to lose, we all die to be sure
Just bite the bullet, go for it,
Go find out if, you were chosen for this!

The caught-on people

You see a lot of people from India in the US, some of who really don't fit-in, but just want to. Instead of holding on to who they really are, they want to gel-in. It's like they want to forget who they are, where they come from.  It' like the red-necks in downtown. But while the farmer holds on to identity, these Indians don't want to. I think it's an Inferiority complex, a low self-esteem.

These are people from the villages of India, those who'd even find the Indian city life alien. Typically the city-bred Indians are those who most easily fit in the US. Easily connect with their US compeers as they've both grown up watching the same TV shows and games. There is a cultural connect just right there. They think in English, like their US counterparts. They have a sense of how they carry themselves, very naturally being accustomed to the cosmopolitan life. Much of US is just that, a melting pot of the world's cultures, a nation of immigrants.
It is also these city-bred Indians who don't mind coming back home. But to an Indian city mind you. Because they were just as happy with the city life here, as they were with the life in the US. Given the right choices (career, online services, specialty hospitals, excellent education standard) , they will weigh options of family also being in India and just fly back without regret.

But the Indians from the villages are there first for the money. And there after to rub off who they are. They show that sense of belonging only when they want to show off back in their village. They'll even send pictures of their poor upbringing to their friends in the US, and vice-versa show back to the villagers back home, that they are still the same old village-bumpkin who loves dal-chaawal the most. But deep within they resent it, they are relieved they escaped it, and fear what if they have to come back here. To be fair, even an Indian city is as alien to these folks as a US downtown or suburb.
And so they've decided to just cling on. They are desperate to make, and clutch on to Caucasian friends. Also maybe African-Americans. They keenly observe these friends, and try to adapt their ways of life. But deep within, they are just not comfortable. They don't know why. If only they realized, that even by accepting their true selves, America will equally hold them in embrace.

Sigh, these caught-on people!

Atman just Is: Even Time is Within Atman

O Those of you, Who say Atman is Eternal
Why do you, knowing twist the point

For Atman is from where, the time-concept arose
Atman right now, past or future just don't say

With Atman realized, you go beyond time and space
Verily this whole universe, this very Atman projects

It is to be realized, but It wants Itself to be masked
Say legends that Creation cast
For Atman to forget loneliness

Catching up on email is fine, but don't lose the point

There are a lot of people who tell me at work "Got to catch-up on email". I wish like telling them back "Hope just the relevant ones". For beyond that, it's just plain reading. Not very efficient usage of time. Something that you can catch up on in a single status update meeting.

As the world has caught on to email, and gone beyond to messaging, it's time to realize just that. That now Email is a Saturated Medium.
I, for one, use a combination of Filters to ensure I read the emails from clients and important stakeholders. There could be other methods than filtering by Sender, depends on your context.

It's about Messaging, and the WhatsApp groups and Slack channels are all for this.

And above all, and I think for all time to come, will continue to be conversation between two people. Ideally face-to-face, but if not, over video call or via the phone. No form of text communication will ever be able to replace that.

Realize, and Prioritize for efficiency!

Infosys paintings: the profusion of talent

There were a series of paintings exhibited in the Infosys campus recently. And I was struck by how professional it all seemed like! I also kept an eye on who the painters were, and their employee numbers:

• Some of them must be straight out of college, and what amazed me was the keen eye to detail. 
• While others seemed to be quite senior employee numbers, which means they were devoting a significant part of their personal time towards this pursuit.
• I also noted that the same painter at times had multiple paintings. Each of them wonderful. Meaning this was genuine talent at display.

I wish our country had more avenues for them to prosper, just as painters. It's very obviously their first love, but they can't earn their meal with just it. Well, in another time maybe!

Hats off to each of them!!

The desire to possess, and then boredom

This is so true of anything you want to possess in this world. At the base level, objects. Be it the latest gadget or car or even home. And yet deeper, the desire to possess family: First the anticipation / the thrill of even not knowing what to expect, and then the boredom.
I have felt it for every gadget I looked forward to, whether purchased or gifted to me didn't seem to make a difference. Only the fact that it belonged to me, like the laptop from work or the Android phone I purchased. But in time, I've felt the feeling wane down. So much so, I now recognize and know that this is what will happen!
Likewise it is with family, you start a family and automatically have a series of expectations. Only it's all unfair. You can only, and only, do your duty. To them, your family. It's for yourself you are doing this duty, whether you like to portray as a sacrifice or not. With children, this expectation is even more deep-seated. For you truly change everything about yourself to make their life be good. But still, realize, you are doing it only for yourself.
The possessing or owning of things and being part of community, be it family or society is not incorrect. But the feeling of possessing or owning it is the beginning of the downfall. Have the feeling of serving each of the roles entrusted to you, and let each one fall off when you start with the next role, be it in your day, or your life. And feel that liberated feeling, the load lifting off, the openness in your embrace!!

Unattached

Of all the mud and dust that flies
There is not one that sticks

I am freedom, cannot bind me thus
This body I only desist

I am you, and you are me
There is nothing called duality

If you must, really realize
Then call me just my Self

There were gatherings, and fire blaze struck
There were chimes and dances too

But know that I am unattached
Though appear to enjoy too!

Ekantham movie Review

Plot Outline: Estranged brothers brought together by loneliness. (IMDB Link)

Plot Summary:

Elder brother (played by Thilakan), pained by loneliness, revisits his past. Goes back to meet his brother (played by Murali) who still lives at their ancestral home.

A terminal illness being suffered by Murali brings them closer.

The movie also goes a little into natural healing, and how inner psychology plays a bigger role in the status of a person's illness. 

Supporting cast of Bindu Panicker, Salim Kumar, Manoj K Jayan and Meera Vasudevan are ok.

I wouldn't call it a must-watch. But a nice one for slow / art movie lovers.

I rated it 7 (Good in my view).

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy movie review

This movie was most predictable and a let-down to the Detective Byomkesh Bakshy TV series that starred Rajat Gupta, KK Raina as Detective Bakshy and his assistant Ajit.

The movie also maintained a slow pace of things although attempting to show things moving quickly. The characters seemed to be moving fast, but the story didn't have much of a suspense beyond common sense.

The only saving grace was the climax scene saved by a superb / calculated  performance by Neeraj Kabi as Yang Guang. His last cry-out left us wanting more, and no wonder keeps the sequel wanting.

The movie poster also was to put it politely quite unimaginative. A dhoti-clad Sushant Singh Rajput showing dodging bullets, and that too a view from the shoe/dhoti up. Really silly. Left no attraction to move into the theater.

A cult following could be developed owing to the high IMDB rating of 7.7. But the credit must go to the ending again for that.

I hope they change the writer / director Dibakar Banerjee, ideally keep the writer / director of a movie like Kahaani (Sujay Ghosh).

I rated it 6 on IMDB (Average in my view). Could easily have been a 5 but for the ending.

Baby Dearest

Dear Baby fragile, and most beautiful
Been born you have, at a God graced moment
Nice and fulfilling, your birth has touched us
Giving the family, a sense of completion

Lovely Child, we felt anxious
As you arrived, earlier than expected
But you give the assurance, that it was in time
With your pleasant disposition, and health that picked up

O Jewel of our  home, we felt scared
To pick up in arms, your body so tiny
But you showed us, the comfort you felt
When cuddled and hugged, by all of us

Flower of our hearts, our baby dearest
May you bloom, as the season of Spring
May you soar, as birds in the sky
May you feel ever, peace of the calm

Yawn of a cold day

Have you felt that too
When the dew is lit up
When the mist is like a cloud
And your bed feels like
The warmest place around

It's like an afternoon
On a cold winter day

The body wants nothing more 

Than a cuddly blanket's care

A hot cup of chocolate 

Could well be a respite 

But nothing can be more joyful 

Than the yawn before my nap

Of Where Thy Want to Be

Of the likeness, the leaflets, the gongs of temple bells
With the waves of merriment, the joy of delight yells

I lived my life, in a daze as a witness
Seeking to know, what needn't be sought at

Just dive in, if you, want to win in this world then
Or step back further, to reach your true Self

The stone had the statue hidden, the sculptor only uncovered it

It is imperative in life to get rid of the claim of doership. As a Swamiji from Mata Amritananadamayi Matt put it so well recently: Even in our scriptures it is said that the potential for any outcome is within the raw material provided by nature itself. It's messaged thus that the stone has the statue hidden, the sculptor only uncovers it. In any other culture, it would not be so. The credit would go to the scultpor's creativity, skill and imagination. Or the credit would be "stolen" by the sponsor of the statue. But in the Vedantic thought, we all are just a medium. This understanding gives us an immense sense of freedom, and it takes us closer to Liberation / Moksha.

It is the sense of doership that fuels Ego and Competition. Once we take up the role of being a blessed medium in the Lord's hands, failure will not discourage us, nor would success go into our heads. One must hasten to add that this is not to encourage cessation of all activities. For it is clearly proven that there is no such thing. Even breathing is an activity. The attitude should be to incessantly serve, learn and get closer to the purpose for which is this human life i.e. to achieve Moksha.

A New Year

A New Day, brings in, freshness as morning
A New Year, bounds in, with joy of chill winter

Celebrations, with firecrackers
Joy sounds at 12am

There was no, comparing,
The one sleeping, has missed it

There is this flavour, an Indian life brings it
You have New Years at midnight
You have New Years in mornings

The beauty as ever, is hidden in the meaning
The joy as anything, is hidden in our self

Look for this essence
Capture in true sense

And live life that each day,
Brings new meaning to living

Reflect, upon it
With joyous unattachment

Where did we lose ourselves..

Who cares for the lonely soul
Walking in the scorching sun
Who cares whether he's eaten or not

Who thinks of his age and caste
When he has no money to show
Who wants him to be theirs to care

There was once a country who created Guest as God
There was once a people who would feed the passerby

Who was that crying baby
Who is this father lonely
Why is this mother crying so bitterly

Who wants your books and knowledge
What for your health and lustre
When not a poor soul you serve

This was once a spiritual abode for us all
This was once the richest place for our souls..

Realization

Of divine beauty, is eternal Bliss
Ever peaceful, serene and Complete
Unshaking, Irrespective, of storm around
Realizing, Forever, my life abounds

I never was, tied to this Power
I ever Fulfilled, silent watchful
Forgetting true nature, if say so I may
Searching, worried, for what already I am

The Farmer in the City

This is a story I tell my son. This is a story economists should tell their protégées. This is a story law-makers should contemplate upon: A story of self-sufficiency vs consumerism:

There was once a farmer, who lived in a small village. Happy, healthy, and provided, he had his home and his farm. He had clothes and simple meals to eat. He woke early, prayed and got to his farm. He felt the rush of happiness after a day's tiring work. He met people, they talked and sang God's name together. He meditated and slept well.

And then came his school-friend, who'd come to this native. And lure him, the friend did the farmer, to the merits that await in city. Uncourageous he taunted, had the farmer been all life. And so the farmer took this, his old friend's advice. And off he left for "high-lands", if only for a few weeks at first. The friend bade him farewell, as he stayed back on vacation.

Day 1 the farmer spent, watching all day TV. Never had he been, in such big hotel rooms.
But by end of day he felt, the eyes tired and burning, and yet the body lazy.
He slept not well, he realized for once, what sleeplessness meant.

Day 2 the farmer decided, he should spend out shopping. Never had he needed, as all his money did spend.
By end of day with guilt, he rushed back at the shock.
The cherished value for money, he had all but lost.

Day 3 the farmer made up, will be spent in watching. The beauty he had come for, the life that city promises.
And ate he all he could, and walked about in boredom.
For what beauty lies, buildings lined in space crunch.

Day 4 he learnt illness, what he'd hardly known in life
For no sweat was he breaking, and only junk been eating

Day 5 he set out, to buy his own vegetables
And realized that money's, not fair like barter exchange

I'm reminded of Khaleel Dhantejvi's Ab Main Ration ki Qataaron mein Nazar aata hoon (YouTube Link)

Day 6 he sat sulking, at the cost of city life
(A habit he had not known)
And what he gained, and what he lost
At arriving here on friend's advice

Not wait for Day 7 did he,
Rushed back to village he did
And found his friend recuperating
Detoxing addictions and diseases

Rediscover Life, through the eyes of a Child

The child's eyes, are an opener to ours
With innocence we've lost, they look out for us
And point out the beauty, in smallest of things
Enlighten with curiosity, what we'd taken for granted

The vision of children, and what they love most
Is what we should aspire, and drive forces toward
They don't want gadgets, but only our time
They take out our patience, to only fill it with joy

Questions and Clarifications on Advaita Vedanta - 1

Have been listening to a lot of wonderful Youtube videos on Advaita Vedanta by Swami Sarvapriyananda: Drig Dishya Viveka (YouTube Link) and Aparokshanubhuti (YouTube Link).

Some of these do lead to questions, which is both a natural and healthy process for any learning and growth. As I hear most of these videos when I'm in commute, I want to document questions I remember and clarifications I receive for those in individual Blog Posts.

So here goes:

• Q: We say that there is blankness in deep sleep. And the mind is turned off. How then, if there is stomach pain, do we wake up from sleep. When we say that mind controls the senses, and the mind itself is turned off. While the consciousness is not connected to the senses
• Q: We say the mind turns off during deep sleep. And so Brahman has nothing to reflect upon. Now how does the mind turn back on: does Brahman do it or does it happen by itself (either by the mind-matter or the Jivatman as proposed by VishishtAdvaita)
• Q: If Sukshma Shareera (Mind) transmigrates from birth to birth, why aren't memories from the previous birth retained.
• 
  

Any answers from readers welcome

Narasimham series Part 8: The visit to temples

Part 7 | When I came out of the meditation, did I realize. What seemed like eternity, was just a few moments passed. And such is the beauty of true meditation, the ability to grasp the Source. I stood up now quite sure. The dawn had just broken, and the crimson sun was on the rise. The Devi and Narasimham temples would just have opened. I performed my ablutions in a nearby stream. Quenched my thirst, my hunger long mastered. And briskly darted to the temples at visible distance. The Narasimham temple was first, to express my gratitude. Though for reasons unknown, it was he who protected, this mortal life at risk. As I sat in quietness, within the sanctified temple premises, I felt that bliss again, settle deep within. The temple pujari I knew, but he too knew I'd renounced. So there was a surprise in his look, but the priority were the morning Abhishekam. When the pujari stepped out of the sanctum, he suddenly startled looking at me. And down fell the thali, with the kumkum he was getting for me..