Dear Readers,
I am glad to announce that the blog contents have been moved to the new website. New postings will hence forth be made to the new blog. This blog will not be updated.
Click here to visit the new website with a Blog, Forum and more...
Existing subscribers will be added automatically over the next 24 hours.
Thanks,
Warm regards,
Mr. Anonymous
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
News update
Dear Readers,
This blog is being moved from Blogger to its own domain. I am right now in the process of migrating all the previous posts to the new blog.
I expect that this will take a couple of day. All future posts will be on the new blog.
I will post the new blog address here once the new blog is ready.
Till then, please bear with me...
Thank you,
This blog is being moved from Blogger to its own domain. I am right now in the process of migrating all the previous posts to the new blog.
I expect that this will take a couple of day. All future posts will be on the new blog.
I will post the new blog address here once the new blog is ready.
Till then, please bear with me...
Thank you,
Monday, January 8, 2007
Science and Spirituality
Lets take an example of how science and spirituality will deal with a situation and then proceed to understand the differences or similarities between them, if any.
Let us for our example study 'Hunger' as the subject. Science, tries to understand how hunger pangs develop, how our body and mind is able to know hunger, what physical changes happen within our stomach and what communication takes place through our nerves. That's science for us.
Whereas spirituality tells us to experience hunger once.
Science is useful in situations where a person who has experienced hunger is curious to know how the whole dynamics of hunger work. Where as spirituality is useful, when a person wants to understand what hunger is.
Science deals with intellectually understanding a particular subject, whereas spirituality deals with the experiencing.
Science focuses on 'doing', spirituality focuses on 'being'.
Let us for our example study 'Hunger' as the subject. Science, tries to understand how hunger pangs develop, how our body and mind is able to know hunger, what physical changes happen within our stomach and what communication takes place through our nerves. That's science for us.
Whereas spirituality tells us to experience hunger once.
Science is useful in situations where a person who has experienced hunger is curious to know how the whole dynamics of hunger work. Where as spirituality is useful, when a person wants to understand what hunger is.
Science deals with intellectually understanding a particular subject, whereas spirituality deals with the experiencing.
Science focuses on 'doing', spirituality focuses on 'being'.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Being Spiritual is nothing great!!!
For all those who pride themselves in being very spiritual and look down upon others who arent, I would like to ask you a few questions.
1) Is Fire going to burn you any less because you are spiritual?
2) Is water going to wet us any more because we are not spiritual?
3) Are you going to bleed any less due to a cut, because you are more spiritual?
4) or Is the pain of the wound going to be any more because we are less spiritual?
If a bomb is dropped on a city, the bomb is not going to explode based on if the people who live there are spiritual or not. Its nature is to explode and so shall it be. The nature of fire is to burn and so shall it remain - be it a saint or a sinner.
Our day to day life runs because of the natural interactions between things - they are very much predictable. The Sun rises and sets, etc.,
Being spiritual is not going to make us go beyond the laws of nature. The only thing that it helps is in being able to understand the nature of things and live in harmony with them.
And by the way, what is being spiritual. Spirituality tries to study and internalise who we are? what our nature is? Why we are what we are? etc.,
Religion - no matter which one - only gives us tools and methods to be used to be spiritual.
How very sad that the means itself has become the end to many of us...
The story of the boy and the monkeys
There lived a boy in a village who had to travel to the city to reach his school. As there was no reliable mode of transportation to the city, the boy had to walk all the 19 miles to the city.
En route to the city, the boy had to pass through a dense jungle. Every day as he passed the jungle, a lot of monkeys used to bother him for his lunch bag. Many a days the boy had lost his lunch bag to the monkeys. The boy scared of the monkeys used to try to sneak through the jungles but in vain.
Once a wise old man saw this and told the boy, "Why are you scared of the monkeys? As long as you are scared, they will bother you. Stop being scared and face them with courage and they will run away from you?"
The boy mustered all his courage and did as what he was told. Slowly the monkeys stopped bothering him.
Problems in our life are like these monkeys, as long as we try to run away from them, they follow us relentlessly. The moment we decide to take them head on - they disappear one by one - isnt it?
Saturday, January 6, 2007
The duck on water
A couple of days back I had to take my son for boating.
As me, my wife and my son, sat in the boat, we saw a duck swimming effortlessly on water. It was so stable and serene, we couldn't but notice its serenity. I pointed to the duck and asked my son to look at the duck. He asked me how the duck was able to stay afloat. I explained to him how the duck paddles below the water, etc., As I was explaining I realised how much of effort is going on under the water to make the duck look so serene on top of the water.
Isnt it the case with almost all the successful people - the success that we so easily see, that gets portrayed in the media has come after a lot of paddling?
As me, my wife and my son, sat in the boat, we saw a duck swimming effortlessly on water. It was so stable and serene, we couldn't but notice its serenity. I pointed to the duck and asked my son to look at the duck. He asked me how the duck was able to stay afloat. I explained to him how the duck paddles below the water, etc., As I was explaining I realised how much of effort is going on under the water to make the duck look so serene on top of the water.
Isnt it the case with almost all the successful people - the success that we so easily see, that gets portrayed in the media has come after a lot of paddling?
The duck on water
A couple of days back I had to take my son for boating.
As my wife, my son and I sat in the boat, we saw a duck swimming effortlessly on water. It was so stable and serene, we couldn't but notice its serenity. I pointed to the duck and asked my son to look at the duck. He asked me how the duck was able to stay afloat. I explained to him how the duck paddles below the water, etc., As I was explaining I realised how much of effort is going on under the water to make the duck look so serene on top of the water.
Isnt it the case with almost all the successful people - the success that we so easily see, that gets portrayed in the media has come after a lot of paddling?
As my wife, my son and I sat in the boat, we saw a duck swimming effortlessly on water. It was so stable and serene, we couldn't but notice its serenity. I pointed to the duck and asked my son to look at the duck. He asked me how the duck was able to stay afloat. I explained to him how the duck paddles below the water, etc., As I was explaining I realised how much of effort is going on under the water to make the duck look so serene on top of the water.
Isnt it the case with almost all the successful people - the success that we so easily see, that gets portrayed in the media has come after a lot of paddling?
The story of the Fishes
This is a story of fishes that lived deep in a pond, so deep, almost at the bed of the pond. They had a very happy life.
Even in their society there were Priest fishes, Scientist Fishes, Worker Fishes, Business Fishes, etc just like in our society. The Priest fishes called themselves servants of God and commanded a lot of respect from the other fishes.
There was one fish which was tired of the life in the Pond. It wanted to know if there was anything more to life than the life in the Pond. So, it dared to do what other fishes did not dare to. It swam from the bottom of the Pond to the surface. When it reached the surface....it saw Sunlight for the first time, the tall tress, men and women. This fish made it a habit to swim to the surface every once in a way.
It started to get its friends as well. The word spread around, that there is more to life than just the life of the Pond. The authority of the servants of God was being questioned. This the Priest fishes could not tolerate. The Fish that first dared to swim to the surface was summoned, tried in a court charged with practicing Witchcraft and then sentenced to death.
However, the other fishes got curious and it became the habit to sneak out and have a look at the world at the surface of the water. Once, the numbers of such sneaking fishes were substantial, the Priest fishes lost the respect they commanded and it became a free for all.
How long do you want to be a Fish in a pond? This question is to all those who call themselves Servants of God.
Even in their society there were Priest fishes, Scientist Fishes, Worker Fishes, Business Fishes, etc just like in our society. The Priest fishes called themselves servants of God and commanded a lot of respect from the other fishes.
There was one fish which was tired of the life in the Pond. It wanted to know if there was anything more to life than the life in the Pond. So, it dared to do what other fishes did not dare to. It swam from the bottom of the Pond to the surface. When it reached the surface....it saw Sunlight for the first time, the tall tress, men and women. This fish made it a habit to swim to the surface every once in a way.
It started to get its friends as well. The word spread around, that there is more to life than just the life of the Pond. The authority of the servants of God was being questioned. This the Priest fishes could not tolerate. The Fish that first dared to swim to the surface was summoned, tried in a court charged with practicing Witchcraft and then sentenced to death.
However, the other fishes got curious and it became the habit to sneak out and have a look at the world at the surface of the water. Once, the numbers of such sneaking fishes were substantial, the Priest fishes lost the respect they commanded and it became a free for all.
How long do you want to be a Fish in a pond? This question is to all those who call themselves Servants of God.
Friday, January 5, 2007
Story of Mr. Victim
This is the story of a man called Mr. Victim.
Mr. Victim came from a broken family. Had never seen his parents together. At school, he was treated as an outcaste. In college, he was a loner. Throughout his profession, he was a victim of professional jealousy. To avoid, professional jealousy, he started his own business on partnership. The business ran successfully for a year. Comforts started in his life and he got used to a luxurious life.
He thought a lovable wife would be a welcome change. He found a nice girl and got married to her. In the while he had a cute baby boy too.
A couple of years down the line the business suffered losses and his lovable wife started to question his business decisions. The business wound up in a bankruptcy.
There were quarrels between Mr. Victim and his wife. Mr. Victim found it difficult to find a new job. Things were very difficult and frustrating.
In sheer frustration, Mr. Victim renounced his worldly life and took up 'Sanyasa' or 'Saint hood'
Having taken 'Sanyasa', he left to the forests to meditate. He found a nice cave near a rivulet in a dense jungle and settled down there to meditate. Things were fine by the day, however, by night, the mosquitoes were a menace.
In a week's time, he fell sick with fever. As he lay down frail inside his new abode - the cave, thoughts about his loving wife came to him. He started wondering how well his wife would take care of him when he was sick. But he could do nothing much but hope that his wife will find him soon, as he was too tired to even walk.
Has he truly renounced the world?
and why do we think that renouncing is such an easy task?
Mr. Victim came from a broken family. Had never seen his parents together. At school, he was treated as an outcaste. In college, he was a loner. Throughout his profession, he was a victim of professional jealousy. To avoid, professional jealousy, he started his own business on partnership. The business ran successfully for a year. Comforts started in his life and he got used to a luxurious life.
He thought a lovable wife would be a welcome change. He found a nice girl and got married to her. In the while he had a cute baby boy too.
A couple of years down the line the business suffered losses and his lovable wife started to question his business decisions. The business wound up in a bankruptcy.
There were quarrels between Mr. Victim and his wife. Mr. Victim found it difficult to find a new job. Things were very difficult and frustrating.
In sheer frustration, Mr. Victim renounced his worldly life and took up 'Sanyasa' or 'Saint hood'
Having taken 'Sanyasa', he left to the forests to meditate. He found a nice cave near a rivulet in a dense jungle and settled down there to meditate. Things were fine by the day, however, by night, the mosquitoes were a menace.
In a week's time, he fell sick with fever. As he lay down frail inside his new abode - the cave, thoughts about his loving wife came to him. He started wondering how well his wife would take care of him when he was sick. But he could do nothing much but hope that his wife will find him soon, as he was too tired to even walk.
Has he truly renounced the world?
and why do we think that renouncing is such an easy task?
Thursday, January 4, 2007
What is the purpose of Astrology?
In the previous posts about Astrology, we have seen how The Theory of karma is the basis on which Astrology is built.
Having said that, the purpose of Astrology is mainly to understand the individual from the perspective of their Karmic account - the good, the bad and the ugly. Using Astrology to understand one's own Sanchitha and Prarabdha karma's gives a deeper understanding of one's own self. This knowledge also gives the courage to face what comes with fortitude and patience.
Thus the main purpose of Astrology seems to be deeper self knowledge from a spiritual perspective, though using it, only to lead a comfortable material life is not debarred or not considered undesirable.
Having said that what is the use of understanding the Sanchitha or Prarabdha karma, if we do not have the power to change it? This question will be answered in the next post in this series
Having said that, the purpose of Astrology is mainly to understand the individual from the perspective of their Karmic account - the good, the bad and the ugly. Using Astrology to understand one's own Sanchitha and Prarabdha karma's gives a deeper understanding of one's own self. This knowledge also gives the courage to face what comes with fortitude and patience.
Thus the main purpose of Astrology seems to be deeper self knowledge from a spiritual perspective, though using it, only to lead a comfortable material life is not debarred or not considered undesirable.
Having said that what is the use of understanding the Sanchitha or Prarabdha karma, if we do not have the power to change it? This question will be answered in the next post in this series
What are the effects of Meditation?
There are many benefits that accrue when you meditate. There are many many websites that speak about the benefits of meditation and why one should meditate. However, my post is going to be a bit different in that, here I am going to discuss about what essentially happens when you meditate and not withstanding the benefits, what are the not so benefical consequences of starting to meditate.
In daily living we are used to focussing our energies to the world around us - trying to manage time, relationships, profession, finance, etc. However, when you start meditating you are focussing your attention inwards - into you.
There are many mental impressions buried deep inside our mind, many fears, many insecurities, many memories of joyful moments, many memories of success, many emotions of suppressed anger.
After the intial period, when the mind is learning to stop the endless chatter with itself, as you meditate you come to a stage where your mind stops thinking. Till here the journey is pleasent.
Once the mind is silenced thus, it starts to dig out memories and latent impressions. If this be pleasent, you feel euphoric. If it be unpleasent, the feeling of depression, anger, helplessness, insecurity can be equally intense.
After all, during meditation you have trained the mind to focus its full attention on one thing - its like a laser beam.
I am not here to scare people who want to try meditation. My attempt is to highlight that the path is not full of roses. After all even a beautiful rose has a thorn close by, isnt it?
In daily living we are used to focussing our energies to the world around us - trying to manage time, relationships, profession, finance, etc. However, when you start meditating you are focussing your attention inwards - into you.
There are many mental impressions buried deep inside our mind, many fears, many insecurities, many memories of joyful moments, many memories of success, many emotions of suppressed anger.
After the intial period, when the mind is learning to stop the endless chatter with itself, as you meditate you come to a stage where your mind stops thinking. Till here the journey is pleasent.
Once the mind is silenced thus, it starts to dig out memories and latent impressions. If this be pleasent, you feel euphoric. If it be unpleasent, the feeling of depression, anger, helplessness, insecurity can be equally intense.
After all, during meditation you have trained the mind to focus its full attention on one thing - its like a laser beam.
I am not here to scare people who want to try meditation. My attempt is to highlight that the path is not full of roses. After all even a beautiful rose has a thorn close by, isnt it?
Understanding Astrology Part II - What is Karma?
In the previous post, we discussed about the three types of Karma – Sanchitha, Prarabdha and Agami Karma.
But what does Karma mean?
The literal meaning of Karma is Action. Action being central to our lives, it is impossible to avoid it. For, non-action also becomes a kind of action – the act of refusing to act. Even the Bhavad Gita mentions that once born, there is no way but to act.
Does it mean that in a life, where there is no escape from action, we are penalized for acting (on which we have no control over)?
No matter what a traditional Vedanti might say, Action in the context of the “Karma Siddhanta” refers more to the mental impression that is left while performing an action, more than the action itself.
These mental impressions stay in the mind as memories and decide/curtail our freedom to choose, by conditioning our responses. Hence, we need to understand Karma more as the “mental conditioning/impressions/memory” of the action in our mind than as the actual action itself.
Astrology then tries to dig out these latent impressions that our mind carries with it and the conditioned responses that will be produced by these “impressions”.
Thus, Astrologly generally is not accurate with “Jeevan Muktas”, those of us who have gone beyond the conditioning, through spiritual practices.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
About Meditation
So many of us these days are into meditation. But what exactly is meditation?
When I have asked friends who meditate they have always said that Meditation is concenteration,focus, etc.,
But what does Yoga Vashista have to say about meditation, "Meditation is the continous flow of one single thought". Sounds simple, isnt it?
Try getting your mind to just think of one single thought and then you will realise how difficult it is.
Yoga scriptures describe the mind as a mad drunken monkey that is bitten by a scorpion. Need we say more?
A simple but very effective technique of meditation that I have found which doesnt use any mantra or chanting is the sound meditation.
Sound Meditation
Using ur thumb plug your ears. When you do that you will hear a sound. Focus your attention and listen to the sound that is present in the right ear ONLY. Do not focus or listen to the sound that comes from the Left Ear. Continue to listen to it for atleast 30 mins a day.
The sound that is heard in the ears is called Anahatha Nada or "The Unstruck sound".
I have found this to be most safest, simplest and the most secular way of meditating.
Understanding Astrology - Part I
My knowledge about Astrology is limited to the one that is followed in South India. My discussions will be restricted to that.
Astrology is extensively used by the Hindus in India. The underlying philosophy of Astrology or for that matter any Hindu knowledgebase is the "Karma Siddhanta" or "The Theory of Karma"
Simply put, as you sow so shall you reap. Thats the dictum of the karma theory and its so exacting that even gods when they descend to the Earth, have to abide by it.
According to the Hindu belief there are three types of Karma: Sanchitha, Prarabdha and Agami. Sanchitha karma is the sum total of all mental impressions that are left in and after any deed is done. Prarabdha karma is the set of deeds that you are born to work with ( a sub set of Sanchitha). Agami karma is what is yet to unfold.
When a child is born, the place and time of birth is recorded and the horoscope is cast based on the Place of birth, date and time of birth and the sunrise on the day of birth. The Astrological chart when studied carefully by a qualified astrologer, will help reveal the Prarabdha Karma of the person whom the chart represents.
But, why choose the position of the planets for casting a chart?
We live in a 4 dimensional world - 3 dimensions of space (length, breadth and height) and 1 dimension of time. By making a chart of the position of planets at a given place and time, the conversion to any other place can be done easily and validated for any other calendar system or place.
Secondly, the planets movement around the Zodiac is very consistent across a time scale...like Moon take 2.5 days to transit from one house in the zodiac to the other. Hence, calculating the relative time is also easy given the starting position of the planets.
It is my opinion that the planets by themselves DO NOT produce results and they are used to keep the timing precise.
Having said this, in the next article in this series, we will analyze what constitutes Karma, the three types of Karma and which of these Karma can be modified, etc.,
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Looking forward to the Year ahead!!!
Wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year!!!
Thank you friends, I am really pleased to get between 8 to 10 visitors to my blog almost daily. Thanks for your support.
The post about Astrology series is ready. Not just that I will be posting about Yoga and Meditation as well. Planning to make them a series.
You may want to subscribe to my blog, so that new posts are delivered to your Inbox directly, instead of having to visit my blog everytime you want to read a new post.
You sure dont want to lose even a single post of the series, do you?
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Year end reflections
Dear Friends,
Thank you all for having dropped in to my blog. Around 100 vistors since Nov 22, 2006 is better than my optimistic expectations.
My posts so far has been to test the waters so to say, the real 'intense' stuff is yet to come...Watch, read, comment and discuss in the New Year to come.
I am currently working on my 'Astrology' related post, the first of which should be in the blog by 2nd Jan.
Till then, Wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year.
Thank you all for having dropped in to my blog. Around 100 vistors since Nov 22, 2006 is better than my optimistic expectations.
My posts so far has been to test the waters so to say, the real 'intense' stuff is yet to come...Watch, read, comment and discuss in the New Year to come.
I am currently working on my 'Astrology' related post, the first of which should be in the blog by 2nd Jan.
Till then, Wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year.
Friday, December 29, 2006
About comments on "A word about Astrology"
Hi readers
Let me take this opportunity to thank each one of you for taking your time to visit my blog and adding your comments.
As you will observe, the article "A word about Astrology" has got the maximum responses from a few of you.
As this year draws to a close and a new year begins, I intend to start a series on "Astrology" - its basis, purpose, predictions, etc., (its not going to be a primer to learn astrology).
I believe, there are some really original refreshing perspectives on offer - would you as readers want it?
Please leave your comments...Thanks
Let me take this opportunity to thank each one of you for taking your time to visit my blog and adding your comments.
As you will observe, the article "A word about Astrology" has got the maximum responses from a few of you.
As this year draws to a close and a new year begins, I intend to start a series on "Astrology" - its basis, purpose, predictions, etc., (its not going to be a primer to learn astrology).
I believe, there are some really original refreshing perspectives on offer - would you as readers want it?
Please leave your comments...Thanks
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
The story of two Buddhist monks
A senior monk and a junior monk had to travel together. As they were travelling, they had to cross a river. The river was flooded due to copious rains in the catchment areas. As the monks were attempting to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross the river. The young woman asked if the senior monk could help cross the river.
The senior monk carried this woman on his shoulder and crossed the river and let her on the other bank of the river. The junior monk was very upset, as the monk hood demands that they not touch a woman. However, as monk hood also demanded that he pay respect to elders, he dared not to ask the senior monk to explain his action.
They both were walking and senior monk noticed that his junior was suddenly silent and enquired "Is something the matter, you seem very upset?"
The junior monk replied, "As monks we are debarred from touching a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?".
The senior monk replied, "I left the woman a long time ago at the bank, however, you seem to be carrying her still."
Jesus Christ and the Blind Man
Im am sure all of you know about the story in which Jesus Christ gives sight to a blind man.
Being what Christ is, why did he choose to give him sight alone and nothing more (meaning riches, etc.,)
It seems to me that the only obstacle that the blind man faced is his inability to see, which put him at a disadvantage when comapred to the majority. By removing the obstacle, Jesus helped him to be at par with the rest. And let him decide his course in life.
Moral of the story: Help must be only to remove obstacles and nothing more....
What do you say?
Being what Christ is, why did he choose to give him sight alone and nothing more (meaning riches, etc.,)
It seems to me that the only obstacle that the blind man faced is his inability to see, which put him at a disadvantage when comapred to the majority. By removing the obstacle, Jesus helped him to be at par with the rest. And let him decide his course in life.
Moral of the story: Help must be only to remove obstacles and nothing more....
What do you say?
A word on Astrology
Well, its not my intention to engage in a debate about if astrological predictions can be relied upon. Thats not in my ambit.
If an astrologer were to predict that you (assuming that you are a person who strongly believes in astrology) are to die by drowing in water. Would you avoid water altogether?
I think we should not. If the fate be that I shall drown in water and die, so be it. But then, that is not going to stop me from swimming in a river or having a nice time with friends and family by the beach.
After all we need to die one day and there needs to be a reason to die. So let it happen when it has to.
Till then, I am not the one to lose the nice chill early morning bath in a river.
To me, the NOW is the only truth...so lets live that truth to the fullest..
If an astrologer were to predict that you (assuming that you are a person who strongly believes in astrology) are to die by drowing in water. Would you avoid water altogether?
I think we should not. If the fate be that I shall drown in water and die, so be it. But then, that is not going to stop me from swimming in a river or having a nice time with friends and family by the beach.
After all we need to die one day and there needs to be a reason to die. So let it happen when it has to.
Till then, I am not the one to lose the nice chill early morning bath in a river.
To me, the NOW is the only truth...so lets live that truth to the fullest..
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
The story of Mr. Devout
There lived a man called Mr. Devout. He was so devout that God had saved him during many a disasters in his life.
One day when he was walking in the road, he saw a mahout sitting on top of an elephant and screaming, get out of the way, this elephant is mad. Mr. Devout reasoned that God will save him and did not pay heed to the shouting mahout.
The mad elephant trampled Mr. Devout and killed him. Mr. Devout went to heaven, where he met God.
He asked God, "Why did you not save me when the elephant trampled me?"
God replied, "Who do you think was shouting through the Mahout?"
Looks like even God expects us to be sensible, doesnt he?
One day when he was walking in the road, he saw a mahout sitting on top of an elephant and screaming, get out of the way, this elephant is mad. Mr. Devout reasoned that God will save him and did not pay heed to the shouting mahout.
The mad elephant trampled Mr. Devout and killed him. Mr. Devout went to heaven, where he met God.
He asked God, "Why did you not save me when the elephant trampled me?"
God replied, "Who do you think was shouting through the Mahout?"
Looks like even God expects us to be sensible, doesnt he?
Friday, December 15, 2006
God - grossly misunderstood?
As children we were taught that if we did wrong, then God will come in our dreams and punish us and if we did good then God will do good to us.
This concept remained ingrained in my mind till a series of incidents in my life made me sit up and question the very basic premises about my life.
It is then I realised, God is a grossly mis-understood being (?). He neither causes sorrow nor bestows happiness. He is.
We out of our own ignorance and must I say Ego (the sense of being in control of Nature and the environment around us) perceive, judge and act. Every action has its own reaction and when the reaction is not upto our liking we say God has been unkind to us.
My experience only shows God to be a being beyond the human emotions of Anger and Appeasement. He showers his love and kindness equally on all of us....its upto us to receive it.
He stands like a tall Banyan tree giving shade and succor, for its his nature. Out of our own ignorance, we tend to step out of the shade of the tree and cry that the sun is burning us...Is it the fault of the tree?
This concept remained ingrained in my mind till a series of incidents in my life made me sit up and question the very basic premises about my life.
It is then I realised, God is a grossly mis-understood being (?). He neither causes sorrow nor bestows happiness. He is.
We out of our own ignorance and must I say Ego (the sense of being in control of Nature and the environment around us) perceive, judge and act. Every action has its own reaction and when the reaction is not upto our liking we say God has been unkind to us.
My experience only shows God to be a being beyond the human emotions of Anger and Appeasement. He showers his love and kindness equally on all of us....its upto us to receive it.
He stands like a tall Banyan tree giving shade and succor, for its his nature. Out of our own ignorance, we tend to step out of the shade of the tree and cry that the sun is burning us...Is it the fault of the tree?
Why?
A philosophy exam was being conducted and the question paper contained just one question - "Why?"
The students who were appearing for the exam pondered over the question and wrote pages and pages of answers explaining why live? why tradition? why culture, etc..
However, the answer that was awarded the maximum marks were two words - Why not?
This parable (?) has helped me face lot many situations in my life. When times are tough, I console myself saying Why not? or Why do we expect our life to run smoothly all the time?
In fact, I wonder sometime why we find it difficult to just be a witness to what is happening around us. Is it just that its a part of being human to get emotional involved and tied down to our own situations - difficult or otherwise...
Wonder what the answer is? or Must I at all understand it?
The students who were appearing for the exam pondered over the question and wrote pages and pages of answers explaining why live? why tradition? why culture, etc..
However, the answer that was awarded the maximum marks were two words - Why not?
This parable (?) has helped me face lot many situations in my life. When times are tough, I console myself saying Why not? or Why do we expect our life to run smoothly all the time?
In fact, I wonder sometime why we find it difficult to just be a witness to what is happening around us. Is it just that its a part of being human to get emotional involved and tied down to our own situations - difficult or otherwise...
Wonder what the answer is? or Must I at all understand it?
Friday, November 24, 2006
Some thoughts about Devotion!!!
Devotion can be to any entity. Here I am speaking about the devotion to God - irrespective of how you call him - Christ, Allah, Krishna, etc.,
When I look around, I find that most people pray to God when in trouble and seeking help to tide over the trouble. And the more they are dependent on God, the more the people around them consider them to be devoted. Is this necessarily true?
Devotion to me is when we establish a direct relationship with God the way we perceive him/her. This relationship is on being in the company of God, rather than for what God can do for us.
In the latter case, we are using God, in the former, we are in relationship with God. What applies for human relationships, also applies to our relationship with God. It is built brick by brick by our actions...
So, devotion is not an escapism from reality, but a deep personal and profound relationship with God for what he is and not what he can do for us.
When I look around, I find that most people pray to God when in trouble and seeking help to tide over the trouble. And the more they are dependent on God, the more the people around them consider them to be devoted. Is this necessarily true?
Devotion to me is when we establish a direct relationship with God the way we perceive him/her. This relationship is on being in the company of God, rather than for what God can do for us.
In the latter case, we are using God, in the former, we are in relationship with God. What applies for human relationships, also applies to our relationship with God. It is built brick by brick by our actions...
So, devotion is not an escapism from reality, but a deep personal and profound relationship with God for what he is and not what he can do for us.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Some more reflections!!!
My friend's daughter, aged around 7, has a congential disease. A disease which expels protiens along with the urine.
At the busstop, once when seeing her off to Belgaum, she said to her father, that she wants to use the restroom. My friend took her to the rest room and as she was entering the rest room, he said to her, 'Plz be careful in the public restroom, you can catch an infection'.
This girl after using the restroom, when she came out, looked at her father and said 'Daddy, what if I have a problem with my kidneys, if it comes to it, you would give one of ur kidneys to me. Isnt it?'
My friend was shocked beyond words at the amount of trust that little girl has placed on him.
It seems the greatest gift that one human can give the other is Trust and the irony of the whole thing is that it is this same trust which is often abused.
Strange ways of human life...
At the busstop, once when seeing her off to Belgaum, she said to her father, that she wants to use the restroom. My friend took her to the rest room and as she was entering the rest room, he said to her, 'Plz be careful in the public restroom, you can catch an infection'.
This girl after using the restroom, when she came out, looked at her father and said 'Daddy, what if I have a problem with my kidneys, if it comes to it, you would give one of ur kidneys to me. Isnt it?'
My friend was shocked beyond words at the amount of trust that little girl has placed on him.
It seems the greatest gift that one human can give the other is Trust and the irony of the whole thing is that it is this same trust which is often abused.
Strange ways of human life...
Reflections
It was a fine morning. I was walking out of the restaraunt after my breakfast. As I stepped out, I saw a old man in rags digging into the dustbin. I really dont know what abt that man made me stop and watch him.
But there he was, furiously searching as if for some treasure. I saw his face lighten up and out came his hand from the bin with a loaf of stale bread. He sat down beside the dustbin and started to eat his treasure with joy.
A stale bread giving him such immense joy and here we are living in luxury (compared to the life that old man leads) and all we ever think off is how less we have.
Its strange that we hardly think that we are far more blessed with many good things in life than so many of our fellow brethren.
Shouldn't we live life in gratitude for all that we have?
But there he was, furiously searching as if for some treasure. I saw his face lighten up and out came his hand from the bin with a loaf of stale bread. He sat down beside the dustbin and started to eat his treasure with joy.
A stale bread giving him such immense joy and here we are living in luxury (compared to the life that old man leads) and all we ever think off is how less we have.
Its strange that we hardly think that we are far more blessed with many good things in life than so many of our fellow brethren.
Shouldn't we live life in gratitude for all that we have?
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