Love is everywhere...In every song I hear...In every movie I watch..
A constant search for love is the ever eternal work of many.
To look at every nook and corner ,to find a pleasant smile shining back on our lonely lives.
The deprived desert cities sing only about rivers,lakes and oceans.
Magical fountains of water flow through the emperor's garden to show his wealth that luck has bestowed upon him.
But I don't know the workings of hate....
How does hate enter into our system?
Where does this dislike expand into cruelty and violence?
Somehow all the tools of logic and reasoning don't seem to work against hate.The germ of hate is planted the moment we hear beliefs which are different than ours.The opposing principles make us into enemies.But I am fine with the hate which brews in our hearts and souls.What I fail to comprehend is how this emotion, gets translated into violent action.After the act of violence is done, is there any way that the perpetuator feels any guilt or pain.I think one of the easiest ways to deal with guilt would be to make a victim of ourselves.This process of victimizing and not taking any responsibility is the only way to commit crimes of the highest order (eg Holocaust )
In my own life I see lot of times when my perception of the person, gives rise to feelings of hate.The only way to reach a higher truth would be to transform this hate into something constructive.
Jealousy can be viewed as a oracle which tells us of things which are missing in our life.
Greed can tell us that we need to live/love unconditionally.It also helps us deal with impermanence.
Sometimes I feel all imperfections are blessings in disguise.Unless we find a way to transform and use them,they will haunt us forever.Hatred can be one of the ways where we can expand our understanding of different views .Our thinking is formed by a closed Circle which is evolved by our own comfort zone.Hate pushes us out of our comfort zone.It teaches us forgiveness...The people we hate can be reformed/may reform to someone we may cherish and this teaches us the importance of evolution of human consciousness.Emotions may never leave us as they are the complex constructs of our mind.But how we react can be easily controlled.I still struggle everyday with automatic triggers of anger and hate.Its as if every cell has a memory of its own and remembers my dislikes.The effort we put today wont give us fruits instantly.The seed is planted and when the monsoon arrives,the glorious sun may shine through.The fight for survival will begin and if I am the chosen one...leaves may spring up...and fruits may ripen...
Till then I wait for transformation to occur where my hate can be turned into love....
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Ingmar Bergman
I had to dedicate a post on my blog for the great movies which Ingmar Bergman had directed.Even though I dont understand Swedish language the stories are universal and the questions are eternal.Some of his earlier movies just blew my mind away.Some movies try to give solutions to complex philosphical problems.Ingmar tries to make us understand the questions better.The seventh seal reminds me of my own set of questions which bombard me again and agian.Search for the truth and meaning of existence which the knight asks in the movie is replied only by silence.Even though death comes and defeats him in his play,he tries to save others even during his last chess game.
Art exists to make us understand that mystery and truth are the two sides of the same coin.The pain which goes in trying to expalin what our minds cannot comprehend can be transferred only through art.Beauty is not a creation of style or time,it is the product of mystery.All art forms should lead us closer to oursleves and closer to the reality which exists in us.
Art exists to make us understand that mystery and truth are the two sides of the same coin.The pain which goes in trying to expalin what our minds cannot comprehend can be transferred only through art.Beauty is not a creation of style or time,it is the product of mystery.All art forms should lead us closer to oursleves and closer to the reality which exists in us.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Idleness
Being idle is seen as the evil twin of hardwork. But I think idleness is very important in everyday life.Not only it is important in clearing out the mind,it also is one of the most efficient problem solving techniques.One of the career improvement books I have read suggest employees to stare at the (cube's) wall.This may look like absurd advice.But may be if staring at a wall can destroy our crazy pace at which things go ….
Why not try it???
If we have reached a deadlock in our career or can make no sense of how life is taking us,Idle-ness is the only hope we have.The first sabatical I took was even when I was 17.I was disillusioned by the education system and my desire to be better than others made me contemplate tougher entrance exams.But the idle time helped me understand myself better.The next time I had the opportunity to take a break was after I completed my engineering.This period was another soul searching period where I tried to understand my own inclinations.I have not been lucky to take any more breaks from my career,but I know for sure once I reach a saturation point with my career path,I am going to be idle.
Idleness is the stepping stone to success(A promising Zen Saying)
Why not try it???
If we have reached a deadlock in our career or can make no sense of how life is taking us,Idle-ness is the only hope we have.The first sabatical I took was even when I was 17.I was disillusioned by the education system and my desire to be better than others made me contemplate tougher entrance exams.But the idle time helped me understand myself better.The next time I had the opportunity to take a break was after I completed my engineering.This period was another soul searching period where I tried to understand my own inclinations.I have not been lucky to take any more breaks from my career,but I know for sure once I reach a saturation point with my career path,I am going to be idle.
Idleness is the stepping stone to success(A promising Zen Saying)
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Neuroscience and Spirituality
This short video (at TED) by the neurologist V.S Ramachandran explains the ancient philosphical models of our Indian Civilization.
What science could answer only now was contemplated thousands of years ago by Eastern philosophy....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0pwKzTRG5E
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilayanur_S._Ramachandran
What science could answer only now was contemplated thousands of years ago by Eastern philosophy....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0pwKzTRG5E
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilayanur_S._Ramachandran
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Road Already Taken
Sometimes the things we do for the first time are already done by others.Some have experimented with various outcome of the path and suffered.Some quit very early on the path.What stops us from taking the experiences of others and learning from them.The first big hurdle towards that would be ,to lose out on the inventive capacity which we may pour into the action.Secondly it has to do with our ego.Unless we do it,our way,it just does not seem right.I have a million mistakes in my life which I would have avoided,provided I took other experiences into account.Not that I face deep regret at this.I don't repent at the missed chances either.
When I fall, I remember what I did wrong.
When I just blindly listen to others, I don't understand what is it which makes everything right.
When I fall, I remember what I did wrong.
When I just blindly listen to others, I don't understand what is it which makes everything right.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Status of Women /Rig Veda
The NEED for equality is not a western import ,but it is fundamental concept of the greatness of Ancient Indian Civilization...
This post shows the high status of women in Vedic Period(Rig Veda Timeline)
The following are the verses..which prove the above mentioned facts..
All the info has been taken from this blog
http://ssubbanna.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/rig-veda-position-of-women-2-2.htm
EDUCATION
"A girl also should be brought up and educated with great effort and care" (Mahanirvana Tantra).
The girls were entitled to Upanayana (to receive sacred thread) and to the privilege of studying Vedas; just as the boys. Women performed religious rites after completing their education under a Guru. They were entitled to offer sacrifices to gods. The son was not absolutely necessary for this purpose.
According to Shrauta and Grihya Sutras, women chanted mantras along with their husbands while performing rituals
Marriage
Rig Veda talks of the seven steps and vows based on mutual respect, taken during marriage
A friend thou shall be, having paced these seven steps with me. Nay, having paced the seven steps, we have become friends. May I retain thy friendship, and never part from thy friendship. Let us unite together: let us propose together. Loving each other and ever radiant in each other’s company, meaning well towards each other, sharing together all enjoyments and pleasures, let us join our thoughts.
(Source: Taittiriya Ekagnikanda, I iii, 14. ; Sastri, 1918.)
The idea of equality is expressed in the Rig Veda:
"The home has, verily, its foundation in the wife”,” The wife and husband, being the equal halves of one substance, are equal in every respect; therefore both should join and take equal parts in all work, religious and secular." (Rig Veda 5, 61. 8)
Rig veda has no mention of child marriage and Sati(WIDOW burning)
Widow RE-Marraige:
Rik (x.18.8) blesses a woman at her second marriage, with progeny and prosperity in this life time::Go up, O woman, to the world of living; you stand by this one who is deceased; come! to him who grasps your hand, your second spouse (didhisu) ,you have now entered into the relation of wife to husband.
In Rig VEDA (X.18.9) the new husband while taking the widow as his wife says to her: let us launch a new life of valor and strength begetting male children overcoming all enemies who may assail us.
ATHARA VEDA(XVIII.3.4) blesses the widow to have a happy life with present husband ::O ye inviolable one ! (the widow) tread the path of wise in front of thee and choose this man (another suitor) as thy husband. Joyfully receive him and may the two of you mount the world of happiness
To name a few of those significant women rishis/SCHOLARS/AUTHORS OF RIG VEDA who figure in the Rig Veda Samhitā: Goshā Kakshivati, Lopamudra, Romasha,Sarama Devasuni , Yami Vaivasvathi , Rathir Bharadwaja , Apala, Paulomi and others. Needlessto say they were held in high esteem for their work to be included in the important religious text of the era.
According to the author all the defilements in the Indian culture after the glorious vedic period was as a response to invasions from various other countries like Greece..(Alexander),Persia..Our civilization went into dark ages and so our society slowly degraded and we can see the effects even now..
This post shows the high status of women in Vedic Period(Rig Veda Timeline)
The following are the verses..which prove the above mentioned facts..
All the info has been taken from this blog
http://ssubbanna.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/10/rig-veda-position-of-women-2-2.htm
EDUCATION
"A girl also should be brought up and educated with great effort and care" (Mahanirvana Tantra).
The girls were entitled to Upanayana (to receive sacred thread) and to the privilege of studying Vedas; just as the boys. Women performed religious rites after completing their education under a Guru. They were entitled to offer sacrifices to gods. The son was not absolutely necessary for this purpose.
According to Shrauta and Grihya Sutras, women chanted mantras along with their husbands while performing rituals
Marriage
Rig Veda talks of the seven steps and vows based on mutual respect, taken during marriage
A friend thou shall be, having paced these seven steps with me. Nay, having paced the seven steps, we have become friends. May I retain thy friendship, and never part from thy friendship. Let us unite together: let us propose together. Loving each other and ever radiant in each other’s company, meaning well towards each other, sharing together all enjoyments and pleasures, let us join our thoughts.
(Source: Taittiriya Ekagnikanda, I iii, 14. ; Sastri, 1918.)
The idea of equality is expressed in the Rig Veda:
"The home has, verily, its foundation in the wife”,” The wife and husband, being the equal halves of one substance, are equal in every respect; therefore both should join and take equal parts in all work, religious and secular." (Rig Veda 5, 61. 8)
Rig veda has no mention of child marriage and Sati(WIDOW burning)
Widow RE-Marraige:
Rik (x.18.8) blesses a woman at her second marriage, with progeny and prosperity in this life time::Go up, O woman, to the world of living; you stand by this one who is deceased; come! to him who grasps your hand, your second spouse (didhisu) ,you have now entered into the relation of wife to husband.
In Rig VEDA (X.18.9) the new husband while taking the widow as his wife says to her: let us launch a new life of valor and strength begetting male children overcoming all enemies who may assail us.
ATHARA VEDA(XVIII.3.4) blesses the widow to have a happy life with present husband ::O ye inviolable one ! (the widow) tread the path of wise in front of thee and choose this man (another suitor) as thy husband. Joyfully receive him and may the two of you mount the world of happiness
To name a few of those significant women rishis/SCHOLARS/AUTHORS OF RIG VEDA who figure in the Rig Veda Samhitā: Goshā Kakshivati, Lopamudra, Romasha,Sarama Devasuni , Yami Vaivasvathi , Rathir Bharadwaja , Apala, Paulomi and others. Needlessto say they were held in high esteem for their work to be included in the important religious text of the era.
According to the author all the defilements in the Indian culture after the glorious vedic period was as a response to invasions from various other countries like Greece..(Alexander),Persia..Our civilization went into dark ages and so our society slowly degraded and we can see the effects even now..
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Collective Guilt
The guilt trap exists at every moment of our lives.Other than this common variety of personal infliction there is also a greater societal victimization and guilt.This occurs at a collective level where the environment seems to influence us.We are programmed to believe these concepts when we were young.We carry it into our adulthood and slowly it starts playing havoc in our lives.
Being a Indian woman,,,I do carry the burden of proving myself in a male dominated world. I do feel that I do need to measure to colonial standards of life.Even though Britishers are long gone,we still live in the culture where everything imported is termed as better than our simple indigenous life.Only after I moved out of India, I could get to the bottom of these belief systems.Everyone of us carry the burden of nationality,race and gender.I call it as a burden because our minds always get polluted by some propaganda .We may be for it /or against it (in terms of the propaganda)
Everyone has a say in how our society shapes up.So the propaganda plan is great.But it fails most of the time as they aim for the ideal case which cannot be even achieved by a "Utopian" society.There is a constant guilt which creeps up in our minds when we don't reach the ideal state as told by the activists.We feel we are not doing enough.We feel we are cheating ourselves and the whole world by not measuring up to the ideal.But as history would point out,every generation had its own regrets.There will be void in each of us which cannot be filled by any societal achievement.No one else can fill that void for us.The guilt will be ever present and the sooner we accept our guilt and learn to deal with it,the better we would be.
Being a Indian woman,,,I do carry the burden of proving myself in a male dominated world. I do feel that I do need to measure to colonial standards of life.Even though Britishers are long gone,we still live in the culture where everything imported is termed as better than our simple indigenous life.Only after I moved out of India, I could get to the bottom of these belief systems.Everyone of us carry the burden of nationality,race and gender.I call it as a burden because our minds always get polluted by some propaganda .We may be for it /or against it (in terms of the propaganda)
Everyone has a say in how our society shapes up.So the propaganda plan is great.But it fails most of the time as they aim for the ideal case which cannot be even achieved by a "Utopian" society.There is a constant guilt which creeps up in our minds when we don't reach the ideal state as told by the activists.We feel we are not doing enough.We feel we are cheating ourselves and the whole world by not measuring up to the ideal.But as history would point out,every generation had its own regrets.There will be void in each of us which cannot be filled by any societal achievement.No one else can fill that void for us.The guilt will be ever present and the sooner we accept our guilt and learn to deal with it,the better we would be.
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