tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42322094272835893182024-03-06T10:23:11.622+05:30AVIS Viswanathanthe happynesswala. AVIS Viswanathan is the happynesswala! He is an Inspired Speaker, Life Coach, and Author of 'Fall Like A Rose Petal'.AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.comBlogger1208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-85770712623169618122016-03-14T17:16:00.001+05:302016-03-17T12:13:42.694+05:30Migrating this Blog to WordPress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear Followers,<br />
<br />
I am grateful to you for reading my Blog daily and for your interest in what I have to share.<br />
<br />
For various reasons, I am migrating this Blog to WordPress.<br />
<br />
It will be wonderful if you can join me there and follow my posts there.<br />
<br />
Here is the link: https://avisviswanathan.wordpress.com/<br />
<br />
See you on WordPress! :)<br />
<br />
AVIS Viswanathan</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-86035444192347538612016-03-13T17:01:00.000+05:302016-03-13T17:01:33.807+05:30Sometimes, you can’t unentangle a web unless the master-weaver awakens!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If things don’t work out the way as
they should, it is perhaps best to let go and let everything – and everyone –
just be!!</span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mK7leRwz4p2BcU7FyuUPjIgmO6UrNhgO0Z4H0Ny9ivbDOhxdfabtpRSRcAkfbBL-oXSMrDTu9AUp3VCVHYre05SM3JtJndQdQma3yipu45RrkA-Ov6obqLtH7NFOmmo3M1gPL7bQOXCV/s1600/IMG-20160312-WA0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mK7leRwz4p2BcU7FyuUPjIgmO6UrNhgO0Z4H0Ny9ivbDOhxdfabtpRSRcAkfbBL-oXSMrDTu9AUp3VCVHYre05SM3JtJndQdQma3yipu45RrkA-Ov6obqLtH7NFOmmo3M1gPL7bQOXCV/s320/IMG-20160312-WA0015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angel Glady and Sunil Menon in conversation with Vaani and AVIS</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This weekend
has been more than interesting. Vaani and I have led a public conversation with
people who have a special orientation. This is part of a non-commercial,
by-invitation-only Event Series called <i>‘Heart
of Matter – Happiness Conversations’</i> that we host quarterly in partnership
with InKo Centre. Last evening, we had renowned fashion designer Sunil Menon
and theatre artist Angel Glady as our guests – it was a conversation that was
intimate, intense, thought-provoking and awakening. It helped people in the
audience reflect on their idea of happiness and invited them to turn
unequivocally inclusive. Elsewhere in the city, my brother, a well-known
theatre director and entertainment industry coach, staged a production that had
actors with special abilities perform in it. His production, I am told,
championed inclusiveness too and was highly, critically, acclaimed. Isn’t it
beautiful that both brothers, supported by their spouses, are doing work that’s
meaningful, in the same city, on the same weekend? Yet, what makes this rare coincidence
ironical too is that we brothers don’t speak to each other!!! We haven’t
connected in several years now. We remain strung, clinging on to our own positions,
in a web of deceit, manipulation and self-obsession that has been cast by
someone else. A third sibling, our sister, is strung from somewhere on the web
too. We all live in the same city and yet we can never quite figure out a way
out of this web. I have made attempts in the past, to unentangle this mess, but
I have found myself getting stung, not just strung, every single time. So, I
have let it all go. Concluding that perhaps the best thing to happen for all of
us is for us to be where we are, the way we are; but being happy, at peace with
ourselves, in spite of ourselves and each other! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes your Life’s design is so
intricately constructed by a web of actions that someone has woven that you end
up just being a helpless victim! But you have a choice to not feel like a
victim – just let go and let everything – and everyone – just be! And sometimes
this is the way Life has to be lived. There are no hard and fast rules in Life.
There is no guarantee that all homes and families will be the same. We all have
to do what we have to do. If in some cases, like in mine, things don’t work out
the way they should, it is best to just be. </span><b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For, if
you are not weaving the web, how can you ever hope to unentangle it unless the
master-weaver awakens? </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-44927276651013765282016-03-12T04:31:00.000+05:302016-03-12T04:36:22.704+05:30Dear Sri Sri, I planted a tree for you…!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An open letter with love, compassion
and a ‘jadoo ki jhappi’ for Sri Sri Ravishankar</span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear <i>Sri Sri</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I must
begin this letter with a confession. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am no
follower of yours or of anybody else.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am
just a student of Life, learning from everyone around me. I am just another fellow voyager – who believes
totally in what the Dalai Lama so beautifully advocates – and practices – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5CZartK_IM" target="_blank">“responsible visitorship”</a>. He reminds us that we
are all mere tourists, visitors on this planet; our lifespans are a mere 100
years max compared to how long the planet has been and will be around. So, he
says, we must act responsibly towards our inner and outer ecosystems and live
meaningfully. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
understand spirituality to be simple and undemanding. It is the flowering of
inner awareness. Period. An awakening that invites you to consider responsible
visitorship and meaningful living. So, to me, anyone on the spiritual path, and
that I imagine includes you and your organization Art of Living (AOL), must
make an earnest attempt to live meaningfully and demonstrate responsible
visitorship. If anyone is not making this earnest attempt, then, to me, they
are not on the spiritual path. Period.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Around
the same time that you and your organization Art of Living have refused to
consider the sane counsel of the National Green Tribunal and are forging ahead
with ‘your’ idea of preserving and promoting ‘world culture’, the people of Bhutan,
have <a href="http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/bhutan-celebrates-newborn-prince-by-planting-108000-trees/" target="_blank">welcomed the country’s newborn Prince with planting 108,000 trees</a>,
each sealed with a prayer, for the heir to the kingdom’s throne. That, dear <i>Sri Sri</i>, is responsible visitorship.
That is how, as I understand, culture is built, nurtured and protected. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg10lZl7Ei9EkUUpYFgzE8lbR1Bd9mO5lRhZ9jFNUvt_c_DXwyLJcvx-5yUpU0nrcvVBaDrva1jD6nfN_AqSZudXKg_IG7AkUCXqW8FEyx0tp8bgdf1EZJfoslnZdVA1kN5gMPGm1Jwzby/s1600/Q2+Memento+Ayyappan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg10lZl7Ei9EkUUpYFgzE8lbR1Bd9mO5lRhZ9jFNUvt_c_DXwyLJcvx-5yUpU0nrcvVBaDrva1jD6nfN_AqSZudXKg_IG7AkUCXqW8FEyx0tp8bgdf1EZJfoslnZdVA1kN5gMPGm1Jwzby/s320/Q2+Memento+Ayyappan.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, I planted
a tree for you. I planted it with love and compassion; I am sending you this
open letter with my <i>‘jadoo ki jhappi’</i>
for you to receive my innermost energy and yearning for doing what is most
compassionate for our world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The word
culture, again as I understand it, is best explained with the way the word
appears in Tamizh: <i>kalacharam</i>. This
word, <i>kalacharam</i>, is made up of two
words <i>kalai</i> and <i>acharam</i>. <i>kalai</i> means art
and <i>acharam</i> means discipline. The ‘art
of living together in a disciplined manner’ is <i>kalacharam</i>, culture. And the art of living, dear <i>Sri Sri</i>, surely involves responsible
visitorship!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don’t
think the world, most certainly not India, needs another culture festival. What
the world needs is peace – both in our inner and outer ecosystems. Two of the
world’s greatest musicians and singers, MS Subbalakshmi Amma and John Lennon,
in their own way, left behind their soul-stirring reminders to what the world
needs. Here’s a fusion of their <i>Maithreem
Bhajata</i> and <i>Imagine</i> rendered by
two contemporary artistes – Akhila Ramnarayan and Vedanth Bharadwaj. I am
sending you this fusion single as well. Perhaps, after the dust settles down on
your festival, and on the marauded plains of a beautiful river, this song – ironically
and painfully titled <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPwnzZUAbzI" target="_blank">‘Pipe Dream</a>’ – will invoke reflection and awakening. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I ask
nothing of you dear <i>Sri Sri</i> or of
Team AOL. I ask nothing of nobody. I have no hidden agenda, I practice no religion
and support no political thought – and I am no foreign hand. I, however, make
an earnest attempt towards responsible visitorship every single day, even while
dealing with my own, often imponderable, real-world challenges (<a href="http://www.avisviswanathan.in/fall-like-a-rose-petal.html">http://www.avisviswanathan.in/fall-like-a-rose-petal.html</a>).
So I guess I have earned my right to write you this letter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All I
have is love and compassion for you <i>Sri
Sri</i>. The least I could do was plant a tree for you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I feel immensely
blessed I could do that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With a <i>‘jadoo ki jhappi’</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AVIS
Viswanathan, Chennai<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">@AVISViswanathan</span></div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-25892232032452298022016-03-11T10:23:00.000+05:302016-03-11T10:24:50.074+05:30"Bahut Mazaa Ayega!"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don’t look for rewards and
recognition in Life! In the end, they don’t matter. What will matter is this:
did you live the Life you were given – fully, usefully, purposefully, happily?</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFWbchIDvGU5pZDVIV1oqaZHILJHyUOf3QUBFOK-v-5zFvqtXrE6EzLQfgkKDztuWTIQRNZhe05FOTX2HiqYQ9EYt37IILJK0X4r_nOx3A4aE94ep2frk8szXPXVqmHmTJY-xXTwL4Mb2/s1600/IMG-20160310-WA0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFWbchIDvGU5pZDVIV1oqaZHILJHyUOf3QUBFOK-v-5zFvqtXrE6EzLQfgkKDztuWTIQRNZhe05FOTX2HiqYQ9EYt37IILJK0X4r_nOx3A4aE94ep2frk8szXPXVqmHmTJY-xXTwL4Mb2/s320/IMG-20160310-WA0025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">400+ wannabe entrepreneurs: "The adventure is the reward!"</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yesterday, I was addressing an audience
of over 400 students, from different academic streams, on <i>‘The Spirit of Entrepreneurship’</i>. They were an amazing audience.
Full of Life! Raring to go!! Enthusiastic!!! My message to them was that
entrepreneurship is not what entrepreneurs bring to the table. Entrepreneurship
is what makes entrepreneurs! I said Life, at best, is a big gamble. And both
success and failure are mere labels, imposters as the <i>Bhagavad Gita</i> says! So, go have fun, enjoy the ride, because, I
said, the adventure is the reward! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Indeed. We must all learn to have fun in
Life, enjoying it every moment! Because the challenges that Life throws at us,
and which we invariably overcome and conquer, in retrospect are indeed
laughable! In school, when I couldn't get Math right, I would often feel
defeated. Now, when I look back, I joke about it! Similarly, when I was out of work,
21 years ago, because my employer shut shop, I thought I had lost in Life. But
when I review that period, I smile appreciatively because what I thought was
lost really was a new opportunity gained__because I wouldn't be where I am
today without that loss! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the iconic Bollywood movie <i>"Sholay"</i>, the ferocious Gabbar
Singh, often says, in a wicked drawl, <i>"Bahut
Mazaa Ayega!"</i>, meaning <i>"It
will be so much fun!"</i>. Just repeating this line in the same tone to
yourself whenever confronted with a challenge is a great way to remind yourself
that Life's, after all, a big game, a gamble, if you like! But you must keep playing
it, as long as there is Life, no matter what! As I left the auditorium after my
Talk yesterday, yet another student there wanted my autograph. I wrote: <b><i><span style="color: red;">“Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game of Life. Trust me, "Bahut
Mazaa Ayega!"”</span></i></b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-13593090080583390572016-03-10T05:17:00.000+05:302016-03-10T05:17:29.374+05:30Why faith in relationships is over-rated<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best way to have wonderful relationships is to do two
things: never expect anything from it or from the other person and always
respect the other person’s choice.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXGSPQmEMbCzulkCK-ptmaRG9s02rMCTh7sxjmPGLuF_EAL7HEFDqr1klrGGP3HPsB9GWG8j0Tw0ZHtqF3oBctXGSB0aMXu3b2ZRsuNunBrvuvbUatDeAsSTqVpfzV8LQgntDkrjH2qvQ/s1600/c376c-10958134_413272005505413_1968982939_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXGSPQmEMbCzulkCK-ptmaRG9s02rMCTh7sxjmPGLuF_EAL7HEFDqr1klrGGP3HPsB9GWG8j0Tw0ZHtqF3oBctXGSB0aMXu3b2ZRsuNunBrvuvbUatDeAsSTqVpfzV8LQgntDkrjH2qvQ/s320/c376c-10958134_413272005505413_1968982939_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we
expect someone to be what we want them to be, we are not respecting the person
as a special, unique individual. Where expectation comes, respect goes out, and
agony comes in! Much of the problem in marital or personal relationships is
because there is an expectation of faithfulness. While it is important that
deceit or cheating must be avoided in any relationship – so honest, open
conversations are always the best way forward in such situations – the nature
of the expectation of faithfulness is an indicator that we have stopped
respecting the other person. To be faithful cannot mean living someone else's
Life. Or you cannot insist that someone live their Life as you want them to for
you to be able to call them faithful. To be faithful means to be true to
yourself, first doing what you want to do as long as it will not harm anyone
else. When all people in a relationship are true to themselves, and don't harm
each other, a harmonious environment is born that respects each individual in
it. That's when relationships become meaningful and stand the test of time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Osho,
the Master, argues this perspective immensely well: "Who are you to demand
faith from anyone else? Demanding faith is like demanding slavery. There's a
misconception in people that love must be permanent. Only stones are permanent.
To ask for faith is wrong. There was a season__the spring, the faith, the love
arose in you. You did not create it. It was just a happening. Just like a
breeze it comes and just like a breeze it goes. When it comes, rejoice. And
when it goes, say good-bye. Millions of couples in the world know there's no
love between them anymore. But for the sake of society, reputation, for
respectability, they go on pretending they love each other. This pretension is
the real sin, the real crime." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is
not to conclude however that love cannot be eternal between people. <b><i><span style="color: red;">It can, as long as there is respect for the other person and there
are no expectations, while being true to yourself first in the relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-46488655592357769712016-03-09T04:46:00.000+05:302016-03-09T04:46:14.732+05:30‘Learn’ to be content by appreciating what you have<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being content with what you have
comes with a sense of gratitude, with a deeper understanding of Life.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We recently
met a very successful, young, corporate executive, who, in his late 20s, heads
a business division for a large MNC. This is the job he always wanted and
loves. Yet, he confessed, that he ‘may not be happy’: “I find something missing
in Life. It is nothing material. I have everything money can buy. But I am
missing inner peace – is that what you call contentment?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRW8N4lYP6p-T_erIqSjpNM9PeOLNyNoOGh_YsTLSgbVccCi32xRGpyXQs68AqR40Z_AyQmtw3tMzJfXuI1SZzWTOv32QvAUDorEfnA2BKshbVrXMGMOdIO1wHJMdlgkDWh2_MCYyBzm7/s1600/a-harvest-of-peace-is-produced-from-a-seed-of-contentment-quote-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRW8N4lYP6p-T_erIqSjpNM9PeOLNyNoOGh_YsTLSgbVccCi32xRGpyXQs68AqR40Z_AyQmtw3tMzJfXuI1SZzWTOv32QvAUDorEfnA2BKshbVrXMGMOdIO1wHJMdlgkDWh2_MCYyBzm7/s320/a-harvest-of-peace-is-produced-from-a-seed-of-contentment-quote-1.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t
find the young man’s feeling alien. I have been there in his place and I have
felt like him. In my late 20s I have globetrotted continents and lived out of
the finest hotels but I have yearned for being with my family. And when I found
the time to spend with my family I have felt insecure that if I am not
‘visibly’ working hard at my job, I may lose it. So, contentment – the sense of
fullness, completeness with what you have – may appear elusive. But, over the
years, I have learnt that it is important to <i>learn</i> to be content. Contentment is not something that will arrive
subject to certain conditions being fulfilled. It will come when you are
appreciative of what is, of what you have. It comes from gratitude. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Urdu
poet Nida Fazli <i>saab</i> (1938~2016) says
it so beautifully: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Kabhi Kisiko Mukammal Jahaan Nahi Milta,</span></span></i></div>
<i><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kahin Zamin Toh Kahin Asmaan Nahin Milta!”</span></span></span></i></div>
</i><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span class="uistorymessage"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It basically means you are never going to get a
complete, a perfect 10 on 10 in Life at any time. Something, somewhere, sometime is going
to be unstuck. And while trying to fix that department in your Life, while
trying to mend that situation, you have to find your inner peace by being
grateful for what you have. Life is never going to help you here. <b><i><span style="color: red;">You have to help yourself. And only you must do it – no one
else can do it for you! <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-7576430256301511052016-03-08T05:05:00.001+05:302016-03-08T05:05:55.698+05:30Life only guarantees surprises and unpredictability<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tell Life each morning that you are
waiting to be surprised and you will never be disappointed.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the way I have learnt to live Life.
And I have also learnt that Life’s unpredictability is the only guarantee we
can get from Life! True, Life's not unpredictable. It is extremely predictable
when we know that the only thing it will surely deliver, unfailingly,
ceaselessly, is surprise. And the only way to respond to Life’s surprises is to
be in amazement. Take delight in the continuous surprises that Life throws at
you. Enjoy them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSKdUnVHzg8tM4UTeOk3wMAfFlMH9yu_2pot2Ilaq-cm9WL9jlJV4MVcsM5CSg_gc3ZwvKklKALmOqnjKtuEAxr5usX3REgxIhKftJsrhQEImJ_4iDu7JDFr6iYmm88hOU7UGu1Qp5ki2/s1600/9d3ef352cdcb9e78b928b3756b534a85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSKdUnVHzg8tM4UTeOk3wMAfFlMH9yu_2pot2Ilaq-cm9WL9jlJV4MVcsM5CSg_gc3ZwvKklKALmOqnjKtuEAxr5usX3REgxIhKftJsrhQEImJ_4iDu7JDFr6iYmm88hOU7UGu1Qp5ki2/s1600/9d3ef352cdcb9e78b928b3756b534a85.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can you enjoy a health problem, a lost
job, a misunderstanding, a loss of reputation or something that is painful __
physically and emotionally__you may ask? The truth is you can enjoy them just
as you can enjoy the birth of a new child, a raise, a vacation or an orgasm.
You don't enjoy the challenges (also surprises) that Life throws at you because you don't see these 'surprises' as
opportunities to learn, grow and evolve. Instead you see them as problem
situations where Life has ‘put you down’. In reality, Life is actually lifting
you up, raising your level of challenge so that you can rise up with it. Look
at your Life so far. Despite all the hard kicking and struggle you have been
through, haven't you evolved from what__and where__you were a few years ago?
That is Life. Your screaming, defying, resisting is not going to change the way
Life happens to you. The best way to avoid strife, agony, grief and
disappointment is to have a child-like curiosity, gleefulness toward Life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zen Buddhism says: "Be empty. Look
without any idea. Look into the nature of things but with no idea, with no prejudice,
with no presupposition." To be empty, you must just, simply, await Life's
next surprise. </span><b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are forever willing to be surprised, you
will never be disappointed.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-26334097053334975262016-03-07T12:09:00.000+05:302016-03-07T12:09:38.650+05:30Awaken to who you really are<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strangely, we have come to a stage,
in this time and age, when who we really are needs proving. Because we have
started to believe that we are something else.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKInAsq7ROOvDn9rbgdu5I2PN4c4uPOHLpHvzp3d9NGjpUQvYvJcLJyPJnvI3uIMvr9_8sponFfBTA4ku6g9hjIpmtPyk-pO1ZdKI589PxM4Fc932_i0zpEMP4JDS-42iAITR8nDk8MIt/s1600/awaken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKInAsq7ROOvDn9rbgdu5I2PN4c4uPOHLpHvzp3d9NGjpUQvYvJcLJyPJnvI3uIMvr9_8sponFfBTA4ku6g9hjIpmtPyk-pO1ZdKI589PxM4Fc932_i0zpEMP4JDS-42iAITR8nDk8MIt/s320/awaken.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think about this: we are all created as
good, loving, patient, generous, compassionate, fearless, human beings. But we
have become opinionated, confused, impatient, angry, jealous, anxious, fearful
and self-centered. Look at children, aren't they fearless? They are not scared
of putting their hands into a burning candle flame or peeping precariously over
a balcony railing? They wouldn't have a problem sharing whatever they have with
another. They would gleefully hug, embrace and kiss. They are simple and
caring. And look at ourselves: we are complex and are afraid of every step we
take, of every decision we make. We are jealous, silently pining to acquire
what others have, and don't have inhibitions demonstrating our hatred for
others openly – especially now with social media offering everyone, virtually,
‘freedom to express’. We seek to earn a living but never a want to be living
through anything we do. But we also are lost, we are searching for something.
So, we enrol for <i>"Bhagavad
Gita"</i> classes or church sermons, we read countless books on
spirituality or attend Programs on self-improvement. Yet, while all spiritual
thinkers and all scriptures champion and point to us going back to being
loving, caring and giving as the most intelligent way of living, we demand
proof. We ask if this will really work? Ironic, isn’t it? That we need
justification and validation to convince ourselves of who we truly are. </span></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A spiritual seeker, like us, Wahiduddin, has this wonderful learning to
share on awakening to who we really are: <i>“The
ultimate goal of spiritual practices is beautifully summarized in this
centuries-old Zen teaching wherein Master Nanyue Huairang encountered his
disciple Mazu Daoyi, who was deep in meditation, and asked him: </i></div>
<i><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>"Noble one, what are you trying to do, sitting there in
meditation?" </i></div>
<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Mazu said, "I'm trying to become a Buddha."</i></div>
<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Master Nanyue then picked up a nearby piece of clay tile that had fallen
from the roof, and began to rub it briskly on a stone.</i></div>
<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Mazu asked, "What are you doing?"</i></div>
<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>The Master said, "I'm polishing this tile to make a mirror."</i></div>
<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Mazu said, "How can you produce a mirror by polishing a piece of
tile?"</i></div>
<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Master Nanyue replied, "How can you make a Buddha by sitting in
meditation?"</i></div>
<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Oh what a wonderful little story this is! The goal of our spiritual
practices is not to become something else. Our spiritual practices will never
magically transform us into something that we are not. The tile will never
become a mirror; that is an unrealistic goal, and an unrealistic goal will be
met with failure upon failure. The goal of all our spiritual journeys is not to
make us into something that we are not, but rather to awaken us to the truth of
who we really are!”</i></div>
</i><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: red;">Whether we get the proof we seek or we find
ourselves by seeking within, one thing is for sure: unless we go back to the
true nature of our creation, to who we really are, we will never find inner
peace. </span></i></b></div>
</b></span></span></div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-88034052869395132952016-03-06T16:57:00.000+05:302016-03-06T16:57:31.306+05:30In crisis situations, just carry on stepping!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">Don't expect your problems or
challenges to vanish into thin air.</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Don't try
wishing that they weren't there. It is the nature of Life to have problems.
Deal with Life, especially in a crisis, one step at a time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyj7WFFSgq2n6V789FHu-pTlQ8SzdORiNhgRC4VbiVsY7B5TgAfxsFX9v95a3cE8VxoBQqsy7YeyI11Em06utOLhsCoTQCWmC9JPmv8SQG21WJvGZkziysUSg4YbNePlIszOx26ivCccK/s1600/one_day_at_a_time-65189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyj7WFFSgq2n6V789FHu-pTlQ8SzdORiNhgRC4VbiVsY7B5TgAfxsFX9v95a3cE8VxoBQqsy7YeyI11Em06utOLhsCoTQCWmC9JPmv8SQG21WJvGZkziysUSg4YbNePlIszOx26ivCccK/s320/one_day_at_a_time-65189.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life in a crisis is pretty much like the
headlights of your vehicle. You know where you want your vehicle to go. You
know the destination. But in the darkness of the night, the headlight can't get
you to see the destination. But it sure can light up some part of the way, a
few feet at a time, and as you make progress you get to see what lies ahead.
This goes on, until of course, it is daylight or you reach the destination you
were driving to. Life works exactly the same way. The night, the crisis, is not
likely to go away immediately. A new dawn awaits you, but it is never dawn until
daylight arrives. So, in the darkness of the night, follow the headlight
principle. Don't expect the entire road to be lit up. Be content with being
able to see just a few feet at a time. In Life, therefore, when in a crisis
situation, don't expect clarity and answers to what lies a week down the road,
a month, a year or in the distant future. Just believe that you will survive.
Know that you will ultimately prevail. Know that you will eventually achieve
your goal, reach your destination, realize your dream. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is as true a statement as it is to say
that a day always follows each night! Live each moment and each day
completely__keeping your focus on where you want to go, living in the awareness
that if you can see a few feet ahead, if you can survive today, you are making
good progress. Don't ask why are you in the dark phase or why you are groping
with a crisis? Don't wish and pine for the crisis not to have been there. These
sentiments will cause you agony and hamper your ability to think clearly. The
truth is that the crisis exists. The truth also is that you are caught in the
throes of it! Accept it. Tell yourself that if you can last the next few steps
of the journey, you will be blessed. Then when you pass each day, when you last
that phase of the journey, work on lasting a little longer. And keep going until
time relents, the crisis blows away and you are bathed in the warm glow of
daylight, or what the world will call, 'your success'! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An old Chinese proverb reminds us
that to get through all journeys, even the hardest ones, we need to take only
one step at a time, but what's important is, we must carry on stepping!</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-13436604786286461052016-03-05T10:45:00.000+05:302016-03-05T10:45:29.004+05:30Whether hopeful or hopeless, be happy!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If being hopeless makes you
peaceful, be hopeless. What’s important is that you be at peace with yourself!</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday
a reader wrote to me saying she didn’t want to be hopeful about her Life
anymore. She said she had made peace with her miseries. I did not disagree with
her. If she is peaceful, even while she’s ostensibly in a lot of pain, that’s
what matters the most. It is wrong to assume that people can’t have a truck
with their problems. Always, that’s how acceptance comes. But the key is that
you must be happy accepting your Life the way it is. If you are not happy, if
you are not at peace, then such acceptance is, virtually, no acceptance. An
intrinsic effect, an outcome, of acceptance is that it puts an end to all your
suffering. The pain continues to be there. But the suffering ceases. If you are
still suffering then you have not accepted your situation fully, you are still
grudging it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0ySpCjllP-iMummr3AJ8kFxl3kr3Zvod5m6HsgUxOZfes2ggkPdo1jfZTm1FI7Kp8W_veRAqCo1LsRDT-W3cu-A_w9-hw7MOmA9_QvNPBvJaui0MreUTOcjGwO_DNgXg5HzyYAVkwmFX/s1600/key-to-happiness-boxed-key-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0ySpCjllP-iMummr3AJ8kFxl3kr3Zvod5m6HsgUxOZfes2ggkPdo1jfZTm1FI7Kp8W_veRAqCo1LsRDT-W3cu-A_w9-hw7MOmA9_QvNPBvJaui0MreUTOcjGwO_DNgXg5HzyYAVkwmFX/s320/key-to-happiness-boxed-key-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="uistorymessage"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have found that being hopeless is not a bad thing
to do – as long as you don’t sulk, brood and become depressive. Hopelessness is
nothing but acceptance. You reach a state when you decide that things are going
to be the way they are and you can’t do anything but endure the Life you have.
So, if this is the state in which you find inner peace, then it is completely irrelevant
whether you call it hopelessness or acceptance! But there’s a caveat here – don’t
complain or grieve about your situation. Just learn to cope with it and live
with it. You of course can continue to work on trying to solve your problems,
but with acceptance and not with resentment! <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="uistorymessage"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, whether you accept a situation or not, whether
you are hopeful about Life or not, your Life will change over time. Everything
changes. And every situation passes on. What comes, goes away. And something
new comes in its place, to soon go away. Hope and hopelessness are human
inventions. They are mere labels we stick on otherwise listless events and
circumstances. Think about it: if you are likely to get what you want, you are
hopeful; and if you are unlikely to get what you want, you are hopeless. But
neither your wanting something, or resenting something, is going to stop
whatever is coming your way. This is how Life works – it has a mind of its own
and it keeps on happening to you, irrespective of how you feel. So, why label
situations as hopeful or hopeless – and sweat over either? Just go with the
flow, living with what is. But if you can’t avoid labeling, live with the label
too – like the reader who wrote in yesterday. </span><b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whatever
you do, be at peace with yourself, with your Life, and, important, be happy!</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-67226834480250556902016-03-04T10:36:00.000+05:302016-03-04T10:36:48.853+05:30What is over is over! Move on…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each new beginning results from
something ending.</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Separations.
Break-ups. Showdowns. Desperate but unsuccessful attempts to control people,
situations or events. Whatever. They are all over when <b><i><u><span style="color: red;">you</span></u></i></b>
stop responding to them. They are over when <b><i><u><span style="color: red;">you</span></u></i></b>
decide they are over. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIUM9vbIIhySGcA9mJEY1vmvbZShynfoFGLRDHV2ynI57x7dZDwoV5pSgj7DBdD_f5agYsdiq0-Sp4CASUL0Eul4Wj7J4luIr6wURBBYiW1pQw7XQ_j37o8qTUzTStbLvEDU_cV4oAuYR/s1600/0663cd0189f991ed1b145babe1109261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIUM9vbIIhySGcA9mJEY1vmvbZShynfoFGLRDHV2ynI57x7dZDwoV5pSgj7DBdD_f5agYsdiq0-Sp4CASUL0Eul4Wj7J4luIr6wURBBYiW1pQw7XQ_j37o8qTUzTStbLvEDU_cV4oAuYR/s320/0663cd0189f991ed1b145babe1109261.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Understand that
whoever caused you pain and agony has accomplished whatever he or she set out
to do. The event is over and out. By spew venom over the episode, by continuing
to direct anger against the person who caused you the hurt, you are only hurting
yourself. Sometimes, it may not be just a hurt from a word or an act that
someone said or did. It may be from a separation that the pain, the grief
ensues. And you want to avenge the person’s audacity to have betrayed your
trust, that too with such impunity. You seek justice. And your entire being is
consumed by this mad urge to get ‘even’. Because you feel used and discarded __
as if you were some tissue paper. The cocktail of hate, anger and grief can be
depressing, debilitating, lethal. Yet there is a way out. You, and only <b><i><u><span style="color: red;">you</span></u></i></b>, can draw a line; and decide not to
continue with stretching this episode and story any more. It is best to
remember that dwelling on what is past__including the prime, good times, of a
relationship, and pining for those times all over again __ is futile. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is also important to remember that seasons change, people change, relationships change.
Each new beginning results from something ending. So what is over is over. <b><i><span style="color: red;">Get up. Dust yourself. Move on. And go on…living…</span></i></b></span></span><span class="uistorymessage"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-88705011660916779722016-03-03T16:17:00.000+05:302016-03-03T16:17:45.734+05:30Celebrate Life by Celebrating technology. Don’t just Cerebrate Life and technology!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things are incredibly simpler yet
why are our lives more complex than ever before? Because, instead of using it,
we are getting used by technology!</span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today’s my daughter’s 21<sup>st</sup>
birthday! Vaani and I made a film (by ourselves; with no outside help!), with a
selection of pictures from her Life, on Windows Movie Maker, to commemorate
this special day. We hosted it on a private channel on YouTube. And sent the
link to key family members across the world on a WhatsApp thread. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can you imagine this being possible just 20
years ago? This is a new era. A simpler era. Where Google, and not <i>Britannica Encyclopedia</i>, is the
fountainhead of all knowledge. Where, whether it is about cooking a meal with
quinoa or it is about decoding an acid reflux situation or it is a query
relating to the original Neerja Bhanot, you can source, all that you want, any
time you want, in a nano-second. It is also an era where you can buy a movie
ticket, a plane ticket, book a hotel room or order a book or pizza, from your
mobile device. And you can also transfer money from one phone to another! You
can stay connected with me__or someone who you may have never met in ages or
ever__using Facebook and Twitter__without intruding on their time or privacy! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkowQ9yjU1KpfPocu4Ep7BTPVLSHs_f6enoQofcJXIF5Qi0rH7h0zBDHxJOZWiNIeWq-F8kocLJq8Nn-Ff7hBFlicw_zv-5X0sJJ1n_3rXEPAlGkoEYEwFvHpkSoEBFq3tQsNp535fi9R/s1600/1656245_596533267089425_1060137714_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkowQ9yjU1KpfPocu4Ep7BTPVLSHs_f6enoQofcJXIF5Qi0rH7h0zBDHxJOZWiNIeWq-F8kocLJq8Nn-Ff7hBFlicw_zv-5X0sJJ1n_3rXEPAlGkoEYEwFvHpkSoEBFq3tQsNp535fi9R/s320/1656245_596533267089425_1060137714_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Illustration Courtesy: Internet<br />Copyright with original creator</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The world’s so much smaller, so much
closer, things are so amazingly simpler, yet, the billion buck question is, why
are we still struggling? Why is it that we still <i><u>‘don’t have time’</u></i> for our families, our passions and our
dreams? Why is it that we are not living fuller, more complete, fulfilling
lives, if things have only gotten simpler? The problem is not with the information
technology revolution. It has done its job__made Life simpler. It is we humans
who have not learnt to adapt and <b><i><u><span style="color: red;">use</span></u></i></b>
technology. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Schumpeter, a weekly column in <i>The Economist</i> once described this state that our race finds
itself in, and argued its causes, fabulously well: “…for most people <i>the servant has become the master</i>. Not
long ago only doctors were on call all the time. Now everybody is. Bosses think
nothing of invading their employees’ free time. Work invades the home far more
than domestic chores invade the office. Otherwise-sane people check their
smartphones obsessively, even during pre-dinner drinks, and send e-mails first
thing in the morning and last thing at night. This is partly because
smartphones are addictive…Employees find it ever harder to distinguish between
“on-time” and “off-time”—and indeed between real work and make-work. Executives
are lumbered with two overlapping workdays: a formal one full of meetings and
an informal one spent trying to keep up with the torrent of e-mails and
messages. None of this is good for businesspeople’s marriages or mental
health.” Schumpeter recommended digital dieting. A kind of rationing of
tech-led work time for freeing up more Life time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would like us to go the extra mile. My
two-penny worth: <i>Celebrate Life by
Celebrating technology. Don’t just Cerebrate Life and technology!</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Here’s how I do it. 1. Wear you Life and
your attitude to Life on your sleeve. Let people know__even it is bosses,
clients or children__who you are and how you live and work. 2. Never allow
technology to slave-drive you. You can choose, and therefore please do, to be
the <b><i><u><span style="color: red;">Master</span></u></i></b>. 2. Define your quiet or silence or
<i>‘mouna’</i> periods. About an hour every
day. No voice calls. Just remain silent. Focus on whatever you are doing.
Whether it is walking, watching a movie or even preparing a report. <i>Just because you are accessible, need not
mean you are available.</i> 3. Check your mails, your text messages, your
Facebook or Twitter account but <i><u>don’t</u></i>
be trigger-(keyboard)-happy. Choose whether and when to respond. Mull over the
information streaming in. If it is bad news__a client feedback, an exasperated
boss’ rant, a project disaster, a child’s agony__deal with it with patience.
Treat the information as an opportunity to spiritually train yourself <i><u>not</u></i> to react. If it is good news,
don’t exult either. Again spiritually evolve with the opportunity. 4. Flag as
favorites some inspirational web pages (such as this one, </span><span lang="EN-US">J</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">!) and visit them each time your mind wavers and grazes on negative
emotions __ worry, anxiety, stress. 5. Do all non-core stuff__like paying your
bills, transferring money, booking tickets and hotels__online, at times of the
week or day when your energy is low. That way you save time for more value
creation when your energy is the highest! 6. Take backups of all important data
weekly __ phone contacts, mails, computer hard-disk data __ that’s a sure, and the
<i><u>only</u></i>, way to beat technology
letting you down. 7. Remember: An intelligent Master is one who can use the
slave, technology, to <i><u>live</u></i> a
better Life! </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, if you find yourself stressed out on any morning by 10 AM, when
you are technically supposed to be starting your work day, know that you are to
blame for the complexity that defines your Life. And the only way to make your
Life simple, is to simply take charge __ of your Life and the technology you
have! </span><b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will live happily, healthily, soon, after
you become the Master again…..!</span> <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-590569349379877712016-03-02T18:05:00.000+05:302016-03-02T18:05:13.460+05:30Go to work on your problems than just lament about them<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Life’s problems seem insurmountable,
take each day as it comes, but keep at your problems without thinking of the
outcomes.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There
will be times when nothing will seem to go your way. Situations at work will be
unproductive – stressful, political and complex. Your relationship could be
heading nowhere – often leaving you lonely and lost. The money may just not be
enough. And any efforts you make to fix things, to find solutions, to make the
situation better, may only end up confounding matters. The normal response to
such a situation is anger, frustration and depression. When these emotions
arise, observe them. Hold them and give them your attention. Ask yourself if
feeling angry, frustrated or depressed is of any use in a situation when you
don’t like what you are getting in Life. When you realize the futility of
anger, frustration and depression, you will immediately want to let them go. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2TebSMPfrF-xywP8TmKyilkOhN9aO5mQHR-Z52aH7WFKcM2_scGMSn22_B-lXsPbQl9VMkZIilw75mJ0n27hPDzexY7XvQhqKW_Y0lv2F9MquC0uSW-Dhhx39Oycgv0dFXbM1odkC8bj/s1600/2.3.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2TebSMPfrF-xywP8TmKyilkOhN9aO5mQHR-Z52aH7WFKcM2_scGMSn22_B-lXsPbQl9VMkZIilw75mJ0n27hPDzexY7XvQhqKW_Y0lv2F9MquC0uSW-Dhhx39Oycgv0dFXbM1odkC8bj/s320/2.3.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running
away from Life or feeling sad continuously for what has happened or feeling
guilty for what you may have contributed to what has happened – none of these serve
any purpose. In fact, Life never cares how you feel. Life just goes on
happening. And if you bring debilitating thoughts to the table, if you keep
clinging on to the negativity that arises as a result within you, you will feel
bogged down and held hostage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is
a problem situation at the end of the day? Any situation that you dislike is a
problem situation. Plain and simple. If what you dislike must go away – one of
two things must happen. Either you must work on driving it away. Or you must
walk away from it. You can’t forever be lamenting that you dislike a situation.
That’s escapism. Of course, in any situation, you can act, you can take
remedial steps. So, act. Don’t worry about the results. Simply act. An action
may lead you to a result. And you may like or dislike that result. Then act
again if you must change that result. That’s how it works. Inaction on account
of depression, anger, guilt, grief or worry is sacrilege. For anything about a
current reality to change, you have to change something within you first. Which
is, you must be ready and willing to go to work on your problem regardless of circumstance,
outcome, reward or recognition. Just keep chipping away. When the going gets
tough again, when you face rejection, failure and hit another no-go place, you
may well face another bout of depression and frustration. Hold your depression again
and examine its futility. Then let it all go. And you go back to work, to
chipping away at your problem. One day, one day surely, what you are chipping
away at will give way. <b><i><span style="color: red;">And that day, when
you connect the dots backward, you will be grateful for the choice you made –
to have gone to work on your problem than sit and bemoan it! </span></i></b></span></span><span class="uistorymessage"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<br />
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AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-14955117535285476392016-03-01T13:27:00.001+05:302016-03-01T13:27:57.726+05:30It is time parents grew up too – and not just older!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whatever be the circumstance or
temptation, parents must not get in the way of their adult children. </span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HkstJ-XW-QiN4lbJlhid_xyvp6gdDDUPlpMGYiVItI795FeF9n75lxET5CSQ-IWamLgTX1JTwJ1hWa9aVEr8_hs7-IrVTj9NTmqyIln6a9lAR5cqOI68vxqELOqOQlgPjo9hZWBiJJEC/s1600/1.3.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HkstJ-XW-QiN4lbJlhid_xyvp6gdDDUPlpMGYiVItI795FeF9n75lxET5CSQ-IWamLgTX1JTwJ1hWa9aVEr8_hs7-IrVTj9NTmqyIln6a9lAR5cqOI68vxqELOqOQlgPjo9hZWBiJJEC/s320/1.3.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someone
we know is looking for a marriage alliance for her daughter who is an alumni of
the London School of Economics. We have met the prospective bride and found
that she’s intelligent, compassionate and independent enough to make informed
choices. But her mother insists on choosing a groom only from a TamBram, IT
industry background so that the couple can “settle” down in Chennai in the next
10 years to be able care for her (our friend) in her old age! Another mother
does not want a groom for her daughter from anywhere out of Chennai because she
(the mother) has a ‘fear of flying’ – so outstation and overseas visits may not
be possible if the groom came from outside Chennai! Yet another couple we know
is ‘worried’ stiff that their 33-year-old son is unmarried – the son however
believes that no alliance is coming through because his father insists on the
girl’s side following a regimented process of match-making which most families
find stifling – and avoidable! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am
sure there are countless such stories around you as well – in your family, in
your circle of influence. A lot of parents I know are sweating over their
children quite unnecessarily. I believe parents must take a chill pill and let
their young adult children just be. Most certainly parents have a need to
counsel their children and share perspectives. But the engagement must stop
there – at best with a sermon. Trying to micro-manage and live their children’s
lives or live their own lives through their children is something that parents
must totally avoid. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parents
must appreciate – and accept – that their children are unique individuals.
Their Life designs are entirely distinct and different from that of their
parents. Besides, they have their own aspirations and their own lives to lead.
So, coming up with preconditions, like choosing a companion who is in the same
city, or one who belongs to a specific community or insisting that a child gets
into running the family business because there is no one else to run it or
dictating how a young adult must live, ruins the party for everyone. It is
possible that some of all this happens because despite being young adults, the children
may not always share how stifled they feel with intrusive and instructive
parenting. <b><i><span style="color: red;">But it is time children spoke their mind, even
as it is time parents grew up – and not just older!</span></i></b><span style="color: red;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-36288838937402429152016-02-29T16:34:00.000+05:302016-02-29T16:34:53.246+05:30Reflections on ‘Aashirwad’, Rajesh Khanna and the essence of the Bhagavad Gita<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything is impermanent.
Everything, including your own body, will soon perish.</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOO-Ay4BiFS4-jFhi8CpvIoshS-ZRtpyYceKYxb3cXalma2NhjO1KS-TutxC5Uklo30yk1Iq_JL9gyrDO5uUBtlMkkOevmIffjZrDSBh64Ni6LI5LzYyxnzy6qqWQqV5xAM3cdn1Mp1WI/s1600/20160229_071754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOO-Ay4BiFS4-jFhi8CpvIoshS-ZRtpyYceKYxb3cXalma2NhjO1KS-TutxC5Uklo30yk1Iq_JL9gyrDO5uUBtlMkkOevmIffjZrDSBh64Ni6LI5LzYyxnzy6qqWQqV5xAM3cdn1Mp1WI/s320/20160229_071754.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The <i>TOI</i> story </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A story
in the <i>Times of India</i> this morning on
the demolition of Rajesh Khanna’s erstwhile bungalow, ‘<i>Aashirwad’</i>, on Mumbai’s tony Carter Road, got me to pause and
reflect. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
property’s new owner is bringing down the bungalow to redevelop the estate and
construct a new building. The bungalow is iconic for many reasons: Rajesh asked
for an advance from noted Tamil producer Sandow Chinnappa Devar, which came in
the form of Rs.5 Lakh in cash in a suitcase, for buying the bungalow from actor
Rajendra Kumar; Devar in turn signed-up Rajesh for <i>‘Haathi Mere Saathi’</i> but Rajesh wanted the script re-written and
entrusted the project to Salim-Javed; so, in effect, <i>‘Haathi Mere Saathi’</i> became the first film that the writer-duo got
joint credit – and payment – for! The truth is that had Rajesh not wanted to
buy that bungalow, he may not have done <i><u>‘Haathi
Mere Saathi’</u></i> and had he not done the film, Salim-Javed would not be the
legends they are today! The film <i>‘Haathi
Mere Saathi’</i> also marked a critical, upward, inflection point in Rajesh
Khanna’s rise to superstardom – the first in Bollywood! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US">‘Aashirwad’</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> was also home
to many of Rajesh’s relationships – the more known among them being the one with
Dimple Kapadia, who he also married; the one with Tina Munim; and, in his later
years, the one with his live-in partner Anita Advani. It was on the terrace of
this bungalow that, according to a close friend and film journalist Ali Peter
John, Rajesh Khanna in a state of drunken stupor, envious and enraged over the
aura of Amitabh Bachchan that had taken over the Hindi film industry, looked up
at the sky and howled: “Oh God, why me?” So, <i>‘Aashirwad’</i> has seen a lot – it has seen success, superstardom,
relationships, break-ups, failures and falls. Maybe many, many, more untold
tales lay hidden within <i>‘Aashirwad’</i>.
But now <i>‘Aashirwad’</i> is gone. Reduced
to dust. Just as the superstar who once proudly lived in it has since long been
reduced to dust. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I
read the story of the bungalow’s demolition, it struck me that <i>‘Aashirwad’</i> was but a metaphor. All our
stories will end up that way too – as dust! I remembered how, when our Firm’s
fortunes came crashing down, and we had to close down and vacate our office, I physically
shredded each of our key statements of intent – our Purpose, Vision and Values
statements. It was a numbing, cathartic moment for me. This was a Firm that I
had dreamt of becoming a global icon in the consulting space, this was a Firm
that my wife and I had grown with love and passion, yet, it had been reduced to
nothing – and as it lay defunct, lifeless, it, eerily so, appeared that I was
performing its last rites that day in 2012. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I
sipped my filter coffee, and brought my attention back to the <i>‘Aashirwad’</i> story in today’s <i>TOI</i>, I
reflected on the essence of the Bhagavad Gita:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whatever happened, it happened well.</span></span></i></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">Whatever is happening, it is happening well.</span></i></b></div>
<i><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">Whatever will happen, it will also happen well.</span></i></b></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">What of yours did you lose?</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">Why or for what are you crying?</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">What did you bring with you, for you to lose it?</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">What did you create, for it to be wasted or destroyed?</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">Whatever you took, it was taken from here.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">Whatever you gave, it was given from here.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">Whatever is yours today, will belong to someone else tomorrow.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">On another day, it will belong to yet another.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">This <u>change</u> is the Law of the Universe.</span></i></b></div>
</span></i></span></b><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
believe intelligent living is about pausing and imbibing this learning. Nothing
belongs to us. Everything and everyone will be gone some day – including you
and me! Clinging on to material possessions and stances and opinions is a total
waste of energy and precious time. If we review our lives closely, deeply, we
will find that all our insecurities and strife comes from whatever we are
clinging on to. The moment you let go of whatever is possessing you, consuming
you – a habit or a position or an object or a person or a relationship – you are
liberated. You are free. </span><b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is only when you
are free that you can experience Life – and its magic and beauty – fully! </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-83911634557618913512016-02-28T16:52:00.000+05:302016-02-28T16:52:58.226+05:30Pain always offers a teachable point of view<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You appreciate Life’s inscrutability
only when you don’t get what you want or when you get what you don’t want!</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is an amazing truth about Life. It is
a revelation, a discovery, that often strikes you, dawns on you, when you are
in the throes of pain and despair. When everything is going per your
aspirations, your desires, you conclude that you are in control, that you are
the Master, that it’s all your doing. You matter the most to you in such times –
this is how it works: you do well in academics, land yourself a dream job, get
married to a person of your choice; you think you managed all of that ‘success’
on your own steam; because of your brilliance, genius and effort. Undoubtedly,
you have worked hard and efficiently. There has been your contribution. But to
imagine that the design of your Life was woven by you smacks of ignorance, not just
arrogance, of the way Life works. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_sTeqSjop4V6Amz2_XW3Jf3WC6TBZiCU4vBaPipnEOPYjvVPMzVKzuVPIsJPnD-CylwS_9IXTdnQcp-TrQOG22ESjfBSdj9qJOzukf1KVwXvEsjBF4gZrFKBvVuLLH8kzgBhFiPsng5-/s1600/pain-growth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_sTeqSjop4V6Amz2_XW3Jf3WC6TBZiCU4vBaPipnEOPYjvVPMzVKzuVPIsJPnD-CylwS_9IXTdnQcp-TrQOG22ESjfBSdj9qJOzukf1KVwXvEsjBF4gZrFKBvVuLLH8kzgBhFiPsng5-/s320/pain-growth-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I met a Tamizh movie director, a very
successful man, recently. He is smart, intelligent and very creative. He said,
“I don’t believe in dreams. I believe in subconscious aspirations, dedicated
effort and flawless execution. <i>You make
your own destiny</i>.” Poetic words. Makes sense to the rational mind. Except that
Life doesn’t always work this way. A very successful industrialist I know, who
went bankrupt and has clawed his way back into reckoning, and profits in
business, has this learning to share: “When things were going fine, I was
thinking it was <i>my</i> leadership, <i>my</i> acumen, <i>my</i> business-sense that were causing <i>my</i> success. When we started losing money and eventually went bust
as a business, I found that the same leadership and acumen__mine__were of no
use. That’s when I awoke to the reality that Life has a mind of its own.” I
have learnt that it’s a good thing to not always get what you want and to
sometimes get what you don’t want too. That’s when you learn from Life. The best
thing about pain is that it always offers a teachable point of view. And trauma
is a good transformation agent, a catalyst. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s no rocket science to why we__you
and me__awaken only when in pain. Life is best understood by asking the right
questions. And we pause to ask questions, explore with curiosity, only when we
don’t get what we want – or when we get what we don’t want! Interestingly, the
questions we ask may often get us no answers. Just more questions emerge. And
the more questions we ask, the closer we are to understanding Life. </span><b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s when we realize that Life is, well, inscrutable!</span> <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-79290411867108037172016-02-27T11:54:00.000+05:302016-02-27T11:54:37.779+05:30Why this ‘kolaveri’ against Sanjay Dutt?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You must have walked their path if
you must offer an opinion about someone.</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Nkz0Sg6b1s8RrTn8NPQRNHz3votbPrLxu-9FGHlLCiHTkL313YwswMBzKLsZB8fn1YUnvdoMLJleX6cvljyg_xqgrl0qhWlFXSIh2qIzm9Rz5MfxVJyw61He_7x7YlRnFsklyIGLafFF/s1600/1054137-sanjay-1456385641-760-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Nkz0Sg6b1s8RrTn8NPQRNHz3votbPrLxu-9FGHlLCiHTkL313YwswMBzKLsZB8fn1YUnvdoMLJleX6cvljyg_xqgrl0qhWlFXSIh2qIzm9Rz5MfxVJyw61He_7x7YlRnFsklyIGLafFF/s320/1054137-sanjay-1456385641-760-640x480.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sanjay Dutt leaving Yerawada Prison in Pune<br />Picture Courtesy: Internet</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="uistorymessage"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am appalled with the quality of social
media/public opinion being hurled at Sanjay Dutt over his release from prison
earlier this week. I like Sanjay, the actor. But I love him for the courage he
has displayed to face Life, go through a legal process and serve a jail term.
Yes, it can be argued that he tried to avoid the jail term as much as possible;
he used every legal option available to him. And it can be further argued that
while in jail he kept seeking – and getting – paroles. And now, he’s walked out
eight months ahead of schedule. So, it’s natural that people ask: <i>will others accused of a crime or prisoners
get such a differential, preferred treatment?</i> I guess that question is more
relevant when posed to the government and the prison authorities. As far as
Sanjay is concerned he only did what anyone in his position will do – which is,
explore all legal avenues available to first avoid a prison term and then to
reduce it. <i>After all who wants to be in
jail? <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="uistorymessage"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my personal view. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="uistorymessage"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I say this not as a means of offering just yet
another opinion. I say this because I have come close to incarceration on more
than one occasion. Like Sanjay has admitted to having made mistakes, I too, in
the context of the poor financial decisions that I took, have made mistakes.
And while there is a realization today of follies having been committed, I did
not see anything inappropriate about seeking and utilizing legal counsel to
stay away from jail. I believe apart from being a constitutional right, it is
also a normal, human urge to not want to go to jail. I can totally relate to
Sanjay declaring, upon his release, “It has been a long walk to freedom.” I
haven’t had to – so far – face a situation of my physical freedom being taken
away. But since I have come close (I share one such episode in my Book <i><span style="color: red;">‘Fall Like A Rose
Petal’</span></i>; Westland, August 2014), let me tell you, even that is
something that I wish no one should ever have to experience. Which is why I
salute Sanjay for not running away from the country or hanging himself from a
ceiling fan – he could have done either long, long back; and many in his shoes (may)
have done that surely! – instead he stayed on, faced the 23-year-process
stoically and served a sentence that the highest court in the land ordered him
to. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="uistorymessage"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not trying to be preachy here. I am just
sharing what I deeply feel. I know the pain of being judged by public – and
private – opinion. I know what it is to be called a cheat (by my own family). I
know what it means to be unable to redeem yourself, your credibility, when Life
check-mates you, only because you blinked and made a couple of lousy decisions.
Most people who are hanging Sanjay in a public trail have, mercifully, never
had to go through a situation that he has faced. Perhaps they would have
crumbled long, long ago had they ever had to face one themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="uistorymessage"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s the nub: if you haven’t walked someone’s
path yourself, please don’t rush to offer an opinion about them. </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: red;">Please respect
the other person’s right to dignity!</span></i><span style="color: red;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-23558830435572651622016-02-26T04:49:00.000+05:302016-02-26T04:49:31.414+05:30Get on with the business of living<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Live with complete awareness of the true
nature of Life – and you will be happy, no matter what you are dealing with.</span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0lzXCCX3kNw1QQiRcCmUnUZ0z9FgCB0hX1BYeByAdOEI3Eqzg63r3vgCZlZ6MpsARx2OHyvjRJfqFY78vp47d1ISdEUbNVo7lbS5r19Knm4lxbxX68ZqyzFP7EPNMNea8qZ_bLA_xS1O/s1600/complain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0lzXCCX3kNw1QQiRcCmUnUZ0z9FgCB0hX1BYeByAdOEI3Eqzg63r3vgCZlZ6MpsARx2OHyvjRJfqFY78vp47d1ISdEUbNVo7lbS5r19Knm4lxbxX68ZqyzFP7EPNMNea8qZ_bLA_xS1O/s1600/complain.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Understand that one day this lifetime will
come to an end. And yet you must live – and not just exist – until that end
comes! This awareness is critical for you to live fully, blissfully, in
continuous celebration of each moment. Celebration? When each day is a
challenge to survive, how can you celebrate each moment? People, events,
circumstances, financial issues, health problems, relationships, the traffic,
the garbage, the theatre of the absurd – the upcoming Assembly elections (in
Tamil Nadu)….do we think with so much chaos around us, we can actually
celebrate? How can you even talk of a celebration, you may wonder. Indeed. <i>Yet, it is the imponderables that make Life
interesting.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We don’t see Life as interesting because we
haven’t been taught to appreciate the unpredictability and inscrutability of
Life. That appreciation would make living Life so much easier. Instead we are
told that Life is about studying, working hard, earning money and living
happily ever after. Had we been told that such a linear progression through
Life would be interspersed with a zillion different challenges and that we must
embrace them, live through them, learn from them, while being happy, wouldn’t
we have been better off? This is the awareness that I have come to experience,
understand and believe in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This awareness is the key to happiness.
According to ancient Chinese folklore, a traveler through the mountains came
upon an elderly gentleman who was busy planting a tiny almond tree. Knowing
that almond trees take many years to mature, he commented to the man "It
seems odd that a man of your advanced age would plant such a slow-growing
tree!" The man replied "I like to live my life based on two
principles. One is that I will live forever. The other is that this is my last
day." The old man’s perspective is so, so beautiful. Look around you. <i>What are the things you would like to
complete if you were told today’s your last day here? What are the things you
would like to set in motion if you knew you will live forever?</i> Make a
shortlist combining actions that are common to these two lists and get started.
</span><b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s how you really stop complaining, feeling lost and
helpless in the humdrum of everyday Life, and get on with the business of
living – fully and happily! </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-68753489076474297892016-02-25T05:55:00.000+05:302016-02-25T05:55:05.910+05:30Go on, be a Buddha today! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To find peace, meaning and happiness
in Life, all you must do is to stop searching.</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you are searching, you are missing what’s
most apparent. When you just be, just the way you are, you will always find
whatever you are searching for. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has often happened to you or you have
seen others go through this: people search for their glasses all over while
they have raised them to leave them on their foreheads. They look high and dry,
feel exasperated, and then when they are told that they have been carrying them
on their foreheads, they feel stupid and sheepish. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYou6BagZc8pijK99r6YGL0VPRuZRrSXu7qDTzLARM7mK_4KrafNbeCyufflaW99Fa6yggDjiMydKAxlVHIbagJ0CgEQlzX5UstNHdtFB_5ozWlKVUoGRokGC80dZVnsshTsao8eNqOVfA/s1600/zintenz-postcard-be-a-buddha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYou6BagZc8pijK99r6YGL0VPRuZRrSXu7qDTzLARM7mK_4KrafNbeCyufflaW99Fa6yggDjiMydKAxlVHIbagJ0CgEQlzX5UstNHdtFB_5ozWlKVUoGRokGC80dZVnsshTsao8eNqOVfA/s320/zintenz-postcard-be-a-buddha.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it is with Life too. You are the peace
you seek, your Life has a Purpose, and you can be happy only in the present moment.
These are unalterable truisms of Life. Also, you are a Buddha. The root word <i>‘Budh’</i> means to wake up, to understand.
A person who wakes up and understands is called a Buddha. To grasp this wisdom,
you don’t need to be a <i>guru</i>. You must
just be willing to let the flow of Life take you in its fold. In any situation,
allow Life to take over. Just go with the flow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For instance, this weekday morning, don’t
get stressed out if you are running a few minutes late. Watch your every
breath, take your very step in peace. Look at your schedules for the day and
ask yourself how you will be creating value and making a difference today.
Choose to focus on only those items on your agenda where you can make a
difference in the first half of the day. At lunch, review how you are feeling.
You will be happy. Not because I have told you this. I am no soothsayer. This
is no prophecy. You will be happy because you created conditions within you to
be happy, despite it being busy day at work, despite the frenetic pace and stress
of your working Life. When you stop running, and start feeling your breathing,
you live. Most of us are alive, but we don’t think much of it. When you realize
you are alive, when you celebrate each breath you take, anything is possible.
When you live understanding the peace, meaning and happiness in each moment,
you become a Buddha yourself. <b><i><span style="color: red;">Go on, simply be, be
a Buddha today!</span></i></b></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-87665500216218297922016-02-24T05:37:00.000+05:302016-02-24T05:37:13.107+05:30Your ‘Mahamaham’ moment awaits you – not in Kumbakonam, but within you!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
dip in a ‘holy’ river or tank can never ‘cleanse’ you. Pausing, reflecting and
awakening alone can.</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend
feverishly texted me on WhatsApp a few days ago. He’s close to me and believes
that the financial challenges that my family and I are enduring, for close to a
decade now, is directly related to my past <i>karma</i>
– a ‘carry forward’ of sorts of ‘sins committed in a previous birth’. He
furiously appealed to me I must make the pilgrimage to the Mahamaham tank in
Kumbakonam and take a dip to ‘wash away all my bad <i>karma</i>, my sins’. “You will see an immediate change in your
fortunes,” he insisted. I merely thanked him for his compassionate perspective
and offered no justification for my choice not to accept his advice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3yxWAljkskXfUwi1XRpQFu3e-pPNJ-SRcihK4KEYBqAMJk8JCfzjj9hOtv44zwy_0tPrSnK3pwHdEy7PRD3kQBgpMvhbrBHZR4AEO_SHyX5yQc_M4Y4BeSygCHlZ5_uN_98P8hDVo9lf/s1600/16TY_MASIMAHAM_1758546f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3yxWAljkskXfUwi1XRpQFu3e-pPNJ-SRcihK4KEYBqAMJk8JCfzjj9hOtv44zwy_0tPrSnK3pwHdEy7PRD3kQBgpMvhbrBHZR4AEO_SHyX5yQc_M4Y4BeSygCHlZ5_uN_98P8hDVo9lf/s320/16TY_MASIMAHAM_1758546f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mahamaham - Kumbakonam<br />Picture Courtesy: Internet</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Mahamaham is a
Hindu festival that happens every 12 years in the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam,
Tamil Nadu. I have no disrespect for the Mahamaham. Nor do I intend questioning
its legend that’s drawing several millions in (what they think is) piety. Yet,
I sincerely don’t believe a ritualistic dip, however ‘holy’ the site may be,
can ever cleanse anyone. In his memorable 2003 classic, <i>Anbe Sivam</i> (Love is God), Kamal Hassan beautifully explains to his
co-star Madhavan why the God within us – the Universal Energy that keeps us
alive – must awaken for us to realize the magic and beauty of Life. That
realization, to me, is the biggest awakening. And only an <i>awakening from within</i> can truly cleanse us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be sure, there
is a Mahamaham moment waiting for each of us – provided we are ready and
willing to understand Life and have seeker’s, a student’s, attitude. And that
moment need not be at a temple tank, where millions are crowding with a herd
mentality, throwing personal and public hygiene to the wind! My own Mahamaham
moment happened in my living room, some time in 2007, when I was having my
favorite Royal Challenge whisky, and was utterly bored with two other things I
was trying to do at the same time – swap channels on TV hoping to find
something interesting and make sense of the English translation of the <i>Sai Satcharita</i>, a book on the Life and
teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba. My search for something meaningful on TV drew a
blank. And I soon turned it off. My family had long gone to sleep. Even as I
poured myself another drink, I tried – but failed miserably – to understand
what the <i>Sai Satcharita</i> was trying to
say – it will easily rank as among the most horrible works of translation ever,
from the original Marathi to English! I put the book away. And I thought deeply
about what Shirdi Baba had taught the world in his lifetime. In a Eureka-like
flash, it dawned on me that the two principles around which all his teachings
were anchored are – <i>Shraddha</i>, Faith
and <i>Saburi</i>, Patience. <i>To face Life and to overcome the challenges
that you are faced with, I realized that, you must keep the faith and learn to
be patient. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over time, I
employed this awakening very constructively, through my daily practice of <i>mouna</i> (silence periods), to understand
the impermanence and inscrutability of Life. I learned that this is the only
Life we have. And to live this Life well – and happily – we must train our mind
to be in the present moment. In the now. I discovered that the way religion is practiced
in the world today is that it encourages you and me to fear people (who peddle
religion) than inspire faith in creation – that if you have been created without
your asking to be born, then the same energy that created you will care for
you, will provide for you. When there is fear, how can there be faith? When
there is no faith, how can you be patient? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This clarity is
helping me live my Life with total inner peace, despite the storm that rages on
outside, in my business, professional and material Life. This clarity makes me
believe that a dip in an insanely crowded temple tank will hardly cleanse
anything – not even your body, let alone your mind. I am more with Kabir, the 15<sup>th</sup>
Century weaver-poet, here. He said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kabir
Man Nirmal Bhaya, Jaise Ganga Neer </span></span></i></div>
<i><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pache Pache Har Phire, Kahat Kabir Kabir</span></span></i></div>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Translation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kabir Washed His Mind Clean, Like The Holy
Ganges River<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone follows behind, Saying Kabir,
Kabir<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white;">That is, Kabir urges us to remove all
impurities from our mind, from our thinking process, thus letting the light of
divinity to shine forth.</span> Truly, there is divinity in each of us. That
divinity is suppressed, lying buried under layers and layers of grief, guilt,
anger, fear and such debilitating emotions. This is why we are searching for
God outside of us. This is why we are running to a Mahamaham. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously, you don’t need to wait for 12
years to scramble to a Mahamaham for cleansing yourself. </span></span><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your Mahamaham moment awaits you
if you can simply pause, reflect and awaken to the opportunity of cleansing your
mind, of living in the now! </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-63983274846556472642016-02-23T16:09:00.000+05:302016-02-23T16:09:58.997+05:30Asking ‘Why’ of Life never helps!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything
has its place and everything has a reason. So just accept what is and keep
moving on…</span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When
we ask why, we become restless, anxious, fearful and lose the game of Life.
Instead when we accept things, people, events, as they are, as they happen, we
find peace and bliss irrespective of the circumstance we find ourselves in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGp0IghmcsRxlS85JWlPR_kwiYkRm6HoZBaqyuxMMTZbIGoeO3UQc1IX-4I9I5TvnaKLRc-BZ4zv9v_CGb_1prbEbIB-1i7akXeyF6ub9lJ4WOU_3HbKhcqH-MAD1UN0mKkagyi6IdaPw/s1600/dont-ask-why-questions-about-english.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGp0IghmcsRxlS85JWlPR_kwiYkRm6HoZBaqyuxMMTZbIGoeO3UQc1IX-4I9I5TvnaKLRc-BZ4zv9v_CGb_1prbEbIB-1i7akXeyF6ub9lJ4WOU_3HbKhcqH-MAD1UN0mKkagyi6IdaPw/s320/dont-ask-why-questions-about-english.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of
course, it is normal for you to want to know why something is happening to you.
But know also that Life is unlikely to give you an answer – at least immediately.
As Steve Jobs famously said, “You can only connect the dots backwards.” That
connection of dots too is, at best, an inference, a derived pattern. Yet, if
you can accept the lack of reason in the moment, you can always find your own
way to be happy with whatever is, the way it is. But if you keep asking why
this and why that, you will find yourself wallowing in grief and agony and you
will never be at peace. Life’s ways are at best magical and at worst mystical.
Jobs further said, “…so you have
to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” Simply,
never when something is happening, in the present, can you know the why of it. So,
trust Life and let things be as they are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An
old Kashmiri story illustrates this best. Once upon a time, a man was resting
under the shade of a walnut tree on a hot, sultry afternoon. Just nearby was a
pumpkin creeper. The man thought to himself, “Why would God grow pumpkins on a
creeper and walnuts on a tree when it should have been the other way round?
Pumpkins need stronger support while walnuts do not- how did it not occur to
God? Pretty silly!” Just when he was about to leave the shade of the tree and
walk away, a walnut fell from above and hit his head. He then realized that had
it been pumpkins that grew on such trees instead of walnuts, he’d be dead and
that being in the shade of trees would not be safe for tired travelers, like
him, at all! He then realized that there’s a lot that God knows that he did not.
He concluded that God has planned everything beforehand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To
me, God is Life itself. I see Life as a thinking, intelligent teacher, who
gives you each experience with a reason. Every aspect of creation is available
to teach you something. Every crisis is a training ground to make you stronger
and wiser. Yes, I too do feel lost sometimes. Stumped by Life’s surprises, the
trials, the twists and the irrationality of it all! <b><i><span style="color: red;">Even so,
over the years, I have learnt not to ask why! I have learnt to accept my Life
for what it is, the way it is and I keep moving on…</span></i></b></span></span><span class="uistorymessage"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-68341525182846880212016-02-22T17:57:00.000+05:302016-02-22T17:57:06.065+05:30Spike Fear, Embrace Uncertainty, Have Faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To
peacefully journey through Life you must understand uncertainty and let go of
all that you fear.</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_UmeXIfpVS8b4JnqZWo46KnvxHtn2k_5jJZoUjfwBIrmtpoZZbXBKKehSGf27Z3UuU9Smk2t4ND14OaV3c0-9jJ9wzKYNoFgpHSycya78WEIBX18iIab9DzUVqxg-MLigg1t6gsBi-ba/s1600/fa1f34acc0fb1f437fa2d73899cb90eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_UmeXIfpVS8b4JnqZWo46KnvxHtn2k_5jJZoUjfwBIrmtpoZZbXBKKehSGf27Z3UuU9Smk2t4ND14OaV3c0-9jJ9wzKYNoFgpHSycya78WEIBX18iIab9DzUVqxg-MLigg1t6gsBi-ba/s1600/fa1f34acc0fb1f437fa2d73899cb90eb.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indeed,
none of us knows what lies in store for us in each approaching moment and, most
of the time, we are running scared of this uncertain, unknown, dark future. The
way to nullify the impact of the lethal cocktail of fear and uncertainty in
Life is to have faith. The faith that can remove fear and help you embrace uncertainty
is not the faith that religion tries to dispense and that we all claim we
profess. All religious faith is dogmatic, puerile and fanned by seeking to
identify with a power that (we are made to believe) is outside of us. God, per
all religions and their diktats, fatwas, gospels, is external. Which is why
anyone who is deeply religious will still be plagued by worry, anxiety and fear.
Whereas, true faith is having conviction in creation itself, in the Universe
and its Master Plan. The same energy that powers you__and me__and keeps us
alive also created the mountains, the trees, the gorges and the valleys, the
petals and the fruits, the oceans and the drops of water. It is part of the
Master Plan that the Earth goes around the Sun and not the other way round. It
is the same Master Plan that divined you were born to the family that you call
your own and were endowed with whatever faculties you had at the time of your
creation! That Master Plan has no flaws. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Knowing
this, feeling this and living this reality in wondrous amazement is faith. When
there’s this real faith, no imposter__religion, dogma, beliefs, rituals,
superstitions__can get anywhere close to you. Nor can fear and uncertainty torment
you! Where people have true faith, no explanation is required and no amount of
explanation works for those who don’t have faith! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Jaluddin
Rumi, the 13<sup>th</sup> Century mystic Persian poet, described living in faith
thus: “</span><em><span lang="EN-US">Do you think I know what I’m doing?...As much
as a pen knows what it’s writing, or the ball can guess where it’s going next</span></em><span lang="EN-US">.” He compared himself to a flute, a wind instrument made from
bamboo reed, that cannot create music, unless it is played by a master
flautist. So are we, he said, played on by Life. Thinking that we have no song
in us is letting fear and uncertainty get the better of us. Knowing that our
lives will be music is faith. </span></span><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spike the fear, embrace the uncertainty,
keep the faith and you will live happily ever after!</span> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-41898161281691640982016-02-21T12:07:00.000+05:302016-02-21T12:07:56.987+05:30A Life lesson from Neerja’s father, Harish Bhanot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">Don’t allow anyone to do injustice to you and don’t suffer injustice.</span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6um5sdPK6EB6ZHzai2lSIDidzhn3e6xGrsfSBEB6564E11241BWkWXHMvMEtbjCH1pYvPPyfF4ARzulaDGRKJzkigy1OOy5-nQwrp4iGmcr5pJmFa0bnInvxW0WzH013vnJ43-n7xENlW/s1600/Harish-Bhanot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6um5sdPK6EB6ZHzai2lSIDidzhn3e6xGrsfSBEB6564E11241BWkWXHMvMEtbjCH1pYvPPyfF4ARzulaDGRKJzkigy1OOy5-nQwrp4iGmcr5pJmFa0bnInvxW0WzH013vnJ43-n7xENlW/s320/Harish-Bhanot.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rama and Harish Bhanot - both have passed on<br />Picture Courtesy: Neerja Bhanot Archives/Internet</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday,
I watched Ram Madhvani’s brilliant biopic on Pan Am flight purser Neerja Bhanot
(1963~1986) - <i>‘Neerja’</i>. And I cried
twice. Once, at the theatre, when Neerja (Sonam Kapoor in an unforgettable
performance) reads out the letter that her first husband Naresh, undoubtedly a
poor human being and an MCP, wrote to Harish Bhanot. And the second time I
cried when I thought about that scene again, later in the evening, while
sitting on my couch at home and nursing a drink. The letter is a cold, brutal, factual
expression of how women are treated in our country, in some of our families. I
cried the first time because I could relate to every word in that letter –
because that’s how my mother has always treated Vaani. I cried the second time
because I felt guilty that, in the early years of our marriage, I had not succeeded
in fighting the injustice that was meted out to Vaani and me. And that’s precisely
what Harish Bhanot teaches his daughter, Neerja: <i><span style="color: red;">“Never allow injustice to happen and never
suffer it.”</span></i> I wish I had known this back then – that I must not just
stand up, I must stand firm, even if it was against my mother, for Vaani. I
wish I had stood firm the very first time that Vaani was treated unfairly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not
saying this by way of justifying my insufficient action at that time. But the
context in a typical TamBrahm – perhaps in most Indian families it is so –
family of the 60s/70s/80/90s was that the daughter-in-law shall slave it out.
And the mother-in-law will dominate. The son shall not speak up to the parents
even if it meant standing up for his companion; because how dare you let down
your mother in front of your wife? Besides, this lousy logic that ‘all
mothers-in-law will have problems with their daughters-in-law’ and ‘it happens
in every home’ was used to smother the fires. In our family particularly, no
one dared to question the source of all things fractious and manipulative – my mother!
And every time I tried, whenever an episode of injustice happened, I failed
miserably. Each time I tried to protect Vaani, I would be shouted down in a
long-drawn, physically draining, and often-times violent too, completely uncivil
war of words. That my mother and I had a poor chemistry, that in deference to
her wish, we are staying in ‘their’ home in the first 18 months of our marriage,
didn’t help matters one bit. We had to pay for phone calls that Vaani made to
her parents and we had to pay for the food that her family members consumed
when they visited her. Vaani was never allowed to use the washing machine and
she had to wash everyone’s clothes by hand. The maid was sacked on the pretext
of being a perpetual latecomer – but the ‘real’ reason was that since Vaani was
now expecting a baby (Aashirwad) and was going to be at home, ‘let’s save the
maid’s salary and put Vaani to work’. There are countless horror stories that
can fill a book and that consumed several nights of our early, young, adulthood
owing to the domestic strife we had to face. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is possible
that I may be appearing to be petty recalling all this here, after all these
years. It may also look like I am being uncharitable to my mother who may not
necessarily have grown up, though she’s certainly grown much, much older. To be
sure, for my own inner peace, I have forgiven her long ago. But the truth about
Life is you can forgive people but you can’t always forget what happened to you
(I have shared more on how this can practically work in my Book <b><i><span style="color: red;">‘Fall Like A Rose Petal’</span></i></b>; Westland, 2014). That
part of <i>‘Neerja’</i>, the letter-reading scene
in particular, brought back painful memories that I did not want to ever revisit.
Yet, this is not about my past, this is not about how heartless and remorseless
my mother’s behavior has been, this is about a lesson that no one taught me
then. In fact, I didn’t even know there was a lesson. But upon reflection I
feel everyone should know this one lesson – even if you don’t learn anything
else in Life: <i><span style="color: red;">You,
and only you, are responsible for your inner peace, dignity and happiness. Don’t
allow anyone to do injustice to you and don’t suffer injustice.</span></i><span style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You don’t
have to always fight – as I foolishly tried to for years – with a view to
avenge your detractor or change the person, you can simply walk away. The
biggest power we all have, the simplest option we all have, is to get up and
walk away from a situation or a person that hurts us or makes us unhappy. We
don’t exercise this option because we wonder how society will look at us, we
think of how that person will feel if we walked out. I have learnt, from
experience, that how you feel is most important to your inner peace and
happiness. If you feel something’s not right, something unfair is happening,
stand up, say no, and leave. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s
time all of us made a sincere effort to change our lives and our world. Especially
the way we treat our women. Spouses, companions, friends, parents, siblings,
family – whoever you are, if you must stand up for your lady, do that. As the
father of a young, adult, daughter today I can relate to the pain that Vaani’s
parents must have felt seeing her go through what she did and seeing me so
helpless – they knew I loved her do deeply. I definitely don’t want my daughter
to ever go through what Vaani had to experience. And this time, I know I will
not just stand up, but stand firm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s
a part of all of us that is always wanting to be warm, willing to adjust, open
to accommodate and ready to tolerate. But let all the warmth, adjustment,
accommodation and tolerating happen at a practical, material level. And let it
stop there please. Don’t allow anyone to affect your dignity just because they
are older to you or more powerful – whoever they are. Because when you allow
that you end up becoming unhappy. </span><b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your inner peace and
happiness are the only wealth you have – protect them till your last breath!</span> </span></i></b></span><span class="uistorymessage"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-30149192048022093242016-02-20T10:22:00.000+05:302016-02-20T10:22:04.818+05:30Not just Kanhaiya or Rajdeep, all of us Indians are anti-national <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s not rush to pronounce judgment
on others before first looking at ourselves in the mirror.</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I agree that
what Kanhaiya Kumar and his associates did at JNU is debatable, questionable
and condemnable. I also agree that the way the Modi <i>Sarkar</i> is handling the issue is debatable, questionable and
condemnable. I agree further that Rajdeep Sardesai’s definition of who may be
an ‘anti-national’ is set in the context of the political and constitutional
debate that rages on in the country. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what
about you and me – the millions on social media who are passing judgment on
Kanhaiya, NaMo, Rajdeep and whoever else? How national and patriotic are you
and I?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
believe the right way to define a true national and patriot is someone who does
not – violate traffic rules, drink and drive, pay a bribe, watch pirated
content online, evade taxes, avoid voting, throw garbage on the streets or
circumvent the process of law in any manner. I can add a few more criteria but
even at the most basic level, a large part of our population will fail on at
least one of these fronts. For instance, in Chennai, we have a High Court
ruling that bans the riding of two-wheelers – by both the driver and the
pillion rider – without helmets. And yet everyone, including my own daughter,
rides without a helmet. We have a High Court ruling again in Chennai saying
autos must ply by metered fare only. But neither do auto-drivers follow that
ruling, nor do we users follow it – including me, everyone pays over the meter.
So, technically, we are flouting the law, aren’t we? I must confess I have paid
bribes – to Train Ticket Examiners, to traffic cops, postmen and linemen from
BSNL and the Electricity Board – in a past Life. I don’t both have the means or
the intent any more to pay bribes but that does not absolve me of my
anti-national past. And, sadly, most Indians watch pirated movie content
online. In every way that tantamounts to stealing of intellectual property – simply,
it is theft. And that’s a crime as defined by a designated law in our country. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZd3vCsGogr5eYTzDwTJVcYlv0ztx7Rwbfc-DB4R7j-1nivBm9EsmKpb5nyD8KtyJrEMN0YRGqh7WntBx8SyKkei_oAjmxpJcOr_F5cauYBBy9iMTRmxXpx6z4g3evnD6ySRf7ssd20VUf/s1600/7c98704a5f896d62fa91fe841d2b1512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZd3vCsGogr5eYTzDwTJVcYlv0ztx7Rwbfc-DB4R7j-1nivBm9EsmKpb5nyD8KtyJrEMN0YRGqh7WntBx8SyKkei_oAjmxpJcOr_F5cauYBBy9iMTRmxXpx6z4g3evnD6ySRf7ssd20VUf/s320/7c98704a5f896d62fa91fe841d2b1512.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If all
this isn’t anti-national, what is? We have this very glorified,
holier-than-thou attitude which makes us believe that anyone acting against the
interests of the country in matters concerning national secrets or acts of
violence alone is ant-national. Any action against national interest – in any
respect – is anti-national. Period. So, if you don’t dispose of your garbage
responsibly – which 99 % Indian’s don’t do – you are anti-national. If you
drink and drive – which most Indians almost always do – you are anti-national.
If you pay a bribe – which every Indian does – you are anti-national. If you
don’t wear a seat belt and/or speak on your mobile while driving, you are
endangering your Life and the lives of several others – and that, clearly, is being
anti-national! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Truly,
therefore, in some manner or the other, every Indian, wittingly or unwitting,
acts against the interests of India. It is because of our collective lack of
righteousness that our country’s poor continue to get poorer, that our
politicians continue to be more brazen and corrupt and our country wallows (continuously)
in the cesspool of ‘developing nations’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the
Bowl of Saki, a guide for everday living, Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882~1927),
teacher of Universal Sufism, says: “We are very good lawyers for our own
mistakes, but very good judges for the mistakes of others.” What he means is
that we must stop justifying (advocating) our actions and judging others and
instead judge ourselves first. So, my dear fellow anti-nationals, let’s stop opinionating
and preaching on social media. </span><b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be it Kanhaiya or NaMo
or Rajdeep or whoever, let’s look into the mirror first!</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4232209427283589318.post-29230413349502036532016-02-19T04:57:00.000+05:302016-02-19T04:57:29.951+05:30You suffer only when you partner with your grief<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can anyone forgive when in grief
and when still mourning the betrayal?</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is possibly true for all of us that we
have all been, at some time or the other, let down by people whom we trusted
and loved deeply. It is always numbing to discover such a let-down. You will
feel beaten and betrayed. The after-taste of the episode will continue to haunt
you for a long, long time. At all such times, remember this: People do what
they do because they think they are right in doing it that way. So, there’s no
point in either talking sense to them in such a time that they are gripped by
their own stupor or in grieving over their behavior. The best approach is to
take the one that Jesus took on the Cross – “Forgive them O! Lord, because they
know not, what they do!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will perhaps argue that this is easier
said than done. How can anyone move on when the heart aches, when the mind is
lamenting why such a thing has happened in the first place? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have learned that it is fine to be a fool
sometimes in Life. A fool is one who doesn’t know anything. He or she is not
worldy-wise. So, he or she, will continue to trust despite the evidence
pointing to the contrary. The fact that you stand betrayed points to your
having been a fool. So, simple. Continue being a fool. If you find forgiveness
difficult, just continue being trusting or being vulnerable. A few more times
people will continue to hurt you. But they will soon give up when they realize
that you are refusing to get hurt. People love, in a sadistic sense, to see
that their actions, in this case negatively, impact their target audience. When
you subtly, through your, even if feigned, foolishness, deny them that
pleasure, they will cease to persist with their designs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other case for ‘moving on’ and not
‘retaliating’ is that the world is already divided. By several zillion factors.
If it is a close friend or relation, perhaps from the family, that has let you
down, your sulking or wanting to avenge, is only going to divide your already
fractured world further. It is only going to make the distances between you
both grown wider, and often, render them unbridgeable. It takes two hands to
clap. Suppose you don’t offer yours, there will be no thunder. And hence no
issue. Or at least a complicated situation will not get further confounded with
your participation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLYhIKXTpX-rY1dmlCMFZ4Yd9jpPghwFcymsYEEH2DgWCcSUUDjRUDqWosPZ7znY1490ItISfesWkg02EU39X_TGz4ii7RjR4Iw4jubPV1mtyjujEuCIddsz6rrmgcIg0ujwnHezU3fhG/s1600/grief.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLYhIKXTpX-rY1dmlCMFZ4Yd9jpPghwFcymsYEEH2DgWCcSUUDjRUDqWosPZ7znY1490ItISfesWkg02EU39X_TGz4ii7RjR4Iw4jubPV1mtyjujEuCIddsz6rrmgcIg0ujwnHezU3fhG/s320/grief.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s an interesting story that came my
way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">"In the forest there is a banana plant with
its smooth wide leaves next to the thorny berry tree. The wind causes both to
dance and to sway. The thorns of the berry tree rip the leaves of the banana
plant. </span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span class="usercontent">Who is to be blamed? The wind for causing them to sway?</span></span></i></div>
<i><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span class="usercontent">Or the banana for growing close to the berry tree?</span></span></i></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="usercontent">Or the berry tree for having thorns? </span></span></i></div>
<span class="usercontent"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="usercontent">The sage wonders, and realizes that if he did not
exist, these notions of who to blame would not exist. Only humans blame and
begrudge and resent, because we can imagine an alternate reality. </span></span></i></div>
</span>
<span class="usercontent"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="usercontent">The rest of Nature go about their own business."</span></span></i></div>
</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, let go. Go
about your own business as if nothing’s happened. In a betrayal, as in any
other situation involving pain, you suffer only because you choose to partner
with your grief. Choose instead to be a fool and go on trusting or choose to
believe as if you do not exist. Know that there is no alternate reality. It is
what it is. <b><i><span style="color: red;">This the only way you can be happy, and
untouched, in the wake of the pain that follows let-downs!</span></i></b></span></span></span><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
AVIShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08721457129176755215noreply@blogger.com0