Me!

The End

2011-03-27T23:21:00.004+07:00

Seeing her lying on her death bed
Her face turned ashen, or was it red?

The final moments, turned sour
as approached the deathly hour

What was I thinking
As the end of her life - came flashing

Ego, pride, pains and prejudices
Disappear - in the deathly still

All that we fight for
all that we aspire to

All is sealed in the finality of the moment
And in flashes appears a life spent

To those who stand beside the body
lying ashen, still and pale
the frame that once stood tall
appears ever so thin and frail

Lifeless the breath turned out
the corpse simply stands out

I had told myself I wouldn't worry
But thinking of her dying moments made me think

Whence came the waxing whence the waning
writhing in indescribable pain - the light of life all but fading

I came back to fight another day
And perhaps wait for another end
and see the almighty once again have a field day...

Saurabh

It does not matter...

2010-03-29T00:42:00.002+07:00

It is the mind alone that is simultaneously the door to bondage and liberation. How one tunes and understands one's mind determines whether one gets freedom or stays in bondage. It is the mind that creates an identity for us - known as Ego. Indeed Ego and Mind are synonyms - two names describing essentially the exact same thing. But even in writing we use words such as MY MIND or OUR MINDS. Clearly, we treat them as possessions and not our own selves. The writing in itself serves as a dead give away to what our scriptures declare - We are not the mind. However, the mind is so powerful that the association it creates becomes a crutch to which we stick all our waking moments. It is what makes us think who we are.

The Maharshi used to say that the mind has to be dealt with closely. This has to be understood clearly. Who is it who is dealing with the mind? What is that Entity which wants to deal with the mind? This entity has to be something which is bound to be different from the mind - in other words there has to be a subject-object relationship between this entity and the mind. All our daily practical experiences will clearly demonstrate that there indeed is an entity that stands in the capacity of an observer - doing nothing - participating in nothing and yet being present in every instant. Even in deep dreamless sleep, this entity is the one that understands and experiences a complete lack of all physical phenomenon which we experience in deep sleep or even otherwise in the other two states - viz waking and dream sleep. If there were no such entity - this observing entity - our continuity would be lost. We might sleep as John and wake up as Abraham. Now - this entity is what our scriptures goad us to observe carefully. Let the worldly drama carry on is what the scriptures insist we understand. Once this understanding dawns on us - the next step would naturally lead us to what we call DISCERNING. We begin to discern the true nature of the events around us. Of course by all means continue what you are doing. But the moment a particular situation begins to affect you adversely - think about who you truly are and what is your real association with the thing that's affecting you. Every other thing then begins to fall in place.

Mind always presents a catch-22 situation. As mentioned earlier - it is the mind alone which creates our identities and every instance of our life goes through the process of being analyzed and brewed upon by the mind. The mind is a lot more complex than we can ever imagine. It sees, senses, observes, filters and analyzes a mind boggling volume of data. Of course something as intricately complex as the mind will never allow its own annihilation. But the end result of all pursuits leading to true self realization has to ultimately involve a complete annihilation of the mind. The catch-22 however is that mind alone has to annihilate itself. Through mind alone mind has to be convinced of its unreality. But one cannot kill the mind simply by wishing it away. When we say we have to kill the mind, what is meant is that we need to loosen its grip on us. And its grip will be lost only by understanding its true nature and how it plays its games. Once the real understanding takes place mind will cease to bother us until a point will be reached when the mind will be found to be completely gone. What needs to be understood is that there is an entity which is observing all these things. The fact that there is a mind, the fact that there is a world, the fact that someone is getting troubled or someone is enjoying life and such --- all these things are happening in a certain realm whose observer is actually neutral to all this drama. Just as a street light throws its light regardless of whether the street is silent or whether somebody is being robbed - so too is this entity which serves only as a spectator. It has no role to play - just as the street lamp has no role to play except to shed light. Similarly, this entity - which is indeed the basis for all the drama is completely unconnected with the drama itself. Once the understanding that we are not the actors of the drama but that neutral observer - all the rest disappears even as the snake disappears from the rope once the true knowledge dawns.

Till this understanding does not take place - the world will either be fun or hell. The ups and downs and the vicissitudes will continue because they are not in anyone's control. All this talk of free-will, destiny, fate, luck, chance etc is for mere intellectual consumption alone. They all happen in the realm of Avidya or Ignorance. All teachings are in the realm of Ignorance. The Teacher and the Taught are in the realm of Ignorance. Whatever is the not-self is merely in the realm of ignorance alone. But of course, the drama is profound. Its grip on us is profound. So we tend to suffer or enjoy and try to find out reasons behind our state and course of emancipation etc. Then one fine day, through some grace of the Lord, the reality dawns. Indeed there is no lord in isolation from us. He is not sitting there in heaven tasked with dispensing justice to errant souls or rewarding the beautiful ones. It's as illogical an exercise as anything else. For if He were sitting somewhere else - He would simply become another entity - howsoever powerful it may be - it would just be another entity. And that contradicts the omnipresent, omniscient nature of God. God, cannot exist in isolation. Of course, there is no sufferer and there is no suffering. But tell this to a person who has defaulted on his credit card bills or who has just lost a loved one. He will retort back and say - all this is pure myth. Such is life. Such is this drama. And it will go on. To the one who understands, it doesn't matter. To the one who does not understand, it will never matter.

The Trilogy of People, Circumstances and Events in our Lives...

2010-03-11T00:37:00.009+07:00

I have recently been thinking a lot on three fundamental aspects of our day to day living – the People surrounding us, the Circumstances we find ourselves in and the Events that keep taking place in our lives. I would like to give a more compact term to the Trilogy of the People, Events and Circumstances – and since I am not much of a creative person, I would just call it the Trilogy of Existence – or Trilogy in short. The matter of this article rests on the fundamental premise of Upanishads – that the Aatman (or Brahman) alone IS. The rest is merely Adhaysa (or superimposition). While this assertion will need to be almost axiomatically accepted, what follows can still be perceived even at an intuitive level with some amount of common-sense. But for the more rigorously minded folks, the basis for the arguments herein can be traced to Vedanta. I wanted to get this submission laid out in advance so as to preclude any further doubts as to the basis of the statements to follow.

The rest of the article seeks to establish the overwhelming effect of our “thought patterns/desires or Vasanas as they are called in Sanskrit and Vedantic Literature” in shaping the nature and form of the Trilogy mentioned earlier. It seeks to eventually establish that what we see around us, invariably disguised in the trilogy mentioned earlier, has its roots firmly grounded in our Thoughts alone (conscious but mostly sub-conscious). It is a position that is – as we will shortly see – in juxtaposition to commonly held thoughts and beliefs as to the nature and cause of the Trilogy surrounding us.

The world we see around ourselves does not exist independently of us as commonly understood. This is the principal purport of all Upanishadic Teaching. This misconception - which is resolved in the Upanishads by the concept of Adhyasa (or superimposition, alluded to earlier) - is one of the fundamental causes of human misery even though in itself it is not the root cause. The root cause lies in a different locus - and that is the locus of our very own Self. Without going into the nitty gritty of what Adhyasa is all about - for it is too gigantic a subject in its own right - Adhyasa is how Brahmasutra explains the nature of all that we see around us. In simple terms, Brahman alone is the reality and the rest of the Cosmos we see around is merely a superimposition which appears Real and Independent owing to our Primal Ignorance of our own True Self. This ignorance - as has been pointed out in earlier articles - is akin to the Rope appearing as a Snake and Water appearing as a mirage in the desert. Both the Snake and the Water are false - but for the duration that the Snake appears - it causes fear in us and vanishes when true knowledge dawns, and the water in the mirage ceases to excite us because its truth is known to us and yet continues to be seen even when the truth of it has been established. In a similar fashion, it has been argued that the World is Unreal - insofar as it has no Independent Existence - but its existence derives from the Brahman. Whether concurrently with the knowledge of Truth, the world disappears as does the Snake from the Rope or continues as does the Water in the mirage is hard to tell - but is irrelevant to our current discussion. Besides this is not what I intend to discuss anyway - but since I will be using the premise of Brahman's reality and non-reality of the world as a fundamental pillar to establish the case of the Universe being an outward concretization of our inner state of mind - some reference to the underlying literature seems appropriate at this point.

When we see a beautiful (cute, good-looking) individual, we attribute the occurrence to chance or luck because that's what we are given to understand through our general experience. We believe almost unquestionably in the truth of the following statements – this person makes me sick; oh how I hate him (or her); oh I wish I didn’t have to undergo so much pain just to get a simple thing done; why is he (or she) behaving this way?; why doesn’t she (or he) “get” me?; what have I done to merit what I am getting?; why is God so unfair to me when I have never hurt anyone ever in my life?, and so on. All these are verily a matter of routine experience. We firmly believe that it is the circumstances or the people or the events such as these that are making us sick and causing all the ills in our lives. What this article seeks to establish is the exact opposite. It seeks to turn this notion on its head by arguing that inasmuch as these people are bereft of an independent existence, their reality therefore is merely a projection of “some aspect” of our own state of mind. The Trilogy itself is merely an outward reflection of the turmoil (or bliss) within us – only it appears to us in the form of a person or an event or a circumstance. It’s not as if these People, for example, existed in their own zone and zoomed into our focus to make life miserable (or, by the same token, pleasurable – though this aspect is not being debated for it causes no problems to us to be a subject matter for debate) for us following some inexplicable quirk of destiny or fate, which is the commonly used argument to describe the reasoning behind our current situations.

Insofar as the Universe is merely a projection of our own Thoughts, it can be shown that the beautiful individual (or the despicable event or circumstance we find ourselves in) we see is simply a manifestation of our own desires (known in some cases and sub-conscious in most others). By the same token, when we seem to be surrounded by loving, caring individuals, it is a direct response to our love for our own self. The foregoing exposition in itself may not translate into a ground-breaking finding, but its implication has the potential to fundamentally change our perspective of life as we know and see it.

When we see people who we believe hate us, what we are seeing is actually a progeny of our own hatred for our own selves. It is this hatred – the cause of which may or may not be directly known to us – that materializes in the form of a Person (or event or circumstance). We believe that this Person or Event or Circumstance came about independently and has no connection with our inner state of mind. What follows then is the struggle to “fix” the person, or event or circumstance so as to make them more conducive to us. It is here that I challenge you to reverse your position, following the teachings mentioned earlier, and look into the possibility instead of the Trilogy being fashioned out of your own inner turmoil, the Trilogy itself being merely a “concretized reflection” of an essentially abstract emotion buried in your own self.

The Universe is created by our own imaginations. This statement has been analyzed in an earlier article on the Reality of Existence in my blog and follows from the Upanishadic lore. Our imaginations in turn are created from an innate and natural power residing within us. It is erroneous to ascribe an independent status to people, events and circumstances around us. We are their creators and we are their sustainers and we equally are their destroyers. This has been elaborated in the article mentioned earlier. If the Truth of this is questioned then the rest will become meaningless. But if the testimony of Holy Sages and the Upanishads is held sacrosanct then the discussion can continue.

Now let’s see from practical experience how far what has been mentioned thus far is validated. How often we have seen that when we are happy, everything around us seems happy and joyful. Conversely when we are sad, everything around us seems to evince sadness. When we are in Love, the whole world seems lovable. When we are heart-broken, we begin to think the whole world as treacherous. Some of these statements may sound sweeping in nature and intelligent ones amongst us would be ready with counter-arguments. But if you pause to reflect on the matter calmly, the truth will be evident in full force. On account of the foregoing therefore, it can be reasoned that it is actually our thoughts (conscious, but mostly sub-conscious) that generate the People, Events, Circumstances trilogy. The obvious implication is that by the power of our thoughts we have a capability right in our own hands to influence to a huge degree, if not completely, the composition of the Trilogy, for better or for worse!

Tomorrow, when you see a sulking boss, a furious wife, a pestering friend or even a lovely woman or a cute child or win a lottery of a million dollars, pause to think a while before ascribing the happening to mere chance or luck. Something far deeper has colluded to bring about the kind of trilogy surrounding you and know that the power to determine its nature is actually in your own hands. Know the force of your thoughts, for the truth is that there is no one else out there existing independently of you anyway. It's just YOU, the True Self, Brahman that exists in Reality. All else is Adhyasa (Superimposition of the world on the True Substratum or Brahman).

For so long as the bodily journey continues, an appreciation for this knowledge can give you some degree of control in governing the trilogy, and even if you cannot control or govern everything, you will at least understand the part of YOU that's causing the despicable portion of the trilogy surrounding you. This way at least you will stop the blame game and the analysis/paralysis syndrome that eventually follows when the trilogy goes bad. You will be much more contented and happy.

So before you blame your spouse as the source of your misery, know that the spouse in reality has no existence of his/her own. The problem which you are ascribing to your spouse has its roots in YOU alone. Analyze and fix that first before dashing to the family court to file for divorce. Chances are that once you have reached the core of the issue and fixed it, the errant spouse would seem to concurrently undergo a massive 'transformation' of sorts and would seem to become one with you, with all your issues/problems vanishing in thin air. The wise one knows all along that it isn't the spouse that needed the fix - it's YOU who needed it and once that's done, the ”errantness” of the spouse disappears even as the source of the errantness itself is annihilated.

An ode to myself...

2010-03-08T05:23:00.000+07:00

Oh! the endless stupidities of Life...Get a grip now...

Amitabh Bachchan

2010-02-25T20:09:00.004+07:00

Is duniya mein kitna competition hai is baat ka andaza mujhe Karan Johar ke show Neutrogena Lift Kara De se mila. Amitabh Bachchan ke bhakto ke bare mein sun kar mera saara gumaan mitti mein mil gaya. Mujhe laga tha ki Amitji ka sabse bada fan mai hi hoon. Lekin aise aise log duniya mein bhare pade hai ki mujhe ye khitaab bhi munasib na raha...

Jai Ho...

2010-02-23T15:02:00.004+07:00

And yes, I write all this stuff that makes no sense to anyone - only to keep myself alive...though i myself fail to fathom the reason why I want to keep living. Perhaps, perplexingly against all logic and evidence that life has given hitherto though it may seem, the tryst with life continues unabated in the hope that one fine morning the sun would be bright enough to dispel the gloom from my life. Until then,,,,,,,, gotta carry on......

God is everywhere

2010-02-21T15:36:00.004+07:00

Many a times in life, we are faced with unpleasant situations. You head out of your house for work and suddenly on the way down in the elevator, a gentleman who is the very incarnation of Satan and whom you cannot despise and hate more than anything else crosses your path... What do you do? A sudden burst of anger causes a seething sensation down in the very core of your being. Yet on some other occasions, somebody very dear to you causes you immense and unbearable grief by some action or deed. You feel as if you've lost all faith in mankind itself. The list of such woefully and regrettably familiar incidents is unfortunately endless. There seems to be no direct emancipation from them nor a recourse to a favorable solution for them. What do you do?

Now one of the most fundamental spiritual attitude that is taught in Spirituality Classes (hopefully it is done, though I am not hundred percent certain it is being done now a days) is to see God in everything. This is a very simple tool to combat negativity around you. But it was only today that I realized the true import of this concept through a divine intervention of sorts - while I was in conversation with a friend. I was speaking to him about some problems I am facing these days and my friend said - Saurabh ... why don't you see God in that person? Why don't you see that the intractable behavior you are seeing in this person is not the making of that person alone - but is actually God's way of testing you? Immediately, I was seized of a force that's almost impossible to describe... I said Yes! why didn't I think about it that way? We all say we love God and we trust God and that God is our only refuge. Why then do we not accept what God has to offer - not just in material aspects of life but also in the kind of people God chooses to surround us with? Why can't we see that people in and of of themselves are mere bodies and their substratum is no different than our own - viz the eternal Brahman. So in essence, they are nothing but God. There is actually no escaping from God in anything and everything we get to deal with. It's just the orientation of our minds that needs to be set aright. Next time you see somebody who sickens you to the core - accept that individual's existence as being divined from none other than God Himself. He is verily God. And if it helps matters - just think that the Divine Will of God ordained him to come into your life. Now deal with it as if you were getting the highest love of God ... for coming from God Himself ...what else can you ask for? Indeed this is what Gita calls as having a Prasada-Buddhi ... meaning the realization that everything is God and comes from God and belongs to God alone. We are mere players in the larger scheme of things. It helps in humbling the Ego and aids in building the divine connect with the One True Source of all that exists - Brahman!

Reminds me also of a beautiful line from a Song that I so love.... MUJHE GHAM BHI UNKA AZEEZ HAI, KE UNHI KI DEE HUI CHEEZ HAI...I used to interpret this line for what it literally stands... it's the rendering of outpourings from a beloved's heart for her beloved... But delve deeper and you see the spiritual connect in it as well...hats off to Raja Mehendi Ali Khan who wrote these lines (or so I think)...

The Jiva and Brahman

2010-02-21T14:57:00.003+07:00

The question arises as to why at all there is this confusion? When the Real is so different from the Unreal why can't Reality be seen of its own accord and why is one forced to follow a certain regimen to understand THAT which one verily is? This question is quite puzzling and is indeed an eternal one. The fact however is that Reality and Unreality are actually two sides of the same coin. Unreality has no independent existence. Indeed Unreality exists only if Reality exists (though vice versa may or may not be true). Unreality requires what is known as the Adhishthana (locus) or a source from whence it obtains its existence. You cannot see a snake in a rope UNLESS the Rope exists. The Rope becomes the Adhisthana (locus) for the snake. Snake (if indeed there is one) is said to be Kalpita (Adhyasik) in the Rope. If the rope were not there there would be no snake as well. Thus the fact of I as the self-existent reality alone causes all this drama of the world to unfold. Now the question comes - since the Self is verily the One without a Second and all the worldly drama we see is nothing but a figment of imagination - WHO is it that is imagining? ALL the individuals (human beings) are under the source of this Universal Spell of Confusion. But then the Shruti says there is only one Self - and yet there seem to be so many individuals struggling to gain freedom from the quagmire of Life. Who are these individuals then who are struggling? And suppose even if one of them gains the Knowledge of Truth (Self or Brahman) and gets liberated (so to say) - His liberation still does not lead (as it should if the theory of One Abiding Self were True) to others' liberation. Each one seemingly has to fight his or her own battle to gain freedom from Unreal. This seems to be a source of big confusion with respect to the Vedanta Shastra. Also - if the Self is eternal (Reality is eternal) so will the Unreality be because the latter derives its existence from the former. If such is the case one will never truly get rid of unreality for good. Then what is the use of such Knowledge for it seems incapable of truly eradicating the Unreality for good?

So we have brought in two questions - Why does the ONE ABIDING SELF appear in as much variety as we all see. And given that Unreality draws its existence from the Real, the Real being eternal, the Unreal should as well be so and then if this be the case - there is to be no ever lasting freedom.

Let's take the first point first - How does the One Self appear to be so many? In fact as has been mentioned in so many places - Who is it who is born, Who is it who is getting confused, Who is it who is asking all these questions, Who is it who is feeling the bondage, Who is it who is suffering --- these are the questions that need to be answered foremost. Some people say that due to Maya - the Self (Brahman) IMAGINES itself in bondage and then through Knowledge finds the answer to its questions and becomes free from suffering. If this were to be the case then if the Self has actually become many - there cannot be a scope for it to become Self again. For it has changed already. And once it has changed, it has lost its fundamental character. It is no longer what it used to be. So we have to discount the theory that it is the SELF that has become many or alternatively that there are many individual Selves (seen in the many indivduals seen around) that are struggling to be free. So what is the many we see? Shastra says that the MANY that we individuals see is the imagining of the Individual itself. The Individual is distinct from the Self - just as the Snake is from the Rope even though the Snake needs the Rope for its existence. Similarly - the individual Jiva is an adhyasa over the Primordial self. Now in the Rope Snake example the Rope doesn't know that it has become Snake nor does the apparent Snake of of itself know that it is appearing superimposed upon a rope. There is a third entity - the observer who is seeing all this. If the observer is not there - the Rope and the snake have no existence. Thus it is the observer who is lending reality to the existence of both the snake and the rope. However in the case of Jiva and Brahman - the Jiva appears superimposed on the Brahman. So the question arises: Who is it who is seeing this superimpostion of the Jiva over the Brahman? Here the answer becomes tricky - the Jiva is a superimposed entity and is fundamentally non-existent. So it by itself should not be capable of thinking that it is superimposed on some real thing. And as far as the real thing is concerned - The Brahman itself - it is not capable of thinking as we human beings are (through the faculty of mind). So verily the question WHO is the thinker here? Jiva being unreal cannot think. And the Brahman, while being real, cannot think as it does not have the means to think. So who is it who is thinking of himself as being a Jiva - a limited being - with a multitude of problems etc? This is the heart of the Vedanta Vichara (Vedanta Enquiry) in my opinion. Once this question is answered all others would fall in place. Shastra says that Jiva is unreal - it is Kalpita. It also goes on to say that the mind is unreal as well. And it is verily the mind which is asking all these questions. I mentioned earlier that the Jiva thinks through the mind. But I also raised a point that Jiva is unreal. So it cannot think. But one unreal thing can think through another Unreal thing and that is exactly what happens here...the mind being unreal in the Jiva is the one that lends the capability to the Jiva to think. Indeed it is the mind which creates the primordial confusion. And that's how the Jiva thinks that it is born, that it is the doer, that it is suffering that it needs salvation and so on. Both are unreal. And both have the Brahman for their Adhishthana. Here, unlike in the rope snake example where the observer is distinct from both the rope and the snake, both the observer and the observed have no fundamental reality. Just like one sees the snake superimposed on the rope, so the Jiva sees itself. And just like the observer accords reality to the kalpita snake in the rope, so the Jiva accords reality to itself. That the jiva is able to do so (meaning that it appears at all) is because the Adhishthana (Brahman just like the Rope) is a REAL entity. Were the Brahman (Rope) to be unreal, there would be no Jiva (Snake).

The foregoing being the case however there seems to be no escaping for the Jiva because given that the Adhishthana is real, the Unreal should keep appearing and so the Jiva would keep appearing. The difference however is that once the Jiva realises its source of reality and its own unreality, there is no more confusion and the Jiva itself vanishes - just as the snake does when the knowledge of the rope dawns on the observer. The Jiva is seen no more. So long as Ignorance prevails - the Adhaysa seems real and the Jiva continues its existence. So to say that this bondage or suffering is never-ending because it draws its existence from a real adhishthana (brahman) is not true.

The next question is: are there multiple Jivas - as it seems to appear because we see so many people around. The straight answer (and this requires Shraddha (Faith) for it cannot be proved by any known means of knowledge avaialable to us) is that just as the Jiva itself is Kalpita (in its own imagination) the other Jivas that it sees are equally Kalpita. The superimposition does not stop at itself alone but extends to create verily the whole universe the Jiva sees around itself. That's why it is said that the entire Universe - not just the Jiva - is actually unreal - being no more than kalpana (imagination) of an essentially Kalpita Jiva. The adhishthana - or the Supreme Self is the one abiding truth and is the substratum of all the variety seen around us. So the Jivas that are in the thralldom of ignorance will continue to be so till the Kalpita Jiva realizes the Truth of its existence and relinquishes its unreal existence.

Continuing the enquiry further, Jiva being unreal - one might ask, is it capable of grasping Reality? And what happens to other Jivas when one of them obtains the Knowledge of the Truth. This question was raised earlier as well. Does the emancipation of one lead to emancipation of all because they are all essentially one? The answer is that while, essentially there is only one Self, the variety of Jivas seen around is with respect to the Jivas themselves. The Jiva itself is seeing the variety. The variety is in Jiva's eyes alone. Once the Jiva vanishes - so does the variety - BUT with respect to that Jiva that has vanished. The other jivas that are yet to achieve the knowledge will continue to see the variety. So many people ask this question - do Self-Realized people see the world? It is useless to ask these questions - because what we are terming as Self-Realized is merely in the imagination of the person who is asking the question. There is only one supreme reality - even self-realization, the attempt to realize the Self, and Self-Realized Individuals are as much imaginary as the Jiva itself.

With respect to the Jiva that attains the knowledge of the Truth, there are no more Jivas for it to deal with - because in reality there are no jivas to begin with anyway. They were Kalpita from the start and their disappearance duly follows the appearance of True Knowledge. But for those who are not yet there, the thralldrom continues. This should hopefully answer the truth of Variety that's seen around us and also how emancipation of one-self affects the emancipation of others.

All this talk of Emancipation, Freedom, Bondage, Suffering, Life and Death has to be realized to be from the point of view of the one who is born in the first place - viz the Jiva. Since the Jiva itself is in merely in its own imagination, there is actually no birth and hence no nothing of the sort we are discussing here. There is no abiding reality in all that has been discussed - from the point of view of Brahman. Brahman is unaffected by all this drama. It alone is the supreme reality, one without the second.

To strike at the heart of all Vedantic Vichara, people raise a fundamental question - How do we know Brahman exists and is the Supreme reality and all that we see around (ourselves included) are mere imagination of our own self? How can we believe that we ourselves being unreal, there is something real (apart from we imaginary beings) that exists? How can unreality of its own accord know itself to be unreal? This is the debate. An unreal thing that has no existence has caused all this drama. Knowledge of Truth alone is capable of relieving the unreal being from the trauma of life. This needs to be understood meticulously - from the point of view of Brahman - all this is verily non-existent. From the point of view of Jiva - all the variety seen is existent - BUT only so long as the Knowledge does not dawn upon the Jiva. As soon as knowledge dawns all the drama comes to an end. Can Knowledge dawn on an essentially unreal Jiva? The bare truth is that both the Knowledge and the Jiva are kalpita. This might leave you gasping for breath. The truth is that the since the struggle itself is unreal, so is the notion of Knowledge causing deliverance. There is no struggler to begin with (for real that is...imaginary struggler is surely there and is the subject of all this verbal exposition so far) so there is no emancipation and equally no emancipation-inducing knowledge. All this is contrived, make believe stuff. So why does it all appear so real and why do we have to consistently keep up our fight against ourselves...and the answer is that Try and realize the Truth...all these questions will vanish like water vanishes as vapor.

And yes, who is helped in the process is the next question? Because the one who was asking all the questions, one who was in samsara, bondage suffering etc ceases to be. And the one that is eternal never asked the question in the first place....This vaccum is too great for many of us to fathom. The fact that this surreal drama is mere imagining of an imagined being and that there is no reality to it and that knowledge leads to its annihilation and leaves what was there all along (Brahman) is perplexing and mind-boggling. Then why all this struggle? Why this imagining in the first place? There are no answers to these questions. How can we answer something that cannot have an answer. How can you determine the sex of a child born to a barren woman? How can you find water in the Desert? It simply is inconceivable. So are you in bondage? Are you suffering? Are you happy? Are you rich, poor, tall, short, ugly, beautiful? If you want to think that way, no body can stop you. But till the time you continue to lead your life in ignorance, all these questions will keep haunting you. Once you realize the Truth, that's true deliverance.

Hari Om...

Ego - The basis of the World around us

2010-01-27T19:04:00.009+07:00

Ego is Life.
Life is Ego.
Beyond the Ego lies the True Self.
Ego depends on Self.
Self is independent of Ego.
Surrendering to God helps in leading an ego-less existence.
Leaving everything to God is not fatalistic. It is realistic.
Realizing that our control is only in action (if at all) and not on the results thereof is a practical approach to life.

Those who cannot comprehend that life (or the world around us) is unreal need only to observe carefully what happens in deep sleep. The Self Exists in deep sleep but the body (or the mind and sense) is not existent. The body is not existent in deep sleep precisely because it is not real and the Self exists precisely because it is real. There is no reason why the body-mind-sense complex would not have continued to exist even in deep sleep - just as the Self does - were it (body-mind-sense) to be real. One can argue that the proof that the body exists even in deep sleep can be found from the testimony of those who were awake while one was asleep. However the fact is that the entity offering the proof (the one who was awake) is as much a part of that unreal world whose existence is being sought to be verified by the questioner. Hence their (the ones who were awake) testimony is as unreliable as anyone else's.

However, all said and done - it's hard to believe there is no body mind sense in reality and that it simply is a projection of the Ego generated by Maya. So long as one continues to believe that the body mind sense is real (meaning it has an independent existence of its own) it's best to have Shraddha (Faith) in what the scriptures declare and continue seeking the Truth till one is undoubtedly convinced of the Original Error - the belief that the world is real.

Sages have very carefully established the parameters for Reality and Non-Reality. It is almost axiomatic that a Real thing continues to be Real always regardless of Space and Time and can NEVER be unreal. In a similar fashion - a Non Real thing can never be real even though it may appear Real in some space-time dimension. The fact that it appears real is no proof of its binding reality. Its unreal all the same. Life is a drama in Unreal space, appearing to be ruthlessly real when it truly is unreal in the strictest sense of the word.

This fact has been thus stated in the Bhagavat Gita Ch II, 16) - नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः
Existence never belongs to the Unreal, nor does non-existence belong to the real.

That being said, many people question - how are we to lead our lives then. Granting that life and the world is but a figment of imagination, unreal as it were, how are we to conduct the "lives" that we seem to lead all our waking moments? How do we tackle life's problems, relations, jobs, pleasure, pain and such like. Ramana Maharshi used to say that the answer to these problems would become unnecessary once the Truth of our True Selves is discovered. However till such time as the Truth is discovered - one has to have Faith. Logic is helpful for negating things. But establishing a conclusive truth requires more than mere logic. We are so dependent on that very thing (Ego or Ahamkar), which we are seeking to negate, that it seems well-nigh impossible to see the Truth beyond the seeming rigmarole. How can Ego in all its vanity allow its own negation? It will do everything under its control to annihilate any force that seeks to kill it. Hence Life as we see and know it will go on.

Indeed there is a time and place for answers to questions cited in the previous paragraph. They will become irrelevant once knowledge dawns alright. But, another question is - why and how would they become irrelevant when knowledge dawns? And the answers is that the questioner itself would not exist when the knowledge dawns for it is the false association of the questioner with the unreal that has created these questions in the first place. Once that false association is conclusively overruled, there are no more questions. Answering these questions in the wake of true knowledge is akin to trying to find the answer to the question - what is the sex of the baby born to a sterile woman - she cannot conceive and hence there is no question of a baby much less a question of what its sex would be.

Yes it is amazing and preposterous too it may appear to some. How can you deny all that we see around. But somebody had said, Truth is Stranger than Fiction. I cannot agree more. Truth indeed is stranger than Fiction.

Many people also ask - how do sages (or self-realized people) such as Ramana Maharshi see the world then? Since they know it's a false appearance - are they aware of their bodies and the world around them? Because they seem to respond as normal people do and there does not seem to be any difference between them and a 'normal' person. Again, while it's impossible to find the truth of this particular question, the answer is that first you realize who you truly are and then you will know what the sages see. If you don't realize the True Self yourself, your Ego will make appreciating any answer provided to this question meaningless anyway. Whether they see the world is meaningless. The Truth is that there is no world out there except in the imagination of the Ego. So the answer is obvious.

There is another argument advanced to falsify the notion of there being no world around us - namely that all OTHER people too see the same thing as each one of us does. For example when you watch a movie in a cinema hall - obviously, all the people are watching the same scenes being enacted. How do we explain this? While it can be explained - the fundamental thing to be understood is that the basis of all these questions - the primary ego - is the one that's posing these questions in the first place. Since the realm of the Ego itself is in question, everything else associated with it stands falsified a-priori. For instance, a conceived fight between two donkeys with horns on their heads is falsified right from the start simply because a donkey with a horn does not exist to begin with - so there is no question of witnessing a fight between two such donkeys. Similarly, the answer to the Movie Question is that we all continue to see the same thing because the True Self inhering in us all is the SAME. That's the Advaita principle - there are no individuals in reality - there is only one True Self which inheres in the seeming variety we see around us. So it's not surprising that we ALL see the same thing around us.

Questions are many - but the answer is only ONE. The world is false. What we see around us is false. The only thing we can say for sure is that our existence-awareness-consciousness is our true identity. All the rest, we simply OWN - just as we own a house, a car or a medal. They are mere possessions but not US. And even as possessions, they are mere imaginations of the Ego - they appear real because essentially everything (including the Ego) derives from the Supreme Brahman. Call it whatever you will - Universal Spirit, God or Brahman. That's the one abiding reality. Everything else is a mere projection.

So people would say - Oh you mean to say all is Null and Void? That the Science we are so fond of has made no advances? That we have not evolved from Apes to Humans? That we did not create fire by rubbing stones? That we did not create the Taj Mahal? That September 9/11 did not take place? That aeroplanes, rockets, Jupiter, Mars, Venus do not exist? Oh the endless list of questions this point attracts! And then when you answer - the response is - well the easiest way to negate your opponent is to deny his (or her) existence itself. No opponent, No fight. Similarly, Advaita Vedanta too - in one seemingly arbitrary sweep of a magic wand - seems to attack directly at the very existence of all that we see around us - and thus seems guilty of promulgating "an escapism of sorts". True, any "normal" person would see in the foregoing an urge to break free, an urge to run away from the problems surrounding us; indeed there is a fancy term for it - the urge to be in DENIAL MODE. Well, so be it. As I said before - this is not a matter of academic debate. This is Para Vidya - a matter of Direct Experience. Just as one can never be free of one-self twenty-four-seven during our perceived life spans on earth, so too this existence-consciousness-awareness is our real, true identity - that which never fades away no matter what.

I am not a Self-Realized individual, but I stand convinced that what I have read from the scriptures and from the writings of our Sages is the real Truth. This does not mean I have stopped living my life and have abandoned myself to the mountains. I continue doing what I have to. I haven't stopped doing Karma and I continue to experience the full sway of all the three primal qualities of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. The only way to rationalize what I am doing with what I have said so far is this - so long as I am aware of my body and my existence in this body, I have to continue doing what I have to in order to live. There is no escaping that. However, I do perceive a marked shift in my Attitudes and Values presumably as a direct consequence of what I have learnt from the Scriptures. My desire to make a mark, to win, to defeat opponents etc is slowly losing its hold on me. But until the Truth is fully experienced, Life will go on. I am not denying Life. All I am saying is that it is NOT the TRUTH.

I have something in me which Swami Dayananda ji says - Shraddha Pending Discovery. Since this is a matter of Self-Realization - this is a journey each one has to undertake personally. The universe can only aid us, but the effort has to be our own. There are ways to do this. I will address some of what I know in my next article.

Contentmixi - revolutionizing the digital marketplace

2009-12-26T14:42:00.001+07:00

Contentmixi (http://www.contentmixi.com/ ) has emerged as a new force to reckon with in the world of online selling of Website Templates. In a marketplace having no dearth of players providing web-content on the fly, success of such firms largely depends on product packaging, relevance of the product and ease with which it can be used by users. Relevance is a key issue and most web content providers in my humble opinion seem to ironically favor clutter over clarity - what with their websites virtually becoming unassailable with the enormous battery of products and services they cater to. Contentmixi - as the name quite appropriately suggests - provides a MIX of Digital Content be it Web Templates, Logos, Animations and yes, even E-Books and so on, and is designed to cater to Customers who are looking for Cool Website features to add to their websites or create their websites with.Even a cursory look at the website's Tag Cloud reveals more than amply what it is all about. If you or your company is tasked with designing a website and are wondering where to find attractive templates for it - look no further. Log in to http://www.contentmixi.com/ and feel welcome to choose from about anything and everything under the sun; the range of options to choose from varies over more than 50 product categories with each category having further subdivisions based on the specific template types. Wondering what would be a cool Logo for your endeavor? Click the LOGOS tab on the Contentmixi website and select from 452 options! Animations to go with your website? No Problem - it's right there on top! . Customer support too is a click away as is the option to provide feedback. Should you feel something is lacking - something you couldn't find, or something that you did find but still found it to be lacking in some way - help is only a click away! Could you ask for more?What distinguishes Contentmixi from the rest of the pack is its focussed approach at selling - not just about everything a-la other market portals such as e-bay etc., but about everything within the ambit of the digital products space - more specifically in the Web-Site Design Arena. As such, buyers who do not wish to waste their precious time browsing through a morass of products they are not interested in can directly zoom in to what they desire. This is a precious time saver and in this racy era of convenience shopping, Contentmixi could well be the very epitome of it!. The website creators have taken the pains to provide every conceivable Convenience feature a potential buyer would aspire to have and more! With alphabetically designed Product Categories and Advanced Search Features with a range of meaningful options such as Search by Price Range, Product Category, Id-Keywords, Product Types - zooming in on the right product is a breeze. The categories too are exhaustive enough to cater to every conceivable nook and cranny of the virtually inexhaustible product variety that exists today and that could possibly be marketed through a web-channel. The range of options is simply explosive and I can bet you cannot but find exactly what it is you are looking for. From Agriculture to Computers, from Beauty to Industrial, Dating, Entertainment, Electronics, Education, Interior Designing the list is endless. If you've got a product or service to sell from your website, Contentmixi has got just the Digital Content Template for it.The look and feel of the website too is pretty chic and contemporary...attractively colored rectangular buttons with smooth rounded edges lend loads of elegance to the page-design. Navigation from one page to the other is extremely intuitive and one doesn't have to wonder for example, where to find the Home page button should one quickly want to revert to it from anywhere within the site.Contentmixi is still newly-developed and the categories and listings are sure to swell with the passage of time. I like contentmixi for its vision of providing targeted solutions to its customers quickly and cheaply. One doesn't have to go from pillar to post when one is in dire need of getting the work done quickly. You can find handy options conveniently and not have to pay through your nose to get it. That's the most impressive USP about this site. To be sure there are competitors in this arena and Contentmixi is by no means an exclusive provider of this kind of Content. There is a sizeable market for Website Design and other related aspects such as SEO, Full Website Services, Web Marketing, Email Marketing, Domain Hosting with a host of companies offering tools and services in these areas. Contentmixi focuses more on providing Web Templates. Whether Contentmixi would diversify into related areas of Website design and Web Marketing in general is anybody's guess at the moment.One flip side I can think of as I round up this update is about page-loading speed which I found on some occasions to be slower than accepted standards. Although this could well be due to bandwidth issues at the Client machine; nevertheless, I think the website designers would do well to check on that. Other than that - as the website emerges over the next couple of years, I am sure it will get a solid footing in the realm of Selling Digital Web Template solutions.Visit http://www.contentmixi.com/contest for details about an exciting contest for bloggers!

Business Models, Strategy and Tactics

2009-12-08T19:32:00.003+07:00

I recently came across this wonderfully written paper by Ramon Casadesus-Masanell Associate Professor at the Harvard Business School and Joan Enric Ricart who have kindly consented to my cross linking their paper on this blog.

Ramon and Joan dwell upon an exceedingly important concept pertaining to Business Models, Strategy and Tactics and in the process lay threadbare these ubiquitously used but rarely completely understood concepts. I found it exceedingly useful and thought it would be good for the benefit of the readers of my blog. Feel free to post your thoughts which I am sure would benefit the authors too.

We often use these terms almost casually without understanding their real meaning. I have read quite a few books on the subject but most of them deal with Strategy and Tactics per se while leaving Business Model - a term again used quite frequently - out of the discussion. Ramon and Joan fill the gap by elucidating the real significance of this term. They draw upon several other studies in the process and show a working definition. They present examples to develop the concept more fully to show how these terms can be employed in better understanding and creating a framework for your business. I hope it will be found beneficial by the readers.

http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/10-036.pdf

ऐसे ही

2009-12-08T18:17:00.002+07:00

टूटता है दिल तो क्या हुआ - टूट जाने दो
मरता है इंसान तो क्या हुआ - मर जाने दो
शीशो के टुकडो में खुद को तलाशता क्या है
बिखरती है दुनिया तो क्या हुआ - बिखर जाने दो
मै भी हूँ इक आसमान का मोहताज
मुझे भी बेगैरतों पे तरस खाने दो

Remembering the unsung martyrs of the battlefield of Life...

2009-12-08T12:29:00.004+07:00

I read with significant interest about the recent felicitation of Shri Sachin Tendulkar at the Ambani residence, on completing 20 glorious years donning the Indian cap and bringing boundless laurels to the nation. The man has scaled peaks that only a few - indeed none perhaps - can match. That he gets the due recognition is only fair and who better than Sh Mukesh Ambani to do the honors.

Of course Times Of India did its bit by felicitating Sh Tendulkar by running pages after pages singing paens to the legend. All this is pretty heart warming - no doubt about it.

Reading and reflecting on the story however I could not help but think about the countless unsung heroes whom no one cares to think about much less felicitate. Bread winners of small families who go about slogging the daily grind - fighting the crowds, facing the jeers, wading through difficulties only to ensure that fodder for the fire ever brewing in the stomach is provided for. Do they deserve recognition? People living on the sidelines. A few days back, on one of the traffic signals in Mumbai - I saw an old beggar - who seemed to be mentally ill with hair tied in multitudes of dried knots - reflecting as it were the staid reality of his wretched existence - his eyes were dim as he carelessly looked about; suddenly cars behind me started honking and I realized that the signal had turned green making the fellows behind me restless - perhaps I had pondered a second too long --- who cares?

The other day, as I was brushing my teeth - I had in a fit of absent-mindedness left the tap open - only seconds later came the blinding realization of the water crisis looming around us. I immediately closed the tap. I realized that there are countless fellow human beings for whom water is a luxury only to be rivaled by Sachin's Ferrari or the 800 Cr Boeing Jet which Mukesh Ambani presented Mrs Ambani on the latter's birthday. My heart pounds at these inequalities - I do not know its genesis. I fail to understand.

Mirza Ghalib's lines come to my mind - Sab kahan kucch laala-o-gul mein numaya ho gayeen
khaak mein kya soorate hongi jo pinha ho gayeen

True to his wit - he must have been appalled too at the gross inequalities around him. Not everyone gets the fame or recognition. Indeed many lose their will to fight at all. But one thing is for sure. Everyone needs recognition. A little word of praise can work wonders on the human pysche. But what we all are subjected to is nothing short of daily humiliation. Sadly we get humiliated and humiliate others in turn. What is Dharma afterall? Do unto others as you would expect others to do unto you. Simple. But this simple concept fails our understanding every moment. Given as we are to facing injustices and grinding realities of life - who has the time to ponder over such high-falutin useless postulates.

I write this article for those who fight it out every moment of their waking lives and go unheard and unsung. To the mother who teaches her child to read and write. To the father who wakes up daily at 5 Am to go to work. To the sister who prays for the well-being of her brother. To the wife who stands by her husband come hail come storm. They may not get the recognition they deserve - perhaps only a few ever will. This is not to cast innuendos on those lucky few who do get it. They are perhaps more equal in the eyes of the Lord - more equal than all other equals; as Ghalib puts it - not all become famous - many more such people who could have are languishing in dust!

Such is life and such are its laws and rules. Let's raise a toast to the survivors and remember those who couldn't survive the ordeal. Perhaps they will in their next lives.

Should Immigration Policies Be More Welcoming to Low-Skilled Workers?

2009-12-08T10:52:00.003+07:00

In this edition of Harvard Business School's working knowledge discussions - the topic posted above was reviewed. My comments along with other posters' comments can be read here at
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6326.html

Mine is comment number 15 in the list.

HBS WK is a platform for discussion on different views and ideas posted every month by Prof James Heskett - HBS professor. This platform has been in existence for several years now and whenever I get a chance I do participate in the forum discussions. I encourage you all to visit it regularly to see the latest contents posted there and benefit from the wide ranging ideas and dialogues - most of which are quite intellectually stimulating as well as socially relevant.

Late Dr. Shiva Kumar Dubey - My father

2009-12-06T20:59:00.007+07:00

Here's the link to a book written by my father Late. Dr. S.K. Dubey. I encourage you all to take a look. http://www.indiaclub.com/Shop/SearchResults.asp?prodstock=11503

2009-11-30T20:50:00.003+07:00

take me away
I've got nothing to say
the world and its glory
are all fading away
looking here and beyond, i find
everything in a disarray
this way that way
tread, untread, here, and away
Give way, Give way, Give way
It's all ok...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
barren lands, lush vegetation
desert and ocean
earth and sky
manifestations of oneness
visions of duality
facades of existence
denouement of cruelty
signs of weakeness
belief of impermanence
inability to change things
visions of being in control
things slipping out of control
pause, think, reflect
cast away the shallow intellect
take refuge, beg for mercy
He who's got it all wrong
cannot be so wrong
You who wants to set it right
cannot be so right
try you may though
with all your might!

26/11 - An year on...

2009-11-26T20:20:00.003+07:00

An year later - a lot of things must presumbly have happened since the dastardly incident took place. Widows must have learnt to live with the harsh realities - the kids must have grown up perhaps a tad more insecure, perhaps way more frustrated at the inablity and ineptitude of the people responsible for ensuring that the perpetrators of the crime are brought to book. What we have done so far is spend 31 crores on keeping a man alive who should have been dispatched from this world by now.

What have I to say or write other than express my grave sadness and perhaps my own helpnessness in being able to do nothing to contribute to redressing the situation. Criminal Justice procedures are bound to take time, but in a water-tight case such as this one, I fail to understand what is taking them so much time to book Mr. Kasab.

I was reading an article in TOI that talks about Mrs Kamte's account of the incidents leading up to the death of Mr. Kamte along with the other brave soldiers. Rakesh Maria's role has been directly questioned by her. Apart from adding a sinister twist to an already intriguingly bizarre incident, this has revved up a huge sensation worthy of being investigated to the minutest details so that those culpable are immediately brought to justice. Of course, the Government always has its agendas which are far more inscrutable than one may think; Government afterall is run by people who are not entirely beyond their personal whims and fancies. What had possessed Maria during those dire moments could be anybody's guess but an apparent lapse in duty that has the added implication of complicity with the enemies of the nation is a far more serious allegation than the whole tragedy itself. Could it be true that a certain section of the Police may have been just wee-bit more discomforted with Mr. Karakare's deep resolve to get to the heart of the matter in the case relating to Samjhauta Express? Was he made a scapegoat - an easy target in the face of one of the biggest tragedies that India has seen in the recent times?

While the Babri Masjid inquiry took seventeen years to conclude what was painfully obvious from day one - I hope this does not take as long. Babri incident was the demolition of a physical structure - but 26/11 was the demolition of Humanity. If the case is not dealt with swiftly and justly, it will amount to a justice no smaller than the Crime it seeks to address.

As we move on - our dear country faces insurmountable challenges on virutually every possible front - Kashmir, Assam, Naxals, Arunachal Pradesh and China, the roller coaster relationship with the US and India's emergence as an economic superpower with the macabre realities of infrastructure problems and of course Corruption and Division of society on flimsy ideologies and hollow principles of Caste and Region.

The list goes on...but it's also true that the very same people who are responsible for the problems have the solutions too. The need is to wake up to them and build a robust plan to start tackling them one by one.

मैं भी हूँ इक आसमान का मोहताज

2009-11-24T16:49:00.002+07:00

तू क्या जाने तेरा क्या जाता है
गया जो जहाँ से एक बार फिर वापिस नहीं आता है

क्या फायदा ऐसी मुरीदगी का
मुसीबत के वक़्त कोई काम नहीं आता है

मैं भी हूँ एक आसमान का मोहताज़
मुझे भी गर्दन उठाना आता है

तुम भी चलो सब चले गए अब तो
आखिर तेरा मेरा नाता क्या है?

कही जाग न जाऊं नींद से मैं
उम्मीदों के सपने चकनाचूर करता क्या है

चलो खून के प्यासों को दो बूँद पिला दें
शरीर के इस चीथड़े में अब बचा क्या है

On This and That

2009-11-23T15:20:00.005+07:00

Settled firmly in non-duality
Life goes on unmindful of the reality

That which you treat as scum of the environment
Is but the making of a sham called Civility

All the infighting has made you weaker
The facade has taken a toll on humility

Now you must fight to cover up the crass
And be doomed forever to protect the shallow nobility

For whom the vicarious sufferings
For whom the talk of all cruelty

Where lies the seeker Where lies the sought
Aren't they but objects of a whimsical mind's felicity

Oh India!

2009-11-23T12:54:00.002+07:00

I happen to be living in Maharashtra these days. In fact, I have lived here on and off over the past 10 years. I was born and brought up in Uttar Pradesh. Until a few years back when Raj Thackeray was sucking candy in his pram, I used to think that Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were part of a single democratic republic - India. Events unfolding over the past few years - especially in Maharashtra but not exclusively so - have led me to question this premise. Is it unfounded? Are outsiders the root of most evils plaguing Maharashtra? And 'outsiders' with respect to what? Just because the Freedom of Speech and Ideas is enshrined in the Constitution vested interests can go about on a free mayhem-spreading spree? What kind of Politics are these people indulging in to garner petty votes?

And mind you, this is not just Maharashtra. In Uttar Pradesh, which has been the Hiranyagarbha of all kinds of politics, a similar game is being played out albeit with a different undertone. But the underlying idea of polarising the masses on ideological grounds by exploiting the underlying faultlines of age-old vulnerabilities is the same. It is when things such as these happen that we are forced to realize what kind of society and world are we living in?

I briefly want to touch upon the incident that took place in the Maharashtra assembly. The goons took a person to task because he chose the national language over the local one. People have gone to the extent of questioning whether Hindi is the national language or not. If truth be told, even I know it from what I have been told. Commonsense and practical realities alike tell me that except in a few states, Hindi is not spoken in the other states leave alone the question of it being recognized as a National Language. Does the Government or anyone feel obliged to clear the air around it once and for all?

Leaving the question of language aside, it is the fundamental right - and this I hope is not in question - of every individual to choose the language of his liking - no matter what the constraints. Is Maharashtra a Private Property of the Sena where they can do as they please? They can go and break people's necks, break offices, smother public opinion, criticize and chide national icons with impunity? And the Government comes back with a sordid "We will punish them"? Why can't they simply book them and lock them in Jail?

Emotional diatribe aside, this is a grave matter. The foregoing may appear unduly sentimental, but the fact of the matter is that the situation in Maharashtra is going from bad to worse. If this continues, we will not need a British to polarize us and break ur pristine national fabric into a rotten piece of yarn. This rat infested mentality spreading hatred and violence and inciting the animal instincts of a people who have for years lived in a culture of peace and harmony will spread like wild fire and engulf other states in its wake before China or Pakistan can even dream of attacking us. Oh India! what need have you of external enemies when your own sons aren't chary of splitting your soil in the name of being "sons of soil"? What kind of polarized love for motherland is this?

We are surrounded by scheming enemies. We are splintered from within. People commit crimes with impunity and far from feeling sorry justify their actions in the name of short-sighted, narrow and bogus agendas. And those responsible for bringing them to justice look on.

I wish the courts took suo-moto cognizance of the happenings in the recent past and took some action to restore sanity in the minds of people who are getting more and more insecure with every passing minute.

Religion and Spirituality

2009-11-22T22:27:00.006+07:00

Recently during a conversation with a friend, a matter of deep interest to me came up. I was mentioning to him about a site that offers an elaborate explanation of the Gayatri Mantra when an amazing brain wave struck his mind. He was reminded of a dialogue in the very famous movie Matrix where Neo is told that even though Agent Smith, the adversary of Neo, the hero, may be smarter and more powerful, yet Neo could defeat him because the former was bound by rules ... a kind of a program, while the latter was free from any such rules. This, my friend mentioned seemed similar to what he considers a major point of departure between Spirituality and Religion. He said Religion is a codified set of rules that help in realizing God where as Spirituality - though seemingly unfettered by rules and thus appearing more ad-hoc and esoteric - is a more powerful way of reaching God.

This discussion triggered a chain of thoughts in my mind. I do not consider myself a scholar or a subject matter expert on either subject - Spirituality or Religion. Yet, I felt compelled to give an expression to the countless thoughts that immediately took possession of me when this subject was broached. I personally find it a daunting task to understand these subjects even at a very elementary level. And the most fundamental reason is the seemingly infinite number of theories that have already been advanced by scholars and nincompoops alike.

So what is Religion and what is Spirituality and is one superior than the other in the quest of realizing God? Religion is like a school, which teaches us the basics of life and survival, equipping us with tools that will help us lead a life filled with happiness and purity. It has a codified set of rules that offer a way to see beyond the mundane of life and question its nature so that we may find its true essence. To that extent, Religion is like the Primary School where we must go to study, if we ever hope to make it to College and Beyond. However, somewhere down the line, Religion seems to have gotten polluted with vested interests to sustain not the legacy of God per se, but the legacy of those propounding it. This may sound extremely vain of me to make a point-blank remark like this. Yet, even though the religious leaders wanted to perpetuate and spread their own version of God (each one does it anyway just as I am doing right now) – anything, and I reiterate, anything that talks about God is better than everything else that does not. In the Bhagwad Geeta the Lord says that even if you take my name accidentally, you will still be benefited. Spirituality on the other hand is a more personal way of communicating with the Highest Being or God. Spirituality is more internal than external and can sometimes cause a situation similar to being exposed to a naked wire connected to a million volts circuit.

Religion has its merits in that it offers a structured approach to finding God. If one is astute enough to ignore the riff raff and concentrate on the essence - Religion is a surefire way to get to God. Spirituality however is not meant for everybody. It is a stage of development. I personally feel one becomes Religious first due to the effects of positive Karma whether in this life or in one of the previous ones. Spirituality becomes the nature of that man who has already advanced beyond the stage of religion. Religion is like that little 'Walker' that children who are too young to walk by themselves are given to learn walking from. Once they know how to walk however, there is no need for it. The child can walk all by himself. So, to get to the stage of spirituality one needs to be mentored. Religion is prescriptive - it tells you to do X, Y, Z to understand God. Spirituality is practice - one is constantly engaged in and tied to the object of devotion and does not feel the need for an external aid to get him in the zone as it were.

So as far as Spirituality and Religion are concerned, on account of their respective characteristics, they cannot logically be compared because they are not at the same level; they are more chronologically linked such that one precedes the other on the path leading to the Supreme Being – the ultimate Truth – the object of the seeker and the goal of both Spirituality and Religion.

This discussion however also brought me to think more deeply about the nature of God as described in the numerous Holy Books and also about my personal understanding derived from my study of these Books. One of the key things that strikes my mind is the apparent contradiction that evinces itself quite clearly when studying the nature and characteristics of God as described in these texts. In the Bhagwad Geeta, God has unequivocally stated that He is not interested in men's good or bad karma. And, even though He is the Creator, the Provider and the Sustainer of all that does and does not exist, He holds no passion towards His work. As is mentioned in the text - He is udaseen (disinterested) towards all that He manages and controls. He further says that every human being is bound by the seeds of his karma and is bound to suffer or to reap enjoyment in accordance with the nature of the seeds he himself has sown. In technical parlance, these dualities of Pleasure and Pain are an integral part of our coming and going on Earth, and form the basis for what is known as the Samsarik Chakra. Samsara has been discussed elaborately in the Bhagwad Geeta and elsewhere. It is one of the fundamental Truths which is rivaled only by the other fundamental Truth about the existence of Atma and its non-connection with the physical body it is 'seemingly' housed in. Armed with the battery of senses, this body is destined to experience the fruits of Good and Bad Karma and act according to its own nature. In that sense, controlled by the mind and the senses, we seem eternally doomed. Desires make us run from pillar to post keeping us constantly engaged in meeting our pursuits – good or bad not just in one cycle of birth and death, but in countless,...8.4 million to be precise, as the Vedas put it.

So is there a way out of this? God is benevolent enough to offer a prescription. This is where this whole thing becomes mysterious though. I fail to understand this very simple thing - God says he has no “Asakti (attachment)” in anyone and in anything. He is impartial and treats everyone at the same level. Yet, as some scholars have expounded, He seems to become partial (or at least slightly more partial) towards those human beings who fondly take His name with all due Shraddha and Bhakti. I find this odd. How can He change his stance all of a sudden? And then people ascribe numerous other esoteric qualities to God to help Him continue with His partiality. God clearly says that while everything exists in Him alone, He exists in nothing. This is understandable; just as our physical bodies have various divisions from Head to Toe, we ourselves are none of those - neither the Head nor the Toe or anything in between. God says that He has nothing to do with anyone's karma. In one shot, God has absolved Himself of the Good or the Bad of the entire cosmos. He seems to be entirely dispassionate, unconnected and unconcerned with what goes on in the very scheme of things He has created. What then may I ask is His role or what then is our incentive for reaching such a God, whether through Religion or through Spirituality?

As the Upanishads say - there is only one reality, nothing else. Everything else is a mere appearance. Now this comes in for a lot of criticism from the critics of Advaita Vedanta. But this seems to be the only logical justification, because every other picture or description of God seems self-contradictory. He is unattached, yet caring. He shows no interest in the affairs of the cosmos and yet is partial towards His Bhaktas (devotees). He does not propagate Right or Wrong because He is free from both. Indeed the scholars have even gone to the extent of saying that this contradiction too has been deliberately created by God so that only those who persist in finding Him with the utmost faith and sincerity alone can find Him. No wonder the texts instead of giving a holistic picture of God tend to confuse people and create a phantom out of God. There are very few sources of authentic information. And they too are in a language which no one understands in the modern times. So we have to rely on commentary – again created by Humans howsoever exalted they may be. Yet these commentaries and sub-texts are our only source of understanding the Vedas and the Upanishads. And finally one has to rely on one’s own commonsense and intellect to make sense from them.

The Upanishads mention that if freedom were something to be acquired - it would not be desirable for then either it would take an infinite effort to acquire it or it would be reached by some amount of effort and thus become like any other object that can be reached through time and effort. What we desire is primordial bliss, absolute and boundless Freedom and Happiness. It can't be anything but. In a nutshell, the nature of this kind of freedom would be infinite. And to reach infinity an infinite amount of effort would be required – something which none of us mortals is capable of exerting. That being the case, Freedom or Moksha would become unattainable. And yet we do get a glimpse of that freedom even if fleetingly in deep sleep, when we leave behind all worries and troubles and sleep as though we have cast our body away. That freedom, which we obtain routinely in deep sleep, cannot therefore be unreachable. That then means that we must already have it. This is the knowledge we need to ascertain. This is the God we need to find. Yes people may call it preposterous accustomed as they are to a God with name and form; indeed people may call it a denial of the existence of God as understood by humanity. This is where the learning comes. I cannot force anyone to follow what I am saying. All this is a matter of direct experience. Efforts are directed to achieve things ... what we don't understand is that there are two kinds of achievements - achievement of that which is “not already achieved” - which is how achievement is understood generally, and the achievement of that “which is already achieved”. Now what is this second kind of effort? If something is already achieved why would one waste his time to achieve it at all? Yet this seemingly incongruous quest is what we are all engaged in when trying to achieve freedom, true happiness, moksha or God. To give an example, you may have forgotten that you are wearing your watch and in that mistaken notion you may go from one corner of the house to the other finding the 'misplaced' watch only to be reminded by your mother that you are already wearing it. Now the 'finding of the watch' is akin to an “achievement of the already achieved”. Till such time as the knowledge was not yours, you were struggling to “find” the watch. Similar is the state of all of us. We don't know that what we are looking for is verily what we are. We just need to get rid of the cobweb of Agyaan. That's all. This seemingly simple principle is I daresay at the very core of this entire drama that we see around us. This has spawned countless generation of universes and countless lives and countless sages and countless scriptures and cults ... not to mention Spirituality and Religion. It is impossible however to get to this direct fact but by winding through the maze of all that this universe has to offer. To get to this stage one has to take “Ishwara's Sharan – take refuge in His might”. Yes, I had said earlier that He is impartial. I still hold by it. Yet to the seeker He does show the way ... not because He has any special incentive for doing so but because that's the way His rules are set. He just lets the Srishti run itself by the rules He has laid down. Everything works with clockwork precision.

The foregoing discussion is now ready to snowball into a full-fledged enquiry into the nature of Existence and of God. I have shown the inherent contradictions and yet shown that these contradictions have a basis. God has set rules by which He adheres. No matter what happens, His rules are uncircumventable. The special interest He seems to evince in creatures who come to Him is not because He fancies them - but because NO CREATURE will be inspired to take refuge in Him unless he has learnt the folly of pursuing materialistic desires and in that way has cleared himself of the cobwebs of Maya.

But this would have to be a separate discussion which I intend to take some other time. For now suffice it to say that the God we so earnestly desire to find is not to be found outside of ourselves. He resides in us. Indeed there is nothing save Him. But this knowledge does not happen accidentally or by fluke. It's a culmination of years of Sadhana(contemplating on God). One needs all the tools prescribed in the texts - and to that extent confusing as they may be - one has to wade through the rigmarole and the contradictions to get to the essence. One must not get confounded. Using the same battery of senses which are normally outwardly aligned one has to turn the attention inwards and use them to cross the bridge of Samsara. Yes, the same very senses that are the cause for pain will catapult us to the path of supreme bliss. Just as the knife can be used to kill someone, it is also used by the surgeon to give life to a suffering patient. The knife in and of of itself has no intent or desire. The use to which it is put depends solely on the entity operating it. So it is with our senses. So it is with everything else. So it is with God. Blame Him or love Him - He remains unmoved and unfettered.

Hari Om!

दुविधा

2009-11-21T00:00:00.004+07:00

अब मेरे सब्र का और इन्तेहाँ न लो
परेशानियों की ज़मीन भले ले लो उम्मीदों का आसमान न लो

मन्दिर मस्जिद पीर पंडित सभी से हार चुका हूँ मैं
अब इन्हें मेरे तुम्हारे दरमिया न लो

पैगम्बरों के बोझ तले दबी जाती है दुनिया सारी
इन्हें पालने का अब गरीबो से दाम न लो

रस्मों रिवाजों में फसी इस कायनात में
चैन पाना है नामुमकिन इसका नाम न लो

सुना है ये जाल तुम्हारी माया की कारस्तानी है
एक पागल कह रहा था कल "करुना के सागर" का नाम न लो

भूख

2009-11-18T00:54:00.005+07:00

भूख लगी थी उसको खाना नही मिला
खाना था जिसके पास उसे वक्त नही मिला

चंद कुत्ते भी थे उसी जूठन की आस में
इंसान के पेट में जिसे ठिकाना नही मिला

कितनी ही बस्तियों में न जाने चूल्हा नही जला
खाना फेंकते वक्त तुम्हारा ईमान नही हिला

भूख की जलन को वो क्या समझे
खाली पेट सोने का जिसे अनुभव नही मिला

दो दाने को तरसते है न जाने कितने लोग
और किसी को मनपसंद खाना नही मिला!

जूठन फेंकना जब भी तो याद कर लेना
उन बदनसीबों को जिन्हें खाना नही मिला

ज़ख्म

2009-11-18T00:37:00.004+07:00

सुना है वक्त हर ज़ख्म का मरहम होता है
कोई ये क्यों नही बताता ज़ख्म क्यों मगर होता है

सितमगर तो हर ज़ख्म मुसलसल करते जाता है
क्या बात है जो सितम मगर हमसे नही होता है

सफर आग के अंगारों पर बेपरवाह
ये कौन सिरफिरा करता फिरता है

आज ज़िक्र छिड़ा फ़िर उस रोज़ की वेह्शत का
सिलसिला हैवानियत का चला तो फ़िर कहा थमता है

क्या से क्या हो गया!

2009-11-15T20:39:00.006+07:00

इज्ज़त बक्षी तमाम उसको
ख़ुद बेईज्ज़त हो गया

लज्जा का सबक पढ़ना चाहा
ख़ुद ही लज्जित हो गया

बात करी जब ईमान की
अपना सा मुँह लेकर रह गया

दिल पे बोझ लिए फिरता हूँ
समझ सके जो उसे ढूंढता ही रह गया

बड़ी उम्मीदे थी ख़ुद से
ता उम्र उन्हें ढोता ही रह गया

अजीब कशमकश में काटी है ज़िन्दगी
रब से यही गिला रह गया

चलते चलते थक सा गया हूँ
एक ठंडी छाव को तरसता रह गया

सोचता था मौत धो देगी गुनाह ज़िन्दगी के
मौत के मरहम से भी महरूम रह गया

क्या क्या संगे खिश्त खा कर भी
लहू के एक कतरे को तरस गया

के धो लूँ गुनाह तमाम अपने
ये आरजू लिए लिए ही निकल गया

अजीब पहेली है ज़िन्दगी भी यारब
इक शब्द के लिए ये सुखनवर भी तरस गया

कल का पाठ

2009-11-15T19:48:00.003+07:00

कल के जो बच्चे होंगे
वो किनके जैसे होंगे ?

जब खाने में होगी मिलावट
तो कैसी सेहत पाएंगे ?

जब सोच में होगी मिलावट
तो क्या शक्सियत पाएंगे ?

दौडेंगे भागेंगे पछतायेंगे
तबीयत मसोस के रह जाएँगे

माँबाप सिखायेंगे दुनिया का चलन
एक दूसरे की खाल नोचते जाएँगे

मुँह पर कुच्छ और मन में कुच्छ और
भावनाओ से खेलना बखूबी सीख जाएँगे

हाँ कुच्छ अच्छे इंसान भी बनेंगे
मगर इंसानियत की वेह्शत कहा तक झेल पाएंगे ?

सभी कहते है सौरभ इतना बुरा क्यों बोलते हो
ख़ुद बुरा न कर पाए बस औरों को उपदेश पढायेंगे ?

जद्दोजहद

2009-11-15T19:22:00.008+07:00

कितनी मुसीबतों को गले लगाया
फिर भी मैंने क्या पाया ?

क्यों लड़ता रहा हालत से मैं
आख़िर कौन मेरे साथ आया ?

जूझो अपने हालात से सिखाती है दुनिया
फरेब करो हर उस शक्स से जो तुम्हारे काम आया

दौड़ रहे है सभी आगे बढ़ने के वास्ते
अपाहिजों पे तरस किसी को भी न आया

क्यूकर करू मैं रहम तुम पर
बड़ी मुशकिल से ऊँट पहाड़ के नीचे आया

नाम न लो देस परदेस का मुझसे
दोनों जगह एक ही सा तमाशा पाया

किस बात का गुरूर किया करते हो
ऐसा क्या है जो तुमने ख़ुद में पाया?

माना तुम भी हालत के हो मारे
फिर वो कौन था जो कल मेरे ज़हन में आया?

हाँ उसे रहम नही आता
उसे तो मैंने अपने से ज़्यादा मजबूर पाया

नाम ले ले के जिसका लड़ते रहे लगातार
वो शक्स बेकार मेरी ज़िन्दगी में आया

बे इन्तेहाँ मोहब्बत की जिससे
उसे मैंने अपनी बाहों में दम तोड़ते पाया

पुछा खुदा से क्या इन्साफ है तेरा
जवाब में ज़माने भर का सन्नाटा पाया

ज़िन्दगी दी है जीने के वास्ते
ज़िन्दगी में फरेब के सिवा कुच्छ भी न पाया

खुदगर्ज़ ज़माना क्या सिखायेगा मुझको
चराग ले कर ढूँढा एक सच्चा इंसान न पाया

कहते है इश्वर के नियम को समझाना है नामुमकिन
क्या है क्यों है ये कोई नही समझ पाया

मुझे माफ़ कर देना चलता हूँ अब
यही समझूंगा मिटटी का क़र्ज़ नही चुका पाया

मै भी सबके जैसा हूँ

2009-11-15T16:58:00.015+07:00

कितनी हसरतें पाले बैठा हूँ
आह! क्या मै भी सबके जैसा हूँ?

मोहब्बत है मुझे भी ख़ुद से शायद
बोझ ज़िन्दगी का तभी ढोता हूँ

जानता हूँ जबकी मौत ही है आखरी निजात
फिर क्यों नित नए सूरज तलाशता हूँ?

तुमको देखता हूँ ऐसे
जैसे मैं तुम्हारा आईना हूँ

मेरी तकलीफें क्या समझोगे तुम
बतलाऊ क्या ख़ुद सोच में पड़ जाता हूँ

खौफज़दा हूँ यादों के मंज़र से
कब से न जाने मैं मरता रहा हूँ

सुना है रहनुमा है खुदा अपने बन्दों का
बन्दा कौन, खुदा कौन, बस इसी कशमकश में हूँ

दस्तक दे रहा है आज फिर कोई दिल की गहराइयों से
चलो अन्दर कौन है चल के देखता हूँ

सदियों से बैठा रहा है जो बुत बनकर सदा
कारोबार उसी का है ये सब, क्या मैं नही जानता हूँ?

वो ही मैं है, मैं ही वो हूँ, दरमियाँ भी हैं हमीं दोनों
आलावा इसके और मैं कुच्छ नही जानता हूँ

Kaun Hai Wo Jo...

2009-11-15T14:49:00.012+07:00

kaun hai wo jo rehta hai sada dil ki gehraiyo mein
swayam-prakashit hai jo andheron aur ujalon mein

soch ki soch hai jo khayalo ka khayal hai
swapnon ka swapn hai jo vishayon ka aadhar hai

hone bhar se jiske hota hai sabka bharan-poshan
charachar srishti hai jiska anant aangan

jab faasla usse hai tinke bhar ka bhi nahi
ojhal hai kyu phir wo, nazar aata kyu nahi?

khatam hoga silsila in saanso ka jis pal
samajh jau ye paheli mai shayad usi pal

kya kahoon?

2009-11-13T01:10:00.003+07:00

aksar sochta hoon ki kuch kahoon
phir sochta hoon, kya kahoon?

sun sun k batein logon ki
thaga sa reh jata hai, kya kahoon?

ehsaas ke bawandaron mein aksar
bikhar ke reh jata hoon, kya kahoon?

chalo rehne do bas bahut hua
kisse kya sunoo, kisse kya kahoon?

Zindagi Bad se bad-tar hoti chali jaegi...

2009-10-01T14:02:00.004+07:00

kabhi socha na tha zindagi tamasha ban ke reh jaegi

aas jo adhoori thee kaise bhi pooree na ho paegi

meri taqleefon ka ant meri saanso ke saath hoga

sapne dekhne ki taaqat bhi sapna ban ke reh jaegi

kai baar socha kucch na kahenge khud se ham

kehne sunne ki aadaat to magar jaate jaate hi jaegi

kya zindagi jeene ki majboori hai ae-dil

auron ko humein sataane ki mohlat to di jaegi?

pyaade hai hum mehez kudrat ki bisaat ke

guhaar madad ki hai bekaar...ek na suni jaegi

Keeping it Straight!

2009-07-18T17:54:00.001+07:00

When life throws a curve - curve with the cuve to keep everything straight.

Aham Vahami - Very Moving Shloka from The Gita

2009-07-12T21:28:00.002+07:00

ananyaschintayanta mam ye janah paryupasate
tesham nityabhiyuktanam yogakshemam vahamyaham

The Lord says that He shall personally BEAR all your Yogas (Things you desire to achieve) and Kshemas (Things you want to protect)

Kya Sochta hai...

2009-07-12T18:31:00.003+07:00

Safar lamba hai

Taqleefein tamaam hai

Thakne ka naam na le re man

Aaraam haraam hai

Kya sochta hai

Kyu sochta hai

Hone de jo hota hai

Sab accha hi hota hai

Kiya hi kya hai

Jo aaj karne ki thani hai

Ghatata jo kucch hai

Mehez Niyati ki manmaani hai

Aise mausam mein

le maza chaandni ka, fir zindagani ka kya

Jaha se ubhari hai

Wapas usi mein jani hai

Lay Back and Enjoy!

2009-07-11T18:15:00.006+07:00

Trust the Intelligent Design to take care of everything - including your duties and responsibilities. We are simply actors being directed by a supreme command to perform a pre-determined role.

Just lay back and enjoy the show!

Is Creation Real???

2009-06-29T13:42:00.002+07:00

Strange! Wonder of wonders … this question sounds so bizarre simply because were it not for the Creation how would one account for the questioner’s existence? How did the person who is asking this question come about? What’s the source of his existence? So is there an argument at all? What’s there to talk? What’s there to discuss? All’s peaceful again. Based simply on the reality that there is somebody who is questioning the Creation, Creation has to be admitted as an abiding reality. However, time and again, perceptions have proven to be false. It had been believed for quite some time that the Earth was stationary and what appeared as day and night to us was caused by sun’s movement around earth. Of course, this was later disproved when the reality of earth’s revolution on its axis and around the sun was discovered. But until it had not been, this seemed to be a perfectly valid explanation of day and night.

Sometimes I imagine the following scenario. I imagine a Clothesline. And then I imagine clothes hanging from the Clothesline. Everything’s normal so far – except that I see that in the places where the clothes are hanging from, I see the clothesline itself having become those clothes – the cloth is not made up of a separate material but is of the same material as the Clothesline. So everywhere you see – you don’t see clothes made up of different kinds of materials hanging over the clothesline but a continuum of clothesline itself with the latter taking the form of clothing in various places. By itself there’s no intrinsic change anywhere in the nature of the Clothesline – it continues to be just what it is – a clothesline – but takes different kinds of shapes along the way to become the different kinds of clothes hanging over it and giving the appearance of a separate entity when in reality it’s one and the same all along. The hanging clothes can only be apparently said to be different from the clothesline on account of their having a different form alone. Essentially however these “special” clothes are not separate from the clothesline at all.

Similarly, countless examples can be given where a thing is only apparently different from that from which it draws its existence. Take the pot-space for example – how’s the space that’s confined in the pot different from the space outside the pot? Are they different? Does the pot space, bounded by the periphery of the pot, have an existence that’s distinct from that outside the periphery of the pot? Now if the pot-space were to assert “Oh! I am not the same as the one existing outside” – how would you take that assertion? How real does it sound to you? When the pot is broken – does the space inside the pot get broken or merge or become one with the infinite space outside of the pot --- which amongst these options seems true to you? To me all options are true and none of them is true. Nothing really happens to the pot-space when the pot is broken --- only the sense of limitation that the pot-space had owing to it being confined by the periphery of the pot no longer exists. Nothing else changes dramatically about the nature of the pot-space itself. It continues to be what it always had been. Similarly when the Brahman gets confined in the periphery of the body – which actually includes the body-mind-sense complex – nothing really changes from the point of view of the Brahman itself. It stays what it always was. Indeed even the body is nothing but a form of Brahman itself even as the clothes we saw on the Clothesline earlier. The body comes and goes. Its thoughts come and go. Nothing happens to the Brahman, even as nothing happens to the intrinsic nature of gold itself when it becomes a Chain. So, will this apparent appearance of the Brahman moving in and out of the confines of the body as the body goes from one birth to the other keep on repeating ad-nauseum? Is there a connection between the Brahman and the body? What do we make of this body? Reverting to the pot space example – apparently, the pot itself isn’t made of the space it’s surrounding. But then, analyzing the nature of the elements comprising the pot we had seen in a related article that we actually really don’t quite know the exact composition of the pot, except that it is an arrangement of molecules in a certain order. But then again even the composition of the molecule really could not be ascertained for sure and in the end we had realized that we cannot really fathom what exactly makes the pot except to just relate it back to the Brahman itself – the best conceptualization of which would be something similar to Space – because the Brahman is actually devoid of any particular form as such. Thus in some ways the pot –space and the pot are actually one and the same…there’s no difference whatsoever at a fundamental level at least...only on a gross level, the pot does manifest in a shape distinct from the space it contains. Otherwise it’s all one and the same even as the body is not distinct from the Brahman even if the former is perishable, not-constant and so forth. Even if an apparent “duality” exists, it is in name and form only - the essence is the one Brahman and Brahman alone.

In other words, Creation is confusing the reality of Appearances with the Reality itself.

Naam Hari ka le re!!

2009-06-25T19:55:00.002+07:00

Saare prayojan kis kaam ke

anek roop hai sab usi ek naam ke

sab tyaag ke pakad le us naam ko

taj ke subah aur sham ko

paar lag jaegi naiya jeevan ki

mit jaegi vyatha anavarat aavagaman ki

kaahe ka chhal kaahe ka dikhava

kaahe ka badappan kaahe ka badbolapan

kaahe ko khushiyo aur gham ke thapede

sudh budh bisaar ke naam Hari ka le re

It...

2009-06-25T19:50:00.002+07:00

"It" exists in the space between two thoughts - if you manage to get a space between two thoughts that is...

On the conception of Reality

2009-06-22T19:12:00.001+07:00

Why are we used to thinking in terms of finite space and time or in terms of everything having a cause behind its existence? For the Vedas tell us of a Brahman that is “uncaused” and “uncreated” and so forth. This conception is truly hard to believe and hence the struggle to keep searching for the Truth till we understand it fully. We think the Brahman too, like everything known to us, ought necessarily to have a beginning. For, we are used to seeing everything around us caused or created out of something. Anything that’s caused or created must necessarily have a beginning. And everything that exists must necessarily be caused or created otherwise there’s no way for us to fathom how its existence came about. However, if we keep following this logic – viz. that everything is caused by or created from something, then it will lead us to an infinite regress. Because it will lead us to ponder indefinitely over a series of sources each having a source that caused it. Thus, a caused b, which caused c, which caused d, which caused e, and so on till we reach the end of alphabet z caused by y. But, the question would still persist…what caused a? Are we even allowed to ask this question? And why shouldn’t we be allowed? If we can question what caused b and so on till z, why can’t we question what caused A? Pondering on these lines, an interesting situation occurs if we think that A in its own turn was caused by Z itself… thereby repeating the progression cyclically. Thus the whole creation (assuming the whole creation were just a sequence of letters) would turn out to be cyclic in nature – much like a circle – with no beginning or end. It could be true. Because that’s what the universe seems to be – a succession that gets created and destroyed.

It does seem never-ending - without a beginning or an end. It seems crazy. Our minds are not attuned to understand such a thing. How can a thing NOT have a beginning? We are used to seeing things not having an end because our own lives aren’t long enough. But with the aid of logic we know that all things created must definitely have an end. They cannot be without an end. But we are not used to seeing things without a beginning. Even logic doesn’t help us here. How can a thing not have a beginning? Look at a circle. Does it have a beginning or an end? It just appears to be a smooth structure without any edges. But when we drew the circle – we did begin from somewhere, right? We touched the paper with the pencil and started drawing from a point. Perhaps then a Point marked the beginning of the circle. So a circle can be thought of as being composed of a virtually infinite number of points all side by side and touching each other such that one after the other they keep appearing until the last point falls adjacent to the point from where it all began, only however, it’s on the other side. Thus, we come back to the starting point and close the loop. But, now we have seen that a circle is perhaps nothing more than a sequence of infinitesimally small points all arranged in a circular manner. It’s hard to distinguish one point from the other. They are so close to each other as to appear perfectly smooth and continuous. In this arrangement it’s hard to find the beginning or end.

However, it does seem to suggest a more generic principle - when what starts goes back to where it started from – the whole structure seems devoid of a definite beginning or an end. But isn’t it right to say that its creation did involve a certain beginning? The pencil did start from somewhere. So how can we say the circle doesn’t have a beginning? Sounds strange! And yet, when we look at the circle – there’s no way of telling where it starts and where it ends. Thus in a way, it does seem to have had a beginning – but that no longer seems to be true when you look at it AFTER it has been created. Thus in a way it has a beginning or does it? Hmm… sounds familiar! Uncertainty principle? Does it exist or it does not?

Similarly – Brahman does not have a beginning or an end. But the question still remains. What caused the Brahman itself? Did it appear out of nowhere? Then what caused the NOWHERE? What IS NOWHERE? Who created it? Again it goes in an infinite regress. Thus, we see that per-force we need to accept a conception of a Brahman that has no beginning or end. It seems to be an unending progression of cycles – emanating and dissolving in an infinite cycle. No one knows what causes it. No one knows what sustains it. If we now create the conception of a God as separate from this Brahman then the same question will plague us again. How did God come about? Is he uncreated, uncaused etc? Then how is He different from Brahman, which we have seen (from logic of course), is also uncaused and uncreated etc.

There are no definite answers. Perhaps there will be no definite answers. The Brahman is indeed everything and there’s nothing apart from it. It is the only reality there is. Who caused the Brahman itself – no one knows, for it is the cause of everything. We who question the Brahman are nothing but Brahman. We caused everything else. We are everything else. There’s nothing apart from us. So how can we be caused because if we were caused then the question would go into an infinite regress… who caused that which caused us? And then who caused that which caused that which caused us and so on. It will lead to a logical absurdity. Thus in order to prevent that logical absurdity, we are forced to adopt the truth of the statement that Brahman is the uncaused, uncreated truth of everything that we see and do not see, feel and do not feel, hear and do not hear, see and do not see and so on. Brahman is both the intelligent and the material cause of all there is. From Brahman it all comes and into Brahman it all goes. Brahman is the only constant in the variable of the cosmos. And there is no answer to the question of who created the Brahman. I think this eternal restlessness to answer Brahman’s origin belies the limited nature of our consciousness that’s given to perceiving things as being caused or created. An uncreated, uncaused thing is simply beyond all our mortal conceptions. And hence we keep wondering where the source of it all came from.

We take the example of a pot – a pot made of clay. We know perfectly well that a Pot has nothing partaking of anything that might be known with the upadhi of a pot. What is a pot? It is after all made of clay. So, when we touch a pot, we are touching clay. Analyzing one step further – we question what is clay then? Clay as we understand is made up of a bunch of elements – Selenium etc. All these elements are present in a certain proportion and when conditions are appropriate they combine to form what is known as clay. When clay is treated appropriately and molded by an appropriately skilled person – it becomes what we know as a pot. So, continuing the inquiry further – we get to know that clay is formed from certain basic materials. If we analyze those basic materials further we get to know that these materials are actually a mass of Molecules held in a particular orientation. For example when carbon atoms combine in a certain manner – they form the shining diamond. Thus a diamond is nothing but a particular fixed orientation of the carbon atoms forming the diamond molecule. Analyzing atoms further we come to know of the electrons and the nucleus comprising of neutrons and protons. The story goes deeper from here onwards – eventually it can be shown that electrons etc behave both as a particle and as a wave and in fact they don’t appear to be anywhere near what they eventually appear as in the solid, macro form that we are used to looking at them in – viz. they are in reality far away from their appearance as a pot or the diamond we see in our daily lives. In fact, Science has proved that we cannot truly even locate the electrons completely. We can only locate them within the limits set by the uncertainty principle. In fact we also know from quantum physics that even the electrons, protons and neutrons are not the end of the road for us – meaning they are not the ULTIMATE basic particle that comprises matter. The story goes deeper than that and only recently it has been proved that given a sufficiently powered equipment that can produce a wave of a sufficiently small wavelength (which in turn means of a sufficiently large frequency because wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency which is directly proportional to energy) we can keep finding smaller and smaller constituents – almost indefinitely. Thus, we don’t even know what comprises the things that we see in our daily lives at the very basic level. We can only know approximately within the limits set by the uncertainty principle. But that’s about it. So what’s the harm in accepting what the Vedas say – that it’s all unreal? There is no reality to what we see except the reality that we accord to it from our own conception. Our own conception is but a product of ignorance. The ignorance itself arises from the interplay of what we call as Maya. But that could well be any force that misleads us into seeing things that are not real. Just like we can sometimes mistake a rope for a snake and be filled with fear. Till such time as the real nature of the rope is known – the conception of the rope being a snake seems perfectly real to us – as real as feeling the burning sensation upon accidentally touching a hot surface.

So, when we aren’t even sure of what the pot is made up of – how can we define what it is? We just saw we don’t completely know what the pot is – except that its form and appearance both seem real to us – except that it does seem to hold water in it and except that we can pour an equally unknown substance – water for example – into an equally unknown glass by an equally unknown hand employing the faculties of an equally unknown mind etc. This is as complex as it can get. The entire interplay of things can be proved to be but a myth. Behind it all, the only unchanging reality is the reality of THAT which perceives it all as happening. That which perceives it all is the Brahman. Rest all is maya or mithya or unreal. Whatever name you give it, the fact is you don’t know what it really is despite the fact that it appears to you to be the only reality there is. What grief!!!

Some more Ramblings...

2009-06-21T18:08:00.004+07:00

If it's all but a sham ... why does it feel so repulsive..or may be the sense of repulsion too is but a flicker of a wavering mind's imagination.

Oh...the vagaries of an unsettled mind. Today - I find some solace in reading those good things stated in the Vedanta texts. But, whimsicality of the mind returns at the first available opportunity, swiftly, decisively and like a hurricane that takes everything in its wake. It's not easy.

I feel repulsed by the quantity of sham that's being promoted in the name of religion. When I look at Science and most notably Physics in its efforts to get a sense of this creation (if so it may be called) - that too seems compulsively vague. Einstein - while having contributed so conclusively to the advent of Modern Physics and Quantum Science - never quite liked the idea of God's playing dice for it's so difficult to imagine what we see around us without attributing an all knowing Cause behind it.

Thus the quest continues. Time and Space have been proved to be but a speck of imagination. Our Vedas and Vedanta have said this all too often that the whole creation is but a speck of imagination. That seems to echo the view of Science as well. But like it has been said by Ramana Maharshi - and so beautifully true it all seems to be - that the human mind is given to flights of fancies; it is just not content accepting that there's no rocket science around all this creation business - it's only in our imagination. That it is the Brahman that under the spell of maya has become this world - and that in the process the Brahman itself has not changed - even as the Gold chain does not require a change in the intrinsic nature of Gold itself. The fact that indeed this whole creation is but a creation of our Egos. To attest this fact the instance of deep sleep is cited. When we are in deep sleep, we remember, feel, know, desire, hate, love nothing. We just remain suspended as it were. Words can't describe that state accurately enough. We just lose everything. We lose our individuality. While all is lost, the self is not. Because when we wake up we do remember that we enjoyed a good sleep. So there was someone who was there all the time during which none of the other business of this world was apparent to us. That something was nothing but our True Self - that was there almost as a witness to the phenomenon of sleep. When we wake up, so does our ego and it brings the world back in business. Then we become ourselves - father, child, husband, brother and so forth. We become the many things that we simultaneously are during our tenure on earth. All this had for a moment gone into hinding when we were deeply asleep. The sages say that that's our real nature. All else is ego's creation. The mind which is but ego's creation keeps flitting from one subject to the other and never lets one stay peacefully. They say that whatever moves fast stays young. In an experiment, two clocks which were set to the same time and absolutely identical in every way were used - one was sent in a rocket to space and the other was kept on earth. After the journey in space, the clock that went in the rocket showed a smaller amount of time elapsed than the one on earth. That happened of course due to the Relativistic Effect of travel at speeds bordering the speed of light. But it affirms the theory that the faster a thing moves, the slower it ages. So is it with the mind. It is famed to move even faster than light. Well, it's speed is actually incalculable. No wonder while the body ages, the mind never does and stays as active as it always was even at the very end of our lives (medical objections to mental insanity can be made but that can be shown to be exceptions arising due to uncontrollable external factors - that still does not undermine the argument about the nature of the mind itself).

In the end - after all the debates, discussions, philosophizing, criticizing, scrutinizing - the mind, ephemeral, given to tantrums and flighty as is its wont - comes back to its wayward ways and says - it all doesn't add up.

Hasn't added up for me yet... Like I said in a small post made earlier... I am still lost on the Truth... decisively...

One Truth - Countless Versions

2009-06-21T17:58:00.004+07:00

Still lost on the Truth...

I wish someday I would know the Truth as decisively as the sense of loss i feel today...

Reflections...

2009-06-07T19:14:00.004+07:00

You seek what you are

Why care about the grind

The chaos outside is but a reflection

of an unsettled mind

The inexplicable lure of heaven and earth

and all the mayhem you find yourself in

Wherefore the quest to achieve them

when everything you want to be is within

Ramblings..

2009-05-24T03:19:00.003+07:00

One important characteristic of humans is that they tend to repeat the exact thing they promised NOT to do.

In the end everything's gonna be alright

because the end will have no one left to complain anyway.

The binary logic of Truth and Falsehood

2009-05-15T16:06:00.004+07:00

A speck of Truth

cannot make False, True

A speck of Falsehood

ruins all that's True

What's Wrong?

2009-05-11T19:50:00.003+07:00

What’s wrong, it’s all a game

Play, don’t complain

How can I, I’m troubled, sick and tired

My thinking is all mired

How do I trust you, oh wise man

You seem wiser for my worldly ways

How can I deny that which transmutes

Me in myriad ways

Still, what you say appears okay

If only for sometime

Yet I get lost, my mind goes astray

The pain, once again, holds me for prey

It sees everything, doesn’t complain

Memories, feelings, actions, permutations

“Self" is but a mute spectator

Of endless cycles of needless frustrations

Between Me and I

Who is I, I wonder

The Me that’s Me

Or the I, the Me can’t see

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi...

2009-05-03T10:53:00.004+07:00

dwitiyat vai bhayam bhavati - only the existence of a second gives rise to fear... (From Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi).

Source: Talks With Sri Ramaman Maharshi

Why haven’t we been able to find God Yet?

2009-05-02T20:10:00.015+07:00

It can be said, though arguably so, that this question is as old as mankind itself. The quest to find God has been serendipitous; nothing conclusive has been found yet. While mankind has progressed by leaps and bounds from the days of our forefathers to date, the one question that has remained as elusive and out-of-bounds as none other is most definitely the question regarding God’s existence. Different faiths have different theories and each one finds varying degree of acceptance amongst mankind in general.

So what’s the scope of this article? Is it an announcement revealing my success in finding God? Or an insight into God’s existence of which there’s no dearth – confusing, confounding or revealing notwithstanding - already? Not quite. I want to reveal a few ‘thoughts’, which have dawned on me as I have continued with my research into the mystery surrounding the quest of God.

The Vedas in the Hindu Dharma each have a section called Vedanta. The subject of Vedanta deals with the knowledge of self and the relation of self with God. I cannot go into the details of Vedanta quite yet. Besides, I am not qualified either to talk much about Vedanta, having started its study only recently. One can only learn what’s there in Vedanta by the grace of God and through the medium of a qualified Guru who himself has understood the nature of self beyond any shadow of doubt. Only such a Guru, propounds Vedanta, can dispel the clouds of ignorance surrounding our understanding of the real nature of self.

But, I want to state the most fundamental understanding that I have derived from Vedanta, directly and rather bluntly so. Vedanta states unequivocally that SELF is Brahman. There’s nothing beyond or other than Brahman, which is unlimited by the conceptions of time and place. You can give Brahman itself any other name: Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, God, Aatman – whatever it is you desire. Why is Brahman limitless? Why is this Brahman the substratum that’s the basis of everything else? That’s a subject precisely beyond the limits of this blog simply because even though I have a vague idea of why is it so, I still do not have the crisp vocabulary that would convey the subject matter without confusing every one. So if you get stuck with the why and wherefore of it then what follows may not make much sense unless you assume its validity for the purposes of moving ahead with this article.

I will only say that just as knowing the nature of clay makes inquiries into the nature of various objects made out of clay redundant, or knowing the nature of water makes the same kind of inquiries into the various physical water body formations such as sea, oceans, rivers, lakes, rain, tap water meaningless, so too knowing Brahman, the source of everything, makes every other knowledge subservient, meaningless and indeed redundant. What newness can you derive about addition once you know what addition does basically. So whether you add one and one or a million and billion – it’s just another number.

The issue however is that while most people can fathom things that can be ‘objectified’ – indeed nothing that can’t be ‘objectified’ by our ‘five senses’ can ‘ever’ be understood – they cannot understand the ‘subject’ (the ‘actor’ that seeks to understand) itself. This is where the true trouble begins.

My own inquiries have revealed a few fascinating aspects of this material life: for example, there’s a reason why we can always see others but not our own selves – except perhaps with the aid of a mirror. Have we ever wondered why it is so? Why do we need a mirror? That’s ‘nature’. That’s the way it is. There’s no use in questioning it. The laws of nature are not made by anyone of us. So we say God has made those laws and they are ‘beyond’ our control. On the other hand we can see everything else around us. With the help of light and our eyes, everything can be seen, appreciated and understood – except our own self. So it is with our own true identities as well. How can the subject see its own self? To me this denotes the fundamental nature of nature itself. That’s why one needs a GURU who with the mirror of knowledge can help us see our own selves. That’s why to appreciate the knowledge of Vedanta – which is essentially a study in one’s own nature – one needs the help of a Guru.

That being the case, reverting to the subject that I started the blog with: Why, despite numerous accomplishments to its credit, has human-kind failed to find God yet? Indeed is there any hope of finding God ever? The short, direct, blunt, fascinating, and indeed some would even label as controversial, answer to this question is that “we ourselves are God!”; God is not different from us and We are not different from God. Thus God being us and we being God, the problem reduces to the problem of being unable to see our own selves directly by our own selves. We need the aid of that Guru who will reveal our own true self to us.

If God were reducible to just another object - something, which as we have seen earlier is an essential requirement for us to understand and know anything - that would make God much less than the Omnipotent, Omniscient being somebody like God must ought be. God, reduced as an object of discovery, would cease to be God indeed. He would become just like any other thing and that's the reason why we cannot understand (meaning find, discover etc) God like we have 'found', 'discovered', 'unearthed' the other discoveries till date.

As Swami Dayanandji explains in his lectures - God is both the material cause and efficient cause of this nature. What is a material cause and what is an efficient cause? Material cause is the materials that are used to create something. Efficient cause is the Creator. The web of a spider serves as an illustration - the spider itself is both the efficient and material cause. Sri Krisna reveals in the Holy Gita that I am the source of all creation and into me indeed does all creation resolve. If all Creation does indeed resolve into Him, that must mean He is the material cause (besides being the efficient cause) behind all creation, for it is the material cause into which all materials must resolve, eventually. The clay pot for example resolves not in the potter but into the clay. Thus, since Krisna states that all nature resolves in Him, He gives away the fact that He himself is nature and nature is Him. Thus Brahman is Him and everthing else is Brahman - hence we are Brahman too and we resolve into our creator because materially there's no difference between us and our creator. That's the underlying argument.

It does rest on a few assumptions that the human mind, given to questioning and a spirit of inquiry will indeed question and cast doubts on: For example, why should we believe that what Krisna propounds in the Holy Gita is true: Why should we believe all beings resolve in Him and thus the fact that He is not just the Efficient Cause (like God's supposed to be, at least generally) but also the Material Cause (this is hard to accept for most people).

Let me, however, present another view of the same argument. Let's assume God is not the Material Cause behind this nature. It then means that there's something other than God, which God used to create the nature with. However, the very fact that something exists other than God reduces God to being just an object and as discussed earlier - God cannot be reduced to an Object... that would create a duality and all duality must destruct one day. That would render the whole conception of an Omnipotent and Omniscient substratum, which is at the core of all existence redundant and meaningless.

One may still argue: What is the need for such a concept to exist at all? And the simple reason is that without it you cannot explain nature itself. Hindu Dharma states that the concept of time and space exposes the limitations of all objects: Anything that's limited must be born and must die (just like our bodies must). However, this means that there must have been some time when nothing would have existed at all. What is this nothing? There is indeed no nothing because even the nothing is actually something.

This is what I mean when I say Brahman IS the substratum and it IS God. Period. It cannot be limited by space and time for if it is we get the logical absurdity that cannot be resolved.

[To be continued]

PS: This article derives heavily from the present set of books I am reading: the books are all authored by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, who is a great scholar, saint and a Vedanti.

Shri Shri Bade HanumanJi

2009-05-02T10:29:00.003+07:00

Prayag ke Sangam Kshetra ke Bade Hanumanji: Courtesy kamahesh0
From Flickr

My All Time Favorite Bhajans

2009-05-02T07:10:00.007+07:00

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Diabetes: Death To Diabetes

2009-04-12T18:21:00.013+07:00

I'll come to the point linearly: This note is about Diabetes and cross links another website that has significantly impacted my understanding about Diabetes. But first, before I unravel the heart of the matter, I need to offer a little background. Why am I writing this? Because I CARE ABOUT the people who are dying because of Diabetes and I genuinely feel that something can be done about it - quickly enough for most people luckily.

Diabetes is killing people. By 2020 it's predicted to become the world's largest killer. What are we doing about it? Can something be done about it? What causes it in the first place? Is it Genetic? Life-Style disease? Some unpredictable combination of Genetics, Life Style etc? As diverse as these questions are, equally diverse and perplexing are the answers too. So what is a person inflicted with Diabetes to do apart from following what the doctor prescribes?

The author of this blog was diagnosed with Diabetes 2 years ago. It did not immediately impact my life materially but with passage of time it surely started making its impact felt. Initially I checked with the doctors, got the tests done and sought advice. I was told that I should manage my 'life-style' which involved a significant amount of alcohol consumption. I also used to smoke and chew tobacco until about 2 years ago. I realized I had to stop ALL of this if I wanted to give myself a half-decent life; half-decent because the other half was already 'spent' the day I earned the 'diabetic label'.

Diabetes is a disease of the physiological system and impacts EVERYTHING. Mind is connected to matter and as such our mind is connected to our body. The connection is pretty palpable. It is the mind which through a complex array of synapses and neurons controls everything happening inside our bodies. When I say control it means: it 'manages' everything: all sensory perceptions arise from the mind. It is the seat of pleasure and pain. It is the one which FEELS the pain and then TELLS that it's feeling the pain. Whom does it TELL? It tells the body.

One can read a lot of literature on the physiology behind diabetes. Basically, the trigger for diabetes occurs when the so called Beta Cells in the Pancreas start experiencing 'Insulin Burn-Out'. This happens when the cells refuse to accept the insulin the beta cells produce when the blood sugar level rises, such as after consuming food. When we eat food, it gets processed and glucose is released into the blood stream that has the effect of elevating the blood sugar. In response to this increase in blood sugar, the beta cells within the pancreas start secreting insulin into the blood stream.

At the cellular level, the cells need the energy from glucose and they need insulin to 'process' this glucose. They must therefore allow the insulin to enter them. For the insulin to 'enter' the cells, the latter must figuratively speaking 'provide access' to it; the process by which the insulin enters these cells is in many ways like a typical lock and key combination. In a diabetic patient this lock and key combination has been impacted adversely so that now the cells are not absorbing as much insulin as they used to do or should be doing. As a result the insulin just keeps sticking around in the blood stream instead of helping the cells 'convert' the glucose into energy. This causes the blood sugar level to remain elevated and hence the beta cells keep producing more and more of the insulin (thinking obviously that enough is not enough) to bring the sugar levels down. Soon this process becomes akin to flogging a dead horse and leads to what is known as the Insulin Burn-Out. The glucose levels remain elevated because the glucose cannot be processed by the cells; the cells themselves remain starved of energy and this explains why the Diabetics continually experience fatigue - they just aren't getting enough energy from the food they are eating. This gives rise to what is commonly known as Diabetes Mellitus or Type II Diabetes. There is a type 1 diabetes as well which is of a slightly different nature but has a somewhat similar physiology. It's less common though than Type II diabetes.

The kidneys and the liver swing into action and begin working overtime to 'clean' the system. The kidneys now have to filter out blood glucose as well. Understandably this causes a considerable drain on them. The Liver responds by converting glucose into fat and storing it in places where they can be easily stored. This leads to people gaining weight and loss of body shape. Obesity is another name given to this fat build-up.

So what are we to do when insulin processing gets hampered in the system?

Well, one thing is very clear. What the Allopathic medicines do is that they do not cure the root cause but keep attacking the symptoms. They further lead to the build-up of toxic waste within the body as well. As pointed out by the author of the book DeathToDiabetes, the allopathic medicines instead of curing the disease actually make it worse. The pharmaceutical companies around the world make millions of dollars with this disease and hence would consider it an anathema to start educating people about this subject that will lead to wealth erosion for them. Millions are spent in research and drug manufacturing. It's a hell of an expensive disease no questions about it.

This individual who wrote DeathToDiabetes was miraculously able to CURE his diabetes. I don't know the truth of it. But he has proclaimed it to the world and written books and created a website to spread awareness about the issue. So I deduce that there must be 'some' truth behind it. Regardless of the truth, I did employ some of the suggestions on the website especially concerning the food habits with a consistently remarkable recovery in my blood sugar levels. This was exciting enough, which prompted me to use my blog as a means to spread this knowledge and awareness that perhaps diabetes can really be controlled fabulously if not completely reversed by making some changes to our food habits.

For starters: I removed most if not all 'processed' food from my eating routine. This includes all sexy things such as French Fries (Ah..the killers) and Burgers and the list goes on. You all know that. For detailed feedback consult you dietician. But the idea is: They HARM. No questions about it.

Then I started eating a lot of fiber. Flax seed is a wonderful option and quite easily available. Eat brown rice. Don't eat the processed white rice. Eat multigrain wheat. Processed flour is to be chucked aside. I am not an expert in this area. But I am just mentioning what I did myself. Each person's food requirements are unique and a lot of circumstances - socio-cultural, economic and others - drive what a person eats or considers worth while to eat. But Fast Foods have invaded our lifestyles regardless of culture. You'll get a Mcdonalds in Alaska too perhaps. You must also remember one thing - and my 'science' background did aid somewhat in furthering my understanding of this subject - that the human body prefers an ALKALINE to an ACIDIC environment. It's alright to think what am I talking about at this point because without a 'science' background this would appear like a lot of garbage and terminology. Actually, it's not that complicated. We are all too familiar with Acidity and how it makes us 'inconvenienced'. That happens when the body enters an Acidic environment. All acid producing foods must therefore be actively discouraged from entering into our menus (you can without batting an eyelid choose ALL your FAVORITE foods if you are anywhere like me! - Burgers, French Fries, Coke[diet/non-diet]). On the other hand all foods that promote an alkaline environment must be encouraged (Blue Berries, Sweet Potatoes, Flax Seed, Aloe Vera all kinds of Fruits - avocados, apples etc, and the list goes on). Consuming regular milk for example, produces an acidic environment in people with low lactase (or may be lactose) tolerance. They must switch to SOY milk immediately.

On a related note and touching a subject that has a massive influence on me: Meditation, Praying, Exercising all help promote an ALKALINE environment within the body and help clean the toxic build up from Acidic environments.

Why am I talking Acidic/Alkaline here? I am giving you the TOOLS to research further. When you buy food next time, keep this in mind. Ask the right people - indeed FIND the right people who can guide. The idea is - don't just sit back and let the disease - to borrow an expression from DeathToDiabtes website - ROT you from inside; It sure does. I will keep appending to this blog as more information and insights become available to me. But get this straight: You've got to take charge of this.

As an aside, I quit smoking and tobacco consumption 2 years ago and have stayed off it since then. Smoking cessation is a widely discussed subject and many websites again are dedicated to it. I will talk about my experience some other time. I will only hasten to add for now that I truly believe in the maxim: A human being is infinitely capable and infinitely incapable all at once. This perhaps comes from the duality principle in Physics: Matter behaves as waves and particles both. We can invoke the properties of either entity depending on the problem at hand. Similarly, our capabilities are also infinite and limited both. It depends on what we want to make them to be? This unfortunately is what we often don't realize. The POWER is within us. It just needs to be realized. Truly 'realized'. Rest is easy.

Good luck and with affection! And oh by the way here's the link to the DeathToDiabtes website: Death To Diabetes.

Go on...be a winner :)

Dard

2009-04-11T20:31:00.003+07:00

kaise kaise dard sehte hai
phir bhi galat hum hi hote hai

duniya bahut samajhdar hai
akal ke bagair sirf hum hi hote hai

haan hum dushman hai apne
khud ko satate rehte hai

tumhari akal, tumhari soch, tumhari samajhdari mubarak ho tumhein
akal se humara kya waasta...hum yunhi theek hai...

Mai Chahata Bhi Yahi Tha... Wo Bevawafa Nikale...

2009-04-11T20:00:00.007+07:00

Aaj Wasim Barelvi sahab ke alfaaz zehen mein aaye:

may chahta bhi yahi tha woh bewafa nikle!
usse samajhne ka koi to silsila nikle!!

kitab-e-mazi ke panne ulat ke dekh zara !
na jaane kaunsa panna muda hua nikle !!

(kitab-e-mazi ke aaurak ulat ke dekh zara !
na jaane kaun sa safha muda hua nikle!!)

Jo dekhne may bohot hi kareeb lagta hai!
usi k ke baare may sochu to faasla nikle!!

may chahta bhi yahi tha woh bewafa nikle!
usse samajhne ka koi to silsila nikle!!

I have picked up the lyrics thanks to Mr. Varun Pauddar from the following link:
http://www.dishant.com/lyrics/song-41662.html

Agar Ghazal sunna chahe to yaha pe hai... Jagjit Singh ki awaaz mein

Mai chahata bhi yahi tha

Thought For Today: Microsoft is a RPIA (Royal Pain in the A**)

2009-04-11T12:14:00.005+07:00

I believe the content of the subject is only too familiar to those who have ever tried installing Adventure Works Database on SQL Server 2008 Express edition. Full Text Search is not enabled; solutions suggested on umpteen weblogs and websites do not help. How can they help? MS has acknowledged there is a problem: Thank God for that. And yet, hotfix after hotfix and KB articles after KB articles one still cannot figure out if a solution actually exists. The KB articles proclaim that this problem exists and related searches lead you to
KB958186 - but to your horror after going through the motion of providing your email Id etc MS sends you a hotfix link that actually is meant to fix some other problem and not the full text search problem. Obviously you can't quite figure that out because the cumulative update package which ostensibly has solutions to known issues with MS SQL Server Express 2008 has a host of fixes "packaged in it" and you just don't know which one of those solutions pertains to the "full text search problem". So you just trust MS and download whatever they provide in the hope that some magic would happen. But of course it doesn't work.

You can refer to the following page MS acknowledgment of FULL TEXT SEARCH BUG. It has a fancy bug number too Bug #: 50003661(SQL Hotfix).

I am flabbergasted!!!

I am writing this to tell all those who may be struggling with THE FULL TEXT SEARCH ISSUE WHILE TRYING TO INSTALL ADVENTURE WORKS ON MICROSOFT SQL SERVER 2008 EXPRESS EDITION: To the best of my knowledge a solution does not exist as of now so there is no point sweating about it. Just wait until MS can figure out how to fix it. Meanwhile you can try SQL Server 2005 which I am going to do now; apparently 2005 works fine. What a pain to go through the whole process and then have to revert to the older version. It sucks big time. Either way there is no choice.

Alternatively, if anyone knows of a solution, please do enlighten the strugglers. MS also has the gumption to CHARGE for fixing bugs it creates - refer to the MORE INFORMATION SECTION on this page MORE INFORMATION . No wonder Bill Gates is the richest (or somewhere close) man in the world! They create crap and then charge for cleaning up after. Awesome guys...

My Favorite Songs and Ghazals

2009-04-10T01:35:00.014+07:00

I am going to start a compilation of my all time favorite songs...

Here goes...Each of these songs has a very deep connection with my soul...When I hear them, I go in a trance whose bliss words can't describe. Listen to them and you will know what I am saying...

Mirza Ghalib

2009-04-09T21:04:00.000+07:00

Kucch Mirza saab ke astabal se nikaal laya hoon...

Hum hai mushtaaq aur wo bezaar...
Ya Ilahi ye maazra kya hai?

Kaisi masoomiyat se kitni gehri baat kahi hai. Mujhe Mirza saab ki shaayri mein bhagwan nazar aata hai.

Yeh Masail-e-Tasawwuf..Yeh tera bayaan Ghalib,
Tujhe hum wali samajhte, jo na baadakhwaar hota

Ye baat jo Mirza ne kahi hai: k tujhe hum wali samajhte agar tum itni sharaab na peete mere dil ko bahut chooti hai.
Aur ye ke:

Sab kaha kucch lala-o-gul mein numaya ho gayi
khaak mein kya soorate hongi jo pinha ho gayi

Kaise Kaise log is duniya mein khaak-e-supurd ho gaye...numaya sirf chand kismat wale hi ho paye...

Hui Muddat ke Ghalib Mar Gaya
Par Yaad aata hai
Wo har ek baat pe kehna
Ke Yu hota to kya hota...

Bas meri aur tumhari zindagi ki kahani keh dali in 2 lines mein.

Na tha kucch to khuda tha, kucch na hota to khuda hota
Duboya mujhko hone ne, na hota mai to kya hota

Jab mai "THA" ... Jab mera kucch WAJOOD THA..tab mujhe dubo diya...agar mai nahi hota..maslan agar meri koi aukaat nahi hoti tab kya kya karti ye duniya mere saath?? that's the way I read it...and it makes perfect sense to me. Mirza ka sense itna tagda tha ki wo aisi baat sochte the jo jigar ke bilkul aakhri kone se nikal ke aati ho... wo surface pe poetry nahi likhte the. Wo apne mijaaz ko naap taul kar un aisi batein nikaal ke le aate the jo aam aadmi sirf soch sakta hai..usko explain nahi kar sakta. Aisa power dikhta hai mujhe Mirza saab ki poetry mein.
Aur ye ke:

Jala hai jism, jaha dil bhi jal gaya hoga
Kuredte ho jo ab raakh...justuju kya hai?

There are occasions when I find myself comparing Mirza Saab with Gulzar Saab. Though I don't particularly like Gulzar saab - I have HEARD him a lot through RD Burman's rendition of his poetry. I am a great RD fan so cannot help rubbing shoulders with Gulzar saab. I like Gulzar saab's abstractness. But, I don't particularly like the complexity he weaves into his expressions. Some of his early poems were profoundly simply written and yet expressed deep human emotions...

Jane kya soch kar nahi guzra
Ek Pal, raat bhar nahi guzra

Gulzar saab seems to be fixated with the idea of "PAL".

Dafn kar do humein k saans aaye,
nabz "kucch der" se thami si hai

Sometimes, Gulzar saab's poetry becomes a heavy burden on your senses -

kai chaand utth kar jalaye bujhaye
bahut humne chaha zara neend aaye...

What's with the Chaand's jalana and Bujhana?

Here's the song in case you are interested: It is an out-of-the-world composition by RD and rendered in an equally mesmerizing voice of Ashaji. The song is from the film Sitara.

YE SAYE HAI YE DUNIYA HAI

Here's yet another...

Khamosh sa afsana pani se likha hota
Na tumne kaha hota na humne suna hota

I have often thought about this: Khamosh sa afsana...
Sometimes, the creative person in him tries to express the simplest of emotions using an exceedingly complex array of metaphors. But the idea is not spent: if you can wade through the complexity of it - you get to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Mirza however talked about the nuances of bitterness, sadness, loneliness, pain, fear in ways that were immediately recognizable - complexity of Urdu itself notwithstanding. One obviously needs to know Urdu in order to appreciate him. Gulzaar saab on the other hand was able to create a here-to-fore not seen complexity in our language of everyday use - HINDI.
But still: at some level I respect Gulzaar saab. His sense for abstractness is amazing. And his power to weave words really doesn't find a parallel elsewhere.

Masle abhi aur bhi hai...fir likhoonga.

Cool Mathematical Tool

2009-04-09T20:56:00.000+07:00

Thank you Debjyoti for posting this. I am taking the liberty to cross link it to my blog.

Fun Way To Do Math ... Check this out

From Swami Dayanand's lectures

2009-04-05T09:18:00.000+07:00

Sarvam Brahmamayam re re Sarvam Brahmamayam
Kim Kartavyam Kimakartavyam kim jnatavyam kim ajnatavyam
Sarvam Brahmamayam

Aah!

2009-03-29T14:20:00.000+07:00

ek raah teri manzil ki ore badhi
kadam badh na sake lekin
thee pairo mein zakhmo ki bediya padi

kal fir raat ke sannate mein
ik aah ne jhakjhora mujhe
sota kya hai? dekh! aag teri milkiyat mein lagi!!

wo nahi samjhega wo masoom thehra
uthaoonga sitam mai uske
jaan mein hai jaan jab tak meri

ab toot chuki hai hasti meri
khatm na hua tamasha lekin
kya bacha hai jo nichodta hai khoon rago se meri

Kucch bekaar ki batein...

2009-03-29T12:18:00.000+07:00

Mai apni taqleef kisse bayaan karu
Kha-ma-kha kyu
kisi aur ki taqleef mein ijaafa karu

Mai shaqs hoon ajeeb khud se kehta hoon
zakhm yaad rakhta hoon sabhi
jinhe na-jane-kab-se bhool chuka hoon

Aaj kucch naya kehne ki tabiyat jagi
Na jane kab se
mai padhta raha hoon tujhe...

Shayad "wohi" tha doondhta raha sadiyo se jise
chita pe leta dekh
mai pehchan na saka use

Fehrist sawaalat ki liye firta hoon aise
jaisa johe hai baat koi
mar-ke phir na aane wale ki...

Jakarta...29th March 09

To Ma Durga

2009-03-28T11:47:00.000+07:00

Om Gyaninamapi chetansi devi bhagawati hi sa
Balaadakrishya mohaay maha maya prayacchati

Durge smrita harisi bhitimeshsehjantuh
swaisthai smrita mati mateev shubham dadasi

daridrya dukh bhayhainika twadannya
sarvopakar karnaay sadaardra chitta

Sarva Mangal Maangalye Shive Sarvaarth saadhike
Sharanye trayambike gauri narayani namostute

Sharanagat Deenartha Paritrana Parayane
Sarvasyaar Tihare Devi Narayani Namostute

Sarva Swaroope Sarveshe Sarva Shakta Samanvite
Bhaye Bhayastra hi no Devi Durge Devi Namostute.

.......

Bramharshi Yogiraj Devaraha Baba Ji Maharaj

2009-03-28T08:42:00.000+07:00

I have been very restless lately. It's been more than an year that I have sat down to write something on this till-now-dormant blog of mine.

Today, suddenly, I remembered Gyanganj - a mystical place believed to be nestled somewhere in the Himalayan region of India and Tibet. How did Gyanganj occur to me? Ever since my father - Late Dr. S.K. Dubey - left for his heavenly abode on August 29th, 2006 - I have missed him countless times. My late father was heavily influenced by Devaraha Baba. Since he was a journalist of immense standing in the town of Allahabad and indeed within the state of Uttar Pradesh, he often used to meet Devaraha baba when the latter came to Prayag on his annual visits during the Magh Mela. Father had interviewed Baba ji a couple of times -interviews that culminated in a book father wrote subsequently sometime during the mid-eightees.

I must have been around 10 years old when the incident I am about to narrate took place. It was during one of those interviews that I had a chance to sit with Devaraha baba atop his "machan" (a raised structure made of wood). Memories are a bit hazy now, given the length of time that has elapsed; it must have been the year 1983 or 1984, a few years before Baba eventually took Mahasamadhi. I remember baba mentioning to my father that his "friends in Gyanganj" were calling him, and that it was time for him to go. I obviously understood nothing - but did feel a certain sense of mystery surrounding the ensuing conversation between my Dad and the Baba. We were also accompanied by another very close friend of my father's, Pt. Ram Naresh Tripathi, who was also a journalist besides being an avowed devotee of the Devi. Tripathiji always used to perform the 9-day Navaratri puja at our George Town residence in Allahabad. Devaraha baba had remarked that my father and Ram Naresh Tripathi ji were actually real brothers in their past lives.

Tripathji had remarked that he had never heard baba recount his Gyanganj experience as he had done that day. I truly consider myself blessed in that I heard about Gyanganj from someone who actually BELONGED there even though I was hardly able to comprehend its significance back then. I remember baba mentioning that Gyanganj is where Yogis like him reside.

Anyway - coming back to the question I started this blog with - why and how did I remember Gyanganj today? Well, as I had mentioned earlier - I miss my father very often and whenever I miss him, I tend to remember most of the people and incidents connected with him. Gyanganj has had a profound effect on my state of being. And the initial or primal cause was the fact that the Devarha Baba himself had mentioned about it and I was deeply attracted to the powers of Devaraha baba. My dad had later (when i grew up a little more) explained to me what Gyanganj was about. Obviously no body was an authority on the subject and even people who claim to have visited Gyanganj are under oath to not declare the secrets of the place openly. So, the sense of secrecy unfortunately - at least for the common public - will likely remain for ever. But whatever father did tell me was enough to kindle the flame of curiosity within me. What is Gyanganj? What's so special about it and so on. Later on I found Gyanganj being mentioned in the famous Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yoganand. He mentioned Gyangang as the living abode for the venerable BabaJi.

It's almost like the search for the TRUTH itself; each one has to undertake the journey towards the TRUTH - one step at a time - at first guided by one's own FAITH and BELIEF and later when the faith becomes strong enough, guided under the watchful eyes of the GURU who verily appears when the TIME IS RIGHT. Such is what I have been told. The questioning mind, as is the human nature's wont, does not accept it at face value. But even the Mathematical Axioms - such as that a POINT is an object with NO DIMENSION (0 length, 0 width and 0 height) - simply have to be accepted. There is no WHY or WHEREFORE to them. Similarly there are things that just have to be accepted. They cannot be exposed to the kind of scrutiny that logic requires.

I am slowly coming around to believing it. I believe things happen according to the divine plan. One has to go through the "process". There are no short-cuts.

My father - who was a devout bhakta of the divine mother Durga - died a horrendously painful death from renal failure. During my prayers to the divine mother, I have often found myself questioning her as to why my father had to go through that profound agony. As an attendant of my father during his painful last days, I had seen him suffer first-hand. Recently, during a rather extended discussion with a spiritually-inclined friend of mine - I was reminded by him that all pain, suffering, love, attachment - in short all forms of human or earthly emotions - are illusory or Mayic in nature. There is no truth behind these so called sufferings. He reminded me the example of the classical snake-rope illusion. So long as one is under the illusory spell of maya, one would not be able to distinguish between a rope and a snake. Therefore many-a-times, a false sense of fear would grip the mind upon seeing a rope. Till the time one becomes free of the illusion that it is not a snake but just a rope, one would remain under fear. That's the essence of the pain and suffering that's perceived at the transactional level of our day-to-day existence. It is also called AGYAAN or MAYA... synonyms for illusion. It's hard to accept this. Very hard. Because everything happening around us is our sole connection with the reality. Whatever else that exists beyond what our five senses can perceive is well-nigh beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals like us. We do not know. We cannot comprehend. But the fact that we cannot comprehend does not negate the existence of that entity (that which exists beyond the comprehension of our five senses).

So, one keeps on moving from one plane to the other until one finds the Absolute Truth. It's not easy, but it becomes very easy once the ignorance is dispelled and the illusory maya has been overpowered with the Light of Knowledge.

There are no bonds in reality. There is no relationship - no father, no mother, no brother, no sister. Yes, it sounds preposterous. You would wonder "what the hell am I talking about". But yes I say these things to you and verily the truth shall descend on your mind once you open the gates of belief and allow your heart to acquire faith. Do I believe in what I am saying? Will I stop missing my father now? Will I now not get perturbed when a rape occurs or when people are slaughtered or when some other form of evil that besets our society takes place? Will I forgive someone for doing harm to me or my family? I don't know for sure - at least not quite yet. One thing is for sure however; it will not happen till the time I THINK I KNOW. It will only happen WHEN I WILL KNOW. That's the fundamental difference between I THINK I KNOW and I KNOW.

In a way: Trying to find answers for most of these questions is actually akin to solving the wrong problem: Again to quote an instance from my recent discussion with the spiritually-inclined friend of mine: It's like seeking to determine the gender of a child born to an infertile woman. By asking questions such as: Why doesn't God stop the atrocities being committed on the poor? Why does God let people suffer? Why does he leave them alone? Why does he let Al Qaeda behead people and give them the grossest form of torture anyone can imagine? - we are actually trying to solve the wrong problem. In the larger scheme of things it is the gross body that's suffering -not the one that's INSIDE the body (the soul or true BRAHMAN). It's hard to comprehend.

Perhaps the analogy with a motion picture might help. We do many a times get so engrossed and associated with what's happening in the movie that certain 'events' in the movie are capable of moving us to tears. That happens even though we know it's not real. Similary - remarked the spiritually inclined friend of mine during our recent conversation - that many sages who incarnate also appear to 'grieve' in other people's grief despite having full knowledge that none of that is real.

That was the message in the Geeta as well. The lord said to Arjun - What are you grieving for? It's not clear to me however, why he made Arjun fight the battle at all then? If nothing was real - he could have just left him alone and let fate take its own course. It's convoluted however because what God was doing was what Fate itself had ordained. So He possibly could NOT have left Arjun alone. Indeed the message in the battle was not so much the fact that one has to FIGHT a battle against one's own kith and kin - the gist of the message is that one has to fight a battle against one's own ego - you need to fight a battle to resist the temptation to commit a sin - something that's very natural to a human being and offers a pleasurable sensation - but is very harmful for one's spiritual growth. So in order to achieve the oneness with God one has to KILL the things that one LIKES the most. That's a semantic explanation for what happened in Mahabharata. Whether the battle took place in reality as it is described is beyond the subject of this discussion.

To summarize therefore, all these questions are real - based on our existence on the physical plane. However, on "another plane or dimension" one needs to ascertain WHO IS SUFFERING? The physical BODY or the SOUL (or Aatma) within? It's like saying when you tear away your clothes or tear or burn a piece of paper - do these objects SUFFER PAIN? In other words do they experience PAIN as WE KNOW PAIN? So it is with answering these questions...who is suffering? You might question, again, "But why should I consider another dimension? Is it not enough that the BODY is suffering the pain?" And the answer is YES. If you are content to know that the BODY is suffering the pain and will go back home peacefully - there - you've got your answer. I challenge you to question BEYOND the body for the BODY is not ourselves. That's the point. But that requires KNOWLEDGE of Aatman and the difference between the BODY and the AATMA.

It's surprising and indeed contradictory that I am using logic to justify some of my arguments despite having mentioned that the subject of TRUTH is not amenable to understanding through logic. You need to cast aside your thinking hat and adorn the hat of FAITH and DEVOTION. Then the path shall be revealed, verily.

The venerable Maharishi Ramana was also asked a similar question by one of his devotees. Apparently when the Rishi was a child he was badly beaten by a bunch of rowdies. He was asked whether he felt Pain upon being beaten. Why was he asked that question? Because even if he suffered pain he did not show it. Apparently those who actually beheld him being beaten reported that he had been very calm while getting beaten. He apparently did not feel pain as anyone else would have. So the question was asked. He said if you mean whether MY BODY felt the pain - the answer is YES it did. If you mean whether I felt the pain - the answer is NO I DIDN'T.

There is a FRAMEWORK that needs to be defined. One cannot solve a problem or answer a question without a Framework. The existence of any Truth or Falsehood is devoid without a Framework. So, while trying to solve the question of Who is suffering - the Framework for "the WHO" needs to be ascertained foremost - in simple words it's critical to UNDERSTAND who is "the WHO" being referred to. Once you understand the Framework the answers should readily present themselves.

Today, is incidentally the second day of Navratri. It is not a coincidence that divine thoughts are occurring to a man who is best known for things that hardly bear any resemblance to divinity. It does not bother me. I am what I am. And i WILL find out who that is. It's a process that will take some time. I am prepared to invest that time. So should you be if you are a seeker. If you have DOUBTS you are not alone. If you don't have doubts you are still not alone. To each one there is a company. And in each company ONE is still ALONE because ONE is UNIQUE. Each one of us is UNIQUE. It's an oxymoron - a paradox you will say. And I say to you - yes it is.

Keep the faith. The truth shall be revealed.

Love

Khoj...

2008-01-20T23:38:00.000+07:00

Wo panktiya jo vyakt karein duvidha antaraatma ki
abhivyakti viheen dimaag ke andhero mein banti nahi

Mai masoomiyat ke sahare kaatu kab tak ye zindagi
Kab tak kahoo logo se ke mujhe hosh nahi?

Mai Himalay ki oochai aur sagar ki gehrai to naap bhi loo
Jeevan ke atoot sangharsh magar mujhe haasil nahi

Chalta rahunga mai phir bhi Jaisa use ho manzoor
Mai wo nahi mangoonga usse jo mere haq mein nahi..

Deleted post

2008-01-19T21:56:00.000+07:00

On Powerlessness...

2008-01-15T00:59:00.000+07:00

For all there is to see and observe, there's nothing more sublime and pure than the supreme quest to lose, to break free, "to merge" with the surroudings...

Untill the energy gets spent - dissipated, there's anxiety, restlessness and a pull towards the PULLER - the Maya, which exercises supreme control on everything in its range - like a magnet draws iron filings when the latter are in range - till the iron filings lose their magnetism, the magnet wouldn't let them stay - wouldn't let them BE!

I have lately felt the power of "powerlessness" - that which ensues once the soul breaks clear of the forces governing its manoeuvres in the worldly maya.

The soul is like water thundering down a mountain top - the milky white column of brutal force descending like the fury of doomsday, perhaps; heeding no one, stopping for no one, but only aiming the floor that's thither...I call it POWERLESS because it's not in its nature to unleash fury - it's the gravity that causes it to be that way; it's powerless against the gravity - but it's a force to reckon with nonetheless - and so, in its powerlessness it becomes more furious and fearsome...

And when it hits the floor, it meanders; it loses its sight, its doggedness, its single mindedness - it resigns itself to the curves that might present themselves as it takes the next arbitrary course; it has no fixed locus thereafter once its descended - it could perhaps get accumulated in a saucer shaped clearing - or descend down a slope or just randomly scatter around till it loses its kinetic energy and becomes ONE with its surroundings; YES, ONE with its surroudings - isn't that the soul's destiny? IT SURRENDERS THE EGO...

Till the time the soul is "powerless" it's under a gravitational pull of the karmas binding the body that carries the soul; once the karma is discharged and the soul has hit the "floor" it continues to meander till the remaining streaks of energy are disspiated and the soul is free to dissolve and become ONE with the surroudings...

Generally...

2008-01-13T23:59:00.000+07:00

I, like most of us, also wanted to create a space of my own - even if "virtual", where I could have the complete freedom to express myself using words/expressions/annotations that represent me and reflect the truth (if there is one) of my existence alone. A space for which I need pay no rent, one which would not be at the peril of being marauded, usurped, stolen from the ever expanding influence of the gangsters masquerading as respected citizens and individuals...

I don't have a set agenda for this blog; that in fact is the beauty of this blog - here you will find random thoughts mirroring the randomness of the inner most recesses of my thinking...

Recently, the event of Benazir's assasination brought to fore the increasing vulnerability of those who dare speak their minds. I am not saying this as if I have followed Benazir's political career to the hilt. But right or wrong, strong or baseless her political lineage and leanings - I speak from the vantage point of an individual who understands other individuals like myself - an individual with a family, with responsiblities towards one's children, spouse, parents and country - that person who tries to piece it altogether and ekes an existence full of strife. What did those bastards get out of eradicating a life which was fighting for a cause? Was she threatening the terrorists standing in the trenches they hide in?

They don't have the guts to fight in the open - they hide, wear masks and attempt assasinations.

However, the way their influence is expanding, the day is not far away when they would be able to walk into a country's parliament and blow it up or walk in the Supreme Court and blow the Judge away. They can do it.. Sure they can...and this ironically all in the name of a God (Allah) who is supposed to create and protect and empower ....

Well - no one said life was easy...

Shayad sab maya hai....

2008-01-13T23:35:00.000+07:00

Kal ek qasai ko murga katate dekha
Kaatne ke baad murge ka pankh khurechte dekha

wo pankh jinhein apna pet palne ko aatur qasai
tezi se khurechta hai, Jaldi katoo ise
kahi khareeddar apne eeman se na fir jae
Mujhe meri do joon ki roti se ruswa na kar jae

Ye dar us pakshi ke dar se zyada bhayanak hota hai
Mera kya hoga ye masla insaan ko saalta hai
Fir koi aur jeeye mare isse kya fark padta hai?

Kisi aur ki taqleef se mujhe kya vaasta
nahi janta insaan insaan insaan ki taqleef se na chah ke bhi juda hota hai
Aaj tum par to kal mujh par
Badqismati ka saaya kisi ko nahi chhodta hai

Aj kar lo beshak manmani jee bhar k
Kal palat waar hoga manamaniyo ki hogi adla badli
Kal tum sawaar the ghode par
Aaj hoga sawaar ghoda tum par

Ye faaslo ki duniya hai faaslo ko kabhi mitne na degi
Apne wajood se marhoom ho kar duniya duniya na rahegi
To kya yahi hai dastoor zindagi ka?
Kya nahi hai insaaf insaaniyat ka?

Sochta hoon aksar, gumsum, akela
Jawaab kaha milte hai asaani se
Aur jo de sakte hai wo kehte hai sab maya hai
Kisi ke kaha kucch kabhi samajh mein aaya hai

Kyun???

2008-01-13T22:35:00.000+07:00

Aaj phir un logo se mulakat hui
Jinke liye mere man mein sivay nafrat ke kucch bhi nahi

Phir bhi, kyu jeeta hoon ghut ghut ke?
Kyu nahi kehta nahi chahiye tumhari teemardari
Kyu nahi kehta akela hi behtar hoon
Gala ghotati hai ye nark ki chaardeevari

kaha se le aaoo wo waqt, wo pal jo guzar gaya ....
aur haseen khayalo ka manzar
sada ke liye zehen mein chhod gaya
Nahi jati purane palo ko yaad karne ke beemaree

magar kal bhi khush kaha tha mai?
To aaj fark kya hai? kyu hai?
Kyu?
jawaab nahi milta?

Kyu? Kab tak? Kaha tak?

चलता गया

2008-01-13T22:17:00.002+07:00

अवाक खड़ा जीवन के पथ पर
गिरता, सेहेमता, संभलता , उबलता
चलता गया....

कभी सहारा तलाशता, कभी सहारा बनता
लाठिया खाता, लाठिया चलाता
इससे जुड़ता उससे बिछड़ता
चलता गया...

अविश्वास और विश्वास दोनों है पास
राम का नाम, शैतान का काम
सच की सुबह झूठ की शाम
लहरों से जूझता कश्ती संभालता
चलता गया...

आंसू बहाने में, आंसू पोछने में
सुख भोगने में, दुःख झेलने में
कुछ समझाने में, कुछ समझने में
बात गयी ज़िन्दगी
दामन में फूल और कांटे सजोये
हँसता, रोता
चलता गया...

कुछ असर था आज भी
कल खाए हुए ज़ख्मो का
ज़ख्मो की आड़ में, ज़ख़्म कुदेरता
नया ज़ख़्म, नया मरहम तलाशता
चलता गया...

किसको खबर कहा है मंजिल
इससे पूछता उसको बताता
चलता गया...

कुछ अजीब सी छटा थी आज
मुर्दे के चेहरे पर
उसी के खयालो में यूहीं
ज़िन्दगी की ज़द्दोज़हद में मौत का सुकून तलाशता
चलता गया...

२१ फेब्रुअरी २००४