Day 45 - Jog - done.
Day 46 - Jog - missed.
Today I registered for Art of Living course starting from Mar-3. This was something that I have been wanting to do for almost 4-5 years now but somehow never happened. Today I took the action, knowing very well that I have to attend a conference from Mar 4-6 and that I might get delayed to conference. Something from deep inside told me to just jump in and I did!
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Two days back I wrote that it's the feeling of cool breeze that I was missing, that made me give my jog a slip. Yesterday morning I went to jog. But I did not really enjoy it. And today I missed it!
Yesterday night I came back late from my seminar and slept at almost 12:30. Before sleeping I was feeling tired and was thinking if I could manage next day's jog. Today morning I got up at 5:30 as alarm rang. I was not at all feeling like going to jog. So I went out in my balcony to feel the cool air and I did feel it. Yet it was not motivating enough to continue. I thought that may be it was the heat or may be the fan running all the night that is making me feel tired and I came back and slept off.
Today evening I was thinking as to why I did not go to jog and why I did not enjoy my jog yesterday. I looked at what made my day-before-yesterday's (Wednesday) jog so enjoyable that I did not have yesterday. I saw one thing. Tuesday evening before sleeping I was feeling very light. I had a feeling of accomplishment, a sense of leaving nothing incomplete. And that gave me the freshness for Wednesday. Whereas both yesterday and day before that I was not satisfied with my work.
I thought 'May be this feeling of incompleteness is at the source'. It's not that everyday I will complete all the work and feel being completely accomplished. But me distinguishing the source of why I was not feeling like jogging gave me an access. And as I write this, even today I did not complete what I set out to, in fact I did hardly anything. Still I am all charged up for tomorrow's jog. I can feel the difference between yesterday night and tonight. I hope this time I got it right :)
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Day 44 - Feeling vs. Feeling
Jog - done.
For last few days I was not really feeling the kick from jogging and that was one of the reasons I was missing out. Yesterday my friend distinguished a beautiful thing. He asked me as to what I get when I jog. I started saying 'I get to go to work early and complete my work early. That makes me feel good etc.' He stopped me and said 'That's your knowledge of the effect of jog. Knowledge cannot compensate for the feeling (of feeling sleepy). Only a feeling can take on another feeling'.
Then I realized that one of the things I liked about morning jogs, when I started in Jan, was the cool breeze and the foggy atmosphere. Of late, by the time I went to jog Sun was bright and I was not at all comfy about it. My friend suggested to try going at 5:30 am. Today morning I got up at 5:30 and went to jog. I got the same old feeling of cool breeze and an atmosphere of serenity. I loved my jog today. Looking forward to tomorrow morning !
It's so simple. Don't fight battle of feeling with the ammunition of knowledge. Let another feeling do the job. Thank you my friend!
For last few days I was not really feeling the kick from jogging and that was one of the reasons I was missing out. Yesterday my friend distinguished a beautiful thing. He asked me as to what I get when I jog. I started saying 'I get to go to work early and complete my work early. That makes me feel good etc.' He stopped me and said 'That's your knowledge of the effect of jog. Knowledge cannot compensate for the feeling (of feeling sleepy). Only a feeling can take on another feeling'.
Then I realized that one of the things I liked about morning jogs, when I started in Jan, was the cool breeze and the foggy atmosphere. Of late, by the time I went to jog Sun was bright and I was not at all comfy about it. My friend suggested to try going at 5:30 am. Today morning I got up at 5:30 and went to jog. I got the same old feeling of cool breeze and an atmosphere of serenity. I loved my jog today. Looking forward to tomorrow morning !
It's so simple. Don't fight battle of feeling with the ammunition of knowledge. Let another feeling do the job. Thank you my friend!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Day 39-43 - That I want thee
Day 39-43. Jog - missed partly due to travel and partly due to laziness.
I was feeling sleepy at around 10:30 pm and was ready to sleep. I saw a book I had picked up last week - 'Selected Poems' of Tagore. The first line of the page I opened just touched me. It was from the renowned Gitanajali. As I started reading the rest of the poem it just moved me. I was so elated. It completely reflected my mind. It was pure bliss. I want to reproduce it here, as I read it, to experience it again in the future.
THAT I WANT thee, only thee – let my heart repeat
without end. All desires that distract me, day and
night, are false and empty to the core.
As the night keeps hidden in its gloom the petition for
light, even thus in the depth of my
unconsciousness rings the cry – I want thee, only thee.
As the storm still seeks its end in peace when it strikes
against peace with all its might, even thus my
rebellion strikes against thy love and still its cry
is – I want thee, only thee.
Amen!
I was feeling sleepy at around 10:30 pm and was ready to sleep. I saw a book I had picked up last week - 'Selected Poems' of Tagore. The first line of the page I opened just touched me. It was from the renowned Gitanajali. As I started reading the rest of the poem it just moved me. I was so elated. It completely reflected my mind. It was pure bliss. I want to reproduce it here, as I read it, to experience it again in the future.
THAT I WANT thee, only thee – let my heart repeat
without end. All desires that distract me, day and
night, are false and empty to the core.
As the night keeps hidden in its gloom the petition for
light, even thus in the depth of my
unconsciousness rings the cry – I want thee, only thee.
As the storm still seeks its end in peace when it strikes
against peace with all its might, even thus my
rebellion strikes against thy love and still its cry
is – I want thee, only thee.
Amen!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Day 36,37,38 - Picture and Frame
Day 36. Jog - missed
Day 37. Jog - done
Day 38. Jog - missed
I forgot to write about another dialogue from 'Shall We Dance' that touched me. In one of the scenes where Richard Gere and his partner are preparing for the dance competition and JeLo is teaching them. JeLo says
"You are the frame. She is the picture in your frame. Whatever you do, is to show her off"
What a beautiful analogy! Applying this to our life, no matter what relationships we are talking of we can always see a frame and picture. Parent-child, husband-wife, teacher-student, manager-employee, you just name it. It works great when a parent does whatever he or she does to ensure child's success. The moment the parent starts thinking of realizing his/her dreams through the child, the frame starts looking gaudy thereby ruining the overall beauty.
When I thought of this as applied to couples (husband-wife) it makes so much more sense. If each one of them operated from this angle - that I am there for you. 'Whatever I do, I want to do it to make you grow and make you succeed'! I am not saying that it's a sacrifice one is making and being self less etc. It's a pure expression of standing for another. That's why I have written 'want to' in bold. It works when it begins with pure willingness and not driven by any external thing.
Day 37. Jog - done
Day 38. Jog - missed
I forgot to write about another dialogue from 'Shall We Dance' that touched me. In one of the scenes where Richard Gere and his partner are preparing for the dance competition and JeLo is teaching them. JeLo says
"You are the frame. She is the picture in your frame. Whatever you do, is to show her off"
What a beautiful analogy! Applying this to our life, no matter what relationships we are talking of we can always see a frame and picture. Parent-child, husband-wife, teacher-student, manager-employee, you just name it. It works great when a parent does whatever he or she does to ensure child's success. The moment the parent starts thinking of realizing his/her dreams through the child, the frame starts looking gaudy thereby ruining the overall beauty.
When I thought of this as applied to couples (husband-wife) it makes so much more sense. If each one of them operated from this angle - that I am there for you. 'Whatever I do, I want to do it to make you grow and make you succeed'! I am not saying that it's a sacrifice one is making and being self less etc. It's a pure expression of standing for another. That's why I have written 'want to' in bold. It works when it begins with pure willingness and not driven by any external thing.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Day 35 - Possibility of well being and Healing
Jog - missed. Got up, got ready and then felt like sleeping. So I slept off :(
Today evening I was speaking to my friend about a colleague who has been not keeping well for few months now. Tomorrow I am going to meet him. I have not spoken to him since I came to know of his illness. All along I was thinking that if I called him up to enquire what's happening I would be disturbing him. At the same time I was feeling bad that I am not being of any help.
So I was asking my friend as to what difference I could make to my colleague's situation. We had a very empowering discussion and my friend suggested many things that I was not seeing. He distinguished that when one goes through any kind of trouble it's actually an opportunity for learning and growth.
When some one comes to me for career advice I keep saying similar thing. I say that failure is good for growth. When one fails he will use those strengths he never knew he had, just to come out of the failure. And we all have such strengths simply because we it's a matter of survival and we have very strong survival instincts - we are made to survive. So we use these dormant strengths to come out of the failure. Once we are out of that phase, the trouble is no more there but now we have the new strength, which we add to our repertoire. The failure can serve as an access to discover and use the dormant strength, in the future, forever.
When my friend distinguished it with regards to health I saw that ill-health is also yet another kind of failure. It is God's way of providing us an opportunity to learn the 'dormant' strength and grow. And that the day we discover the presence of the strength, we are on the path of recovery.
Another thing, my friend said, touched me. He said that while I visit my colleague tomorrow I could be a possibility of well being and Healing and stand in a place that nothing's wrong here. It gave a very empowering context to me visiting my colleague.
It also changed my perspective about visiting someone when they are not feeling well or are hospitalized. All these days I never liked visiting someone in the hospital thinking that there's no use of me going there since I won't make any difference. Besides, I felt that the patient would be disturbed. I thought that it was just a social obligation.
Now, I see the visit in a whole new empowering context. When I can constitute myself to be a stand for well being and healing and when I am coming from 'there's nothing wrong here', my very presence will make the difference. It's definitely worth visiting.
Today evening I was speaking to my friend about a colleague who has been not keeping well for few months now. Tomorrow I am going to meet him. I have not spoken to him since I came to know of his illness. All along I was thinking that if I called him up to enquire what's happening I would be disturbing him. At the same time I was feeling bad that I am not being of any help.
So I was asking my friend as to what difference I could make to my colleague's situation. We had a very empowering discussion and my friend suggested many things that I was not seeing. He distinguished that when one goes through any kind of trouble it's actually an opportunity for learning and growth.
When some one comes to me for career advice I keep saying similar thing. I say that failure is good for growth. When one fails he will use those strengths he never knew he had, just to come out of the failure. And we all have such strengths simply because we it's a matter of survival and we have very strong survival instincts - we are made to survive. So we use these dormant strengths to come out of the failure. Once we are out of that phase, the trouble is no more there but now we have the new strength, which we add to our repertoire. The failure can serve as an access to discover and use the dormant strength, in the future, forever.
When my friend distinguished it with regards to health I saw that ill-health is also yet another kind of failure. It is God's way of providing us an opportunity to learn the 'dormant' strength and grow. And that the day we discover the presence of the strength, we are on the path of recovery.
Another thing, my friend said, touched me. He said that while I visit my colleague tomorrow I could be a possibility of well being and Healing and stand in a place that nothing's wrong here. It gave a very empowering context to me visiting my colleague.
It also changed my perspective about visiting someone when they are not feeling well or are hospitalized. All these days I never liked visiting someone in the hospital thinking that there's no use of me going there since I won't make any difference. Besides, I felt that the patient would be disturbed. I thought that it was just a social obligation.
Now, I see the visit in a whole new empowering context. When I can constitute myself to be a stand for well being and healing and when I am coming from 'there's nothing wrong here', my very presence will make the difference. It's definitely worth visiting.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Day 34 - Your life will not go unnoticed!
Jog - done.
I was watching the movie "Shall We Dance" today. It is one of my favorite movies and have seen it a few times. One dialog from the movie touched me the most.
When asked why one gets married, wife of the protagonist replies
We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet... I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness'."
So beautiful! We generally share the good parts and sometimes the bad parts, with others. But mostly what we share and thus what other get to know are only the important things. Nobody has time to listen to a commentary of our life and nor do we have time to share. But in a marriage, you know there is one person who witnesses everything - the interesting and the uninteresting.
I was watching the movie "Shall We Dance" today. It is one of my favorite movies and have seen it a few times. One dialog from the movie touched me the most.
When asked why one gets married, wife of the protagonist replies
We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet... I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness'."
So beautiful! We generally share the good parts and sometimes the bad parts, with others. But mostly what we share and thus what other get to know are only the important things. Nobody has time to listen to a commentary of our life and nor do we have time to share. But in a marriage, you know there is one person who witnesses everything - the interesting and the uninteresting.
Day 35 - Zindagi ke safar mein
Jog - done.
Today morning while I was jogging I was listening old songs. One song, though I have heard it several times, touched me today like never before.
Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Guzar Jaate Hain Jo Makaam
Vo Phir Nahin Aate, Vo Phir Nahin Aate
Patjhad Mein Jo Phool Murjha Jaate Hain
Vo Baharon Ke Aane Se Khilte Nahin
Kuchh Log Ik Roz Jo Bichhad Jaate Hain
Vo Hazaron Ke Aane Se Milte Nahin
This song reminded me of my Mysore days - the strolls I and my friend used to have on Kalidasa Road, the evening breeze, bed of May flowers, sweet scent of spring! Oh! I felt so nostalgic. I missed my friend today.
As soon as I came back I called him and spoke to him. I am meeting him today. We can meet now and talk of all those days. But I know that those days will never come back. How I wish I could go back in time and re-live those days!!! Time machine... anybody?
Today morning while I was jogging I was listening old songs. One song, though I have heard it several times, touched me today like never before.
Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Guzar Jaate Hain Jo Makaam
Vo Phir Nahin Aate, Vo Phir Nahin Aate
Patjhad Mein Jo Phool Murjha Jaate Hain
Vo Baharon Ke Aane Se Khilte Nahin
Kuchh Log Ik Roz Jo Bichhad Jaate Hain
Vo Hazaron Ke Aane Se Milte Nahin
This song reminded me of my Mysore days - the strolls I and my friend used to have on Kalidasa Road, the evening breeze, bed of May flowers, sweet scent of spring! Oh! I felt so nostalgic. I missed my friend today.
As soon as I came back I called him and spoke to him. I am meeting him today. We can meet now and talk of all those days. But I know that those days will never come back. How I wish I could go back in time and re-live those days!!! Time machine... anybody?
Day 33, 34 - Unsolicited Advice: A Contribution
Jog - done.
Friday night I had a very interesting conversation with my friend.
---- It will take some time to write this. But the next entry is so much on my mind now that I cannot wait to write it. To keep order I am publishing this entry half done. I will come back and complete this ----
Friday night I had a very interesting conversation with my friend.
---- It will take some time to write this. But the next entry is so much on my mind now that I cannot wait to write it. To keep order I am publishing this entry half done. I will come back and complete this ----
Friday, February 13, 2009
Day 32 - मामॆकं शरणं व्रज
Jog - done.
I have always thought that I was an adjusting and easy going person. I have got along well with most people. However I have rarely got attached to any person. As one friend said I am heartily welcomed by every one but missed by no one! And I liked that way of being. I like to be with people at times and be left completely alone at some other times. So I chose when to be with people and when not to be.
I had my own view of the world and I was more or less fixed to it. Anything outside of it is adjustment. I used to get adjusted to people and circumstances. But I never accepted people or circumstances as they were. I had to 'adjust' to survive; or as if it is the best possible alternative available. Thus I rarely experienced true choice, not that I have never, but rarely.
The adjusting would work to some level, as long as external stimuli is there or till the situation is bearable. The moment people or situation started getting off of my view of world, beyond a safety threshold, I would feel the heat and I would want to get off that. And the simplest way out was to withdraw myself from the situation or the people involved. And in most of the cases I have exited gracefully and I would deploy my brain very well to do so.
That way of being had its own impact. No matter how it seemed to outside world I knew deep inside that it was my inability to cope up with people or circumstances. It was like a failure and I would hate going through that experience. Identifying this as my pattern I would be very cautious getting to people or even planning anything together, because I knew that I couldn't accept people in their entirety and that adjustment never lasts long. So I would always keep a back door open, just in case you know! Most importantly I had nobody with whom I could be myself, share my true feelings and open my heart.
What I saw yesterday was that I never stood for what was possible. I would always operate from the angle of survival. Clearly survival yielded mere survival - best available alternative with no true choice. I also realized that from where I am coming from, possibility of having an extra ordinary life was a pipe dream. There was something missing the presence of which would make the difference.
Thanks to my friend who mentioned a shloka from Gita, the day before yesterday, albeit in a different context.
| सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामॆकं शरणं व्रज |
It talks about 'complete surrender' to God. This is surrendering in a very empowering context.
I saw that bringing forth of a possibility of being completely surrendering - a complete submission - would make the difference. If I am being completely there is no I or Me in it. I have given myself completely to the Cause. Then I don't really have to worry about the outcome and need not work my way towards achieving the outcome. I can be free and be myself. What will happen will happen. Then accepting people and situations is effortless, rather it's an outcome.
All that it needs is Trust and being completely surrendering. My being that way opens up a whole new world, full of calm and peace, where I can do what my heart wants. It is an access to an living extraordinary life.
I have always thought that I was an adjusting and easy going person. I have got along well with most people. However I have rarely got attached to any person. As one friend said I am heartily welcomed by every one but missed by no one! And I liked that way of being. I like to be with people at times and be left completely alone at some other times. So I chose when to be with people and when not to be.
I had my own view of the world and I was more or less fixed to it. Anything outside of it is adjustment. I used to get adjusted to people and circumstances. But I never accepted people or circumstances as they were. I had to 'adjust' to survive; or as if it is the best possible alternative available. Thus I rarely experienced true choice, not that I have never, but rarely.
The adjusting would work to some level, as long as external stimuli is there or till the situation is bearable. The moment people or situation started getting off of my view of world, beyond a safety threshold, I would feel the heat and I would want to get off that. And the simplest way out was to withdraw myself from the situation or the people involved. And in most of the cases I have exited gracefully and I would deploy my brain very well to do so.
That way of being had its own impact. No matter how it seemed to outside world I knew deep inside that it was my inability to cope up with people or circumstances. It was like a failure and I would hate going through that experience. Identifying this as my pattern I would be very cautious getting to people or even planning anything together, because I knew that I couldn't accept people in their entirety and that adjustment never lasts long. So I would always keep a back door open, just in case you know! Most importantly I had nobody with whom I could be myself, share my true feelings and open my heart.
What I saw yesterday was that I never stood for what was possible. I would always operate from the angle of survival. Clearly survival yielded mere survival - best available alternative with no true choice. I also realized that from where I am coming from, possibility of having an extra ordinary life was a pipe dream. There was something missing the presence of which would make the difference.
Thanks to my friend who mentioned a shloka from Gita, the day before yesterday, albeit in a different context.
| सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामॆकं शरणं व्रज |
It talks about 'complete surrender' to God. This is surrendering in a very empowering context.
I saw that bringing forth of a possibility of being completely surrendering - a complete submission - would make the difference. If I am being completely there is no I or Me in it. I have given myself completely to the Cause. Then I don't really have to worry about the outcome and need not work my way towards achieving the outcome. I can be free and be myself. What will happen will happen. Then accepting people and situations is effortless, rather it's an outcome.
All that it needs is Trust and being completely surrendering. My being that way opens up a whole new world, full of calm and peace, where I can do what my heart wants. It is an access to an living extraordinary life.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Day 31
Jog - missed again.
I was doing a lot of thinking for last few days. Today evening I could sit and put all of them on paper err, MS Word! Some are interesting and I will share them one by one in the following days.
Learning for today: Be open to divine communication through whatever medium it comes.
I was doing a lot of thinking for last few days. Today evening I could sit and put all of them on paper err, MS Word! Some are interesting and I will share them one by one in the following days.
Learning for today: Be open to divine communication through whatever medium it comes.
Day 30 - Power of Acknowledgment
Jog - done.
If I look at at my life so many people have contributed to my life - parents, siblings, teachers, friends, colleagues, public figures, authors and so on. The contributions have been of both types - direct & intended for me and indirect ones. Most of the times I know the impact each contributor has made. But we take them for granted and fail to acknowledge the source - the contributor. I may have acknowledged/talked to third parties about the people who contributed and their impact on my life. But rarely have I shared that (the impact of their contribution) directly with the people who made the difference in my life. This so evident especially with the close ones, notably the family members.
Yesterday night I was sharing with one of my friends about a coach of mine who inspires me for the stand he takes for others' life. My friend asked me if I ever acknowledged that to the coach directly. He distinguished that the coach does not do what he does expecting others to acknowledge him. But acknowledging him really makes his stand for other people so much more stronger. I got what he was saying. So I called up this coach. Since it's almost 5 years since he coached me, as expected he couldn't recollect who I was. But when I acknowledged his contribution to my life and when I thanked him, I felt he was touched. And I felt so good doing it.
After this I just got present to the fact that my eldest brother has been a great influence in my life. The contributions he has made to my life were life altering. If I have whatever success I have today, it was because of the bold steps he took. I was not even considering coming out of my hometown for my education. It was my brother who literally 'forced' me to inquire about better educational institutes and helped me take the most strategic decision of my life. I know that that one small thing altered my life beyond my imagination. The phase in Mysore, where I studied my engineering, was so important for me. I saw a holistic growth in me.
I have always spoken of this with my friends and other brothers but never with the one who made it possible. So yesterday I called him up and acknowledged him and thanked him. He was taken by surprise and said that he did whatever he did as his duty and that there was no necessity to thank him. But I still said 'thank you' and he got it. What happened after that was interesting. He started talking of things that were important to him. As he himself said later that he wouldn't have spoken these stuff thinking what would I think! What I saw was that he might not have spoken to anybody about these stuff, at least the way he spoke to me. Even if I did not change anything I know that it will at least make him feel lighter sharing with another human being.
A simple act of my acknowledging my brother got me back my brother the way he was when I was a kid or the way I was with him when I was a kid. And that experience is so powerful. I was not expecting that and it happened and, I felt so good about it. The Power of acknowledgment is truly amazing. You do it for no reason yet you get so much!!!
If I look at at my life so many people have contributed to my life - parents, siblings, teachers, friends, colleagues, public figures, authors and so on. The contributions have been of both types - direct & intended for me and indirect ones. Most of the times I know the impact each contributor has made. But we take them for granted and fail to acknowledge the source - the contributor. I may have acknowledged/talked to third parties about the people who contributed and their impact on my life. But rarely have I shared that (the impact of their contribution) directly with the people who made the difference in my life. This so evident especially with the close ones, notably the family members.
Yesterday night I was sharing with one of my friends about a coach of mine who inspires me for the stand he takes for others' life. My friend asked me if I ever acknowledged that to the coach directly. He distinguished that the coach does not do what he does expecting others to acknowledge him. But acknowledging him really makes his stand for other people so much more stronger. I got what he was saying. So I called up this coach. Since it's almost 5 years since he coached me, as expected he couldn't recollect who I was. But when I acknowledged his contribution to my life and when I thanked him, I felt he was touched. And I felt so good doing it.
After this I just got present to the fact that my eldest brother has been a great influence in my life. The contributions he has made to my life were life altering. If I have whatever success I have today, it was because of the bold steps he took. I was not even considering coming out of my hometown for my education. It was my brother who literally 'forced' me to inquire about better educational institutes and helped me take the most strategic decision of my life. I know that that one small thing altered my life beyond my imagination. The phase in Mysore, where I studied my engineering, was so important for me. I saw a holistic growth in me.
I have always spoken of this with my friends and other brothers but never with the one who made it possible. So yesterday I called him up and acknowledged him and thanked him. He was taken by surprise and said that he did whatever he did as his duty and that there was no necessity to thank him. But I still said 'thank you' and he got it. What happened after that was interesting. He started talking of things that were important to him. As he himself said later that he wouldn't have spoken these stuff thinking what would I think! What I saw was that he might not have spoken to anybody about these stuff, at least the way he spoke to me. Even if I did not change anything I know that it will at least make him feel lighter sharing with another human being.
A simple act of my acknowledging my brother got me back my brother the way he was when I was a kid or the way I was with him when I was a kid. And that experience is so powerful. I was not expecting that and it happened and, I felt so good about it. The Power of acknowledgment is truly amazing. You do it for no reason yet you get so much!!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Day 28, 29
Jog - missed.
For last two days the following shloka from Bhagavad Gita - Karmayoga is on my mind.
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मॊ विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मॊ भयावहः||3-35||
There are lots of thoughts running in my mind around this one. When I get more clarity I will post it in my blog.
For last two days the following shloka from Bhagavad Gita - Karmayoga is on my mind.
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मॊ विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मॊ भयावहः||3-35||
There are lots of thoughts running in my mind around this one. When I get more clarity I will post it in my blog.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Day 26, 27 - It's Brand building, of a different kind!
Jog - done.
This is not the thought that occurred to me today. But somehow I felt like writing it today.
After the Mangalore pub incident by Rama Sene media called it Talibanization. But I think that the two cannot be compared. Though the actions of both Taliban and Rama Sene are comparable, the undercurrent is no where the same.
In case of Taliban the activists really believed in the principles and were even ready to give up their lives to have those principles implemented. It's a different matter that what they believe is not agreeable to most of us. However in case of Rama Sene, I don't think the activists are doing what they are doing because of a staunch beleif in principles. I think what Rama Sene is doing is a pure gimmick to garner political mileage. And media is their biggest partner!
I think that such political-mileage driven things are much easier to manage than the ones driven by principles. In case of the former their oxygen is publicity - good or bad. They want to be in the public eye. They want people to acknowledge their existence and recognize their identity. This is a kind of brand building. Cut off publicity and they are dead - at least the current form of their actions don't yeild any results and they would have no option but to give them up.
Our inaction doesn't mean that we support them. We have to take action. But that action should be such that it hurts them where it matters. Deny them what they need - the branding. In the current scenario I think one of the simplest solution is to just neglect them - pure neglect. Laugh at them, make their actions look ludicrous. Make them feel ignored - not cared for. Just don't recognize them.
However one lesson we should learn from Taliban is that if we support them now they will grow to be a weed that is hard to rid of later - like parthenium.
This is not the thought that occurred to me today. But somehow I felt like writing it today.
After the Mangalore pub incident by Rama Sene media called it Talibanization. But I think that the two cannot be compared. Though the actions of both Taliban and Rama Sene are comparable, the undercurrent is no where the same.
In case of Taliban the activists really believed in the principles and were even ready to give up their lives to have those principles implemented. It's a different matter that what they believe is not agreeable to most of us. However in case of Rama Sene, I don't think the activists are doing what they are doing because of a staunch beleif in principles. I think what Rama Sene is doing is a pure gimmick to garner political mileage. And media is their biggest partner!
I think that such political-mileage driven things are much easier to manage than the ones driven by principles. In case of the former their oxygen is publicity - good or bad. They want to be in the public eye. They want people to acknowledge their existence and recognize their identity. This is a kind of brand building. Cut off publicity and they are dead - at least the current form of their actions don't yeild any results and they would have no option but to give them up.
Our inaction doesn't mean that we support them. We have to take action. But that action should be such that it hurts them where it matters. Deny them what they need - the branding. In the current scenario I think one of the simplest solution is to just neglect them - pure neglect. Laugh at them, make their actions look ludicrous. Make them feel ignored - not cared for. Just don't recognize them.
However one lesson we should learn from Taliban is that if we support them now they will grow to be a weed that is hard to rid of later - like parthenium.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Day 25 - They did think!
Jog - done.
WWTT#1: For many years I was fearing what people think and not doing things I wanted to. When it was too much to take I thought not to worry about what will they think (WWTT) and started doing what I wanted, of course without affecting anybody and within social limits. And for last 3 weeks I noticed that people actually don't bother of what I do and I was feeling great.
Two days back, when I was exercising after completing the jog I thought of doing some 'weight' exercises - without weights! I know that even that is useful and helps the muscles. But immediately the thought came in - what will passersby think if they see me do this 'ridiculous' thing? Then I found that it was a WWTT and declared boldly that I will do it. And I did it for two days and nobody bothered. It was a victory! Yey!
Today, I had a reality bite. When I was half way through that 'zero' weight exercise three young guys were passing by. One of them notice me and he might have found it funny. He then showed me to his two other friends and they giggled. I noticed that and instantly I wanted to stop. "What an embarrassment!" I thought. But somehow I kept continuing. But even after they passed that place I was feeling awkward and wanted to stop. I started giving reasons - it's enough for today, why not stop it for two rounds only? Why do the remaining one? does it really add value? But I continued doing it because it was a word I had given to myself to have victory over WWWT no matter how hard it is - a matter of honoring my word!
I realized how hard it is to face it when it really happens, when people really think something I don't want them to think. I was shocked to know how much 'what others think' matters to me. I have still not gotten over that completely. But it was good
WWTT#2: I have shared this blog with many people. So I am getting present to different readers. So at one point I felt that I should write the stuff that makes sense to my readers. I wanted to write about the above WWTT. But then stopped myself saying 'It doesn't add much value. It's similar thing as I have had earlier. What's new in it?'. When speaking to a friend today he distinguished an important thing. He said 'Blog, like painting, is personal thing. Something you write for your sake and not for others'. It touched me and I thought I will write what I want to write. It's no way disrespecting my readers. At the same time not worrying too much about writing in order to give only new details.
Now I am realizing that I was actually not fulfilling the promise of writing about my WWTTs no matter similar thing happened earlier. As long as it made me hesitate it is real and I want to write. Writing adds more clarity to me than just thinking in my head. Cool!
WWTT#1: For many years I was fearing what people think and not doing things I wanted to. When it was too much to take I thought not to worry about what will they think (WWTT) and started doing what I wanted, of course without affecting anybody and within social limits. And for last 3 weeks I noticed that people actually don't bother of what I do and I was feeling great.
Two days back, when I was exercising after completing the jog I thought of doing some 'weight' exercises - without weights! I know that even that is useful and helps the muscles. But immediately the thought came in - what will passersby think if they see me do this 'ridiculous' thing? Then I found that it was a WWTT and declared boldly that I will do it. And I did it for two days and nobody bothered. It was a victory! Yey!
Today, I had a reality bite. When I was half way through that 'zero' weight exercise three young guys were passing by. One of them notice me and he might have found it funny. He then showed me to his two other friends and they giggled. I noticed that and instantly I wanted to stop. "What an embarrassment!" I thought. But somehow I kept continuing. But even after they passed that place I was feeling awkward and wanted to stop. I started giving reasons - it's enough for today, why not stop it for two rounds only? Why do the remaining one? does it really add value? But I continued doing it because it was a word I had given to myself to have victory over WWWT no matter how hard it is - a matter of honoring my word!
I realized how hard it is to face it when it really happens, when people really think something I don't want them to think. I was shocked to know how much 'what others think' matters to me. I have still not gotten over that completely. But it was good
WWTT#2: I have shared this blog with many people. So I am getting present to different readers. So at one point I felt that I should write the stuff that makes sense to my readers. I wanted to write about the above WWTT. But then stopped myself saying 'It doesn't add much value. It's similar thing as I have had earlier. What's new in it?'. When speaking to a friend today he distinguished an important thing. He said 'Blog, like painting, is personal thing. Something you write for your sake and not for others'. It touched me and I thought I will write what I want to write. It's no way disrespecting my readers. At the same time not worrying too much about writing in order to give only new details.
Now I am realizing that I was actually not fulfilling the promise of writing about my WWTTs no matter similar thing happened earlier. As long as it made me hesitate it is real and I want to write. Writing adds more clarity to me than just thinking in my head. Cool!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Day 22 - Privilege of being a host
Jog - done.
Yet another interesting insight I had.
Yesterday there was a small function at home and we had invited few guests. My brother was tidying up the place. I looked at it and thought 'Here it comes again! Some people will come and we have to clean up our house to show them how clean it is'! For me, earlier, this was not okay. My thinking was that why should we make any changes just because someone is coming; why can't we just let me see the house in the same condition in which we live? Doing any such work was a burden - a compulsive thing to look good in front of guests; a show off. At the same time it was not okay to show them the untidy side of it too. It was kind of a dilemma. So I used to clean up /tidy up things cursing myself and at times those people who have organized the event/function - and it used to be invariably my mother :)
Yesterday suddenly, something struck me. I realized that if I go to someone's house I want to see neat and tidy place - have a pleasant experience, as my friend called it. I also saw that the guests are being so generous in accepting our invitation and coming to our house. I am the privileged one to have them in my house. And I want to respect them and their time. One of the ways is by making their visit a pleasant one. And this is the least I can do to them. So tidying up the house is not to cover up my untidy house but a mark of my respect and an action toward welcoming them.
The minute I saw it the whole experience around tidying up the house transformed. It was no more a burden. There was so much freedom. I experienced choice - in its true sense. It was something I wanted to do. So I loved doing it.
This insight may not be anything new for many people. I was talking to a friend and she told me that she always thought it this way and that this is the way society works. Then I thought 'oh! the insight I had was no big deal then. It doesn't make sense writing this in my blog. It just shows that I am slow in understanding things in life. Let me not write it'. Then I realized that this was a WWTT attack. And I wrote this :)
And just now I realized that the thought that I am a the privileged one to receive the guest also transformed my listening toward inviting guests. It's no more a social thing. I can see than it's clear expression of I acknowledging them and having them share the joy I am experiencing. I am glad I wrote this blog.
Yet another interesting insight I had.
Yesterday there was a small function at home and we had invited few guests. My brother was tidying up the place. I looked at it and thought 'Here it comes again! Some people will come and we have to clean up our house to show them how clean it is'! For me, earlier, this was not okay. My thinking was that why should we make any changes just because someone is coming; why can't we just let me see the house in the same condition in which we live? Doing any such work was a burden - a compulsive thing to look good in front of guests; a show off. At the same time it was not okay to show them the untidy side of it too. It was kind of a dilemma. So I used to clean up /tidy up things cursing myself and at times those people who have organized the event/function - and it used to be invariably my mother :)
Yesterday suddenly, something struck me. I realized that if I go to someone's house I want to see neat and tidy place - have a pleasant experience, as my friend called it. I also saw that the guests are being so generous in accepting our invitation and coming to our house. I am the privileged one to have them in my house. And I want to respect them and their time. One of the ways is by making their visit a pleasant one. And this is the least I can do to them. So tidying up the house is not to cover up my untidy house but a mark of my respect and an action toward welcoming them.
The minute I saw it the whole experience around tidying up the house transformed. It was no more a burden. There was so much freedom. I experienced choice - in its true sense. It was something I wanted to do. So I loved doing it.
This insight may not be anything new for many people. I was talking to a friend and she told me that she always thought it this way and that this is the way society works. Then I thought 'oh! the insight I had was no big deal then. It doesn't make sense writing this in my blog. It just shows that I am slow in understanding things in life. Let me not write it'. Then I realized that this was a WWTT attack. And I wrote this :)
And just now I realized that the thought that I am a the privileged one to receive the guest also transformed my listening toward inviting guests. It's no more a social thing. I can see than it's clear expression of I acknowledging them and having them share the joy I am experiencing. I am glad I wrote this blog.
Monday, February 2, 2009
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