A Mother-in-law/Daughter-in-law relationship is like a employee/boss (though it is hard to say who is what)
Just like a good boss-employee relationship, a happy m-i-l/d-i-l interworking too is a rarity and should be fiercely cherished.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Monday, August 04, 2008
Superstition : The other view
I had observed for some time now that if I don't wear my rings, my workday is more stressful.
When I think of it again:
- probably it has nothing to do with the stones but more to do with the fact that without my rings I have nothing to fiddle around with, vent out and de-stress ..
When I think of it again:
- probably it has nothing to do with the stones but more to do with the fact that without my rings I have nothing to fiddle around with, vent out and de-stress ..
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Optometry in life
Our view of self and world depends on the clarity of our vision and focus.
We can view ourselves to be bigger or smaller than what we actually are .. respectively making us look either too vain or lacking in personality to others.
Friends, family, teachers, mentors or other influences in our lives act as corrective glasses to compensate/fix the defects in our vision (myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, hyperopia etc.)
The worst things we can do to ourselves in a to wear a wrong set of glasses .. to listen to people which falsify our vision rather than correct it. People who cloud our sights, color our vision or make us lose focus or see stuff which is not the way it is.
We can view ourselves to be bigger or smaller than what we actually are .. respectively making us look either too vain or lacking in personality to others.
Friends, family, teachers, mentors or other influences in our lives act as corrective glasses to compensate/fix the defects in our vision (myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, hyperopia etc.)
The worst things we can do to ourselves in a to wear a wrong set of glasses .. to listen to people which falsify our vision rather than correct it. People who cloud our sights, color our vision or make us lose focus or see stuff which is not the way it is.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Life as a journey
Where I go and reach depends on both my Capability and Will.
Capability : I may be willing to go to some places and yet not have the means to reach there. The capability could limited by my conveyance, physical capacity, monetary capacity, my companions or knowledge/ignorance.
Will : There are places where I could go but just don't feel inclined to go to. It is also possible that I don't feel inclined to go to anywhere and just stay put at home and be content with it.
As in a journey, so also in life.
Where I reach in my life and what I achieve depends on both Capability and Will.
While on this journey the possibilities are many. A person may,
- Enjoy the journey and also the destination
- Love the journey but feel let down by the actual destination
- Enjoy the journey but never reach the destination
- Hate the journey but bear it for the love of the destination
- Hate both the journey and the destination and still undertake take it for various reasons
- Take an alternate path
- Just stay home and do nothing, enjoy the comfort and luxury and a sense of belonging and knowing - basically just chill and reach nowhere and do nothing - and it is OK, not everyone had a need to travel or see places!!
Just because one person is widely travelled does not necessarily imply the person is also happier or more satisfied. Does not even imply that the person in more knowing than others.
Capability : I may be willing to go to some places and yet not have the means to reach there. The capability could limited by my conveyance, physical capacity, monetary capacity, my companions or knowledge/ignorance.
Will : There are places where I could go but just don't feel inclined to go to. It is also possible that I don't feel inclined to go to anywhere and just stay put at home and be content with it.
As in a journey, so also in life.
Where I reach in my life and what I achieve depends on both Capability and Will.
While on this journey the possibilities are many. A person may,
- Enjoy the journey and also the destination
- Love the journey but feel let down by the actual destination
- Enjoy the journey but never reach the destination
- Hate the journey but bear it for the love of the destination
- Hate both the journey and the destination and still undertake take it for various reasons
- Take an alternate path
- Just stay home and do nothing, enjoy the comfort and luxury and a sense of belonging and knowing - basically just chill and reach nowhere and do nothing - and it is OK, not everyone had a need to travel or see places!!
Just because one person is widely travelled does not necessarily imply the person is also happier or more satisfied. Does not even imply that the person in more knowing than others.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Don't crib
Another of my favorite recurring themes that I keep telling everyone (and hopefully following it myself too) ..
Don't crib, do something about it.
If you don't like something or someone or a situation, there are always three choices
- Accept it and live with it
- Change it
- Leave it
As usual I was lecturing someone about their difficult position when I happened to use an analogy that I particularly liked.
Each person is like a TV set which plays out certain channels, if you don't like what is showing you always happen to have the following choices :
- Either try to change the channel and hopefully you will like the new one better
- Shut the TV up completely - if you can't find the remote, switch off the power
- Move to a different room, possibly with and alternate TV set
- Go and read instead and ignore what is playing :-)
On afterthoughts though, it isn't as easy at it seems.
The TV may be priceless (emotional value, heritage value etc.) and impossible to get rid of but still practically useless.
The TV may be playing stupid soaps and stuff but maybe you are addicted to them and not ready to quit the habit however so you may pretend
The TV may be so loud and distracting that it may follow you to the other room
The TV may be your sole company and maybe you can't afford a new one!
Don't crib, do something about it.
If you don't like something or someone or a situation, there are always three choices
- Accept it and live with it
- Change it
- Leave it
As usual I was lecturing someone about their difficult position when I happened to use an analogy that I particularly liked.
Each person is like a TV set which plays out certain channels, if you don't like what is showing you always happen to have the following choices :
- Either try to change the channel and hopefully you will like the new one better
- Shut the TV up completely - if you can't find the remote, switch off the power
- Move to a different room, possibly with and alternate TV set
- Go and read instead and ignore what is playing :-)
On afterthoughts though, it isn't as easy at it seems.
The TV may be priceless (emotional value, heritage value etc.) and impossible to get rid of but still practically useless.
The TV may be playing stupid soaps and stuff but maybe you are addicted to them and not ready to quit the habit however so you may pretend
The TV may be so loud and distracting that it may follow you to the other room
The TV may be your sole company and maybe you can't afford a new one!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Astrology in life ..
I guess I have become a believer in astrology after all these years!!
Each person is a unique planet revolving around the central theme in their life.
This core purpose of life is both their Sun and life giver.
If they go too far away from it, they become cold and dead. Come too close and it scorches and sears them.
In turn each of us has our neighboring planets, planets that due to their own gravitational forces help us maintain our orbits, lest we collapse into or get sucked up into another planet or drift too far away into the emptiness of space.
Each person is a unique planet revolving around the central theme in their life.
This core purpose of life is both their Sun and life giver.
If they go too far away from it, they become cold and dead. Come too close and it scorches and sears them.
In turn each of us has our neighboring planets, planets that due to their own gravitational forces help us maintain our orbits, lest we collapse into or get sucked up into another planet or drift too far away into the emptiness of space.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Evolution and religion
Continuing with the theme of evolution in the context of religion.
Why do people take up to religion?
Why do people give up religion and become atheists?
Why do people change their religion? or prefer one over the other?
Could be that different religions in this world cater to different needs to a different extent?
Could it be that all the rituals, all the “puja”, all the offerings, the chanting, the abstinence (or lack of it in Tantra), all the posturing, bowing appease an inherent need for all things “physical and biological”
Could be it be that all the religions gathering, the sermons and the “satsangs”, the mass prayers, charity satiate our “Social needs”
Religion answers some of the questions, mostly it triggers more questions that is answers, encourages some to find answers to the riddles of life, could it be that this triggers our “Intellectual needs”
Do we choose religion based on our individual needs and the religion/sect that satisfies it best?
Does the extent of how religious we are match with how complementary our personal religion is to our needs ..
Why do people take up to religion?
Why do people give up religion and become atheists?
Why do people change their religion? or prefer one over the other?
Could be that different religions in this world cater to different needs to a different extent?
Could it be that all the rituals, all the “puja”, all the offerings, the chanting, the abstinence (or lack of it in Tantra), all the posturing, bowing appease an inherent need for all things “physical and biological”
Could be it be that all the religions gathering, the sermons and the “satsangs”, the mass prayers, charity satiate our “Social needs”
Religion answers some of the questions, mostly it triggers more questions that is answers, encourages some to find answers to the riddles of life, could it be that this triggers our “Intellectual needs”
Do we choose religion based on our individual needs and the religion/sect that satisfies it best?
Does the extent of how religious we are match with how complementary our personal religion is to our needs ..
Monday, June 02, 2008
Addendum to the previous post
There seems to be a similar reason behind dividing the life between the four ashrams or period..
Bramacharya ashram
This is how one starts, leading a disciplined life with the mastery and control of instincts (biology)
Grihastashram
Once the instincts are conquered, one learns to live in accordance to family and people (society)
Vanprastashram
After family, next comes the pursuit of intellect (mind)
Sanyasashram
The final step in evolution is to reach above all three and renounce everything!
Bramacharya ashram
This is how one starts, leading a disciplined life with the mastery and control of instincts (biology)
Grihastashram
Once the instincts are conquered, one learns to live in accordance to family and people (society)
Vanprastashram
After family, next comes the pursuit of intellect (mind)
Sanyasashram
The final step in evolution is to reach above all three and renounce everything!
An evolution of a person
More thoughts on evolution :
In the early years of ones life, a person is struggling with survival. Life is based on basic needs and their instinctive responses.
(A struggle of biology over inorganic)
As the years progress, a child becomes a social creature and acceptance becomes as important as physical needs.
(Society taking over biology)
With time, the young adult/adult becomes curious and starts questioning. The intellect gets stimulated, starts questioning norms, often at the cost of going against the society and losing acceptance!
(Intellect conquering society)
Different people are stuck up in different states of evolution. Some dissipate their minds and bodies and lead an inorganic life, others are instinct based, yet others believe in working for the common good and lastly some lead a lonely life of thought and questioning!
Neither of these states is absolute and people struggle all their lives with each of these forces winning at different times.
On a side note, is there a reason people get into a committed relationship/marry around their 20-30s?? Has it something to do with evolution and meeting point of biological, societal and intellectual needs? Too early and biology/instincts win (crush/infatuation), to late and intellect takes over (not enough passion)
…
In the early years of ones life, a person is struggling with survival. Life is based on basic needs and their instinctive responses.
(A struggle of biology over inorganic)
As the years progress, a child becomes a social creature and acceptance becomes as important as physical needs.
(Society taking over biology)
With time, the young adult/adult becomes curious and starts questioning. The intellect gets stimulated, starts questioning norms, often at the cost of going against the society and losing acceptance!
(Intellect conquering society)
Different people are stuck up in different states of evolution. Some dissipate their minds and bodies and lead an inorganic life, others are instinct based, yet others believe in working for the common good and lastly some lead a lonely life of thought and questioning!
Neither of these states is absolute and people struggle all their lives with each of these forces winning at different times.
On a side note, is there a reason people get into a committed relationship/marry around their 20-30s?? Has it something to do with evolution and meeting point of biological, societal and intellectual needs? Too early and biology/instincts win (crush/infatuation), to late and intellect takes over (not enough passion)
…
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Evolution
Layered heirarchy of evolution is : (Lila : An Enquiry in Morals)
Inorganic -> Biology -> Society -> Intellect
In the heirarch of human needs is : (Maslows heirarch)
Physiological -> Safety -> Love -> Esteem -> Self Actualization
Both are almost identical, seems like the society and individuals evolve together/in a similar way!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Smartness
Some people are smart, they don't need others' help.
Some people are smarter, they take others' help.
Some people are smarter, they take others' help.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Freudian slip?
When Hillary Clinton says this race is not over yet, it is a freudian slip or a (un)intended pun?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Another of life's contradictions ..
Life is never simple, sometimes by choice and at other times, unwittingly, inadvertently.
People strive so hard, every single day :
To climb mountains they do not love,
To amass things they don't really want,
Achieve goals that are hollow and mean nothing,
Realize dream that make living a nightmare,
Attain heights that leave them lonely and acrophobic,
Follow paths that leave them lost,
They keep believing that life is worth living only when we die trying hard ..
.. they are too serious about life to be able to live every moment of it ..
Trying to be brave and living a life they do not want .. it would be so simple to just let go ..
At such time, bravery lies in not being brave but giving up ..
People strive so hard, every single day :
To climb mountains they do not love,
To amass things they don't really want,
Achieve goals that are hollow and mean nothing,
Realize dream that make living a nightmare,
Attain heights that leave them lonely and acrophobic,
Follow paths that leave them lost,
They keep believing that life is worth living only when we die trying hard ..
.. they are too serious about life to be able to live every moment of it ..
Trying to be brave and living a life they do not want .. it would be so simple to just let go ..
At such time, bravery lies in not being brave but giving up ..
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