Coming or Going?.........Who knows?

Coming Or Going…Who Knows??
Dear Friends,
For the past few months, I sure didn’t know “whether I was coming or going!”…now a flashback…early 1962…
As a cadet, it is taboo to walk about in the premises with out one’s head gear. I saw from afar our new Commandant’s Jeep; I hastily put my side cap and gave a smart salute; the jeep stopped and out came the ‘Tiger’ (the Cos are known thus) and roared. “Come here!”. I marched, stood at attention and saluted again.
“Are you coming or going, son?” asked the commandant. I got flummoxed, stood silently ram-rod straight, but petrified; shaking as an aspen leaf. The commandant gently removed my cap, reversed it, putting it front-side right with brass buttons glowing and facing him, and said “Umm.. That’s better….The way you donned.. I didn’t know which side is your face; whether you are coming or going..” and laughed. “Don’t forget to report to the drill master in the afternoon for a pack parade..”
Cut to Recent days
During one of our culvert conferences in the evening with oldies, I addressed no one in particular “Guess what? I seem to experience a strange phenomenon for the past several months”
“What’s that?...age must be catching up after all” Chaturvedi
“Yeah ok. But that’s not it” said I.
‘Kyon Bhaai Biwi se jagada hua kyaa?” Gulati.
“No..Nothing of that sort..It is mystical, allegorical..Awe inspiring..” I replied. “I am kept under stress almost all the time with some problem or the other. It worries me no end….seemingly with no solution in sight at the first instance. But as time elapses there comes a light at the end of the tunnel and the problem just melts away..albeit through divine intervention. Each time the insurmountable become thing of the past I am left wondering why I worried at all. So now I throttle back, put my life on autopilot and tell Him,” Well, you gave the problem and so you solve it” and Lo and behold He does find a way.” I gushed forth.
My friend Martin had this to relate:
“I read recently how a well-known television circus show developed a Bengal tiger act that was performed live before a large audience. One evening, the tiger trainer went into the cage with several tigers to do a routine performance. The door was locked behind him. The spotlights highlighted the cage, the television cameras moved in close, and the audience watched in suspense as the trainer skillfully put the tigers through their paces.

In the middle of the performance, the worst possible fate befell the act: the power went out! For thirty long seconds the trainer was locked in with the tigers. In the darkness they could see him, but he could not see them not even the glow of their eyes. A whip and a small kitchen chair seemed meagre protection under the circumstances. But he survived, and when the lights came on, he calmly finished the performance.

In an interview afterward, he was asked how he felt knowing the tigers could see him but that he could not see them. He first admitted the chilling fear of the situation, but pointed out that the tigers did not know that he could not see them. He said, "I just kept cracking my whip and talking to them until the lights came on. And they never knew I couldn't see them as well as they could see me

We all feel caught in the dark with the ‘tigers of your heart’ or circumstances that seem to be out of your control? I sure have. But the Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’?" Martin concluded. Martin is nearing 90.


I later prayed: "Dear God, thank you that my life is in your hands and that you are always with me in my dark days of despair just as you are in my happy days of rejoicing. Thank you, too, for your promise that you will never leave me nor forsake me. Help me to always remember this, and trust my life to you, and be willing to face what I am contributing to my situation, change what I can change, and learn to accept joyfully what I cannot change.”

Warm rgds
V~v~R
13-12-08

The Big Picture..........Is it worth it???

Dear friends,
Many a time I have wondered, "How I wish the Almghty would have shown the big picture?". I wish I knew what my life has in store for me; the challenges that would be prsented to me in the coming months or years; whether the bond I have established so far will go the distance; if my goals will be realised? Sometimes I feel I need help making a decision and I want to know which choice will work out best.
"We may consult psychics, astrologers,tarot cards, our dreams, and many other sources in the hopes of finding out what the future holds. Usually, at most, we may catch glimpses. And even though we think we would like to know the whole story in all its details, the truth is that we would probably be overwhelmed and exhausted if we knew everything that is going to happen to us.", that is my senior colleague Bhoovarahan for you.
" In many ways, not knowing what the future has in store brings out in us the qualities we need to grow.",continues Bhoovarahan at his best. " Just think of your life as you’ve lived it up to this point. If you are like most of us, you have probably done more and faced more than you could have ever imagined. If someone had told you as a child of all the jobs and relationships you would experience, along with each one’s inherent ups and downs, you would have become overwhelmed. With your head full of information about the future, you would have had a very hard time experiencing your life in the present moment, which is where everything actually happens."
" In many ways, not knowing what the future has in store brings out in us the qualities we need to grow. For example, it would have been difficult to commit yourself to certain people or projects if you knew they wouldn’t ultimately work out. Yet, it was through your commitment to see them through that you experienced the lessons you needed to grow. Looking back on your life, you would likely be hard pressed to say that anything in your past should not have happened. In fact, your most challenging experiences with their inevitable lessons may have ultimately brought you the greatest rewards. Not knowing the future keeps us just where we need to be—fully committed and in the present moment. " Bhoovarahan dipped his Marie biscuit in the Kaapi and stopped.
Our own saying goes thus:
"Atheetham na kinchit smaraami( next line???)................Aagamikam na kvachit chintayeth ?????
Raagadvesha vinaa Varthamaane Gunjami"
(Roughly translated it means: I don't keep recalling the past, never care to think of future; But I enjoy living and savouring the Present with malice towarsd none!)
Warm rgds
V V R
12th Dec 08.

Anger

Anger:

'Krodhaath bhavathi sammohaha sammohaath smruthi vibhramaha
Smruthi bhramsaath budhinaasanaha buddhinaasaath pranasyathi.'
From anger arises infatuation; from infatuation, confusion of memory; from confusion of memory, loss of reason: and from loss of reason one goes to complete ruin. (Gita II-63,)

Listen to some of these Buddhist sayings:
If you keep thinking "That man has abused me," holding it as a much-cherished grievance, your ANGER will never be allayed. If you can put down that fury-inducing thought, your ANGER will lessen. Fury will never end fury; it will just ricochet on and on. Only putting it down will end such an abysmal state.
-Sunnata Vagga (A Buddhist Monk)

"Holding on to ANGER is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." - Buddha

When all the myriad streams that flow in different places, each with its own colour and taste, enter the great ocean, they blend and become just one taste, with one name. In the same way, stupidity and wisdom both become one in the awakened mind. When one first starts along the path, there seems to be a distinction that this is stupidity and that is wisdom. But later, when one penetrates more deeply, one finds there is no difference between stupidity and wisdom !!!!.
-Visuddhi Magga (A Buddhist Monk)

Here is one doubt a disciple (Majjhima Nikaya) had and queried the preceptor:

"But what makes these 'experts' preach their opinion and call it truth?" asked the inquirer. "Is it an inheritance of humankind to do this, or is it merely something they gain satisfaction from?"
"Apart from consciousness," answered the Buddha, "no absolute truths exist. False reasoning declares one view to be true and another view wrong. It is delight in their dearly held opinions that makes them assert that anyone who disagrees is bound to come to a bad end. But no true seeker becomes embroiled in all this. Pass by peacefully and go a stainless way, free from theories, lusts and dogmas."

From "Buddha Speaks," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston.

Now our very own home grown sayings:

To utter harsh words when sweet ones would serve
Is like eating unripe fruits when ripe ones are at hand.
-Tirukkural 10: 99-100

Men who conduct themselves virtuously
Are incapable of voicing harmful words, even forgetfully.
-Tirukkural 14:139

So what is the TRUTH???

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." Oscar Wilde delivers some good news for those of us searching for "the" correctness and truth. We can stop looking. There is truth in everything, but what truth we extract is often a matter of our perspectives. Look for the plain simple truth for the rest of your life, and you will never find it. Look for truth in everything you see, and you will find it every day. And that's the TRUTH

With due respects to everyone, I may hasten to add and take the liberty to reiterate that none of these is my sayings for God’s sake.

But then let me end by putting my two paise bit in the cauldron of heated discussions:
All of us have the CHOICE. Every situation presents you with two paths. You can choose the path of reaction or you can choose the path of action. The first path is not really even about choice. It is the abdication of choice to every little event. You might have left the geyser switch on overnight. Or the printer jams. Or say you spilled Sambhar on your shirt. The first path allows these events to bring you down, because you simply react.

The second path is the path of choice. It is about choosing how you want to feel. Dead car batteries, Sambhar and pickle stains won't bring you down because they do not factor into your choice. If you choose to be happy, you will still be happy. These little events will still be inconvenient, but inconvenience is not the same thing as misery.

Which path will you take today?

Why would anyone speak cruel words?
Having observed the happiness that kind words confer?

And hey! These are no sermons. It is just that I wanted to share some thoughts on ANGER.

"Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can
anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him."

*Epictetus (55-135 AD) Greek Philosopher


Rgds
V V R
4th Mar 06

Agnes & Wikipedia

AGNES and WIKIPEDIA

(We need to be open to the possibility that colleagues and even strangers have information and perspectives that may be of value to us. --Margaret Wheatley)

Agnes D'silva is 78 years old; a widow; a fine lady.
“Aamaam, with a golden heart and an enthusiasm of 16 years young", adds my Sahadharmini.
Agnes came into our lives 'accidentally', quite literally and figuratively. We didn't know her from Adams. She was walking her Pomeranian, tripped and fell in front of our gate. One look at her said that she has had a fracture in her right arm. After cajoling her pet dog deceitfully (luckily it understood our English) Agnes was rushed to the nearest hospital. X-rays confirmed our doubt and for the next few months Agnes's right hand was in plasters putting her out of action. Quite well to do, her son and daughter are both away across the 'ccccccc' (seven seas.). But that was almost a year back. As time passed, we got to know her well as a genuine social worker trying to establish a 'home' for HIV/AIDS affected poor. I of course accept quite gleefully and often shamefully with no inhibitions all her encomiums that she showers now and then on me saying " But for your steering it, the project would not have taken off; meeting the right people at the right time etc etc." I often make sure that when Agnes says these, my sahadharmini too is present because the next morning my coffee will have one extra teaspoon full helping of sugar (so sweet of her). We also helped her out to get her Medical Insurance claim in more measure than what the usual small print said in that policy.
OMG (Oh My God), I am digressing. Yesterday afternoon I got her call. Agnes is always direct. Not for her any preliminaries or exchange of pleasantries.
"Mr. V...............what is Raki? Here in this novel I am reading the hero says he has had a few glasses of Raki and he felt good! Is it some kind of a health drink?” asked Agnes.
"Umm. You got me there. An area which I am not too familiar being not a friend of Bacchus. But give me a little time and I will come back to you." I said.
“What a fauji are you? You don’t drink; you don’t smoke and you call yourself a retired VICE Marshal” admonished the impatient Agnes.
After a few minutes I returned her call and gave her a complete low down on RAKI.--a Turkish drink which when mixed with cold water turns white like milk--a few glasses is enough to send you to the nether world leaving you sweating; hence they even call it Lion’s Milk"
"Mr. V.... where did you get this. It is not in Dictionary. Nor is it in Thesaurus??" said Agnes rather surprised.
"WIKIPEDIA" I said
"What is that?" Agnes asked.
"For that you better come here" I said.
When Agnes sat in front of the compu and grasped its mind boggling power, she insisted then and there that we place an order for her own compu of minimum configuration.
“Agnes, Soon you will be a holy chutzpah (better than your padre) and even a specialist in verbigeration and refrigeration of knowledge.” I laughed.
“Oh Jesus……” cooed Agnes “I can’t understand a word of what you are saying” and left after a friendly wave with her Pomeranian tugging at her.
EPILOGUE
For me one of the many extraordinary stories of the Internet age is that of Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia that anyone can edit. This radical and rapidly growing publication, which includes I am told close to 4 million entries, is now a much-used resource.
"One of the biggest problems of the digital divide is the cost of access to information," says Jimmy Wales, 40, the visionary founder of Wikipedia. "We seek to make that cost as close to zero as possible." That said, Wikipedia's accuracy is often questioned: if anyone and every one can edit entries, how do users know if it is as legitimate as established sources such as Encyclopaedia Britannica? An expert-led investigation carried out by Nature Magazine -- the first to use peer review to compare Wikipedia and Britannica -- suggests that, for science articles, their accuracy levels are quite comparable. Unbelievably so.
So any lessons here? Or is it just a blabber?
Well. It is just that in the next interaction I have with any one be it even a stranger, I shall try and discover the value in his or her perspective.

Warm rgds
V V R
03 May 007.

An Instant Vacation

An Instant Vacation: Relaxing At Home
The title of this post could as well have been “The Return of the prodigal Braahmanan” or “Returned Wanderer”; but I opted for the above.
For some inexplicable reason, I believed that relaxation is best pursued outside of the home. As a result, I usually spend months anticipating weeklong vacations, seldom fully appreciating the leisure time I am blessed with on a more regular basis. Now I realized that it is possible to re-experience the same utterly relaxed state I slip into while on holidays within my home's walls. The feelings of serenity I seem to enjoy during any vacation are a product of my outlook rather than the locale. I think one gives oneself permission to enjoy oneself and unwind while on vacation. Now I find that granting myself the same privilege while at home allows me to experience complete relaxation, even when surrounded by routine.

“Our homes can be distracting places as most survival tasks are addressed there.” Opines my senior colleague Nanjundaiah who was also a professor in psychology. “Reviving the tranquility you felt on holiday is as easy as creating an atmosphere that helps you relax. First, divest yourself of the notion that messes must be cleaned up immediately and reaffirm that relaxation is as vital as physical nourishment. Then, set the mood. May be listening to your favourite music that reminds you of a nice vacation destination can put you in a vacation mind-set. Some-times sharing the exotic flavour of a favourite dish with near and dear ones can transport you to a more restful mental space. Finally, put aside your projects and commit to doing only what you consider truly pleasurable. Your responsibilities will wait as you put up your feet and revel in peacefulness that comes from within.”

“If you find it difficult to ignore the temptation to simply fall back into your usual schedule, consider that relaxation should occupy a prominent place on your to-do list.” Continues Nanjundaiah. “You deserve to take ‘your time’ and to care for yourself, even during life's busy periods. While you may not always be able to get away from it all, you can still nurture yourself and regain your peace of mind.”
And that (I mean peace) I regained in ample measure seems to support my senior colleague’s view.
Sitting on the culverts once again in the evening I related excitedly to my friends every detail of the trip my wife and I undertook to the temples and Kaavus. I laid emphasis on the “Aatmeekam” part of it and “Sthalapuraanams” making it sound as though it was a great pilgrimage long overdue. I thought I made a pretty good presentation sans Power Point!! when another senior colleague Suryanarayanan (popularly called Suri with an uncanny knack of rattling out instant made-up stories) had this to say
“Hardly had a few decades passed since His creation, when the good Lord the creator Himself was known to have been pondering as to ‘why at all I created the mankind?’. Reason? Well…….the people bothered Him incessantly with some request or the other to be fulfilled by Him. With no solution in sight, He at once called for a meeting of the council of Devaas.
“Where shall I go and hide?” He asked.
“The top of Himalayas”, said one Devar.
“When Mt. Everest itself has been conquered, what is the guarantee that people won’t reach me there?” questioned God.
“Why not at the bottom of the Pacific ocean?” suggested another.
“Oh even those depths are being measured and accessed with ease these days”, replied the Lord.
“The Moon, the Mars”, shouted some Devaas.
“Even those planets are no more inaccessible for humankind” lamented the good Lord.
That is when one of the Devaas got up and whispered thus into the ears of the Lord.
‘Go Sire! Go and hide in the depth of his heart. That is the only place where he would never think of searching You”
Even today all seem to search for God everywhere except deep down one’s heart.
Uummm…..Pity my memory is short. How many times have I heard during these Navaraathri days “Yaa Devi sarvabhootheshu chethana ithi abhidheeyathe, namah thasmai, namah thasmai, namah thasmai, namo namaha” (Salutations again and again to the Devi who abides in all beings as consciousness)
And again the good Lord had assured “Aham aatmaa Gudaakesa sarva bhoothaashaya sthithaha” (Arjuna, I am the self seated in the heart of all beings)-Gita Ch. X/ verse 20.
When I related this story to my Ardhaangini, and shared my thoughts on our search for peace, she as usual had the last word with her pithy statement, “How true? Like for God so is the saying applicable for peace ---as well….Haven’t you heard? Iduppile kuzhanthayai vaithu oorellaam thedinaalaam?”
I went back to the kitchen to stir the gosmalli sundal with gusto before the ladies troop in for the evening Kolu.
Warm rgds
V V R
30th Sep 06