PU-the-Person

2007-08-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's Headmaster

Here is a beautiful article which made me re-think on my learning

“He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero: that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader…. Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend, it will take time, I know; but teach him if you can, that a dollar earned is of far more value than five found…. Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning. Steer him away from envy, if you can. Teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick… Teach him, if you can the wonder of books… but also give him quiet time to ponder over the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.

In school, teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat… Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong… Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crown when everyone is getting onto the bandwagon, teach him to listen to all men, but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him, if you can how to laugh when he is sad… Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness… Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders; but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob… and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right.

Treat him gently; but do not cuddle him because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient… let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him to always have sublime faith in himself because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.

These are a big order, but see what you can do… he is such a fine little fellow, my son."

2007-08-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's Headmaster:

Here is a beautiful article which made me re-think on my learning

“He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero: that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader…. Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend, it will take time, I know; but teach him if you can, that a dollar earned is of far more value than five found…. Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning. Steer him away from envy, if you can. Teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick… Teach him, if you can the wonder of books… but also give him quiet time to ponder over the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.

In school, teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat… Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong… Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crown when everyone is getting onto the bandwagon, teach him to listen to all men, but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him, if you can how to laugh when he is sad… Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness… Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders; but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob… and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right.

Treat him gently; but do not cuddle him because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient… let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him to always have sublime faith in himself because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.

These are a big order, but see what you can do… he is such a fine little fellow, my son."

2007-08-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's Headmaster :

Here is a beautiful article which made me re-think on my learning

“He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero: that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader…. Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend, it will take time, I know; but teach him if you can, that a dollar earned is of far more value than five found…. Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning. Steer him away from envy, if you can. Teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick… Teach him, if you can the wonder of books… but also give him quiet time to ponder over the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.

In school, teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat… Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong… Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crown when everyone is getting onto the bandwagon, teach him to listen to all men, but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him, if you can how to laugh when he is sad… Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness… Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders; but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob… and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right.

Treat him gently; but do not cuddle him because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient… let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him to always have sublime faith in himself because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.

These are a big order, but see what you can do… he is such a fine little fellow, my son."

2007-08-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

On Cloud 9:

It was June 8th evening when I was all set to board my first international flight. It was a mixed feeling. After 25 long years I was for the first time moving out of my dwelling to a new place, a new nation, away from my family!!!

The first few hours were very poignant. I was very cheerless that I am away from my treasured ones and it was I who had asked for all this. I was not sure if it was the right pronouncement. Embarked the Bangalore- Mumbai flight; the voyage got delayed by 2 hours. I was anxious that I might miss my connecting flight to Mumbai-Heathrow. Thanks to this hold-up, I had no time to reflect upon my views and I was on the run to catch my connecting flight.

All set in the plane, I was just gazing through the windowpane onto the Mumbai illumination and felt that I am just departing. Sensation was awe-inspiring. My cell phone would not work from now on, and all I have as my identity is my passport. Felt very forlorn and apprehensive. To get done with these feelings, I browsed through the movies and got hold of Dor.

Had heard a lot about the movie but had not watched it. Started the movie and for the first time felt the attractive Ayasha Takia and Gul Panag had actually done some performing. With the movie taking the turn where Ayasha gets her wings to take off gave me this inspiration to exploit this time of mine to truly enjoy my days. So many things which I constantly wanted to do, like stay with my associates, experience the hitches in running a self-sufficient existence, take decisions on my own. Feel that I am liable for my life and no body else.

That movie transformed the entire feeling I had all this while and when I landed at the Heathrow airport, I felt this new world welcoming me with both hands!!! From then on never have I lamented a minute for taking this resolution. Life has undeniably not been a bed of roses but incident has always thought me a lot about life.

Watching the right movie at the right time can make a difference in your life!!!

2007-01-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

A Dinner With Family:
An interesting and humorous article in The Hindu daily:

BEFORE marriage, the three best words a couple loves to hear from each other are "I Love You". Later, the three best words are probably "Let's Eat Out".

With new specialty restaurants popping up like mushrooms — in fact, I heard one opened last week called Mushroom Mania — there are so many new exciting ways to eat, without having a pile of dishes to wash up later. And eating out can be enjoyed in such fine combinations of activity these days — buy books and eat, watch a play and eat, enjoy a movie and eat, go bowling and eat...

But, I must say one combination seemed a bit suspicious to me. This was a petrol station with a restaurant attached. A board outside announced, "You can eat here, and get gas".

Decisions, decisions...

The eating-out industry depends largely on people like us who stare at the refrigerator every day, fraught with indecision wondering what to cook, and then decide it is far simpler to decide to eat out instead.

Indecisions

Ha! Now is when the real indecision starts... Which place? Asks the one behind the steering wheel after getting into the car. Oh, any place is absolutely cool with me, choruses everyone. Okay, then how about that new Chettinad restaurant that everyone is talking about? Oh NO, chorus the voices again. any thing but Chettinad." And so the indecision goes on: Anything but Chinese; anything but Punjabi...

When rising hunger pangs force a "where" finally, there comes another decision to be made at the venue: which table? (At home you have only one, but here you have such a choice.)

After a consensus on the most suitable table, you settle down, and the waiter arrives to force one more decision out of you. Mineral water or restaurant water? Now is when you have to decide how you want to come through to the waiter: as a stylish diner who'll pay a fat premium for bottled water, or appear cheap and say, ordinary water will do.

And then staring at the menu, back we come to the same dilemma of where it all started: What to eat?

Good things

Despite knowing the rule that the longer the description of the dish, the bigger the bill, we will, from time to time, land up in utterly posh places, open a huge designer menu card, and nonchalantly tap at, say, "Risotto Supreme: cooked with freshly flown-in mountain-dew from the Swiss Alps, and served with our chef's repertoire of Milanese sauces gently simmered with Moroccan wild thyme" and turn to the waiter and ask "Is it good?"

Well. What did we expect the waiter to say? "Well, the rice is totally undercooked, there's a funny dark colored sauce quite alien to our Indian tastes, two sprigs of broccoli, unsalted, and the portion is so tiny you may have to go home and eat curd rice or die of hunger in your bed tonight... "

Instead of which the waiter says, "Excellent choice! You picked the best dish of all; in fact it was Bill Clinton's favorite when he visited India."

Exotic names

I remember once ordering "A Mediterranean blend of farm-fresh, sun-kissed legumes sautéed and combined with herbs de Provence and grilled to perfection in a gentle dip of bakery-fresh crumbled bread" ... whose common name was a vegetable cutlet, of course, but who knew that? After a 45-minute wait (which made me think, I am the waiter, waiting and waiting, not that snooty waiter there who is trained never to catch your eye once your order is placed... ), two cutlets, the size of one-rupee coins arrived in a huge square designer plate, decorated very artistically with a zigzag line of sauce, an elegant piece of coriander and a tomato skilfully cut and shaped to look like the Sydney Opera House.

After a while, the specially flown-in French chef personally dropped by our table to ask, "So how did you find the meal?" "With a magnifying glass," I wanted to say. Instead of course, I gushed "C'est magnifique!"

And at the other extreme are honest restaurant managers who like to say it like it is. Down my road is Varalakshmi Tiffin Home, an international restaurant serving Indian, North Indian and Chinese "Cueesines" where omelette is spelt armlet and peas pilaf is spelt peace pullow, and where the two most popular dishes are Chow Mean and Sholay Bhature. But one item written on the menu board in chalk outside Velmurugan Meals (specialising in North Indian food) had me mystified, as I drove past it every day to work.

Right on top of the list was Malai Gupta. Perhaps an authentic UP dish named after the chef? I used to wonder. Then the penny dropped one day. It was Malai Kofta of course.

Well, God forbid any Chinese traveller (now that the borders between our countries are open) from actually entering any of our South Indian Chinese speciality dining halls, and find out what Gopi Manjurian is all about. And so what if some sambar powder was added to make it really tasty for the auto rickshaw drivers who regularly drop by.

Reddy meals

Meanwhile, People Like Us will continue to eat out at the most exotic restaurants, where the tip alone could feed the average Indian family of six a totally satisfying thali each at any "Meals Reddy" place.

However, recently while dining at a new, classy European bistro, I found my "Bean Goulash with Courgette Dumplings" bland and boring beyond belief — and so I decided to protest. "I'd like to see the Chef please," I said in a dignified but firm, threatening voice.

"Sorry M'am," said the waiter. "He's gone out for lunch".

-- I can relate to this very well, as this is what is the difference in the way people in 20s and people in the 50s think about the dining in restaurants. As the author points out, even if the fact might be that the food in the tiffany rooms have a homely touch, we youngsters prefer posh restaurants as with dining we want time for ourselves, long hours of chat and some relaxing moments with our loved ones!!

And as he says.. the argument continues each time a group of people belonging to 2 generations go out :-)

2006-11-18T03:14:00.000-08:00

Why Love lasts:

This was the topic of discussion on the show” One Life to Love” on NDTV this Saturday (one of my favorite shows). The bottom line of the whole session was to follow 3 important rules:
1. Listen: Listen to what your loved one says. Listen with due concern and understand his /her emotions.
2. Talk: Share your emotions and feelings. Any issues talk it over.
3. Remember: Remember vital happenings and recollect at time of leisure. This brings new subject of deliberations and makes one pleased to be a part of that incidence.

The instance he quoted was very sweet: One morning you are having a cup of tea, you recollect that this cup was got at such and such place. Then immediately the conversation grows recollecting the happy times you had together at that place and then a plan to have one more such vacation!!!

It is here he quotes the significance of traveling with someone and not alone. When you travel with another person, when you recollect the vacation, you have someone with whom you could converse those incidences and relate to your thoughts. This helps you build stronger associations.

Only if these three crucial niceties are pursued by the concerned individuals will any relation prosper else it will deteriorate sooner than later!!! How true, just try recollecting any of your past relations which you feel no more exists the way it did before, this would be the primary reason. :)

Let’s move forward with anticipation that this at least might assist us handle our upcoming associations in a better way!!!

2006-11-03T05:12:00.000-08:00

The A, B and C of life:

. The first and foremost secret of success in life is in prioritizing the A B and C of life. This is the magical statement that I was enlightened with, by who else, the mentor of my life. J Here goes the details of it:

The A is you, you and only you. Always bother about yourself first when it comes to anything in your life. The main reason being no one in the world has time to bother about you. There will be well wishers, but when it comes to a situation where they got to choose between you and themselves, they will vote you out. So follow the same principle in your life for your success. You will be the person who will be the happiest person on your success, so share your joy with people around. They won’t be able to recognize your happiness unless you tell them. Similarly when you are sad, it is you who will realize the pain most. People will sympathize but ultimately it is you who has to fight it out and come out successfully. In all the above cases it is you who is important as it is you who will help yourself at times of need.

Next, the B is your family. Your immediate family, it will be your parents, your brother, sister, husband, children. Remember it does not include your friends, boy friend, girl friend, your cousins, relatives. It is just your immediate relations who live with you, who are born and brought up with you. They will be the next to realize your success and failure. All your friends might get busy with their work at some point in life, but your parents are always there for you, no matter what is the circumstance they are currently in, their priority will be you at your time of need. When you need to select between spending your precious time, your vacation after two or three years at home etc always devote maximum time with your family. They missed you most. Always remember that you are here because of them. They are the reason for you to be the person you are. Your culture, grooming, attitude, education, status was all a gift from them. Never fail to acknowledge this at any point in your life.

The C in your life will consist of the chosen few friends and relatives who are the closest. It is here that you need to be very conscious and wary in picking those few very near and dear ones. They are the ones who are concerned in knowing about your accomplishments and disappointments. No matter how busy they are, they have few minutes to speak to you. It might be a weekly visit if he stays close to your place, a phone call if he is out of station. The contact may be once a week or once a month, but that person makes it a point to know everything about you and tells you everything about him. Irrespective of the situation and phases of life they will remain with you. They will sketch their own path for themselves in due course of time; however you will be an eternal member of their life. So always stay as a part of their life. Acknowledge their attention, feel their emotions, make time for them, remember to wish them on their important occasions and if possible take part in person. These are the few who have chosen you amidst millions in the world.

Last is the rest of the world. This consists of your everyday acquaintances, numerous friends whom you meet on the everyday walk of your life etc.

Set your priorities in the same order. Don’t loose your focus and priorities for anyone.

---- My mentor!!!!

Well after this new enlightenment, I went thru the book “Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”. In the narration, the Monk says the same thing in his way and conveys the same message.

Now if I look back at my life, I realize my follies and my wrong priorities in life. It did mess up my life to a large extent. Now I am realizing the importance of these words.

This article might be very long and boring to read, but trust me, if you just go back and check at your setbacks in life, all the set backs can be related to a point in the above said note. It’s been one of my best acquired knowledge till date!!!

2006-10-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

Try try try again

It was the 17th of October. Morning 10 was my exam, the last and final attempt of my certification exam. Since the past few days, whichever exam I had taken I flunked, putting it optimistically I just missed the required marks in all of them. This had got down my confidence considerably and 17th being my last attempt I was edgy too.

I left no stone unturned, though I personally felt all the previous exams which I had not cleared was not primarily due to lack of groundwork as I had just missed to score THE number.

On the exam day, I got up early and did a bit of revision and did my morning rituals. Reached the examination center and sat at my seat. My nervousness was taking a toll on me. Decided to completely surrender to the almighty as that is the only way in which I can let go my anxiety.

Santu had thought me few tips to make myself sure I clear my exam. I went ahead and acted on his proposition. When I had to submit my answers at the end, I was sweating profusely and this was a situation which would either hinder my confidence level or assure me that with perseverance and hard work the word failure can be erased from my dictionary.

I submitted my answers and Bang!!!! I cleared my exam with "A" grade!!! It took my quiet sometime to realize what had just happened. I went with Santu on a long drive instantly after that and gave him a huge tight hug to express my happiness. This exam would not have affected my job or my career but definitely my confidence and my attitude towards my future.

Now I can actually realize the words

Thomas Alva Edison: Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

2006-10-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

As Promised...
So here comes my first accomplishment. This week my Book Of knowledge(BOK) got published at the Infosys Knowledge repository. Now my name is sketched in the knowledge asset of Infosys. My 3 months efforts finally got good results!!!

Told about this immediately to all my near and dear ones. Now sharing it with my other friends and the world which is interested in knowing me ;-)

This will be a short post as I intend to keep this feel of ecstasy hidden and leave the for people to explore this feeling of mine on their own :-)

2006-09-27T05:53:00.000-07:00

Live life to the fullest!!

Life was never this beautiful as it is these days. If you ask me what is so extraordinary about your life now, the reply is zilch absolutely nothing. I am not doing anything special or great. But I am enjoying every bit of anything and everything I am doing. I enjoy the morning alarm, totally excited to take on the day with full enthusiasm. I sketch a plan and so many errands for the day. These everyday jobs may be as simple as to collect a picture of my childhood days for a close friend to the house hold chores. Activities include studies, little prayers; phone talks, a fantastic saunter with a friend, TV shows, a pleasant read on the internet, a small game of cards, a fine song to hear or sing, have a family talk with my parents or some enjoyable talk with my brother, serious discussions with my friends, all of them which are very trivial and very routine.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s thoughts” You need a reason to be sad, Happiness is your default state”, I feel this in every walk of my existence.

This feeling and the glow in me has resulted in so many transformations right from the type of songs I listen to the class of dresses I shop. All my activities are so much fast paced that I got time to persist my writing only now after a long break.

Will get back soon with many more accomplishments which I will be finishing very soon!!!

2006-08-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

'Planets have feelings, too':

There I was, minding my own business, orbiting the Sun just like all the others. I got my little bit of atmosphere going, got a lot of ice. I was cool. I stayed out of everybody else's way, sometimes way out.

First of all, it takes forever for me to do a lap around the Sun, and it gets really lonely out here. They tell me that part of the reason I'm not a planet anymore is that some of the time I sneak inside my buddy Neptune's orbit. What do they expect? I need somebody to talk to out here sometimes. And don't get me started about that mass of junk they call Charon that is supposedly my partner in non-planethood; Charon is dead to me.

Then there's my name. Let me say I was happy enough without anyone else giving me a name. For millions of years, maybe even billions -- time sort of has no meaning out here -- I liked to think of myself as Lex, except for a very brief period of experimentation and confusion when I thought I was Sophia. But that's a long story, and Uranus promised never to talk about it.

Anyway, Lex was short, snappy and just tough-sounding enough to keep unwanted visitors away. I felt like a growling dog with that name, not that I had any idea what a dog was then. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

So then those numbskulls on Earth finally figure out I'm here, and start calling me Pluto. I had mixed feelings; I liked Lex, but I also heard through the microwaves passing by that Pluto was a god of "Death" over there. I barely knew what "life" was, but I knew Death kicked life's butt all year long (and the years are really long here).

But I nearly fell out of my orbit when I found out a pet dog -- not even a real dog but a cartoon dog -- gets to be called Pluto on their planet. Suddenly Pluto was something cute and cuddly and not tough or threatening at all.

It's bad enough when you're the smallest guy on the playground. With the cartoon dog thing, everyone was making fun of me, even Uranus. I was humiliated. Planets have feelings, too, you know.

So you can imagine how I'm taking this planet thing. Neptune, which used to hang out with me to try to look cool by association, won't even talk to me anymore. I can't take it. The Solar System is the only family I've got.

So for all you Earthlings reading this, I, Pluto, am taking a stand. I'm here. I'm a sphere. Get used to it.

courtesy:baltimoresun.com

2006-08-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

After Many Years:
by: D.H. Lawrence (1885 - 1930)

I wonder if with you, as it is with me,
If under your slipping words, that easily flow
About you as a garment, easily,
Your violent heart beats to and fro!

Long have I waited, never once confessed,
Even to myself, how bitter the separation;
Now, being come again, how make the best
Reparation?

If I could cast this clothing off from me,
If I could lift my naked self to you,
Of if only you would repulse me, a wound would be
Good; it would let the ache come through.

But that you hold me still so kindly cold
Aloof my floating heart will not allow;
Yea, but I loathe you that you should withhold
Your pleasure now.

2006-08-22T03:32:00.000-07:00

The Journey:
This month, we had been to somnathpur a historical place in the vicinity of Mysore.
We selected this place primarily coz the drive time would be less and the time to look around and spend time basking that place will be more.

We began the jaunt at around 10.30 in the morning. The impediment was mainly coz of me and my bro’ as we had to enjoy our weekend siestaJ. Left a little tardy according to the disciplined people of my family ;-) nonetheless we left in the morning.

Things were fine till we reached a parish called Bannur and then started the village roads. Up and down, with little time to relax. Even a petite annoyance can cause the car to smack on to some hump on the road. In the midst of all this we had the capon friends visiting us and actually wanting to forfeit their lives to cause some adventure in our lives.

Then there was this tractor on our right side and a 2 wheeler on the left side, in this small road. I was just waiting for one of them to make way, so that I could just move on. As I was foreseeing this 2 wheeler to move and was trying to over take him, they both recognized that they were close chums who had not met for epochs!!! Both bunged suddenly and started their .And here I was suddenly knocked for six by this conduct of theirs!!!

To add to all this exhilaration was this sudden cloudburst which was so grave that my wiper did little help in improving the lucidity of my car front view. But one lucky thing was I had passed the country roads and was on a comparatively superior Indian high way!!! I had to just handle the rough and rash truck drivers and the pedestrians who barely had any road sense.

But having been thru this, I gained experience and this prepared me into a reasonably consummate driver!!!

2006-08-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

The Human God:

There was this segment of life where I was very perplexed and had lost focus in my life. But never lost optimism. This I owe everything to the devout path which I have constantly followed. It gives you this enormous hope and keeps you going. I used to always listen to songs and read spiritual books which always said, in case of mystification leave your tribulations to God. He will show you the best course to follow. He will steer you. I always wondered “how will he guide me?” Like the movie “Dil to pagal Hai” I always wondered “how will this happen? Will I get a dream, will I get enlightened or will it happen on its own?”

Then I met this person in my life, I always refer to as the “GOD”. I’m sure he will recognize that it is him about whom I am speaking here.

He was this unexpected entry into my life. And believe me or not, never have I thrown anyone out of my life as did to him. I never used to react to his talk nor did I pay attention to his casual “Hi”. But there was this eternal fortitude in him. He kept knocking at my door. I shut the door so many times, yet he was importunate. Then finally I thought, well let me hear to him once on humanitarian grounds.

And then I realized that he knew everything about me. He could read my mind, appreciate my problems, was in agreement with my point of view in all my issues. He made me realize my short term and long term goals. He gave me miniature resolutions to my tribulations and saw me garner benefits from them. I began to gradually unwrap my emotions to this “GOD” and discussed my concerns. He gave me new direction, new lifestyle and I saw myself getting mould into this new me.

Now I realize the implication of avowal “mystification leave your tribulations to God. He will show you the best path to follow”. And now I know if he is with you, he can be in any appearance. He can be this new arrival or this very close comrade of yours or your own sub-conscious mind.

So populace, leave your qualms and live in the present. You never know, GOD might be just adjacent to you or you may be GOD yourself!!!!

2006-08-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

Matrix in real life:

One day myself and Jyotir were discussing about this movie Matrix. We were comparing Matrix with our life.Philosophically we hear many people say, watch your life as made of events. Your are staying away from all the events, persons and situations. When you get angry, just watch the emotion, which in this situation is anger go into your mind, feel the heart beat go high watch the other person or situation which was the cause of this anger as a part or character of this event.You are just an audience to all this.

This way you realize that all your actions are not yours but controlled by your mind which is bound in worldly pleasures. Your conscious which is all powerful and which can do the most impossible stuff is tied down by this materialistic mind.

Here is where we picturised matrix, where the humans i.e. the subconscious mind or the soul is totally made in-effective by the overwhelming materialistic driven mind.Even though our subconscious mind is more powerful than our outer mind, we fail to use it to and we begin to act as slaves to our emotions, just as humans who are more powerful ,acting as slaves to the Robots in the movie.

When we realize the truth, we can achieve the impossible and do miracles as many spiritual leaders do in the society. They become the heroes of our world just like our Hero in the movie. With their subconscious mind they can cross oceans within seconds and visualize future and past just like the present.

We were so surprised to see this immense coincidence between both thoughts, we felt how true it is actually what our spiritual leaders say. If only the whole world practices it, we can actually see a totally transformed world soon!!!

Keep thinking and keep doing your best to make this society a better place to live!!!

2006-07-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

Thoughts that keep me going!!!

Last week has been a week of disappointments. Many of my near and dear ones are very much aware of what I am referring to. These are the phases of life which everyone will undergo at few junctures in their life. This week it was my turn.

It is during these times, I feel Thomas Alva Edison is my inspiration:

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up", as rightly said by him is a thought which will help all individuals to try till their last breath of life. It motivates me and inspires me to continue my work and try out new avenues in case the present one does not work.

His words:
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work", when in the 10,001st attempt he invented the incandescent light bulb!!!

If these were the thoughts which occur in a person when he fails, no wonder he invented one of the prime discoveries of man kind!!!

2006-07-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

Mumbai - The rudest City!?

Few weeks back there was an article which made news all over the world. A survey stated Mumbai city to be the rudest in the world. There were various views expressed to this survey and it was talked about quite a lot.

The recent floods and the series of blasts which took place yesterday shows a different picture to what this survey has projected.The various pictures showed how the people gathered to help all the others stranded on the roads because of the floods

Further in yesterday's blast we had comments from the citizens saying "The Govt is helpless", which in turn says we got to help ourselves and it is to be noted that when they say this, they are confident and all willing to do so.

I am sure a city which is called "Rudest" and which is supposed to be victim of rude behavior from its people can never behave this way at any point of time.

They may not say a 'Good Morning' and a 'Thank You' like the people of the other so called sophisticated cities do. But I am sure they know to help when the time arises and stand for the needy at the time of their need. Which is just to prove they are such wonderful people to be with.

3 Cheers to the people of Mumbai!!!!

2006-07-08T06:54:00.000-07:00

The world around me:

These days I am confused about the world around me. How is the best way to live out here?Be modest, work hard, do your best and believe that your work will deserve the best of the opportunities or be confident( may just slip to over confidence too at times), show case what you have done at everypoint, demand for your needs and aim high and always be sure that you get it( talent does not matter as much it matters in the previous case).

All this while I was very much to my work and aimed at learning new things. Got rewards for the same and was very much to myself. Always thinking of my project, what can be done to better it application wise or process wise.

I always looked at people with immense knowledge compared to me and believed that its only that amount of expertise in the field that can give me the position or the benefits they have got.

Now with new acquaintance in life, I am getting to know the different things happening around me.I am beginning to realize that not only talent but there are many other aspects that help you reach your goals. I have begun to see many around me with not so much talent in the technical sense but talent in their communication, assertiveness, confidence, timely approach and political tactics have achieved much more. And these qualities I feel are very much there in me which I have not concentrated on all this while. This goes to say that I can achieve much more than what I have currently done,in case this approach to the goal I have seen now is correct.

I guess I have given a fair idea of what is the dilemma going in me. In case any of you can give me your opinions or suggestion on this, I would be eager to know it.

2006-05-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

Excited!!!

This Friday as it was very cold and cloudy out, I decided to miss swimming and go to yoga. Had missed it for a week now because of my new hobby- swimming. And there I had a huge surprise waiting for me. The Yoga tutor asked me if I was ready to participate in a competition to be conducted in belgaum. He said he would train me specially for that!!! I was so much excited about this whole idea, basically for the fact that he thought it was worth giving a try with me!!!

I was and am currently a little reluctant. Have told him, that I would learn the postures and if he feels I am good at those, I am ready to participate in the competition. What an honor... Who can say a NO to this!! After a long time, apart from my usual work I have got something nice to add on to life. Don't want to miss this at any cost. Lets see I guess within a week I will be able to know what is the final outcome of this. Nevertheless I am happy about doing something good apart from my work!!!

2006-05-24T00:36:00.000-07:00

Dependent-- Independent!!??

People say it is heaven to stay with parents before marriage , specially for girls as these are the final few years they get to enjoy life with their family members. In a way its perfectly true.

But being 24 year old and staying with parents poses its own challenges. Indian parents are generally brought up in a way where they are ready to get their children married right from age 21.In turn expecting them to take care of an entire family or household. But when it comes to a matter of sending their 26 year old daughter out on a vacation alone.. They are so reluctant.

They are so concerned about their children is one way of looking at this but on the other hand, before they give so much responsibility to their children doesn't it make sense to train them accordingly?

Well a 25 year old person asking for permission to do what he/she needs to do-- happens only in India for sure!!! Sometimes these issues become so relevant that it leads to this so called generation gap , revolt and change in course of life.

I don't say going away from your parents and doing your own stuff is life, but when we live with them we can give mutual support and most importantly expect our right to make decisions. Few might be very weird ,considering the fact that we are young blood and we are hyper at few instances, but we will learn thru mistakes and we must be left to do that. Just like the animals learn how to hunt for food when their parents leave feeding them.Few of their children might end up dying during this hunt for food, but that's the way life is isn't it?

We must have right to go out any time and come back anytime, at 24 we know how to take care of ourselves.At this age previously people used to have kids and take care of their schedules and their safety as well!!!So don't we know how to choose friends and plan things.

I guess you guys would have got to know my mood al ready , not to mention what lead to such an article. But I guess this goes to say a lot to our previous generation what we people of this generation who stay with their parents feel!!!

2006-05-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Swimming: A desire came true!!!

I had this desire since so many years to learn swimming. Wanted to go to summer camps, but swimming in the afternoon under the sun, u know we girls are worried about getting tanned n stuff :) so never went for it. There is no girls batch anywhere after 6.00P.M.

When infy came with this wonderful swimming pool , I was very much tempted to go for it. But I had such hectic projects for a year now, never had time. Then there was one more thing also preventing me from venturing... No girls went for swimming as it was a combined batch.

Finally a week back I decided, this is going no where, I have this desire and I am going to make it .. What better opportunity than this!!!I had already got my swim suit a nice black one(my favorite color) and spoke to the coach over there.

Yesterday was my first class. Well coming out, to the pool for the first time..I did feel a bit conscious. When I got into the pool I was so excited and comfortable.Wow! Water was so clean and wonderful. Climate also was breezy and not sunny. It was 6.00 in the evening after all.

On the first day I learnt to float and just the basics as usual. Never realized I was actually there for 45 minutes!!! On the first day I am not allowed to stay longer than that :( so had to pack up.

My first day in the swimming pool..Feels so exciting and so refreshing. Its always so nice to learn something new- you feel like a new born child!!!

2006-05-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

Mystery with "S"!!!

It has been a long time thought in mind since my school days. I have this mysterious connection with people whose name starts with "S". Specially guys whose name starts with "S" have always been THE persons to help me out in all walks of my life.

Be it in my studies, my other activities , in lending a ear to my problems, giving me advice on time, sharing my feelings about personal and official matters... Anything and everything throughout my life.. It has always been guys with "S" as their starting name.It has been different people at different times but with one thing in common "S". Doesn't it sound like some Ramsay movie beginning!!! hehehe :-)

Looks like I need to put my criteria in the matrimony column as this!!!! When I have got such understanding and wonderful friends... You are tempted to believe in this coincidence-don't you?

And why at this hour am I writing such a post.. coz I felt like thinking of all the wonderful people who have helped me till this date!!! Hey not to mention that I have loads of people who do not meet this criteria..Nevertheless this is worth mentioning.

2006-05-13T09:43:00.000-07:00

50th B'Day Celebrations of the great Soul:

Today is Buddha poornima and Sri Sri Ravishankar's 50th B'day.On this occasion; I had been to satsang after a very long time. Songs and I are as it is inseparable, and that with a li'll more enthusiasm and a li'll more devotion takes me to a different world!!

What a person can achieve in 50 years, is just unimaginable considering what Ravishankar has done in these 50 years. The 25th anniversary celebration of Art of Living (AOL) is the example for this. Well opinions may differ on the expenditure incurred on the occasion of the 25th anniversary celebrations, but uniting the whole world, different nationalities different religions under one roof is a marvelous effort at a time when in Vadodara there are such huge communal clashes going on trivial issues.

The satsang was led my Srinivas and Shalini Srinivas- songs were as usual out of the world. At the end was the meditation especially as it was Buddha poornima. It was a special meditation for full moon day. These days as I perform pranayama regularly, meditation has become a part and parcel of my life. Nevertheless when it is done with Ravishankar's instructions and the flute being played in the background it takes you to different levels.

The experience of meditation is just a joy in itself. I feel my body so light and literally non existent. There is total blankness in front of me- but mind you not darkness, its light mild light similar to moon rays. Thoughts become almost nil. I can stay in this state for hours without any effort, but as the meditation was for beginners too, it was short and ended within 30 minutes.

After the meditation I always go into myself. total silence, searching the meaning of life, why am I here, what am I doing with all this worldly affairs, when I get so much joy within myself what am I searching for in this world-thoughts just go on and on. I feel life is nothing but a journey towards understanding yourself better. When you are successful in doing that your life will end forever-its my version as I believe in rebirth- rebirth occurs when your understanding about yourself is not full. I am into this philosophical mood today as usual some days are dedicated to few emotions!!!

And then I came home driving and all these thoughts in me. Finally reached home and as usual got into the worldly affairs :-)

2006-05-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hail Stone Rain:

Today for the first time in my life i saw this wonderful scene. 10th May, evening 6.15 the usual summer rain started. But this was very unusual. There were so many huge hail stones. I was in my Yoga class when this happened. We all just peeped outside our room. The whole pathway at the Infy campus was covered with these hail stones. It appeared as though it snowed in Mysore and the path was totally filled with snow, it was perfect white in colour from our building.

My first ever site of such huge hail stones, all spread so neatly around the beautiful infy campus..a sight to remember my entire life!!!

2006-05-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

Trip To Wynad:

It was a Saturday morning(Feb 25). At around 8.a.m we left Mysore. It was my first trip with office friends/colleagues.

It was a pleasant morning, and as usual not accustomed of getting up early in the morning, we all slept our way to wynad!!! In between, we had breakfast at a small restaurant on the way. At the restaurant, the breakfast was not very great, but as it was converted to a cricket stadium by us, none was in a mood to comment on breakfast. Thanks to the lovely cricket match which helped us have a gala time at the hotel.

At around 12.00 we reached the resort at wynad. Ooh! what a place to spend a vacation. We went around the cottages.. Wish I had come with my husband on a honeymoon!! ;) All of us had our lunch at the resort. A nice south Indian(Kerala Style) lunch.. I just loved it. All of us were so excited with the match and the wonderful cottages there that we opted to stay at the hotel room that afternoon and relax.

At around 4 in the evening we went to boating and a view point near our resort. At the boating spot we did a bit a shopping..Nope not the usual shopping but our kind of shopping...Eatables!!!! We had Wynad special- mango/Amla soaked I salt and chilly mixed in lemon syrup.hmmm yummy!!! And of course the ever favorite ice cream!!!

The resort owner later in the evening took us around a tea estate. It was a small trekking. The dusk and the weather was lovely to go amidst the herbs in the lovely tea estate. We got a lovely view from there and of course lots of snaps were taken. On our way back it was dark and we had to go thru the unknown paths with no light!!! That was kind of exciting.

In the evening at around 7.30 we had a camp fire at the resort. We had great musicians amidst us... Our very own Rachit n Nandan. Lots of good guitar and a li'll bit of drums by Anup( just managed to get the beats using tables and bottles nearby :) ) and not to mention the great vocalist..ME!!!!

Seeing all these people I suddenly noticed the flute which Shinie had bought at the boating area. I developed this sudden inclination towards this flute... And tried a bit of my talent on it.

Camp fire went on for a long time with everyone having their own different kind of entertainments. We had our dinner amidst all this and just managed to go off to sleep. After all the next day was supposed to fully loaded with many activities for which we needed the minimum amount of rest too.

Morning was very beautiful. Only me and Vidya got up early( 7.30!!! ) and went for a morning walk at the same tea estate. It was awesome with the morning due on plants and the birds chirping... Could sit there for our entire lifetime I guess.

Our first destination in Wynad was a water spot which required us to walk a li'll to reach the spot. Water as usual is the best spot to beat the morning heat. Spent a lot of time there and when we came back all of us were damn tired and hungry.. So next to the most favorite activity Lunch!!!

After lunch we went to Edaikal caves. Lots of trekking and long distances to walk. This was the most exciting part of the trip, climbing rocks and steep terrain to reach the tip of the hill. The cave had real cool under ground water, which quenched our thirst after the arduous journey across the hill. Part of this trek , we opted for a jolly jeep drive which was made exciting by the guys in our group with all the masti n circus as usual.

This was our last destination at wynad. From here we left straight back to Mysore.