sahiti

The Hypothesis: All the prophets, Gurus are the manifestations of “The God” or “The Nature” or “The Supreme Conscious” in Its/His efforts to put some sense into the humans bent upon selfdestruction at any cost. Prophet Mohammad, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Mahaveer, Sri Krishna are all the same.

The Question: Then, why do we have so many religious and so many different Holy books (The Quaran, The Bible and the Gita)

Imagine a professor who is considered a great authority in Physics. However he teaches one class each at a secondary-school, high school, pre-university and University everyday. At the secondary school he would say, “All matter is made of small particles called Atoms and Light is a form of energy.”. At the High school, he would say that “Light also has particals, they are called photons”. When at Pre-University he would say that “Light is an electro-magnetic wave” Finally at the University to his Phd students, he would reveal the ultimate. He would say “I dont know whether light is a particle or wave. These are the facts that support each theory. Now, you decide and debate!”

It was the same professor who taught all the classes. So, why did he speak differently? Was he trying to mislead his wards by being untruthful? No, I bet not! What he said depended on to whom he was teaching and how much they can absorb. He was only trying not to overwhelm them with more than they can chew. It is not that he didnt know the ultimate truth that he taught at the University when he was teaching at the secondary school.

In a similar way, The Supreme Conscious when takes form of a “Guru” teaches depending on the state of mind of the ward. Jesus had come when people were fighting each other for money and lust. Greed had taken over the mankind. So The Bible was addressed to common man and has ten commandments that had to say, “Dont Steal, Love thy neighbour, Dont be immoral..etc” . When Prophet Muhammad had come people must have forgotten God, overwhelmed by luxury, indulging in music, masti and women, fighting over whose God is Great (Different pagan religions worshipping different Gods which included idol worship) So Muhammad had to say “God is one. Dont worship the Idols. Worship the formless. Indulging in Music is sin, Women must be modestly dressed …etc”

Then What about Bhagawat Geetha? To whom was it revealed? It was told to Arjuna, one of the most pious, righteous men at that time. Arjuna need not be told “Dont indulge in women” He need not be told “Dont steal”
And moreover, it was not revealed to Arjuna for no reason. Even he had to earn his worthiness. Arjuna and Krishna had been the best of pals since childhood. Did krishna not find time other than in the midst of the battle field to teach Arjuna? It was not revealed till then because Arjuna was not capable of absorbing The Gita till then. See, the Guru (here krishna) had no favouritism!!! Even if Arjuna was his best friend, Krishna didnt tell him till he was worthy to be told.

So Gita was revealed to the most pious and righteous man of the age, that too when he was at his best state of mind (state of Absolute surrender) and he beseeched Krishna to reveal the truth to him. (Arjuna says, I know not what to do. To you I surrender….Please tell me what to do)

Then the Guru had revealed “The Bhagawat Geeta” to Arjuna. While teaching such a worthy pupil, the Guru doesnt waste time in the trivia..(Not that they had any time for that on the battle-field ;)) So it is understandable that Gita has The Utlimate Truth in the most conscise way..that the Supreme Conscious would ever want to teach to a human !!

So Gita becomes better than Bible or Quran not by virtue of who taught it, but by virtue of to whom it was taught!!



Disclaimer: “Gita becomes better than Bible or Quran …” It is just my opinion and mine alone. I found this logic that i have presented very acceptable. My bestest friend from kinder garden is a muslim and my second best friend is a christian. I have been to a Darga as well as church with them. So obviously i have enough and equal respect for all the religions and do not intend to insult or down play any religion or Holy Book.


Request: I know i am treading on dangerous ground. Please do not get emotional and try to quote sensational parts of Quran (Kill the Kafirs, polygamy for men..etc) or Gita(the caste system, untouchability…etc) to prove what you say. and at the same time do present any objective and complete logic that supports the hypothesis and answers the question

Krishna taught and Arjuna understood. And surely neither of them indulge in any of the crimes that the modern day Hinduism is charged with (untouchability..etc) If you and I misinterpret and misunderstand and fight …it doesnt reflect badly on the Book. It shows our state of mind and our worthiness.


addendum:

I could not read Quran or Bible, though i would like to. But i did read Gita and it is a must read ! The best sloka that i often quote is

“Vidya vinaya sampanne brahmane gavi hastini
sunichaiva svapaakecha pandita sama darsanaha”

Which means “Only a person who can see that a scholarly brahmin,holy cow, elephant and a person who eats dog meat are all equal and can treat them equally can be called a pundit” (It is not enough if you externally treat them equally, you should be able to actually “see” (sama darsanaha) that they are equal)

Now, thats not what you call untouchability for sure !!!!!

Let me confess, I am no good at penning down my thoughts and the few posts that u find here are my only literary “achievements” to date…;-)
I always get digressed and in the end, one objective glance at the output makes me think “Oh!man! what was i trying to say” and i chuck out the whole attempt in dispair..
dont believe me? Well..I have a proof Read on..this is the output and hence the title :-p

It is amazing to see how most of our responses are programmed since our birth by parents, society and later on by ourselves.

What is more surprising is that we dont even realize that!

The basic human instinct for acceptance and attention is exploited to the fullest. A child is told “Be a good boy!”.. his fiery spirit is tamed and the programming begins. “Good boys listen to what papa says” “Good boys dont answer back to elders” “Good boys never get into fistcuffs” (irrespective of who started it first?!?)

This age old list of “Good” things seems to be inexhaustible..anything and everything is added to the list spontanously by any elder.

(I remember the ragging time during which the junior is supposed to repeat 3 golden rules 1) The senior is always right 2) The junior is always wrong 3) Incase of any discrepency refer to rule no. 1) !!! :)))

Right from “You get less marks, you should be ashamed!” to “you have more xpensive car/posh(er) bunglow than your collegues, you are more successful”

For me life looks not like a matrix, but just a plain switch case or if else

if(more hike)
be happy;

if(promotion)
happy;

And we keep adding more and more such switch cases with each passing day ..which we call “experience”

Ever wondered, why only success(whatever be the definition!) brings happiness.. cant we make it a just

while(1)
be happy;

Bcos, end of the day it is happiness we want..not good marks, high pay check, big car….

It is very difficult to do that…almost impossible, bcos to do that we need to unlearn…
(yeah,the word “unlearn” fills me with awe!!)

Learning is ok..but unlearning…?!??! whatz that ??!?

It means doing away with automated responses and living with more awareness. Taking control of the situation, instead of merely being a puppet controlled by external paramters and doling out the programmed responses…and asking..”how can i not get upset, how can i not be sad!” helplessly

Now, instead of ” if someone pleases me i am pleased, and if someone irks me i am irked ” How about…if someone irks me i am pleased?

How you feel is controlled by others…ever realized that?

A co-driver who overtakes you from left and almost hits you on your way to office is enough to spoil your day for you?!?!? Or a shout/snap from ur loved one will do that… How sad..


I have been trying that(if someone irks me i am pleased) for quite sometime…but consistantly failed..
I give out the programmed, irrirated response and later realize that …
I am trying to realize before i respond

In any case it is fun…Try it and let me know…how you fared


PS: There is a story of how wild elephants are tamed. A baby elephant is brought and chained with strong big chains. It pulls hard untill it bleeds and can no longer wrestle and then gives up. May be it tries for some days…care it taken that it doesnt succeed during that period. The elephant then understands that it is impossible to break the chains and gives up once for all. It learnt “It is not possible to escape. The chains are very strong” After it grows and bcoms a full sized elephant it could have easily broken the chains had it tried …but the elephant cannot “unlearn” what it learnt the hard way…(It may even be giving paternal advice to other elephants to give up if they tried..narrating how hard it tried and failed….”wisdom” from personal experience …you see! I like this example that underlines the importance of unlearning aalot …

I like maxims that don’t encourage behavior modification.

To make a bad day worse, spend it wishing for the impossible

The secret to happiness is short-term, stupid self-interest!

I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul.

Reality continues to ruin my life.

A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.

I understand my tests are popular reading in the teachers’ lounge.

Life’s disappointments are harder to take when you don’t know any swear words.

That’s the difference between me and the rest of the world! Happiness isn’t good enough for me! I demand euphoria!

In my opinion, we don’t devote nearly enough scientific research to finding a cure for jerks.

You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don’t help.

Its no use! Everybody gets good enemies except me.

I’m learning real skills that I can apply throughout the rest of my life … Procrastinating and rationalizing.

I’m not dumb. I just have a command of thoroughly useless information

“Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?”
“I’m not sure that man needs the help.”


And Finally the best of the lot

Weekends don’t count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.

With that ..Wish you all a happy weekend

Hello Friends, Very Good Morning..these are my favorites of the day..

There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full. Henry Kissinger

Waiting for circumstances to change so you can feel good is like looking in a mirror waiting for your reflection to smile first.

Men stumble over pebbles, never over mountains.

Washing one’s hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral. -Paulo Freire,

Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.- George Jean Nathan


I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas Edison -


The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.- Ralph Waldo Emerson


There’ll be two dates on your tombstone And all your friends will read ‘em But all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ‘em… –Kevin Welch


We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.


Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. –Helen Keller


Have a Nice Day

One more on the caste system..??! You might be thinking that i am obsessed with the subject. But No, I am not. I don't even know the caste of my roomies with whom i have been living for the past 6+ yrs! But in a way, yes, i am. It bothers me to see how the caste system is ingrained in the minds of the masses and people in general that they have stopped questioning its very purpose! It’s ugly shadow falls on the every aspect of our living, whether we realize/accept it or not ! (”Religion is the opium of masses”…remember who said this? yes, yes..that was Gandhi )

If the caste/varna system was initially not based on birth, but on occupation, how did it turn into what it is today…is the point on which i ponder.

No one was crowned a Brahman by birth. One had to toil and attain the "brahma gyan" or "God realization" to become one. Then where on earth did the concept of inheriting the privilege of Brahman-hood (or the curse of untouchablity) come from!?!

Read on for my logical version Any disagreements or Alternate schools of thought are welcome!

Now, a potter's child is exposed to pottery right from childhood and may even have the inherited (now scientifically proved as "genes") talent in the art. Children during their infancy learn by observation and slowly learn by emulating parents. Hence the probability of a potter's son becoming a potter is more than a carpenter's son becoming a potter!! In the latter case he has to choose a specific guru other than his father, learn the art and compete equally with the genetically dexterous potters! Choosing a different occupation from father’s therefore demands more effort during learning as well as sustaining stages. The risk should be voluntarily taken, with no backup of any kind. It demands that such a person should REALLY love what he chose and be good at it. Given the average basic human tendency to stick to comfort zones, people generally took on the reins from their dads! This is how inheriting the occupation of father, though voluntarily, may have started. Ditto, with the Brahmans, kshyatriyas and vaishyas. (As I said, i would only be too happy to get YOUR version/logic incase u dont agree)

However people who dared to take the risk had the option to do so. There are numerous such examples in our scriptures.

Now, why was the order of classification as it is with Brahmans on the top?

In the Indian way of life, where knowledge is held supreme, an enlightened pauper is deemed to be more powerful and respectable than the Emperor! Hence the Brahman was placed before the Emperor (muscle power) and the Businessman (Money power). It is even said that the Gods themselves were under the control of Brahmans. (The mantras controlled the Gods and the Brahmans controlled the mantras and hence the conclusion) As it is said, Power corrupts and Absolute power corrupts absolutely! This absolute power conferred upon the Brahmans by the hindu way of life had its toll! Only a fool would forego such absolute power voluntarily. So the unworthy sons of the worthy Brahmans clinged to the "Brahman-hood" and (mis)interpreted the Vedas to suit them. They claimed it as their birthright and forbade others from even learning the Vedas, lest their misinterpretations be caught! They would initially have had tough time in modifying the rules to add everybody except themselves (A male Brahmin) to the "forbidden to read/learn scriptures" list! Once they succeeded in becoming the unquestionable sole authority, rest is history!! All forms of social evil entered the mighty Hindu tree like vermin.

The basic rishi sampradaya or the Hindu way of life rested on the pillar of enquiry. All the ideas were put through open questioning and scrutiny. As opposed to this, the narrow interpretations of a handful of people were hailed "unquestionable" and asking "why?" was threatened to be a confirmed ticket to hell! (And there were volumes written exclusively on the types of hell(s) and the punishments to scare the common man! ;-)) So fear and apathy had taken place of the quest and enquiry in the common man. This gave the vested interests further freehand in adding more dogmas and dictums. Hinduism was caught in this vicious cycle of self-debasement and destruction for centuries.

- If you can’t convince them, confuse them. - Harry Truman


- The squeaking wheel doesn’t always get the grease. Sometimes it gets replaced. -Vic Gold


- The two most abundant things in the universe are Hydrogren and stupidity. -Harlan Ellison

- Men stumble over pebbles, never over mountains.


- “To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism, to steal ideas from many is research.”
-Anon.

- Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. - George Jean Nathan


- Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire. - William Yeats


- A diamond is just another piece of coal that did well under pressure.


- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of discussion. -Plato, philosopher


- We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

I have seen mainak’s blog on disaster management and would like to share my views on the topic.
In India we have more of a reactive approach to Disasters rather than the proactive one. This holds good even we know that one is on cards and staring us right in our face! First problem is the responsibility. There is no single person or organization that is solely responsible. “Government” which means the political party in power is held responsible. State government is always waiting to “study” the extent of damage so that it can get more central funds!!! By the time funds are granted and released the media hype/coverage of the catestrophy is reduced and only God knows how much of the hundreds of crores is actually put to use where it was ment to!!

The effectiveness of disaster preparedness can be measured based on the time taken to get back to normalcy after a disaster.
There are two types of requirements

a) Immediate requirements when disaster strikes,
i) day 0
1. Machinary to clear rubble and save lives. (Boats, Cranes ..etc)
2. Medical attention to the surviors
3. Identification of the dead and disposing the dead bodies in a respectable manner.
4. Food, water and temporary shelter for the survivors
5. Helping the survivors find their missing relatives.

b) Day 1
1. Restorement of government services like Electricity, Drinking water supply, Sewage disposal asap
2. Clothing, warm clothing in cold areas

b) Long term requirements
1. Permenant houses
2. Employment
3. Emotional support

Primary responsibilty of any organization would be establishing a pool of experts and volunteers who would rush to the site of disaster at a short notice. Secondly proper supply chain networks should be established so that the required rations and equipment reach the places prone to disaster as soon as possible.

Even today there is no dearth of people who want to contribute for some good cause. People would happily part with their earnings/belongings if they are sure that they would be properly put to use. What India lacks is organized effort and transparancy. When the Tsunami struck, most of the professionals in Blore have donated a days salary to the Prime Minister relief fund, which was a sizeable sum. I could see lots of used clothes being collected at Mosques, offices and even shopping malls. Few days later there appeared photos with large piles of clothes that were dumped on the survivors, which they found to be insulting and therefore abandoned. Vans with supplies came, but didnt know whom to approach for proper distribution.

So need of the hour would be some single organization that would have wholistic plan as well as the team in place for the disaster management. Ex. one domain expert and a team of volunters responsible for each item in the above list. Knowing who has to do what decreases the amount of time taken for execution.
Incase i missed out on any important aspects, please do add them …

Also, Incase anybody knows any organization that trains civilians as volunteers for such emergencies do let me know. I have been searching for such organization for quite sometime.
Btw, there is one organization called Goonj, which collects old n used clothes and gives them to the needy. Their catch line is that we need not wait for a disaster to strike to clean our closet :-)))

Following is an article about goonj at my most favourite website

http://www.goodnewsindia.com/index.php/Magazine/story/goonj/


” The Only Thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing : - Edmund Burke

Now you know why there is so much work in IT :-p

This is one of the first few fwds that went around our Btech campus when i happened to start using mail for the first time. This makes me nostalgic
And one of the very few fwds that i read everytime i come across it…hope you too will


Slow Dance


Have you ever watched kids
on a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain
slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?


You better slow down
Don’t dance so fast
Time is short
The music won’t last


Do you run through each day
on the fly
When you ask “How are you?”
do you hear the reply?
When the day is done,
do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
running through your head?


You’d better slow down
Don’t dance so fast
Time is short
The music won’t last


Ever told your child,
We’ll do it tomorrow
And in your haste,
not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
‘Cause you never had time
to call and say “Hi”?


You’d better slow down
Don’t dance so fast
Time is short
The music won’t last


When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift….
Thrown away…


Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.