Mockery in the name of the almighty

This is not about an agnostic like me questioning the existence of God (truth, reality in other words) but I can't help but ask - Is God numerous in number? Is God male or female? Does God believe in 'divide and rule'? Who created the various religions, castes, etc? Has anyone seen or felt God?


The very division of God into religions and cases like the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya only helps further lose sanctity of the divine. Sad to know that man can stoop to such levels just for political advantage. Is this not mere mockery of the supreme at the cost of life's of the general public?


Where are we heading? God help mankind!

Social Media and me

This is not really about my take on Social Media. I have very mixed feelings and views about Social Media (will save that for later) but this one Expert Speak Session that I did arrange for and had Jessie Paul over at the organization I work for, to talk on Brand Building in the age of Social Media, was possible because of twitter. Social Media sure helps network and share information but I do concur with the HP Labs report that states: 'Having a large number of followers does not imply you are an influencer'. Doesn't one lose one's space and privacy on sites like Facebook, etc?

To say the least, thanks twitter!

Life's lessons

While we tread the unknown path - Life, it remains to be a constant learning process. Typically one learns from one's mistakes and experiences, yet there are exceptions like me. I am learning but time will tell how I implement and learn to differentiate and deal with different people and situations.

A couple of decades into this process and I continue to seek answers to the below questions:

• Why me? Why does this happen only to me while others remain happy?
  Every thing that happens in life has a reason, attribute it to Karma/destiny or otherwise. As beautifully conveyed by Daily Om in the article Letting Go of Understanding: "Sometimes we are not always meant to know the deeper meaning of certain occurrences and need only move forward." Do your duty and leave the rest to the universe.
  
  While this is all nice to read and talk about, how practical is it for a normal human to actually accept such reasoning for ones unhappiness or uneventful life?
  
  
• Who really are my well wishers?
  Isn't that tricky? Yeah, very tricky especially for the likes of me, who by nature are critical about small aspects of life and tend to fall for any individual who speaks well and seems  transparent. A very hard question to answer. All that glitters is NOT gold.
  
  A friend once said, "I trust very few people, I count the number". I was appalled at the thought and argued. I NOW realize and can't agree more.
  
  You think and believe...you know all, you are at peace and one with universe through meditation, you are content with life and it's ways, you are one of the biggest achievers,.......

        sadly you are mistaken. I a victim and hence an observer beg to differ
        from your opinion, irrespective of your age, experience, 
        attitude, thoughts which I have possibly appreciated at some 
        point in time in the past and possibly still value.

        I might have been affected or put off, but I will get over it and learn 
        thereby. What about you? You are cheating no one but 
        yourself.  Time to introspect and follow by action?

• To be an open book - bad idea:
  Don't share every little detail with all those YOU consider trust worthy and close to you. The same may not apply vice-versa. It is fine to blindly trust a mutt but not another human (not a smart move by any standards).
  
  
• To be attached yet detached:
  Sounds weird? Well, I know it does but ma first told me this, and then a friend shared the same thought. It doesn't seem to make sense and is hard to explain. Again, don't apply this to all and sundry, pick the select few. I leave it to you to figure out what it implies.
  
  

• Jealous: 
  Another article on Daily Om, conveyed something that we all are aware of but probably don't pay attention to - the positive aspect of Jealousy. It helps you realize your inner desire for a certain object/situation.
  
  
• Learn to NOT expect from the other, accept that the other is NOT you, the other is DIFFERENT. Focus on the self and identify your strength:
  To not expect is easier said than done, as it a natural human tendency that occurs in the unconscious. As for the latter, I am telling myself to accept that the other is different from me and hence not to expect an action or reaction like mine.
  
  Gurdjieff used to say to his disciples – the first thing, the very very first thing, “Find out what your greatest characteristic is, your greatest undoing, your central characteristic of unconsciousness.” Each one is different.
  
  

• Why do I write such posts?
  It helps vent, gather my readers views if any and last of all when I re-visit this page at a later time to recall what I learnt from those around me. This is not a bitter me but a gullible, naive me trying hard to adapt the worlds ways instead of feeling let down when others don't live up to my expectations. While this may involve most anyone I personally would like to exclude immediate family and loved ones. As for friends I won't comment as only time and situations tells you who really is genuine and always there for you. Yes, this is popsie who always believed her life to revolve around friends. Annoyed I am but not caustic, life's lessons are better learnt than left untouched!
  
  

Disclaimer: The intent is not to disrespect big achievers or those who are closer to the universe and are spiritual in nature. I am surrounded by umpteen such souls and respect them all for various such aspects, this is a mere observation that I believe I have the freedom to express.

Judgmental me

• Fat people don't realize the repercussions leave alone the cosmetic value.
• Don't like animals, especially mans best friend? Tells on you!
• Attitude, Conceit for no reason or rhyme - personal choice, eh? Need a mirror? 
• Technology slave - you need help. 
• Possess a stereotypical, run of the mill attitude, mindset? Ritualistic? Call for a Shrink!
• Judgmental, Critical (like me) - Change is the need of the hour.
• Open to criticism, change - way to go!
• Balanced (head on your shoulders) - Can't get better!

Note: This list will be updated from time to time.

Thinking aloud...

Man is engulfed  by relationships, some by birth others by choice or chance. Each beautiful, deep and timed in its own way. I learn, cherish and respect them all at different levels. They linger as memories with me until my grave and beyond!

Siddhagiri Wax Musuem

Why oh why, did I travel all that distance to Madame Tussauds, New York while my sister refused to come in and waited outside? I wasted 30-40 dollars and came out to admit and agree that she did a smart thing of never visiting the wax museum despite living in the country and traveling the globe.

Even if one does want to visit a wax museum I'd suggest that all Indians living in India visit the Siddhagiri Museum in Kolhapur. It sure is much closer and cheaper and the museum tries to depict the confluence of a self sustainable village life and nature.

MLTR - live in concert

Yes, another item (a rock show) on my wish list has finally been struck off. That's right Michael Learns To Rock - a Danish Soft Rock band was back in Bangalore, India on the 20th of June, 2010 for the third time to promote their new album 'Eternity'. The show started with the first number being 'Wild women on the back door, followed by Sleeping child, Sweetest surprise (from the new album Eternity), Actor (their first biggest hit), Paint my love (got the loudest cheer), That's why you go away and finally ended with Someday somewhere. The band went off stage and on public demand-request came back to play 'Breaking my heart'. 


It's been a really long wait, with a  huge crowd missing but that didn't matter to me. I was there with my friends listening to one of the bands that I liked a lot, way back in school. Every moment of the evening was spent in nostalgia, humming and swaying to the tunes of MLTR.

Style Statement?!

Body Piercing, Tatoos, Hairgel, Spiked, Coloured Hair and more - what kind of a style statement are you trying to make when all and sundry do just the same?!

Feel Good Factor: Ego Search

Ego search is so apt a term for googling oneself. In addition to my various profile (linkedin, FB, twitter, etc) results which I don't consider a result of my effort, I do have a handful of articles to my credit online in addition to my two blogs (I recently started contributing to a third blog (group), will essentially be cross posting from my travel blog).

It sure feels good, though my blogs are not thrown out in the search because I do not use my real name on my blogs but that does not matter. To see ones name or nick name in print undoubtedly gets you high! :-)

On love and Obligation...

Oblige is to favor, love is to set free
Obligation and love never cross paths.
I love thee, thus say not 'to oblige'!