Every religion has 3 aspects - values, symbols and practices.
There is diversity in the practices and symbols, whereas the values are common to all religions. The growth of fanaticism, fundamentalism and intolerance in the world today, is because people are only stuck in practices, symbols and customs. They forget about the values - human values.
The dress code of any religion is a symbol. If one does not follow the dress code, but follows the values, Is he / she less religious than the one who is wearing long robes and beads, or carries sticks or swords.
No. Religion is not symbols or practices alone. Don't take me wrong. I am not preaching not to follow symbols or practices. My case here is different.
Don't get stuck in Beard and Salwars and caps and robes. Practice the values first and you will find an automatic desire to follow the symbols and practices. The religion then would be much more fun and act as a guide to live life, rather than a thing to be feared.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Invictus
Arguably the best-remembered work of William Ernest Henley is the poem "Invictus", written in 1875. It is said that this was written as a demonstration of his resilience following the amputation of his foot due to tubercular infection.
This passionate and defiant poem was the source of energy and motivation to Nelson Mandela, who read this for 27 years from his tiny prison, and then freed South Africa. He used this poem to inspire SA Rughby team to become world champions.
INVICTUS
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
All the best folks...
This passionate and defiant poem was the source of energy and motivation to Nelson Mandela, who read this for 27 years from his tiny prison, and then freed South Africa. He used this poem to inspire SA Rughby team to become world champions.
INVICTUS
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
All the best folks...
Monday, November 15, 2010
Let Go
There was joy and there were tears.
My son, daughter and son were going back to boarding school at Nainital after spending 4 days with us for Diwali vacations. Our daughter has been in Boarding school for 5 years now and son for 4 years. The railway station with its crowd and teeming travellers was hardly the place to burst into tears, so I fought for self control. I tried to be angry at the crowd, traffic and dirty station. Like any good Indian I was happy that my children study in good Boarding schools, but my pride was tempered with the prospect of empty nest and loneliness that accompanies it.
The train had arrived. There was time for but a final hug. Anmol sensed the tears before she saw them. Ok Dad Take care. We will meet up soon in Muscat. Its just one month for Winter Vacations. And more over I will call you on Wednesday evenings.
In the last 5 years children have grown up from kids to young adults. I am happy at there personality and traits development.
I let the tears flow as I travelled back on the Metro to home that night. Moist eyed, I clibed up the stairs to my flat. No more blaring music, Play Station sounds, no sudden requests for Paranthas or milkshake, no more incessant stream of kids from the nieghborhood, or the pleasant sound of young laughter.
Its been 5 years that we are going through this ritual. We still shed our tears when saying good bye to our kids. Missing them is part of parenthood.
But then, so is letting go.
On that note, I was listening to the classic english number today, and posted the song on my facebook :
You can let go now Daddy,
you can let go
Oh, I think I am ready,
To do this on my own
It's still a little bit scary
But I want you to know
I'll be Okay now daddy,
You can let go.
My son, daughter and son were going back to boarding school at Nainital after spending 4 days with us for Diwali vacations. Our daughter has been in Boarding school for 5 years now and son for 4 years. The railway station with its crowd and teeming travellers was hardly the place to burst into tears, so I fought for self control. I tried to be angry at the crowd, traffic and dirty station. Like any good Indian I was happy that my children study in good Boarding schools, but my pride was tempered with the prospect of empty nest and loneliness that accompanies it.
The train had arrived. There was time for but a final hug. Anmol sensed the tears before she saw them. Ok Dad Take care. We will meet up soon in Muscat. Its just one month for Winter Vacations. And more over I will call you on Wednesday evenings.
In the last 5 years children have grown up from kids to young adults. I am happy at there personality and traits development.
I let the tears flow as I travelled back on the Metro to home that night. Moist eyed, I clibed up the stairs to my flat. No more blaring music, Play Station sounds, no sudden requests for Paranthas or milkshake, no more incessant stream of kids from the nieghborhood, or the pleasant sound of young laughter.
Its been 5 years that we are going through this ritual. We still shed our tears when saying good bye to our kids. Missing them is part of parenthood.
But then, so is letting go.
On that note, I was listening to the classic english number today, and posted the song on my facebook :
You can let go now Daddy,
you can let go
Oh, I think I am ready,
To do this on my own
It's still a little bit scary
But I want you to know
I'll be Okay now daddy,
You can let go.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Family First
I want to talk to you about family: your and mine.
I know and feel that as parents, you and I share some very important priorities. Just like you, I love my family more than anything in this world and I want us all to be safe, healthy, happy and prosperous in everything we do, both within our family and as we go out in the world.
As parents it is our job to be aware of of everything that can even potentially impact our families.
People enter into our family's world from all walks of life: teachers, coaches, extended families, school bullies, powerful peers and others. Some are well intentioned and some not. These people have priorities and values that may be different from our own and they can tremendously affect how our children think, feel and behave now, as well as who they become as adults. Bombardment from a massive and slick media can undermine morals and values in even the strongest of families if purposeful care is not taken to control and counteract this messages.
As parents, we are certainly not the only influences in our children's lives, so we absolutely must make sure that we are the best amd most persuasive infuence in our children's life.
Family is more important today than in past generations and its erosion is unacceptable.
I know and feel that as parents, you and I share some very important priorities. Just like you, I love my family more than anything in this world and I want us all to be safe, healthy, happy and prosperous in everything we do, both within our family and as we go out in the world.
As parents it is our job to be aware of of everything that can even potentially impact our families.
People enter into our family's world from all walks of life: teachers, coaches, extended families, school bullies, powerful peers and others. Some are well intentioned and some not. These people have priorities and values that may be different from our own and they can tremendously affect how our children think, feel and behave now, as well as who they become as adults. Bombardment from a massive and slick media can undermine morals and values in even the strongest of families if purposeful care is not taken to control and counteract this messages.
As parents, we are certainly not the only influences in our children's lives, so we absolutely must make sure that we are the best amd most persuasive infuence in our children's life.
Family is more important today than in past generations and its erosion is unacceptable.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Purpose of Life
Mona, My wife's younger sister and a very loveable person in our family, wrote to me yesterday. The question she asked is asked by less than .01% people (and no one at her age). Lucky for her she did asked. It made me do some study and some introspection.
I read a book recently written by Mitch Albom titled "Tuesdays with Morrie". Its a story of an old college professor (Morrie)in his last days, a young man (Mitch)who was once his student, and life's greatest lesson. I love this book as it is a true story that leaves you with a great understanding of the question that less than .01% even think about. "What is the purpose of life?"
Morrie the old professor says : "So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half asleep, even when they are busy doing things they think are important. This is because they are chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."
"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let is come in. Let it come in. We think we don't deserve love, we think if we let it come in, we'll become too soft. But a wise man name Levine said it just right. Love is the only rational act.
I reflect on my life and see that above is so true and real. Each word cause confrontation. For me the most difficult one is to let love come in. Any way that's my jorney.
I thank Mona for making pick up the lost thread again. This is such a profound conversation to dwell into. While life is empty and meaningless, it doesn't take to be rocket scientist or a great saint to provide formula of life. Just by dwelling into conversation opens up a new realm of possibilities.
Untill next time...
I read a book recently written by Mitch Albom titled "Tuesdays with Morrie". Its a story of an old college professor (Morrie)in his last days, a young man (Mitch)who was once his student, and life's greatest lesson. I love this book as it is a true story that leaves you with a great understanding of the question that less than .01% even think about. "What is the purpose of life?"
Morrie the old professor says : "So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half asleep, even when they are busy doing things they think are important. This is because they are chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."
"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let is come in. Let it come in. We think we don't deserve love, we think if we let it come in, we'll become too soft. But a wise man name Levine said it just right. Love is the only rational act.
I reflect on my life and see that above is so true and real. Each word cause confrontation. For me the most difficult one is to let love come in. Any way that's my jorney.
I thank Mona for making pick up the lost thread again. This is such a profound conversation to dwell into. While life is empty and meaningless, it doesn't take to be rocket scientist or a great saint to provide formula of life. Just by dwelling into conversation opens up a new realm of possibilities.
Untill next time...
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Marriage Elysium
Bible says What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mark 10:9
It was a wise man who said that it is important not only to pick the right mate, but to be the right mate. And contrary to many popular love stories, it is not during the first year of bliss that most dangers crop up. Marriages do not, like dropped chinaware, smash as a result of that first quarrel.
Marriage is a rooted thing, a growing and flowering thing that must be tended faithfully. Lacking the mutual effort, we are apt to find some day that our marriage, so hopefully planted, has been withering unnoticeably. Gradually we realize that for some time, the petals have lost their luster, that the perfume is gone.
We all welcome daily watering with the little gracious affectionate act. With mutual concern for other’s contentment, with self-watchfulness here and self-forgetfulness there, it brings forth ever new blossoms.
Perhaps the greatest blessing in marriage is that it lasts so long. The years, like the varying interests of each year, combine to strengthen and enrich each other.
I remember Thomas Moore’s beautiful words on marriage:
There’s a bliss beyond all that the minister has told
When two, that are linked in one heavenly tie,
With heart never changing, and brow never cold,
Love on through all ills, and love on till they die.
One hour of passion so scared is worth
Whole age of heartless and wandering bliss;
Ah Oh! If there be an Elysium* on earth,
It is this – it is this!
*Elysium means paradise
It was a wise man who said that it is important not only to pick the right mate, but to be the right mate. And contrary to many popular love stories, it is not during the first year of bliss that most dangers crop up. Marriages do not, like dropped chinaware, smash as a result of that first quarrel.
Marriage is a rooted thing, a growing and flowering thing that must be tended faithfully. Lacking the mutual effort, we are apt to find some day that our marriage, so hopefully planted, has been withering unnoticeably. Gradually we realize that for some time, the petals have lost their luster, that the perfume is gone.
We all welcome daily watering with the little gracious affectionate act. With mutual concern for other’s contentment, with self-watchfulness here and self-forgetfulness there, it brings forth ever new blossoms.
Perhaps the greatest blessing in marriage is that it lasts so long. The years, like the varying interests of each year, combine to strengthen and enrich each other.
I remember Thomas Moore’s beautiful words on marriage:
There’s a bliss beyond all that the minister has told
When two, that are linked in one heavenly tie,
With heart never changing, and brow never cold,
Love on through all ills, and love on till they die.
One hour of passion so scared is worth
Whole age of heartless and wandering bliss;
Ah Oh! If there be an Elysium* on earth,
It is this – it is this!
*Elysium means paradise
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
This too shall pass away
We canot expect to live always on a smooth and even plane. We all face problems, worries, and fears; we all have our setbacks, our sorrows and misfortunes. They are part of the substance of living, and none of us can escape them.
You must make up your mind to the possibility of sustaining a certain measure of pain and trouble in your passage through life.
We cannot walk through out our life on mountain peaks. There are rivers and valleys along the way, and some are deep and treacherous, some a cruel challenge to human endurance.
But courage conquers all things.
And down through the centuries poets and philosophers have been telling us so in a fascinating ways.
One hundred years ago Paul Hamilton wrote an inspirational poem, which was carried by thousands in their pockets and purses:
Art thou in misery, brother? Then I pray
Be confronted. The grief shall pass away.
Art thou elated? Ah, be not too gay;
Temper this joy: this, too shall pass away.
Art thou in danger? Still let reason sway,
And cling to hope: this, too shall pass away.
Tempted art thou? In all thine anguish lay
One truth to heart; this, too shall pass away.
Do rays of loftier glory round thee play?
Kinglike art thou? This too, shall pass away!
Whate'ver thou art, where ever thy footsteps stray,
Head these wise words: This, too shall pass away.
The philosophy of centuries old Eastern Monarchs repeated by Paul Hayne is a proof that nothing lasts - not even pain.
William Shakespeare said - Come what may; Time and the hour runs through the darkest day,
Lets surrender to the wisdom of these great man and have courage because
This too shall pass away.
You must make up your mind to the possibility of sustaining a certain measure of pain and trouble in your passage through life.
We cannot walk through out our life on mountain peaks. There are rivers and valleys along the way, and some are deep and treacherous, some a cruel challenge to human endurance.
But courage conquers all things.
And down through the centuries poets and philosophers have been telling us so in a fascinating ways.
One hundred years ago Paul Hamilton wrote an inspirational poem, which was carried by thousands in their pockets and purses:
Art thou in misery, brother? Then I pray
Be confronted. The grief shall pass away.
Art thou elated? Ah, be not too gay;
Temper this joy: this, too shall pass away.
Art thou in danger? Still let reason sway,
And cling to hope: this, too shall pass away.
Tempted art thou? In all thine anguish lay
One truth to heart; this, too shall pass away.
Do rays of loftier glory round thee play?
Kinglike art thou? This too, shall pass away!
Whate'ver thou art, where ever thy footsteps stray,
Head these wise words: This, too shall pass away.
The philosophy of centuries old Eastern Monarchs repeated by Paul Hayne is a proof that nothing lasts - not even pain.
William Shakespeare said - Come what may; Time and the hour runs through the darkest day,
Lets surrender to the wisdom of these great man and have courage because
This too shall pass away.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)