Anonymity

Anonymity is a great blessing. It gives you freedom and let you truly be what you are. Even though there are people, who enjoy such freedom in the most conspicuous way, most of the people are not so fortunate to have upbringing which can strengthen them to have ability to face society and culture while being original. For them anonymity is a bliss no matter how cowardly it seems.There can be many argument against anonymity as it somewhat passive and subjective way of living your life without pushing or rebelling against the system which imposes many layers of artificiality over our true being. But the truth is that the labyrinthine structure of social tradition weighs us down and ruins  our confidence to be ourselves. It is not surprising to see that many people don’t even realize how their behaviour is accustomed to the norms of society. From the very beginning of our life, we are disciplined to certain norms. We are told to behold the certain distinction of right and wrong. Little do we know that these criteria are neither absolute nor permanent.  Time comes when we are left to ponder over the contradiction of what we believed and what it really is.

It is said that when we can’t fight, we should hide. I don’t find any feeling of shame in accepting the veracity of this statement. Fighting against system as a person would never have as impact as fighting it with an Idea. Anonymity protects one as an individual and provides a platform where one’s idea can grow, spread and influence the society. This little anomaly in form of idea has the potential to bring out truth by foundering the orthodox norms of society.

Swelling Technology & Waning Spirituality

In this era of technological revolution, our efforts are merging towards an absolute control of everything. Just push a button and apparently, everything from lighting, AC, TV or even opening and closing of doors are at our finger tips. Sometimes, I wonder what would be the end of this revolution. Would it be like as we see in Hollywood movies in which they repeatedly show the control of humanity by human-made ROBOTs or would it just start mitigating as everything in nature does after reaching its peak. I cannot say if the evolution followed by revolution is cyclic or linear but a little observation in the changing scenario can provide a substantial clue for coming future.

From the inception of Mankind, religion and science are the two basic structures which have been supporting humanity. If Science feeds you, religion gives you the taste of food. Both are distinct but inevitable for Mankind. The lack of anyone would create havoc in the system.If we go slightly deeper into the realm of science and religion, we acknowledge that comparison of science and technology is pointless. Religion is just an application of spirituality as technology is of Science. Science is journey of outwards and spirituality is of inwards. Science is pursuit of discovering the things which are...But just hidden. It is just like demystifying the unknown. Technology is the exploitation of this hidden knowledge for our use. In a same way, spirituality is a journey of knowing our inner self...the purest form which is aptly described in scriptures...Satya- Chita- Ananda...Religion guides us to embark the journey of inwards. Prayers, worshipping and scriptures are just few applications of spirituality to lead us towards inner self.

Somewhere, in the high decibel and dazzling development of technology, we have become oblivious to the basic structure of technology....Science. On the other side...Religion is also contaminated by preposterous and dogmatic thought which has blurred the true purpose of religion and more often, it is appearing devilishly in the form of war and genocide.  No doubt...Technology is providing a lot of things...But also taking a lot of things...More things are coming in our control...Less controlled we are getting. The incessant pursuit of technology has overshadowed the inquisitiveness of mankind and hence, pursuit of science.

So, where are we leading... towards a path of glorious Mankind or doomed Mankind? It is hard to envisage the future of Mankind but with little interpolation of swelling technology and waning spirituality in the wake of nuclear Bombs...it would not be an exaggeration to say that if your light, AC and door can be controlled by a push switch, presumably the life of whole planet could also be at someone finger tips...and we, who are losing our own conscience in imparting intelligence to steel-bodies...it would be really disastrous and might be, the culmination of Mankind. 

Come On INDIA!!

Things are changing fast. Perception and its reaction have quite changed in these years. Thanks to media, and people like Anna Hazzare and Baba Ramdev...The stream of awareness in people’s perception is finally claiming to bring a Tsunami against the old-wretched political and beureachratic system of India.     

A revolution is not an accident. It is certificate for people’s lost faith and dying hope to existing governing system. And the recent appalling acts of corruption one after another by governing party were more than enough to trigger the people’s fury. And when Anna Hazzare became the torch bearer, millions supported him in the hope that a “Change” would finally come. The “Change”.... The dawn of which will bring the end of blood-sucking-Vampires from Indian Political and beureachratic system.

So my question is ...Would really the acceptance of LOKPAL BILL bring this change or would it just create another camouflaged and just superficially-changed old system, painted in eyes-soothing colours? The biggest threat of LOKPAL BILL is it might centralize the power in the hands of few civil people who could curb both judiciary as well as Prime minister. Well, History is witness that centralization of power has never been a good idea. It would eventually lead to either dictatorship or complete anarchy. Therefore, It is imperative that there should not be an isolated control, control must be mutual....not unidirectional.

Anna Hazzare’s war against government is not a political movement. Somehow BaBa Ramdev involvement in this crusade politicized the revolution and tried to defile the demand of “Change” into just “the change of Existing government”. It is not the change of Government that will bring the solution of corruption...But It is the change of policy which can make the system more transparent and system more accountable to common citizens. And that is where inclusion of top official in LOKPAL bill could be effective.

I admire Anna and Baba...not because what they are personally but for their initiation....And countries like India where people are shamelessly-sleeping in their own pigeon hole and are completely oblivious to their rights and duties...it is indeed great to initiate. A revolution cannot churn the system for good if it does not have a clear vision and plan for implementation. Initiation is prerequisite which no doubt has been offered by Anna Hazzare and somewhat by Baba Ramdev. But a collective clear vision and implementation are outcome of intellect that is where I feel, rawness of LOKPAL bill can be polished and modified by the constructive suggestions and discussions.

We, the youths, have been sleeping for decades. I wonder how many of the youths would have any idea about LOKPAL Bill. I salute Anna Hazarre for taking a stand against the rising corruption and for raising alarm against sleeping Junta of India. Hazzare has lighted the torch...and it is duty of our youths to perpetuate the torch until the deep-seated corruption incinerates into ashes. If you want the change, be the change.

Come On INDIA!!!!

It would be apt to repeat Thakur’s dialogue from Sholey in the current scenerio...

(लोहा गर्म है मार दो हथौरा )

Religion; My Thoughts

It might appear you as a blasphemous post...So please read it at your own risk...It is just my (Agnostic)opinion at this moment which might be changed over the time...

Bertrand Russell says that By self interest Man has become gregarious, but in instinct he has remained to a great extent solitary...these two contradictory characteristics are optimized and glued by the religion...To an extent religion unites in a group...An intelligent technique to face the uncertainty and unpredictability of life...

Recently I was reading the novel “Lajja” by Taslima Nasrinn...A question suddenly came into my mind...Has not religion divided, brought carnage and disaster than united us? For centuries we have been fighting over religion...Some on the name of protecting their religion; some on the name of expanding their religion...

If everything in your life is certain, there would be no need of “God”. But probability of events and incidents has led us to think about some supernatural and mysterious existence (And I don’t say it does not exist; It might exist) and I think that geographical differences and communicational isolation would have brought different names and expressions which we now know as different religions...

Faith and belief give a stand to us. A position, from where we derive courage, motivation and inspiration to move forward; to accept the challenges and to face the disasters. It is imperative to notice how things like river, mountain, wind, sun, moon and stars were considered divine or God but today in the light of knowledge our thoughts have been modified...So It proves to an extent that religion is our necessity, a man-made intelligent technique to unite people in a happy and peaceful ambiance; to answer the mysterious, unknown and unexplainable facts...And as world would change...our perception and interpretations about religion would also change. Fundamentally religion reflects that along with known and unknown there are things that are never-known.

For me, religion is more like a way of life...Hindu religion is a way of life...Islam is another way of life...there are so many different ways. Is it not possible for someone to be more suited for Christianity, even he get birth in Hindu Family and vice-versa? Birth should not define our religion...And if it is... It doesn’t fulfil the significance of religion. If you have right to choose your career, your soul-mate why not religion... Preservation of religion itself invokes the concept of expansion...What is need of preservation? Are people not free to choose what is good for them? The more you can do is to give him knowledge of religion and then let him free to choose his religion (his way of life)...

To establish a society is a difficult task as every person is not as intellectual as he can understand the main essence of religion. So it would have become a necessity to identify what is good and what is bad and then our intelligent forefathers would have given a religious covering with the threats of god so that people could be restricted to destabilize society... it has constrained people to do things which can destabilize the society, however the gap between perfection and heuristic solution has increased as time passed...

But life is not as simple as our forefathers had thought. Human has been always a competitive-ambitious-curious being...Even Religion has united some people but has created a wider gap between two communities who often fight over the superiority and divinity of their religion...People don’t follow Buddha; people follow Buddhism... people don’t follow Mohammad...people follow Islam...People don’t follow shankarcharya; people follow Hinduism ... And there is great difference between following a person and community...Because to follow Buddha, you need to know about his teachings...but following Buddhism you just have to take birth in Buddhist family...People don’t see the moon but only the finger that points the moon....

The word “Religion” has lost his authenticity in midst to blind and prejudiced thoughts. And now when being religious is pronounced as being extremism, this 'word' must be identified its true definition by all and sundry as it would provide a wider tolerance towards which would in turn create happy and peaceful ambiance.

Personally I am not religious, not religious as it sounds to majority of people...But I am spiritual, intuitive and believe in the laws of existence (which I have experienced)...And Might be my faith and belief wouldn’t be as strong as a man who follows ritual, does fast and worships god in Idol form...However, I feel it would be better with no-faith(faith in yourself only) than a blind-faith...Because I feel if your eyes are open, sooner or later you would get the vantage-point which would be proved to be a source of immense faith and courage... 

Ancient Wisdom

One cannot deny the significance of apocryphal stories, ancient paintings and sculptures in philosophical and scientific investigation. Our scriptures, our ancient arts (Khajuraho and Alora caves) has a lot more hidden knowledge, which independent comprehension can open deep secrets of wisdom and intelligence. In “YogSastra”, how beautifully Patanjali has described whole physiology of human body with astrology (Sun and Moon). However, explanations of many of his Sutras are available, but yet complete and precise description is unavailable.

Someone has very beautifully said,” Sutras are like seeds. One needs to sow them in the fertile soil. And then this seeds sprouts into flowers”

Lord Siva is deeply related to Tantra philosophy. His deity is representation of harmony of male and female, yin and yang. A divine representation of sexuality, deciphering that sex is not limited to physical level, but also beyond a physical level there is subtle fusion of Siva and Shakti engery, resulting a united energy field. Tantra believes that sex is not for procreation and pleasure, but also for liberation.

“Ardnarishwar”, half male ad half female, has also a profound meaning, regarding the human psychology. Every man is consciously man, unconsciously woman and every woman is consciously woman, unconsciously man. When I say man and woman, it also corresponds to intellect and intuition, more scientifically left brain and right brain. As all of us know, our left brain is logical; it calculates; it does analysis. Our right brain is intuitive; it enjoys poetry; it loves paintings. If you are only well in left brain, you will be logical, you will be curious but your life will be dull, without fragrance. If only your right brain is active, you can have a much contended life but you cannot help others; you will not be able to communicate.

It has been said,” Right brain is like a blind man. Left is like a cripple man. If there is fire in the forest, both have to help each other to escape.”

Whatever you see outside is just reflection of inside. Male and female are complementary to each other. Inside you, there is male and female also. One, who finds it, need not have to hanker outside.

In a deeper  sense, man and woman are not equal. They are different, in their unique way. No one is inferior, no one is superior.

                                                                       A joke, I read somewhere… (It has nothing do with above post)

….

Two children, of six years were visiting an abstract painting exhibition. Suddenly, one of them whispered,” Run! Before they say that we have done it.”

Renunciation

In Sanskrit, there is verse saying to consume with renunciation (tyag ke saath bhog karo). In today’s perspective, I would rather say, “Renounce if you want to consume. Camouflage yourself in such a way that you are able to renounce what others cannot; certainly you will get respect, money and a title ‘yogi’.

Someone starts eating only fruits and become Baba. Someone starts living naked. Someone never speaks. These people start doing everything which draws people attention and show how much renunciation, they are doing.   People are unhappy and frustrated. They seek for miracle but who is going to make a miracle, an ordinary married person who wears English pants and shirts. No, he cannot. People get attracted to renunciation, celibacy, difficult life and feel that this man has inner strength and he can do what I am seeking for. So actually, to be attracted towards renunciation is only a projection of our depression and frustration. And this can never solve our problem because the fundamental of this thing is standing upon the fact that the people who are consuming; who are enjoying are guilty, are sinners. Whatever seems natural, they say renounce it. It is no wonder they would say, stop breathing if one can be alive without air. 

I feel renunciation is an inward process, wells up from inside to outside. If one has no desire of money, fame; has no ego automatically a metamorphosis in his personality begins to occur. He starts becoming a real fakir, like Kabir. He finds the significance of world and stops chasing.

But now a days what is happening is very outward and can never reach to the core of life. They start decorating their life with all the senses of renunciation, like they increase their hairs and beards; accept celibacy; stops wearing good cloths and hope that this thing, this outward change is going to bring an inward transformation. But it never happens. Existence flows in its own way.

If one detach all the cloths and money this does not mean he will get rid of desires. Only if he will get rid of desires, he will able to detach cloths and money. So a real saint does not detach anything. The question of detachment only arises when there is attachment.

Faith Or Fever

In scorching heat, I saw the bare legs; old legs, young legs, small legs, big legs, weary legs, passionate legs, wounded legs, bandaged legs. A twinkling decorated wooden stick, with two small sized pots hanging at its two ends, oscillating front and back was reflecting a typical austerity. Clad in keshariya half trousers and shirts, layering against their sweated scorched body were moving with a restoring chant of “Bole Bum”. Yes, I am talking about ‘Kanwariyas’

                   

While moving out from Kanpur to Allahabad, police force with arms, smoke coming out of dying flames of two burned trucks was creating a dreaded picture. Soon it was revealed to me, it is done by some kanwariyas, in revenge to their deceased fellow. Later I found this is not only happened this year, but previous year same thing happened. There are many incidents like forcibly sitting down in the train, misbehaving with the people. Are they not tarnishing their image?

These incidents put many questions about their reverence, faith and beliefs. I do not know whether it is the faith or a mere fashion that is attracting mass of people from every class of every age. But whatever it is, these incidents leave a black stain on HINDUISM.

*All photos are taken by me by my mobile....

Mockery Of Religion

Caution: Highly provocative and blasphemous post. So read at your own risk.

I am not a religious person, not as religious as, it is being defined by so called sant and Bapus. Now days, the lotus feet of one of Bapu is in Varanasi. I am not excited at all what he delivers in his teachings here but, I have been a reader of their teachings(by monthly magazine issued by their foundation) in my childhood days and fortunately, today Danik Jagran provided me the glimpse of his teachings, the reverence of his followers. He has given statements like “India is a blessed country since it gives so much respect to the saints and Mahatma.” And other was “one who disrespects saints and gives false allegation to them, is destroyed.”

For the first statement I can only say, “India is one of the country where people can be duped, can be made blind and dumb in the name of religion, in the name of god, in the name of heaven and hell, in the name of every thing which is unknown because we are the people who are being duped, choked from the centuries. We have been habituated, conditioned and some people are providing sleeping pills to those who are already sleeping. People do not respect you. Saints, like you, has handicapped the thinking process of people by preaching the old and lifeless lines of scriptures, by extinguishing their thirst by muddy water, when they require elixir. These people are not respecting you, they are so unhappy, distressed and in melancholy, they search for a river where they can rest, can celebrate and you give them hope of future (after death) and you ,make them to realize that whatever is happening at that moment is result of past. They give you the simple formula to get rid of all distress like chanting Ram, Ram, by hearing the fictitious stories, by praising the god, by crowning the stoned sculptures. It is easy and convenient. It suits us. What a simple thing it is? India is doing this for century, then why people are still unhappy. They are fighting, looting. Do you know how many fights have been occurred in the name of religion, in the name of Vishnu and Siva? You, people are not healing the wounds of people but wrapping a cloth on their wounds which is ceasing them to analyze where these wounds are and how it can be cured. “

Now for the second statement I will say,” In general, it is not the love or knowledge that makes one to believe in God. It is ‘FEAR’. From centuries, people are being threatened in the name of hell and heaven, and this is just a tradition which is being followed by so called saints. A fearful person can not love god. He can only serve like slave. God needs no slaves and why do he need? He is already omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. Neither god need respect, because he has no hunger of prestige, he has no ego; he has no inferiority complex like you. And god is such a powerful being, if he can destroy the people who disrespect their dear, saints then why can he not changed the mind of these people ,as god is so merciful and compassionate. Why do a saint care when some one disrespect you; why do you fear; history is witness that in the name of true religion and spirituality, people who oppose, is not destroyed but the saints (who are really saints, according to me) like Buddha, Mahavira, Kabir, Jesus, Socrates, Osho have sacrificed their life for saying light to light in the midst of blind people. It is not easy call a spade a spade and to open their eyes, it requires courage and endurance.”

Go To Hell, You Fool!

How ridiculous and enigmatic it is, is not it? , when a majority of population is starving to death, hankering for basic amenities like bread, cloth and roof, so called humanitarians and philanthropists are crowning and decorating the stoned sculptures of worth a million rupees to showcase either their reverence or to mark themselves a religious being, which finally step up him to a political or commercial ladder in an orthodox and blind country, like India. They turn up the curtain called ‘preservation of culture and tradition’ with a clandestine desire of selfishness. A foolish man can only misuse the religion. This is what the people are doing, never questions their belief, the tradition and led the mankind to the abyss of religious fanaticisms and chaos. I get bemused when I think about the people (actor, politician, and industrialist) like them, how people of such kind, donate so much amount of money in temples, I find, three types of people

1.) First kinds are the sick and worn out. Having reached to the top, has not provided a single dew of happiness, so they want it in future (after death) and find the concept of heaven more reasonable. So this is an investment in account of their God.

2.) Second kinds of people are some what smarter. They are not driven by the concept of heaven. For them, it is way to be an epitome of certain religion which will finally help them in their political or commercial, or industrial interest.

3.) Third types of people are those whose eyes, ears and mind are conditioned according to lifeless line, written in scriptures. Their repression compensates their sense of greatness and purity. They find to serve an omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient more agreeable and logical than to serve others human being, in which some are castigated for their past crimes and some are acting like sinners(according to their orthodox scriptures).

There may be other type of people. Some may have nice intentions. If you know other types, your comments are welcome. For the three types of people I will only say, “Go to hell, you fool”.