This is the latest sensational tag line that has been going on in my mind. I was in a data structures lecture class listening intently when my professor explained a concept and mentioned these words. Then he posed a question: "What is the philosophical meaning behind these words?". I immediately delved into deep thinking. Somehow though these words look attractive and catchy it just doesn't agree with all situations in life. Thats what I strongly feel.
Firstly I will briefly tell what you mean by "Look at the big picture!". It means one must not get bogged down by trivial and insignificant things in life. One's purpose in life is different. One must not forget the purpose or in other words the big picture. We must stick to our priorities. Everything else that happens to us, which makes us forget our purpose and distracts us from our course is to be omitted. It is what we call the 'neti' shastra in Upanishads. Neti means Na iti or 'not this'. One must repeatedly do a self analysis and ask oneself before doing something Is this my purpose? Is this what I am born for? Will this make me happy? How happy will this make me? Then one can eliminate most of the things in life as insignificant. No not this! No not this! This is not what I really want! My purpose is different. Thus by this we can eliminate all our desires and truly be at par with the Lord Buddha or a sanyaasi if we go to the extreme level.
But looking at the big picture is only like a beginners level in the game of life. If you succeed in it you can proudly proclaim you have passed L.K.G. in school. This is a line mean't for those who are so deeply into materialism and money making to get the initial opening into spirituality.
In life, every aspect of nature, every teensy wheensy microscopic thing is important and is very much significant and has a beautiful part to play, in the general scheme of the whole universe. Nothing should be treated without due respect and shunned as insignificant. An ant, even bacteria in the curd or a mouse which munches up the kitchen stores is necessary and is not created without a purpose. The whole cycle of life is so wonderful and each is dependent on the other. Not a single part of nature is created and wasted.
On our side, in spite of our busy schedules, we must treat our possessions, our friends, our family and all others with respect, care and consideration. The respect and care must not be egoistic and vain. We must care with all our hearts but not be too much attached. That is one must love unconditionally and not be affected whether the same is reciprocated to us or not. Krishna paramatma himself has mentioned in the Bhagavat Gita and it is mentioned as well in the 2nd shloka of Ishavaasya upanishad:
Kuruvan Neiveha Karmaani, Jijivisheshatam Samaha
Evam tvayi Naanyathetosti, Na Karma Lipyate Nare.
Actions do not bind to those who do them without expecting the fruits. So I would like to conclude by saying: "Look at the big picture but pay attention to the details!!"
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Still waters run deep
The year 2012 just seemed to have begun and so soon has two months passed by as quick as a lightening bolt. I have become too pensive these days. Most of my thoughts are unwanted, causing more damage than doing good to my physical and mental wellbeing. I am unable to concentrate and finish the work I plan thanks to these thoughts which drop on me like acid bombs. I must not let these little devils cloud the brilliancy in me. I must continuously work hard and clean the dirty, stinky sewage within me. Must Work, Work, Struggle! Struggle!
Everyday we face so many problems, an uncountable number of them. Mostly and almost always we ourselves are a problem to us. Its because we assume a lot which are not true, expect a lot from others and consequently these tatakas and soorpanakas rule over us and creates a rusty layer over our intellect. If we remove this rust we are safe else we are drowned for ever in this huge ocean of problems or more aptly "sufferings".
The next point is our desires. They are such vicious creatures. Desire for sex, for material objects. Her necklace is good, I want the same one. I want to watch this movie with my friends. I want this, I want that. Our wants keep expanding and growing exponentially. Someone said that the very point of going to the temple is to satisfy some material desire or the other. Who ever prays for world peace, permanent happiness and unison with God? With desire comes envy, jealousy, anger, pride all holding hands and ruining our mental balance. Honestly speaking the very reason for composing this post is my desire for everyone to read and appreciate which must not be the true motive behind any action.
Reactions? What about them? It is our vague and false assumptions that make us react to situations in life. Jumping at the first opportunity to argue and fight with others. So what if the other person said something wrong or has committed a mistake? Who are we to correct and have silly arguments? Our every effort to correct others be it our own kith and kin is a colossal waste of time.
I am slowly discovering that every teensy-weensy thing in this universe is not at all what I think it to be. My whole mental attitude needs to be changed. I need to get a new perspective, a different angle, or an angle which does not spoil my peace of mind.
Simplicity is a beautiful quality which we must cultivate at a very young age. Living simply is what our great leaders like Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi have always proposed. This means our surroundings must be uncluttered, have only the minimal necessary items and a total abolition of consumerism. When the surrounding environment is clean, our thoughts also become clean and there is a lot of positive energy generated within us.
After changing our mental attitude, controlling our thoughts and keeping things simple comes the challenging part. That is to be still, calm, unagitated at the face of even the perilous situations. How do we master being calm? How can we resist speaking those words you shouldn't have spoken and doing things which cause us indescribable misery, sadness and regret? It is actually quite simple. That is why we have the power of imagination which no other creature possesses on earth. We must imagine a strong transparent barrier between us and these trouble makers. Everything that happens is on the other side of the barrier. We are only witnesses, we don't need to worry and get too involved. Just observe, don't react. All the harsh insults hurled at us by others will bounce back at them. The evil asthras mean't to destroy will backfire. The more calm and cool, the more will the torch within us burn brightly.
Everyday we face so many problems, an uncountable number of them. Mostly and almost always we ourselves are a problem to us. Its because we assume a lot which are not true, expect a lot from others and consequently these tatakas and soorpanakas rule over us and creates a rusty layer over our intellect. If we remove this rust we are safe else we are drowned for ever in this huge ocean of problems or more aptly "sufferings".
The next point is our desires. They are such vicious creatures. Desire for sex, for material objects. Her necklace is good, I want the same one. I want to watch this movie with my friends. I want this, I want that. Our wants keep expanding and growing exponentially. Someone said that the very point of going to the temple is to satisfy some material desire or the other. Who ever prays for world peace, permanent happiness and unison with God? With desire comes envy, jealousy, anger, pride all holding hands and ruining our mental balance. Honestly speaking the very reason for composing this post is my desire for everyone to read and appreciate which must not be the true motive behind any action.
Reactions? What about them? It is our vague and false assumptions that make us react to situations in life. Jumping at the first opportunity to argue and fight with others. So what if the other person said something wrong or has committed a mistake? Who are we to correct and have silly arguments? Our every effort to correct others be it our own kith and kin is a colossal waste of time.
I am slowly discovering that every teensy-weensy thing in this universe is not at all what I think it to be. My whole mental attitude needs to be changed. I need to get a new perspective, a different angle, or an angle which does not spoil my peace of mind.
Simplicity is a beautiful quality which we must cultivate at a very young age. Living simply is what our great leaders like Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi have always proposed. This means our surroundings must be uncluttered, have only the minimal necessary items and a total abolition of consumerism. When the surrounding environment is clean, our thoughts also become clean and there is a lot of positive energy generated within us.
After changing our mental attitude, controlling our thoughts and keeping things simple comes the challenging part. That is to be still, calm, unagitated at the face of even the perilous situations. How do we master being calm? How can we resist speaking those words you shouldn't have spoken and doing things which cause us indescribable misery, sadness and regret? It is actually quite simple. That is why we have the power of imagination which no other creature possesses on earth. We must imagine a strong transparent barrier between us and these trouble makers. Everything that happens is on the other side of the barrier. We are only witnesses, we don't need to worry and get too involved. Just observe, don't react. All the harsh insults hurled at us by others will bounce back at them. The evil asthras mean't to destroy will backfire. The more calm and cool, the more will the torch within us burn brightly.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year 2012!
Happy New Year 2012.
Hope this year is full of peace, prosperity and good health. Every year should be a year of growth, progress and elevation of personality. I sincerely pray and hope that this year is a year of achievement-not only materially but also mentally and emotionally. Control of the senses, greater devotion to God by having an intense faith are the two mental and emotional things to achieve this year...
Laziness is something that I am struggling to overcome. I pray that this year should be the busiest and not have any negative thoughts demotivate me. Hope my blog too becomes worth a read and I publish a lot of new ideas this year.
Lets begin this New Year with loads of enthusiasm, passion and full of energy.
God is always with us all!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Test of Patients
I am going to relate an incident which happened to me today. I don't know how many people I have helped overall in my life. Especially when it comes to dealing with the sick, I am quite an amateur. I only run away as far as possible from suffering and sick patients. Very immature and selfish of me to say so, but actually I would attribute it to my incapacity to deal with emergency situations or even giving first aid. I always have the fear, what if I go wrong and something happens to the person? But this time I was the patient--so extremely convenient!
I had an exam today and usually I don't get proper sleep during the previous night of any exam. My stress level coupled with intense stomach cramps was enough to toss my head off. The morning blues started with the short cycles of tensed inspiration and expiration, 'Will I(breathe in)?' or 'Won't I(breathe out)?' get the college bus? The bus driver on the top of it had told me that he might not come. I pestered my mom to drop me by car to the stop which is just 100m away from my house. She too stood along with me ready to wave her dupatta at any yellow bus coming on the road. Many people going for morning walks witnessed our pathetic condition, but a gang of speed bikers swished past us towards the beach. For them, Saturdays meant fun and nothing else but fun. I became mildly jealous of them.
Ha, finally my own bus came and picked me up. What a relief! I gave a smile to my mom which was so lacking in me for many hours. My mom asked me not to worry being a bit worried herself. She must have said bye but by then all I noticed was the dark cosy interior of my own college bus.
Studying or finishing assignments in the bus is something that I have learnt to do but invariably these two are enough to put me to sleep. Nagging my juniors, bugging them with my no care attitude and meddling with their over expensive high funda gadgets are other activities which I normally perform with expertise and enthusiasm. They treat me as a necessary evil and I think they have already put me in their 'beware of' list. So they would carefully choose places away from the place I usually sit.
Today my bus was unusually empty. So I had a great time gazing out of the window. Then lets just fast forward the part where I successfully landed in college and walked up the 'tirupathi padi' upto my class, and finished my exam. After my exam got over, I couldn't leave early cause my friend wanted help with group theory. I sat there the whole time having lunch and explaining the meaning of each and every concept. It was great revisiting those parts and I was surprised that I remembered quite a lot and it also helped me to analyse my flaws in understanding. Then I asked my friend to accompany me to the station where I hoped to catch a train towards home sweet home. The train was at 15:11, I bought the ticket at 15:09 and I ran up the steps. I was shocked that I was unable to carry my own weight. It is these kind of moments which help me realise the importance of physical exercise.
I stupidly chose a place to stand, on the platform. My lack of experience clearly seen in my choice. The train arrived but nowhere I could find the ladies compartment. Then I ran haphazardly towards the engine driver and thankfully I located a group of ladies staring aimlessly out of the window. I rushed in but it proved futile as I could not locate a seat. I moved forward and I sat off on the place marked first class.
People swindle crores and crores of money and break millions of laws but a group of tired ladies should not sit in first class. Some idiot wanted to prove his authority and rudely chased us out of our seats. I was the last to leave among the group and I wanted to spit at his face but I restrained myself lest he throws me out of the fast moving train. I stood there aimlessly for some time quite shaken by the insult to humanity. Then I slowly started moving forward towards the crowded portions of the compartment barely hearing the noise of the people selling oily samosas.
I stood hanging for about a minute, I suddenly could not breathe. I started sweating profusely and with great reluctance I asked to be offered a seat. I knew the minimal lunch, lack of sleep and stomach cramps had done the trick plus the haphazard running to catch the ladies' compartment. A kind lady stood up and forced me to sit in her place. Then questions started pouring in from all directions. B.P.a?, Sugar a?, Please call home. Where is your home? Which station? Did you have anything to eat? Do you bring medicine? Take water. Wash face with water. I sat down and on one side I was too tired to answer and on another side I didn't want to answer as it could trigger more questions. I just wanted to be left alone and peaceful, that's how my family has treated a 'sick me' for years. I nodded my head in every possible direction thinking that it would stop them from asking questions. Suddenly a sleepy old fat lady sitting near the window, got up and everyone along with her in chorus asked me to lie down. I seized the opportunity and moved towards the window. I didn't lie down. I just wanted a small space to sit. I felt too embarrassed. I wanted to dig my head into the soil like an ostrich so I tried to move my head right out the window but unfortunately my head was too big to be pushed out so I stuck myself against the wall.
I couldn't face anyone. I felt too guilty that I had pulled away their luxury because of my sickness. I drew an imaginary halo on top of their heads and prayed that they should all go to heaven. The fat lady who stood for me couldn't stand for a long time. So she pushed a thin perplexed small boy aside and squeezed herself on the seat opposite me. The questions had stopped for some time as I pretended to close my eyes and sleep.
The ladies in the train really took care of me. They were each giving me motherly advice. The fat lady sponsored me a bottle of fruit juice and forced me to drink the whole stuff. Nothing went inside cause it was too cold to be swallowed. I tried returning the bottle to her but she refused to take it and everyone again shouted in chorus "take it! take it! One must not refuse timely help!" The fat lady spoke "I think of you as my daughter. For her I would have surely bought it. So have it!" and she got off in the next station. I had no words, I never knew that the world around was this much good.
From childhood my brain has always thought, "Don't trust strangers! They cheat you!" The important fact here is that there are some people who are good and always ready to help in this fast paced, selfish world. If all people were bad then surely the world would have ended long ago. I again go back to the question I asked in the beginning, "Whom did I help to be offered such heaps and bounds of affection in return?".
I had an exam today and usually I don't get proper sleep during the previous night of any exam. My stress level coupled with intense stomach cramps was enough to toss my head off. The morning blues started with the short cycles of tensed inspiration and expiration, 'Will I(breathe in)?' or 'Won't I(breathe out)?' get the college bus? The bus driver on the top of it had told me that he might not come. I pestered my mom to drop me by car to the stop which is just 100m away from my house. She too stood along with me ready to wave her dupatta at any yellow bus coming on the road. Many people going for morning walks witnessed our pathetic condition, but a gang of speed bikers swished past us towards the beach. For them, Saturdays meant fun and nothing else but fun. I became mildly jealous of them.
Ha, finally my own bus came and picked me up. What a relief! I gave a smile to my mom which was so lacking in me for many hours. My mom asked me not to worry being a bit worried herself. She must have said bye but by then all I noticed was the dark cosy interior of my own college bus.
Studying or finishing assignments in the bus is something that I have learnt to do but invariably these two are enough to put me to sleep. Nagging my juniors, bugging them with my no care attitude and meddling with their over expensive high funda gadgets are other activities which I normally perform with expertise and enthusiasm. They treat me as a necessary evil and I think they have already put me in their 'beware of' list. So they would carefully choose places away from the place I usually sit.
Today my bus was unusually empty. So I had a great time gazing out of the window. Then lets just fast forward the part where I successfully landed in college and walked up the 'tirupathi padi' upto my class, and finished my exam. After my exam got over, I couldn't leave early cause my friend wanted help with group theory. I sat there the whole time having lunch and explaining the meaning of each and every concept. It was great revisiting those parts and I was surprised that I remembered quite a lot and it also helped me to analyse my flaws in understanding. Then I asked my friend to accompany me to the station where I hoped to catch a train towards home sweet home. The train was at 15:11, I bought the ticket at 15:09 and I ran up the steps. I was shocked that I was unable to carry my own weight. It is these kind of moments which help me realise the importance of physical exercise.
I stupidly chose a place to stand, on the platform. My lack of experience clearly seen in my choice. The train arrived but nowhere I could find the ladies compartment. Then I ran haphazardly towards the engine driver and thankfully I located a group of ladies staring aimlessly out of the window. I rushed in but it proved futile as I could not locate a seat. I moved forward and I sat off on the place marked first class.
People swindle crores and crores of money and break millions of laws but a group of tired ladies should not sit in first class. Some idiot wanted to prove his authority and rudely chased us out of our seats. I was the last to leave among the group and I wanted to spit at his face but I restrained myself lest he throws me out of the fast moving train. I stood there aimlessly for some time quite shaken by the insult to humanity. Then I slowly started moving forward towards the crowded portions of the compartment barely hearing the noise of the people selling oily samosas.
I stood hanging for about a minute, I suddenly could not breathe. I started sweating profusely and with great reluctance I asked to be offered a seat. I knew the minimal lunch, lack of sleep and stomach cramps had done the trick plus the haphazard running to catch the ladies' compartment. A kind lady stood up and forced me to sit in her place. Then questions started pouring in from all directions. B.P.a?, Sugar a?, Please call home. Where is your home? Which station? Did you have anything to eat? Do you bring medicine? Take water. Wash face with water. I sat down and on one side I was too tired to answer and on another side I didn't want to answer as it could trigger more questions. I just wanted to be left alone and peaceful, that's how my family has treated a 'sick me' for years. I nodded my head in every possible direction thinking that it would stop them from asking questions. Suddenly a sleepy old fat lady sitting near the window, got up and everyone along with her in chorus asked me to lie down. I seized the opportunity and moved towards the window. I didn't lie down. I just wanted a small space to sit. I felt too embarrassed. I wanted to dig my head into the soil like an ostrich so I tried to move my head right out the window but unfortunately my head was too big to be pushed out so I stuck myself against the wall.
I couldn't face anyone. I felt too guilty that I had pulled away their luxury because of my sickness. I drew an imaginary halo on top of their heads and prayed that they should all go to heaven. The fat lady who stood for me couldn't stand for a long time. So she pushed a thin perplexed small boy aside and squeezed herself on the seat opposite me. The questions had stopped for some time as I pretended to close my eyes and sleep.
The ladies in the train really took care of me. They were each giving me motherly advice. The fat lady sponsored me a bottle of fruit juice and forced me to drink the whole stuff. Nothing went inside cause it was too cold to be swallowed. I tried returning the bottle to her but she refused to take it and everyone again shouted in chorus "take it! take it! One must not refuse timely help!" The fat lady spoke "I think of you as my daughter. For her I would have surely bought it. So have it!" and she got off in the next station. I had no words, I never knew that the world around was this much good.
From childhood my brain has always thought, "Don't trust strangers! They cheat you!" The important fact here is that there are some people who are good and always ready to help in this fast paced, selfish world. If all people were bad then surely the world would have ended long ago. I again go back to the question I asked in the beginning, "Whom did I help to be offered such heaps and bounds of affection in return?".
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