4. Zoo.

A few days back, while taking a photographic tour of a Zoo, initially I was taken aback thinking of those animals who love to wander around with no boundaries are stuck up in a tiny cage and that’s their world. However, I further felt that it may not be as bad either since they are secured and also get the food, medicines etc. Of course, they have to pay the price but life is still safe.

After a while, I got another thought – Is it not my story?

For my present and future security, I get my self into the cage of responsibilities, notions, etc and hardly move out from there during my lifetime. Well, actually I do move out and see the world but I always have that baggage loaded on my head and back.

Don’t I cage myself for a lifetime with a purpose of enjoying freedom in life?

PS (Courtesy Suchit) - During the French revolution, when the Bastille was attacked, and the prisoners freed, the old-time prisoners (who were bound to one place with chains in a dark room) refused to move out in the world. They just wanted to remain there.They were insecure of freedom. And so are we...
- Thank you so much, Suchit.

3. Wanna Save More (?)

I want to save 300K INR in next 12 months.

What for?

So that I can keep it safe and use it after 10-15 years.

Why don’t I buy a car?

No ways – Car will depreciate over a period of time and I will hardly get any resale value after a few years. My investment of 300K will just fetch me a return of hardly 100K after using the car for 6-7 years. What will I do with 100K when I can still stay without a car and put those 300K in a fixed deposit and make at least 150K more?

Ever thought what happens to the hard earned money in it’s form over a period of time?

It does depreciate with inflation.

For instance, If I save 100 bucks and put it in a bank for 10 years thinking that I shall spend once it becomes 200, it sounds like a plan in the year 2010. At the onset of 2020, I think of withdrawing 200 bucks for spending and I realize that what I would get for 100 bucks in 2010, I am getting for 200 bucks 10 years down the line. I missed the chance of enjoying it for 10 years and now paying the same price for it after keeping it in Bank’s custody for 10 long years thinking that it’s multiplying.

Over and above, there are certain things which I cannot enjoy later due to my health and age. At that time, a thought might pop up – All that I earned seems to go in vain.

I know there can be several counter arguments to the above but the Crux is – what I feel like enjoying today, I should strive to.

2. What am I doing?

Got eyes to view the beautiful world and I am just looking at the loopholes
Got ears to listen to the tune of life and I am turning my ears on to gossips
Got speech to spread the word of God and I am just hurting folks by my words
Got nose to smell the fragrance and I am craving to smell the atrocities around
Got body to serve the needy and I end up serving it the whole day
Got mind to think and spread wonderful thoughts and I am cluttering it with all the dirt
Alas! I talk about purifying the soul, however overlooking at the functional glitches mentioned above

1. Culture.

Last week, I came across a day long session on Cross Culture Sensitivity that had an objective of creating awareness of different cultures across the globe and the imperative do’s / don’ts to avoid embarrassments, gain confidence, smoothen conversations and eventually build stronger relations and acquire business benefits.

It was an edifying session with a lot of practical insights. The outcome was a self-implementing decision of following the “rules” as and when the situation arises.

A little bit of further analysis resulted in some self-induced thoughts. The way the culture varies across the globe, it does vary within a huge country like India. However, this was also touched upon during the session. Further, every individual also has his own specific way of life.

Connecting the above statement to the definition of Culture (Culture is nothing but a way of life), I felt that every individual has a self-culture which is over and above as well as a little more specific to the generic culture followed.

For instance, as a part of Indian culture, I love Cricket. Beyond, I love a specific player which is again common. Further down, I like to watch cricket on my TV screen with friends. This is kinda getting specific. Afar below, I liking to sip in something and taking a particular seat and a meticulous angle of viewing the screen now becomes very specific to Dilip’s nature and his definition of entertainment (or may be happiness or comfort of anything that is craved for).

While I visit places and meet people, I do take care of the cultural aspect and respect each individual relating his / her behavior to the culture they follow.

The question to me is – Can I also follow the same with each individual I encounter in my life, thinking that his / her nature & behavior is nothing but the culture that is liked by him / her?

PS: If the answer is yes, in my opinion it has to be backed up with complete willingness and peace within.