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.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
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.
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
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
Sunday, July 11, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
3. Haal-Behaal.
Paristhitiyon pe hasnaa chahta hun aur rona bhi
par ye sab sochta rahaa to zindagi sirf babaal hai
Is se to khud ko mana ke khush rehna me bhalaai hai
Kyonki, mere se to kai jyaada, laakhon log behaal hai
sab kuch galat mere saath ki kyon hota hai
kyon mere karmo ki hi tedhi chaal hai
par kya main apne baahar bhi jhaank ke dekhta hun?
Amir-Garib, lagbhag sabhi, 'Sukun' ke bina kangaal hai
par ye sab sochta rahaa to zindagi sirf babaal hai
Is se to khud ko mana ke khush rehna me bhalaai hai
Kyonki, mere se to kai jyaada, laakhon log behaal hai
sab kuch galat mere saath ki kyon hota hai
kyon mere karmo ki hi tedhi chaal hai
par kya main apne baahar bhi jhaank ke dekhta hun?
Amir-Garib, lagbhag sabhi, 'Sukun' ke bina kangaal hai
Saturday, June 26, 2010
2. Time-waste.
Disclaimer: This blog is nothing but a time-waste; hence treat this disclaimer as a caveat :-)
There was this guy Aman, who would do nothing in life. He would just let the day pass and was very much satisfied with what was going on in life.
He had a very close friend Vikas, who would work hard, study and had high aspirations of earning money, power, esteem et al.
Vikas would always tell Aman – “Dude, you are just wasting your time. Do something, become something, set targets in your life like I did and plan for a great life ahead”.
Aman would just stay quiet, listen but never react. He never felt the need to react. He would smile and say – Ok.
Aman’s life was just a routine with daily chores and nothing else. On the other hand Vikas had already initiated the struggle by studying hard, scoring first-rate grades and excelling in all the things that he did. He would slog hard to achieve the impossible. He put in a lot of efforts as he always believed – Success is not a cup of tea. He didn’t even find the time to drink tea peacefully as the ambitions of having a seven course meal were riding on his back and making him run to the fastest that was possibly impossible.
Nothing much to quote about Aman’s life as it was still like the Sun’s routine. Here, Vikas, in his definition was leading ahead day by day. On each accomplishment, small or big, he would come to Aman and flaunt about it. At the end, he would add a comment – “Dude, you are just wasting your time and blah blah”.
Vikas turned out to be a software engineer and then a financial analyst. He had already invested a lot of time, money and efforts by now. He got an exceptional job. Still, he felt – something was missing as this is not the place yet where no one has reached. There were thousands, if not millions, of his age at the same stage. He always thought he would have earned enough esteem by the time he would finish his studies and get into a white-collar industry. When he realized that there are thousands in the race, he strived towards going ahead of all to earn the esteem he would crave for. Meanwhile, he also focused on earning Money as that was also one of the factors he would crave for with an aspiration to lead a luxurious life.
Aman was following the Sun. His parents asked him to get married. He did so.
Vikas’s parents were also persuading him to get married and settle down. Vikas was upfront in answering them by saying – First I shall settle down and then get married.
Besides money, Vikas earned a lot of things like – pressures, deadlines, stress, and exploitation. On each step, he failed to grab the carrots he was offered. He always thought that the carrot is not far-off. Still, he made a lot of money but now the pressure and stress had started hating money as money was always ahead of them. Hence, they decided to play a game and put money behind in the race. They generated some disease in Vikas’s body and as a result of which doctor’s started eating up a lot of Vikas’s money that he would always save for the future luxuries. Deterioration of health wasn’t acceptable as Body was the medium of earning Money, Power, Esteem and beyond.
Aman and Vikas would hardly talk but whenever they would, Vikas was still the same and so was Aman.
By now, Vikas had already passed the marriage age and also the charm. He was still running for the seven course meal while Aman was blissfully relishing the 3-meal-a-day routine.
Aman was simply wasting his time and Vikas, his life.
There was this guy Aman, who would do nothing in life. He would just let the day pass and was very much satisfied with what was going on in life.
He had a very close friend Vikas, who would work hard, study and had high aspirations of earning money, power, esteem et al.
Vikas would always tell Aman – “Dude, you are just wasting your time. Do something, become something, set targets in your life like I did and plan for a great life ahead”.
Aman would just stay quiet, listen but never react. He never felt the need to react. He would smile and say – Ok.
Aman’s life was just a routine with daily chores and nothing else. On the other hand Vikas had already initiated the struggle by studying hard, scoring first-rate grades and excelling in all the things that he did. He would slog hard to achieve the impossible. He put in a lot of efforts as he always believed – Success is not a cup of tea. He didn’t even find the time to drink tea peacefully as the ambitions of having a seven course meal were riding on his back and making him run to the fastest that was possibly impossible.
Nothing much to quote about Aman’s life as it was still like the Sun’s routine. Here, Vikas, in his definition was leading ahead day by day. On each accomplishment, small or big, he would come to Aman and flaunt about it. At the end, he would add a comment – “Dude, you are just wasting your time and blah blah”.
Vikas turned out to be a software engineer and then a financial analyst. He had already invested a lot of time, money and efforts by now. He got an exceptional job. Still, he felt – something was missing as this is not the place yet where no one has reached. There were thousands, if not millions, of his age at the same stage. He always thought he would have earned enough esteem by the time he would finish his studies and get into a white-collar industry. When he realized that there are thousands in the race, he strived towards going ahead of all to earn the esteem he would crave for. Meanwhile, he also focused on earning Money as that was also one of the factors he would crave for with an aspiration to lead a luxurious life.
Aman was following the Sun. His parents asked him to get married. He did so.
Vikas’s parents were also persuading him to get married and settle down. Vikas was upfront in answering them by saying – First I shall settle down and then get married.
Besides money, Vikas earned a lot of things like – pressures, deadlines, stress, and exploitation. On each step, he failed to grab the carrots he was offered. He always thought that the carrot is not far-off. Still, he made a lot of money but now the pressure and stress had started hating money as money was always ahead of them. Hence, they decided to play a game and put money behind in the race. They generated some disease in Vikas’s body and as a result of which doctor’s started eating up a lot of Vikas’s money that he would always save for the future luxuries. Deterioration of health wasn’t acceptable as Body was the medium of earning Money, Power, Esteem and beyond.
Aman and Vikas would hardly talk but whenever they would, Vikas was still the same and so was Aman.
By now, Vikas had already passed the marriage age and also the charm. He was still running for the seven course meal while Aman was blissfully relishing the 3-meal-a-day routine.
Aman was simply wasting his time and Vikas, his life.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
1. Place.
I would always feel that I love the city I live in. I still feel so. However, off-late I have realized that it's not the place I love it's what the place makes me feel I love or hate about... I know it's a random post and probably leading no where... The flow is also quite different than usual... Also, in one of my earlier post also I have hinted about the reasons for the attachments about the place...
The title is 'place' but the focus is out of place. bad joke! I really feel awesome when I think about home when away. The question is why I don't feel the same when I am very much here. I know that to write the answer is simple but to comprehend it is not so.
Well, having said this I just want to continue falling in love all over again with this place, people, thoughts, feelings, likes, life et al. I know 'continue falling in love all over again' is an abstract phrase but it is.
I am thinking whether I am writing just for the heck of it. The prompt reply is - NO. I am writing cos I feel like. It's been long I have received this feeling from within, rather have realized that this feeling is waiting to be expressed.
Don't want to conclude anything, don't want to sum up a thing, just want to continue living this life as good as this random post.
Too much yet none
All but less than some
Everything but still few
Old and stale, yet new
I did enjoy writing this and will cherish reading it over again and again. I don't care if you did enjoy or no. I might sound careless but to be candid, I am carefree :)
The title is 'place' but the focus is out of place. bad joke! I really feel awesome when I think about home when away. The question is why I don't feel the same when I am very much here. I know that to write the answer is simple but to comprehend it is not so.
Well, having said this I just want to continue falling in love all over again with this place, people, thoughts, feelings, likes, life et al. I know 'continue falling in love all over again' is an abstract phrase but it is.
I am thinking whether I am writing just for the heck of it. The prompt reply is - NO. I am writing cos I feel like. It's been long I have received this feeling from within, rather have realized that this feeling is waiting to be expressed.
Don't want to conclude anything, don't want to sum up a thing, just want to continue living this life as good as this random post.
Too much yet none
All but less than some
Everything but still few
Old and stale, yet new
I did enjoy writing this and will cherish reading it over again and again. I don't care if you did enjoy or no. I might sound careless but to be candid, I am carefree :)
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