FAITH..!!

What is Faith?? Wesley answers, " Not an opinion nor any number of opinions put together, be they ever so true. It is the vision of the soul, that power by which spiritual things are apprehended, just as material things are apprehended by the physical senses." Blind belief in dogma is not the faith which saves. If we take faith in the proper sense of trust or spiritual conviction, religion is faith or intuition. we call it faith simply because spiritual perception, like other kinds of perception, is liable to error and requires the testing processes of logical thought. But, like all perception, religious intuition is that which thought has to start from and to which it has to return.

Scribbled from "The Hindu View of Life"- S. Radhakrishnan

What’s in the name?

While there is a huge outcry over Indians being attacked in Oz, why are we forgetting the existing racism in our own Country? The latest issue picked up by MNS chief and his band of hooligans has really pissed me off. “Mumbai la Bombay nahi muhdaycha” (You cannot address Mumbai as Bombay) is what the wannabe ‘Father of the Marathi Manus’ had to say referring to the dialogues in the latest KJo flick. To an extent I can understand Raj’s outburst (as his Party’s ideologies focus on fighting for the so called rights of the Marathi Manus) but then why harm the Aam-Aadmi? Does (CHEAP) publicity call for damaging taxis, interrupting the shows in the theatres, beating up those who don’t agree to their terms, Oh my Holy Lord!!!! In Raj’s interview with Rajdeep Sardesai, he mentioned introducing permits for all those traveling from UP, Bihar to Mumbai. I mean where on earth does one require a permit to travel within his own country? The east has never considered itself as a part of India, Raj is already fighting for Mumbai, Mayawati wants to divide UP into three separate new states as she is finding difficulty handling such a large population/area (didn’t she confess her secret desire of being the PM???) and God only knows who is next in line seeking for a new identity. In this NAME-GAME I think “INDIA” as a whole is losing her identity. Let’s not support racism around us, within us. Let’s support India, let’s support Indians and let’s support Humanity!!

what's more important?

On a Friday morning, my Aunt and I decided to go for a 5km walk in order to burn some fat as we had had a lot of full-of-calories food the previous night. Today's the time of 20-20 and instant coffee, even we wanted to get rid of excess weight in just a single day. Unfortunately (I cant think of a better word) we were accompanied by three friend's of my Aunt. During the entire walking session, they only and only bitched about their kids and the way their behaviour keeps changing because of their peer groups and surroundings. I thought about it for a while. While bidding goodbye to those ladies, I let those thoughts go with them only.
the next day I woke up early, had a shower and left for the morning AARTI (prayers) in the near by MATA KA MANDIR (Goddess temple). I reached on time and noticed that I was the only one under the age of 50! After the AARTI, I sat back and started chanting a few more Mantras. Many more devotees came to take the blessings of the goddess! Not all grabbed my attention (as i was trying to concentrate on the Mantras) except a 3year old boy who was accompanied by his father. The father asked him to touch the Brahmin's feet for added blessings. And to my surprise the Brahmin blessed him saying "bahut padai karega, bahut padai karega.." (he will study a lot, he will study a lot).
At that time I realised that in today's world where parents expect their children to be the next Indian Idol or the next Sania Mirza (I don't intend to say that its wrong to have such dreams for your children), they tend to forget to enrich them with good manners, good thoughts. Even the Brahmin's today don't bless them to be good humans first. We have become so mechanical. We devout our entire focus on bread-oriented activities and don't even think about life-oriented deeds.
I don't think the religious scholars or parents have the rights to say anything about today's generation as they themselves are not upto the mark (Again, I am not generalising. There are people, parents who are practising humanity and are spreading it too).
"Agar Raam jaisa beta chahiye toh Dashrath jaisa pita banna hoga" (If one wants a son like Lord Rama then he has to be a father like Dashrath first)

To steal or not to steal..!!

As a child I was taught that in this world there is no bigger sin than stealing.
When I lie, I steal someone’s right to truth. When I kill someone, I steal its right to live. When I make someone cry, I steal his/her right to laugh, to smile. When I insult someone, I steal his/her right to be respected. When I teach something wrong, I steal someone’s right to be right.

But now that I no longer am a child, I understand things; I look at them in a different way. I realize that there is no bigger virtue than stealing.
When I steal someone’s pain, I give him/her the right to relief. When I steal someone’s sorrow, I give him/her the right to smile, to happiness. When I steal hatred, I give the right to love and to be loved. When I steal the untruth, I give the right to be right, to live right.

My Understanding...!!

Whenever something good happens in my life my friends say ‘oh man you are damn lucky eh..!!’. And when something disastrous occurs, ‘It’s your unlucky phase girl’. But when I am the one doing all the actions which result to different reactions what does Mr. Luck have to do then?
I ask, LUCK..? What do you mean by luck?

My oxford dictionary defines it as- ‘Good things that happen by chance’. But I believe that every incident that occurs in our life has a reason behind it. And when it is good things knocking at your door, it surely is being pushed by a deeper reason behind. According to me good things never happen by chance because chances never happen, they are either taken or given.

So what is luck then?
When I was a child, I read somewhere- ‘when preparation meets opportunity it definitely results in luck’. But as I grew I realized that every opportunity requires different set of preparations. So I came up with my own different definition of luck which completely changes the dictionary meaning of luck.

I define LUCK as ‘Lessons learnt each day, Understood completely and used in the right Circumstances so as to ensure good Karma’.
My new definition of luck might have confused you. So let me explain a little more. For example: We are told not to lie since the time we first ever lied, but we still don’t learn the act of being truthful as we don’t understand its importance. In our lives we witness unwanted circumstances and to avoid them or to just end them we often choose the wrong ways (which of course includes lying). And by choosing the wrong ways we end up doing bad karmas.
Bad karmas lead to a miserable life which in turn blocks the way to success, leaving an impression of being ‘not-so-lucky in life’. Whereas Good Karmas ensure success sooner or later, leaving the impression of being ‘so-damn-lucky in life’.

Ultimately it’s upon us, whether to wait for the chance or just grab the opportunity and give complete justice to it while keeping the theory of karma in mind. The choice is completely in our hands.

MOMMYDEAR!!!

Her touch works wonders whenever I am ill,
Her contagious smile makes me do things willingly.
Her arms are made of tenderness,
Where I can be myself.
She has a heart which never goes short of forgiveness
I may fall short of everything, but not her prayers,
As they will always cling to my life.
Her lap is the best place on this earth,
Where I can soundly sleep.
I maybe apart from her but she always has me with her.
She loves me so much that,
Everything about me, for me; becomes IMPORTANT,
Her love gives me the spirit,
Courage,
To make the impossible possible.
She is deep, powerful,
Her beauty is her soul,
Her richness is her divinity,
And her love is only for ME.
She is the only one for me in this world,
She is “MYMOTHER”.
LOVE YOU LOADZ MAA..!!!

the untitled Poetry

Darkness
Has found the way.
It’s not the light,
I desire for.
Pain’s the only one existing.
Please,
Fulfil my wish
To be
LONELY.
Advices,
Sympathy,
I ignore.
My sufferings,
My way of healing.
What I see now,
Will soon become a dream.
This journey,
Will end.
I want to live each step,
My way.
Today’s pain,
Will be gone tomorrow.
Whether the lights,
Will be turned on??
But the darkness,
Will surely be
Switched off
Is all
I know!!!

A story from my life.

Each day I have a zillion things on my wish list. But end up fulfilling say only five to ten on an average. And I believe that these five to ten out of that never ending list were the most important or wait... were they the easiest? Not just once but many a times in the past I’ve had this question, ‘Will I ever be able to do that?’ or ‘I don’t have enough money for that now, and by the time I’d have the money; what if I’m too old for it?’ etc, etc, etc. While I myself bombard these questions at me, I do find the answers for some immediately. And some get answered eventually. If one has the sight then meaning could be found in a song, a picture, even in a story that one reads to kids. Even the birds singing outside the windowsill on what looks like any another day might appear as a gift.
I’d like to share a very small yet a very important incident of my life that took place last year. While I was working in Mumbai, I used to make frequent trips to Pune on weekends. There was this one week where I had a question troubling me and I had no option but to carry it along with me to Pune. Before boarding the bus to my destination I had a choice to make, whether to sit next to a girl of my age with whom I could chat away to glory and never know where the 5hours went or an old lady who could be grumpy enough and would just add on to my existing boredom. Without wasting a second I made my decision! As I walked towards my decided seat, my eyes caught the most innocent smile. That one smile of her did what it had to do. It changed my decision and I placed myself on the seat next her, the old lady. And to my surprise it was me to start with the conversation. After the first 10minutes of our tete tet we only spoke again 15minutes before reaching our destination. In those few minutes she told me something which still answers to a lot of my questions. I generally asked her her age and her reason for being in Pune. She was 68. And she told me her reason for being in Mumbai. She’d just got back from a trip; from Singapore where she did what she wanted to do as a young girl. PARAGLYDING!! That 68year old fulfilled her longed awaited wish. The joy on her face while she told me this made her look as young as ever. She had now helped me get rid of my extra baggage; she had answered my question. Along with that, she taught me a simple yet very meaningful and useful thing. Never be sad or disheartened about something you haven’t fulfilled today; because if that is something you have truly desired for, you will surely get it...!!!!!

If I have the vision, then in my journey of life I will find my answers and you never know I might just be able to fulfil my entire WISH LIST !!

The Answer..!!

With all the differences around the world, within different continents, countries, states, cities, streets, families; the society has become hollow, empty. There are different inspirations that can bind all.

First: Dharma (Religion): it is a very beautiful inspiration. Prophet Muhammad had brought together the scattered Arab. Human race has gained widely through the inspirations from religion. But if we take a sneak peek into the history, there’s evidence of fights between the Shias, Sunnis, Iranians. They fought in the name of religion only. Thus, religion is an influential inspiration but not the best inspiration.

Second: Vansh: It comes from the Indian word which means "Coming Generation of father" Or “Belonging to one Family/Blood.” This is also a form of inspiration in order to stay together. But if we see the Mahabharata where the Pandavas and the Kauravas though belonging to the same Blood; fought till their last breath. Russia and Yugoslavia also have the same origin but have their own sorrowful past. Thus, Vansh cannot be the right inspiration.

Third: Rashtra (Country): This string can pull a lot of unity among people, but one factor always disrupts the peace; and i.e. Dharma (Religion). Even Socialism has had its own impact in interrupting the harmony.

If not the above then what is the best inspiration???
The answer is simple, we all know it, we all talk about it, we all have it in us; but just don’t know the way to use it, LOVE. The belief that the entire human race is the creation of one God/Super power/(or whatever you call it). We don’t need the ‘6 Degree Of Separation’ to tell how we can feel connected. In one hand take love and in the other just a simple understanding of ‘Divine Brotherhood under the Fatherhood of God’ can be the greatest and the best inspiration.

Right Vs Wrong

In life there are times when you make the right choice and otherwise you don’t. Some actions are regretted and some are worth feeling proud of. The decisions you regret are considered Wrong and the ones that make you feel proud are termed Right. But I don’t understand who decides what’s wrong and what’s right?? Is it the society??? The upbringing??? Peer group??? Or the individual himself..????
There are times when I have put my step down because I think my actions will not be appreciated by the society or even my friends. But why do I forget that more than anything else what matters is my individuality..!! I will do things that make me happy, make me follow my dreams; achieve my dreams while maintaining my own self consciousness. I am the one who differentiates between the Wrong and the Right. This way I’d at least lead my own life rather than being just a mere follower.

The ‘DIFF experience’.. Pun intended.

While working for the Dubai international film festival in December I came across the reality of people behind the reel life. From outside it’s just so glamorous and appealing but the minute lights go off, cameras stop rolling the actual action starts. It’s kind of funny to see our actors filled with ego, not care a damn about anybody which is completely opposite to their on screen image/character. In reel life they are the Messiah for the poor then how come they don’t realise the pain of poverty in real life? Family, love, friendship is all they promote then why don’t they answer their parent’s call? Why does every hot girl make them fall in love just for a night? What makes them use ‘backstabbing’ as one of the tool to climb the ladder of success faster? They talk about the sorrows in the world, even make some charity before the release of their movies and actually fumble when asked to spell ‘Humanity’. Remind you, they are the same people we vote as our ‘Youth Icons’. As ABJr always says ‘We actors are mere puppets’ I completely agree with him, but if every actor would have taken back one quality of the character they play along with the fame, my this close encounter with the reel life would have been a great one to talk about in the most positive way.
( I am not generalizing, its just my experience with a couple of them.)

the confusion

How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one is fully aware of the blood, the horror inherent in life, when one finds darkness not only in one's culture but within oneself? If there is a stage at which an individual life becomes truly adult, it must be when one grasps the irony in its unfolding and accepts responsibility for a life lived in the midst of such paradox. One must live in the middle of contradiction, because if all contradiction were eliminated at once life would collapse. There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.