Monday, August 28, 2006

News shape minds - Minds shape nation

news
/nuz, nyuz/ Spelled Pronunciation [nooz, nyooz]
–noun (usually used with a singular verb )

1. newly received or noteworthy information about recent events. 2 (the news) a broadcast or published news report. 3. (news to) informal information not previously known to.

News.. was interesting when we were kids... to read newpapers, watch the 9’o clock news on National TV and get to know the events that shaped the world. Such wonderful times!!… Now, things have deteriorated, its nothing but reports relating to crime and misery, bomb blasts, attacks, terrorism, deaths, crisis, hatred, chaos... has the world changed or just the news that come across to us??? News today is all that hampers the growth of a peaceful and a vibrant mind. 80% of the newspaper or the pvt media channels mirror only the dark side of human kind. Times have not remained the same, yet the responsibility of the media is to build a society with a strong foundation of humanity, love, properity and growth. So much power the media has. News is supposed to inspire and drive individuals, communities, civilizations towards progress and exploration of the world within and around us. All the news channels/newpapers are a big let down today. None of them… think there are atleast 8-10 (probably more than that) pvt Indian news channels running on TV as of today… and yet every other channel just report everday incidents rather than enlighten people. A very good habit that my father taught me, to read the news paper and watch the National news for one hour daily, i can not impart the same to the children of today. All that today’s newpapers/TV channels crave is to get more and more viewers hooked to them by reporting cheap, controversial and behind the door events, than to build the young minds of a nation. It’s a rat race, an absolute mockery that the media is making of itself today and the jokers being the ones who make the headlines. arent they??????

Man in the glass...

[read this.... simply awesome]

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people may think you a straight shooting chum
And call you a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear to the end.
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life,
And get pats on your backs as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears...
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

- Anonymous (Fwdd by a friend!)

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Speaking Tree - 5 keys to transform your destiny - Aug 08, 2006

Destiny is the predetermined, pre-ordained blue print of one's life. Is the path and destination of every individual life mapped even before the person’s birth?

The individual soul carries an invisible balance sheet of debit and credit and this serves to propel the soul to animate a particular embryo. The parents, country, marriage partner, life span, all major and probably even minor events are determined by one's karma. Every thought, word and deed registers in the consciousness and serves as the seed for a future effect.

Where does all this leave the individual? A helpless puppet at the mercy of effects of remote planets, buffeted around by the effects of assailing thoughts, words uttered and actions committed or omitted in another time and space. If everything is predetermined do I have any choice or free will?

The options are -

A. My fate is fixed by my past karmas. Might as well accept it and play along.
B. My life is pre-determined but I can try to handle it to the best of my ability.
C. Though my life is pre-determined, there is a way to transform the effects of karma and reshape my destiny.

Well, each of the above options is as true as you make it. For millions of lifetimes, a soul is swept along helplessly. However, there comes a special lifetime where the individual soul encounters a catastrophe, or a series of ordeals, or a guru. There arise some questions universal to the human heart - which act as pointers to the endless path stretched out in front of the being. Eternal questions of self-awareness begin to arise as - Do I have a choice? If so how do I exercise my choice towards a joyful future? What is the correct way to live?

This probing, searching, seeking is the beginning of the exciting process of growth, self-discovery and completion. The spiritual truth is that you definitely do have a choice in shaping your destiny, even in the face of negative past karma.

Destiny is the impetus, momentum and direction given to your life by past actions. The law of cause and effect is strict and accords with scientific reason. Every action has its consequence and manifests whenever the external conditions are conducive. So is one a helpless pawn at the mercy of the effects of what we don’t even remember? Well, not quite.

Destiny or the total collection and force of your past actions can be transformed. The alchemy of this transmutation is possible, but not easy. Swimming against a strong current never is. To be the conscious and aware script writer of your drama is an art and skill, which can diligently be cultivated and mastered. In fact this striving to move from the shadows to luminosity is probably the sole purpose of human life.

KEY 1 -Always take complete responsibility for your life

All that you face today - be it bad health, an uncaring spouse, a financial crunch, an unfair deal from parents or your child - remember nobody is to blame - not circumstances, people, planets, God or even you. You are also not to blame; because your past actions were committed from your level of awareness at that stage. However, taking complete responsibility amounts to accepting the law of cause and effect not just intellectually, but from the depths of your life; with a gut wrenching honesty you need to logically deduce and accept your past actions.

Seeds once sown will sprout some day, unless they are roasted in the fire of repentance. The catch is that, it is difficult to repent what you do not remember doing. One needs to take complete responsibility, coupled with a deep appreciation for this opportunity for growth and conscious evolution. In this painful yet heroic endeavour you always have the divine as your constant and silent comrade, witness and guide - much like Arjuna had Krishna. However , the difficult decision and the fighting of the war was Arjuna’s prerogative, as is yours.

KEY 2 - Learn the art of conscious living

The character and personality of every human being is determined by their samskars or tendencies. Every thought word and deed produces a faint crease in the fabric of the subconscious mind. We tend to repeat our patterns of mistakes and disasters, by unwittingly allowing compulsive patterns of irritation, lust, hatred, ahamkara and foolishness deepen these creases into grooves, and our reactions and responses flow like a recurring theme into these, just as, water tends to flow compulsively from a higher to a lower level. A Herculean will and a lucid constant awareness of one's actions, and more importantly the motives behind the actions, is mandatory to live consciously in every moment Intense aspiration, discipline, perseverance, meditation and prayer help you to go through the fire of periodic critical self-appraisal.

Soon candid confessions become the order of the day. One begins to catch ones thoughts like - Yes, I need to improve, What I am doing is not best way to do it or Yes, I felt a twinge of envy at my colleagues promotion or I am always trying to prove my superiority in obvious or subtle ways . This fire of honest self-analysis gradually purifies and destroys the old, not-so-positive tendencies.

KEY 3: To cultivate new, positive, life-enhancing qualities.

If key 2 is pulling unwanted weeds from your garden, key 3 is to plant new seeds of your choice. Paint the picture of your life by cherishing a vision of a peaceful, abundant and compassionate you. How would you walk, talk, dress, conduct yourself? What would be the vibrations emanating from your heart if you were a perfect human being? Have a vision, which you desire to manifest and nurture, a prayerful and humble desire to create it. Transformation does not occur by suppression, control or magic but the sweat and toil of assiduous moment-to-moment efforts. The scene changes when anger converts into patience and compassionate action, lust transforms into a hunger for beauty and peace. Seeds planted in the fertile soil of the subconscious mind invariably bear fruit. Of course, if you sow apples you cannot expect tangy oranges. Again the choice and the responsibility, both are yours.

Key one was to do with the conscious mind, Key 2 and 3 with the subconscious mind. Key 4 is to get in touch with your super consciousness.

KEY 4 -Awaken to the vast potential within

What we are aware about ourselves is miniscule compared to the unknown, boundless treasures within. Everything one has ever dreamt about or longed for - lies deep within.

The acid test as to whether you are touching and realizing your goal or not, is to honestly answer the questions - are most of my actions motivated by self interest? Am I not able to accept opposing points of view? Am I unable to love and accept others and myself? If the answer to any of these is yes, you need to pull up your socks.

Key 5: Have faith and surrender

Have faith in yourself and your connection to your source, which is experienced as a living presence in the depths of your heart. It’s your choice, whether you want to stretch out your arms to it, with a child like simplicity or turn your back to it with the disbelief of the rational mind. The most beautiful realities of life cannot be touched or explained, but can be felt with the heart.

Surrender with loving trust to the vibration in the deepest recesses of your being. Have confidence that help and protection, love and grace are within you and you can access them by simply flowing in the present moment. By making the purer, nobler choice for a larger good at every crossroad, simultaneously, renouncing the anxieties of the past and future - is the key to align yourself to a higher will.

By the application of these 5 keys you can learn to resist the gravitational pull of your negativities and soar high to a dimension where karma ceases to matter.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Evening thoughts....

Ok ok.. i accept!! i cudn find time off from work to add somethng to my blogspace. Well, better late than never. so here i am! Just to start off from where i left off... WorldCup fever is over and Italy turned out to be the champions this time, with France bowing out in a rather bizzare fashion(after the head-butt incident from Zidane) in the finals. And Klinsmann's Germany managed to beat Portugal in the third place play off... the scorelines read 3-1.. thts was an amazing game!!

Its been quite a pleasent evening sitting at my office and staring out of this big window i have to my side. perfect weather n time to take a walk and have a cup of
hot masala sweet corn n walk by the lake. (see pic) this is what is see when i turn right of my desk... isnt it inviting?? :) and its always a good habit to look out when things are a bit hard to handle from within.... well, this is all i can find time to blog this time .. catch u sometime soon... will be back with more on my views abt the world i see around me! C ya...

Thursday, July 06, 2006

FIFA WorldCup Germany 2006

The story so far....



Being a die hard fan of football .. i certainly am not gonna miss the last two matches of the FIFA Worldcup 2006 ... first being the fight for the third place between Germany and Portugal, two young teams fighting it out for pride... and the second... the great clash for the title between France and Italy in the finals on Sunday (July 9th). Klinsmann (the german coach) certainly wud want to make it at the third spot for his nation. I greatly admire him for giving his commitment towards the game and in grooming the young lads of the german national team to the last four in the championship this year. His energy, passion and love for the game is simply unmatched.. (guess wat.. he is a Leo!). German football hasn't always been attacking and attractive, but Jurgen Klinsmann has changed all that... he knows wat it means to hold the golden world cup in one's hands.. he has been a part of the victorious West German team in 1990 versus Argentina in Rome. Just read this interview of his to timesonline.... truly a legend. Hmmmm.. so, this time its gonna be either France or Italy to lift the world cup. And before i end this blog.. here are a couple of "did u knows" ;) ...

Friday, June 09, 2006

Promise Yourself . . .

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can
disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to
every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel like there is
something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your
optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best,
and expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the
greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give
every living person you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too
strong for fear, and too happy to permit the
presence of trouble . . .


[picked up from a fwd]

Friday, March 31, 2006

Get 7 X 7 about me

7 things I wish to do before I die

1. Get back home soon (im in chennai for a 2-week project assignment)
2. Do scuba diving atleast once
3. To start a 24X7 book-cum-coffee lounge for all the book lovers. no!! books wont be sold or rented out.. wil be available only for reference, for any amount of time.
4. Do something to ease the traffic chaos in "namma bengalooru" (i see upwards for ideas)
5. Bada naam (i wanna prove the first couple of lines frm the song "papa kehte hain... ")
6. See Europe, i feel the whole of europe is HOE - Heaven On Earth
7. visit Himalayas (im impressed after watching Lakshya)

7 things I do not enjoy doing:

1. wait
2. to sit at one place for long... atleast a walk every 2-3 hrs shud be fine.
3. go out in rain
4. listening to bhangra mix n rap
5. eating idlis
6. watching a game i don understand
7. doing things later

7 things that Attracted Me to Blogging:

1. blogs (some interesting ones like this, this, this and this :).. n many more, see right pane!!)
2. photoblogs, like this one by deepak
3. wonderful place to express whatever u feel, whenevr u feel, however u feel
4. gives insights to a person's thoughts
5. make frnds
6. Great time pass
7. good fun

7 things I say most often:

1. Oh shit!!
2. seriously
3. oh ok
4. yeah yeah
5. certainly
6. ultimate!!!
7. matte!!? (so wat else?!!)

7 Books I like:

1. Calvin and Hobbes - Comic series
2. Illusions
3. Conversations with God
4. Tell me your dreams - Sheldon
5. Any book on planets, stars, moon, meteors,..
6. Archies
7. autobiographies (hvnt read many but they attract a lot.. like the ones by Richard Branson and Agatha Christie)

7 Movies I want to watch again:

1. Little Women
2. Face Off
3. Hungama
4. Teesri Manzil
5. Police Story - all Series (Jackie Chan)
6. Scary Movie - all Series
7. Shrek, Antz, Ice Age ... most of the animation series
(there is one more movie which i watchd on Hallmark.. an english summer classic.. great drama.. hv forgotten the name.. certainly wud luv to watch it again)

7 pieces of Music I enjoy

1. Kannada classics (like Kavi Ratna Kalidasa, Gandhada Gudi, Benkiya Bale...)
2. "Here i am" by Bryan Adams
3. "You Sang to me" by Marc Anthony
4. "Young and Proud" by Ace of Base (album - Happy Nation)
5. "Frozen" by Madonna
6. Sonu nigam hits
7. Kishore hits

Monday, March 27, 2006

well, it doesnt come EASY!!!


Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai learned dance steps between shooting breaks and undertook a 34-hour journey to represent India at a performance with other actors at the Commonwealth Games finale in Australia. She performed at the closing ceremony in Melbourne on Sunday with other popular Bollywood actors Rani Mukherji and Saif Ali Khan.

Rai emerged from a rose placed at the center of a stage in her sequence and dance, her choreographer, Shiamak Davar, was quoted as saying by the Mumbai Mirror newspaper. She traveled 34 hours from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she was shooting "Dhoom 2," a sequel of last year's hit film "Dhoom". "It was a tiring journey for her. She had to complete the shooting of `Dhoom 2' and take a flight almost immediately for Melbourne," Hari Singh, her business manager quoted. "As soon as she landed, she met choreographer Shiamak Davar n discussed her dance with him." But in the weeks before tht as well, she had been learning dance steps for the ceremony during shooting breaks. "She had asked for a DVD in which her steps were recorded, to be sent to Rio where she was shooting," Singh said. "After pack-up, she used to return to her suite and practice her steps."

Davar said that Rai _ popularly known as "Ash" _ asked for a personal trainer earlier this month to teach her the steps, as she would have no time to practice them with the choreographer. "Ash is a brilliant performer. She was really concerned about performing perfectly at the games, even though it was just a two-minute act," Davar was quoted as saying from Melbourne. India's capital, New Delhi, will host the next Commonwealth Games _ the world's second largest sporting event after the Olympics _ in 2010.