Not just some random thoughts…
Archive for November, 2009
Mistaken Identity
Nov 30th
Today, I am revisiting a topic which was probably the most sensitive of all in the 20th Century. But I want to revisit it from Professor Robert Langdon’s point of view or for those of you who don’t follow Dan Brown, symbolical point of view.
Swastika a symbol in existence in world for more than 5,000 years, have often been seen as a legacy of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi era by many around the world, till they opened their eyes to the reality, the world existed to their east as well.
What has often been referred to as a symbol of hatred and racism is actually a very lucky and auspicious religious symbol. Ask any follower of Hinduism, Buddhism or Jainism, the Swastika is one of the holiest symbols in all these faiths.
The Indian Swastika
Swastika originated from the Sanskrit word Svastik – “????????”. The earliest evidences of Swastika appear as early as 10,000 BCE, in the upper paleolithic age, in the Indus Valley Civilisation. Indian Swastika is different from those used by sun worshippers. Perhaps the usage of Swastika by Nazi party as their political symbol can be explained by the Aryan descent of Germans. But Swastika is a symbol used by civilisations all across the planet and is generally used as a lucky charm for prosperity.
In, India, the two symbols represent the two forms of the creator: facing right it represents the evolution of the universe (Devanagari: ?????????, Pravritti), facing left it represents the involution of the universe (Devanagari: ????????, Nivritti)
- The Indian Swastika
A Tribute
Nov 25th
On the eve of 26/11, A tribute to the victims of terrorism, not just in Mumbai, not just in India, around the world.
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out
May their souls Rest In Peace. AMEN.
WHAT IS PASSION?
Nov 24th
“What is passion? It is surely the becoming of a person. Are we not, for most of our lives, marking time? Most of our being is at rest, unlived. In passion, the body and the spirit seek expression outside of self. Passion is all that is other from self. The more extreme and the more expressed that passion is, the more unbearable does life seem without it. It reminds us that if passion dies or is denied, we are partly dead and that soon, come what may, we will be wholly so.”
An interesting discussion led me to ask this question to my few followers on twitter. The replies were vastly different, both in wave-lengths and in approach towards the question:
For a high school student, “Passion is the look In a hungry lover’s eyes when they first lay on their soulmate. passion is when u blv tht you’re done searching for love. when u blv that u’ve finally found urself in ur soulmate..”
For an under-graduate, through last year of studies, “Passion is a strong feeling of desire. Your driving point. The reason you live.”
For a career-woman ,”Willing and believing to be able to live, breathe, sleep ur core desire.”
For someone fresh off the hackles of college life, “Passion is the diplomatic synonym for obsession.”
And For someone who had seen it all, “Passion is the food for soul.”
For an aspiring career woman, look in lover’s eye might not be passion and for a high school graduate, Passion is anything but food for thought.
Passion depends on what stage of life you are at, passion is what your priorities are, passion is what keeps you going, passion is anything that YOU ARE, PASSION IS WHAT YOU ARE. Live it up, go, live your passion.
CHINA ON A ROLL
Nov 13th
An interesting discussion on Global Warming yesterday took my thought process to a complete new journey which had nothing to do with Climate Change or anything related to that. Its pretty strange how the western paranoia and insecurity of losing the Super Power position is now taking fore in almost all global issues. While discussing Global Warming, a western yesterday complained how world doesn’t bother about actual issues like “nuclear proliferation, extreme poverty, infectual disease etc etc etc China.” Now apart from the last “so called problems” were pretty much general or non-country specific. But what about calling CHINA a problem?
Now, to make things clear, I am an Indian, a proud one, and its a very well know fact that India lost a border war with China back then in 1962 and the two countries are not the best of friends or neighbours. I also acknowledge that there is no comparison between India and China in any aspect. China is miles ahead let it be its Economic Strength, Military, Infrastructure Development and many things. But at the same time I myself am a critic of poor standards of human rights in China and the frequent unlawful executions.
But, in this blog post, I will write only about the paranoia and insecurity that breeds in the mind of many in the western world. China, the world’s most populous country is now the second largest economy (GDP-PPP) in world, second only behind USA. But the important thing is that during the worst recession after 1930s, China is still growing, though at a relatively slower pace whereas USA is contracting. China currently holds a foreign currency reserve equivalent to more than $2 Trillion. China is world’s largest exporter of non-defense products and the second largest outsourcing destination in the world. All this combined would definitely make China the world leader if we lived in a conflict free, unmilitarized world. But that said, we don’t. And unfortunately thats the only thing which always decides the balance of power in geo-politics.
That is only why USA is still considered the most powerful nation in world. But they know that China is catching up fast and they are doing everything to delay, if not halt, the progress. But, its inevitable and even Obama acknowledged it by visiting China before a Chinese state visit.
The balance is shifting towards the west of west.
Charter for Compassion
Nov 13th
A call to bring the world together…
The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
