Reply to an ungracious foreign traveller on travelbuddy.com

Too bad that people like you waste their hard earned dough and a few days of your lives in dust, poverty and uncleanliness to acccomplish just one object ...trash everything about India: its poverty, people, grass and even its richness..lol.Sadly people like you are so deeply entrenched in the material filth of your lives that you're unable to see and appreciate what India has to offer to the entire world. That inspite of your going to places like rishikesh and attending the yoga camps. But to be honest, your takeaway from it was nil and that is the saddest part. Yoga is not a set of fancy breathing exercises which impacts your physical and mental well being and which you can show off to your brethren in whatever country you come from. It is one of the tools to realize your spiritual existence, yes one of the most bandied words around. But understanding the philosophy of the age old vedic literature requires one's elevation to a transcendental plane of conciousness and elevation to that plane requires freeing oneself from the material energy. Yoga or meditation is one of the tools prescribed by our ancient wisdom to do just that. One cannot expect people like you (who cannot even exhibit the graciousness of a guest or would even struggle to multiply a 2 digit number with another 2 digit number) to reach those levels of conciousness but what is surprising is when presented with an opportunity to do so by the more learned people of India, still came back whinning about the heat and the dust.

Probably this is what god intended for you but the saddest part is that your reviews will end up misguiding the minds of those who were sincere in exploring the world of mysticism beyond the usual pursual of better standards of material living, sleeping,mating and defending which has been likened to a level of conciousness equal to that of an animal existence by our sacred texts.

Hare Krishna!!

My experiments with Gita

Spirituality is something I have been dabbling in for the past 2 years. It all started with the realization that despite my being in a position to afford material luxuries and pleasures and not plagued with serious worries of any nature, the inner contentment and happiness was missing. There, definitely, were things that were not going my way and were the cause of my distress. The only consolation was the arrival of the day when these problems would fade away and then I would be happy again. But would I really be happy then? Wouldn't a new set of problems again take over making me not so happy again? Happiness and grief, as I realized to my horror, come bundled together. There will not be any phase in your life when you'll be just happy or just sad. So does the term called eternal happiness really exist? If yes, then how do we achieve it?

Realization of the spiritual self has helped me get some insight into these intruiging thoughts. We as human beings have two planes of existence - Material & Spiritual. I have become a bonded labour to my material self wherein my happiness and sadness in my material existence are driving my general state of mind. The way out is something that I found in Gita - it is one of the richest sources of spiritual wisdom that one can lay his hands on!!

"Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana,Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani"

You have a choice only over your action (karma) and not over the result of the action. Its good to desire a favorable result but one should not get attached to the result to the extent that only a favorable result will make one happy or content. Be unattached to your work, property, people, possessions... they belong to you but should not dictate your life or happiness...

The key here is the sense of detachment to your activities in the material plane of existence. Carry out all your activities but don't get too attached to the results, which are anyway, not in your hands. Don't let the success or failure here affect your general sense of well being which in reality is linked to something else.

Easier said than done!! But its never too late to start attempting this for the takeaways are great!

For whom the bell tolls...........

These beautiful lines from a Bee Gees song bring tear to my eyes... Touching and so true!!

When the lonely heart breaks

Its the one that forsakes

Its the dream that we stole

And i am missing you more

and the fire that will roar

there's a hole in my soul

For you its goodbye

for me its to cry

for whom the bell tolls.................................................

For those of you who would like to listen to the full song, access this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qSeYLhe09s

When will India get its "Obama"?

As the world celebrated the coronation of Obama, I wondered how much of a difference will a change of guard in US affect or make a difference for India. Yes, there will certainly be some minor changes in the foreign policy especially with respect to the middle east, more significant changes in the Environmental policies (the phenomenon of global warming will probably get its due recognition finally), financial policy changes to bring relief to the million reeling under the onslaught of global meltdown and possibly a more concerted action against terrorism. Barring the last point, its unlikely that Obama's coming to power will impact India in a big way. India has to face and overcome its problems by itself for which we need a visionary leader like Obama who can rise above the petty politics followed by our politicians today and sincerely look at solving India's problems which brings me to the title "When will India find its Obama"

The present political class disheartens me. One upmanship, corruption, crime, casteism, vote bank politics, sabotage..is there any charge that has not been leveled against them? Do they look sincere in solving India's problems? Can they for once come together to do that? As the nation reels under the scourge of extreme poverty, over population, illiteracy, unemployment,unequal distribution of wealth, terrorism, anti-national groups within the country, lawlessness, rising crimes, depleting natural resources, water and power problems, shoddy infrastructure etc etc, the politicians are busy buying votes, indulging in games of one upmanship, calling each other names, diluting nation's interests and forging political relationships that are not based on idealogy but on the desire to bag power.

Inspite of all the words of sympathy and empathy spewn by the political classes in their speeches, do we believe for even one instance that the political class cares even a wee bit for the country, for its deprived people and the underpriviledged masses. No, the underlying theme for all of them is the same, the lust for holding on to the power, siphon money and compromise on the national interests. I am still waiting for the day when we get a leader and a visionary who can show his administrative prowness, implement the rule of law in the country and foster a spirit of country first within our people. Till then lets keep dreaming for our "Obama" to arrive.