Wednesday 19 December 2012

First snowfall in Canterbury

This was the first time since I arrived in Canterbury that snow has fallen. I tried  broken by the capturing its beauty before I left for classes. Notice the silence that is only just soft patter of the snow and the sounds of people in joy.


Sunday 28 October 2012

Lessons from the Gita

I found this simple article from MG Singh's pages illustrating an important verse in the Gita, that we may control our ego and thus break free from our karma. I have edited it a little to improve its flow.

Lessons from The Gita

Einstein added a 4thdimension to man’s thinking: He brought forth the concept of time in Physics, but Man has always understood the concept of time and we usually relate it to the past. The past is an event that has happened and can never be reconstructed again. The Gita talks of past in a philosophical way It says that past will never come back and man should learn lessons from the past and move ahead.
. The human mind however is a complex mechanism and memory plays a very important part in a man’s life. Thus the past remains in our thoughts and many times we are conditioned in our future actions by what we have experienced in the past. This is the danger and the Gita points out that the past must never be allowed to condition the future. A man must move forward and not be shackled by what happened in the past.

Unfortunately most men are conditioned to act by what happened in the past. Most of the issues that shackle us are vestiges from the past. We are unable to shed the load. Man has a sensitive mind and thus he becomes a prisoner of the past and is constrained by perceived hurts which many will not forget.
This also applies to nations which are made up of men and women. The past haunts and conditions the present and the future. An example is the feud between China and japan which is rooted in the past.
 This also applies to our own lives. Man is apt to dwell in the past and much condition their approach to what happened earlier in their lives. The Gita warns against this danger. Man should not allow himself to become a prisoner of the past. One can draw lessons but one must also forget and move forward. The world is a beautiful place and it will be sad if a man's actions are conditioned by what happened in the past. Thus revenge, anger and jealousy create a vicious cycle that is hard to break, 
The core of the problem is over-inflated egos and utter selfishness; it applies to men and nations in equal measure. This is the quality that must be controlled. Lord Krishna has demonstrated that ego has no place in the world. His is the sublime example as in the Mahabharata he became a chariot driver of Arjuna though He was a great warrior and God. He demonstrated that though he had the power to influence the outcome of the world's events, it is as a teacher and guide that is His glory and not as the warrior who gains victory on the battefield.
It is for man to take the next step so that he can break free from the clutches of the past and then one will realize that the best is yet to come. 

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Land Light

Hello everyone. I had spent the past month or so adjusting to my new circumstances. The adage that university life and British weather complement one another holds until you are in winter I suppose. The work here is heavy, but I have had time to think out many topics in spirituality due to the serenity of my surroundings. I will have essays up in due time.

But first: I found this track by Michael Stearns. It is called Land Light. This piece was written with regards to sacred lands and places. It evokes a timeless memory of a quest for human betterment and the search for the Truth.


Saturday 25 August 2012

The passing of the first man on the Moon

It has been 43 years since Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon. This he achieved at a time when many could not dream of even leaving their villages. Today he has departed, we know not where or whither one as him may ever return.

The Moon may be too far for most of us, yet there still are many other barriers for us to surmount and trenches to cross. Have we as humans taken the giant leap ourselves?  

Tuesday 21 August 2012

The Sea

This is  a recording of the sound of the sea. Restless as it may be, it is thoroughly relaxing.


Sunday 29 July 2012

Evening

This interesting video brings out the soul of evening in an empty, forgotten structure. Light fades but the spirit remains and hope endures.


Saturday 14 July 2012

The values of disattachment

1) You worry less

2) You live life one day at a time

3) You do your best, that a future result may be so secured and live the moment 

4) You can fix you immediate problems/faults/pains

5) You get to go on that vacation you've been planning for years but were held down by your attachment to 
    your job

So, release you attachment to all around you. Nothing is permanent except change. 

Friday 1 June 2012

The Caravansary

A  place to rest and recover after a day's journey. A home away from home though you cannot tarry long for your journey has yet to end. This remarkable piece by Kitaro describes the haven that is the Caravansary, for we all need to rest and recover.

Monday 14 May 2012

Comments

I just realized I hadn't enabled comments for all users. Feel free to send me your thoughts on my posts.

Wednesday 9 May 2012

The power of simplicity

Hello everyone,

I just got back from a torrid stretch of work. My sanity was preserved by a technique that is publicly available, but is ignored or misconstrued. - Meditation.

It would seem that it is not even worth mentioning here. What good is this Eastern techinique anyway? Ganja, alcohol, mescal or even LSD work just as well. They do, but side-effects are common and not all souls are willing to trod dark paths.

The simplest of techniques therefore should be foremost. Today's world with its interconnected society and increasingly complex systems of communication, finance and even philosophy requires simplicity.

Here it is -  Turn off ALL your communication devices and sit down quietly with your back straight. Close your eyes and breath in SLOWLY and deeply. Use your belly and not your chest. Slowly, begin to relax, one limb at a time. Avoid concentrating on anything. If a thought comes along, regard it and let it go on its way. Avoid holding onto/ dwelling any particular thoughts, especially those soaked in emotion as they upset your relaxation. Keep breathing slowly. Do this for about 15 minutes a day. I found this particularly useful after exercise.


Monday 16 April 2012

The Candle

Losar - Tibetan New Year 2010 - Light a Candle For Tibet

The Candle:

Even if all were dark, this single light
gives vision to those who wish to see.


     The light that keeps giving.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Be Back Again and Again and Again.............

This song was on my radio last night as I drove home. It reminds me of Reincarnation or Reappearance as some call it. The song is "Highwayman" by The Highwaymen.




Monday 26 March 2012

Bhagavad Gita Board Game

I have just stumbled upon this site: Bhagavad Gita Quest The music on the site is soothing, for one. Let's examine what it is this site is all about:

To one born into an Orthodox Hindu family that has traces of Jewish blood, influenced by Catholic education as well as spirituality of other forms, the supposed commercialization of a spiritual text may seem a sacrilege. But let us be patient and study this new form of the Gita.

The Bhagavad Gita (Beautiful Song of God) is the cornerstone of Hinduism. It lays the philosophy on life and our personal relationship with God. Celebrated by many, denounced and criticized by some and even banned by a country or two, the Bhagavad Gita is among the oldest living spiritual texts in the world.
As with other texts, the young are often left behind in the practice of the message and the ultimate relationship with God. To this end I feel, a game based on the principles of the Beautiful Song of God benefits them, and illustrates with simplicity to the older generations. Experiencing the Bhagavad Gita is the experience of a lifetime.

Saturday 17 March 2012

Driving into the Rain

Today I was driving to my evening class in Melawati along the DUKE highway. I normally drive slow, take my time.

A meaning of life came through to me:

Those who go through life slowly, step by step, learning and appreciating the lessons along the way live life to the fullest, and perhaps find Truth.

Those who insist on rushing, speeding through everything as if it were just another milestone, running toward that Goal we call the Ultimate - often are dismayed in the End.

Then there are those who are aimless - having found some meaning here and there, proclaim Truth to be their Companion but Delusion is the Veil that hides Suffering and Despair behind that Companion.

It is to our advantage to set the speed of each stage our life, that we may find Meaning that we seek.

Friday 9 March 2012

Birthdays, as today is mine

Many look forward to this one day in every year, hoping to feel special, important, loved, etc. Yes, it is.

Make good use of it. Start good habits and set goals. Make a timetable for yourself. Give to charity. Meditate, pray. Sit and relax. This day should be the among the best you had and the best you did with.

You deserve all the attention and importance on your birthday., Tell the birthday blues to chill. You truly were born for this day.

Happy Birthday to all people born on the 10th of March!

 

Friday 2 March 2012

Finding Strength Within

Strength Within:
the ability to stand without the aid of any external physical attributes or social standing. In other words, you have the strength to be who you are when all your physical beauty, possessions, job, friends and your reputation are removed.

Strange how people have never considered this. Their physical beauty, their Iphones with their fancy photos and videos, cars, friends, connections and everything else outside their true personality are mere props to keep the actor a star on her stage. Remove these physical attributes, and many of them fall down as lifeless puppets.
Many more would fumble around to find another set of props to keep the act going but in the end each life is just a hollow shell, full of empty wine glasses; each sip had brought them higher but the cold grey morning brought them down and in a hangover.

So how does one find this inner strength? By sitting down and contemplating one's self quietly, without any distractions from the world about you. Focus on the world within you, find that quality which you know is within you, that you know is what you can depend on and won't fail you. One by one, you will find these qualities as you sit down quietly and contemplate your inner self. Don't rush - it's like chasing a girl; push too hard and she runs away. You may feel even more confused than before you started. Relax, enjoy the process. If you don't find anything that you feel is a strength, just enjoy the relaxation. Try again later.

Make sure your mobile, Blackberry and email alerts are off when you do this:
Once silent contemplation is broken, regaining its serene companionship is akin to mending a broken pot.

Good luck on finding your strength within!

Monday 20 February 2012

The fungus that tamed humans

Is that title right? A fungus that tamed humans? We farmed so many creatures for our benefit, yet we didn't realize some of them were just taking us for a looooong ride. Here's a part of an article I found in Yahoo News


 http://news.yahoo.com/five-kinds-fungus-discovered-capable-farming-animals-180000202.html

 The Fungi that Tamed Humans

One clan of fungi has evolved the ability to control humans. Once these fungi were relatively uncommon. They floated in the air and landed where they could, to eat what they might. But then at least some of them figured out the weakness of humans, alcohol. Humans would work in order to get alcohol. In this way, the humans were better for the fungus than were the beetles, termites or ants. The humans carried fungus from place to place. They had ceremonies in which they celebrated their fungus. They poured libation to the fungus. They also fed them, endlessly, no matter the cost. The termites gathered dead leaves. The ants gathered live leaves. But it was only the humans who went out and planted fields just to make food to feed their fungus (While many animals farm, we appear to be the only species to farm plants) whereas the fungi rewarded beetles, termites and ants with valuable food (essentially, part of their body) the humans asked for nothing. All they claimed was waste, an alcohol. The humans asked for even less than the termites tricked by the pretend termite eggs. All the humans ever wanted was what the fungus would never ever need. These humans are, of course, you and me and this fungus is our yeast

Now I know how I got my beer - I was working to feed a fungus!

Sunday 5 February 2012

LOOKING FOR FREEDOM!!!

Here is something that I found funny:


For those of you who don't know what this is about, it is David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider, Baywatch) singing his famous song "Looking for Freedom" in 1989 at the Berlin Wall on New Year's Eve 1989.

What I find hilarious about this video:

1) The song - try listening to it in the original music video and you will understand
2) His outfit. Oh boy - flashing lightbulbs? I know you have multicoloured LEDs now, but lightbulbs?  
    Doesn't he look like a flashing signpost?
3) His "moves" - real wierd even for that time
4) Surprise - firecracker nearly hits him!

Watch and enjoy!

Makes you wonder though - did the East Germans find freedom after all? Is there true freedom in Consumerism as opposed to Communism?


Wednesday 1 February 2012

Unattached

I found this post difficult to write as I am in the process of giving up my habit of strongly attaching memories to places, people, sights, smells, sounds and tastes. I will try my best. Your comments are most welcome. I may edit this post and update it as and when I feel the message is unclear.

Do you remember any important event? Do you remember where it happened?
Who was involved? The sights, the smells? The emotions you felt?

Does that event have a hold on any of your decisions?

If yes, you have made attachments of that event to the people, sensual and emotional signals you felt then.

The question now is - is it important to hold on to that memory and it attachments? How will you feel when you let go? In my case, I felt a large weight off my shoulders.

Sunday 29 January 2012

Breath

Listen,
It is about you,
It is in you,
It enters you,
It leaves you,
You will it not,
Yet it comes,
Waxing in life,
Waning in death.

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Awareness of taste

Have you wondered how food would taste when you are only tasting it? Not talking, surfing the Net, watching television, texting, reading or doing anything else while eating, just tasting. Your mind focused on the food, how it looks, smells and feels. Taking small mouthfuls, chewing slowly and tasting every bit. Forget about everything around you. Just experiencing the food in your mouth with your mind and other senses turned off.