In addition of the previous article

“Education... has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading.” - GM Trevelyan

What the worth if the system is unable to produce thinkers. What we have indeed is lot which can read and write but unable to think.

Not only think but even the sensitivity is taken out of these poor creatures. They are the perfect example of what I can call as zombie.

They have no true aspirations, no true desires, no anger, no love but only fear and numbness. They are too numb to even register the pain of this slavery.

This so called modern life is academic, regimental, religious, boring; that’s what I will call it. As I have mentioned several times, we suffer from too much of incomplete information. No one tells you the complete story. No one either knows the complete story or is purposely hiding half of it.

Our so called education has made everything so mechanical. Indeed it is sad to see that there are lessons available for us to know how to be parents. There are lessons on how to be a good husband and wife. There are lessons on teen age parenting. There are handbooks/manuals/instructions for everything. But except there is no handbook/manual/instruction on how to be free and happy.

I won’t be surprised if we start seeing money back guarantying churches that would offer instant forgiveness. We will have vending machines selling good karma. We will see ads for toll free number to talk to GOD directly. Super luxury 3 nights 4 days package tour of heave, with spiritual meals included and with a devine welcome drink. For some extra amount even a photo opportunity with GOD.

Well I think everyone knows whatever I am saying. Like me many others have pointed out the flaws. Still no one has attempted to answer the questions or show a solution to this situation. When so many out there whining about it, why should I add to it?

So maybe from next topic onwards I will post what I feel would work to at least elevate if not remove the problems. Hopefully, I would make sense in my silly humble attempt at displaying ignorant wisdom.

How True this is!

I happen to read this quote of the day today and thought I did share this bit with you.

“I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.” - John Cage

I really like these smart quotes. They say a lot in just a small sentence. Whereas, I have seen people with logorrhea effectively making no sense.

Somewhere one needs to understand that ‘old’ here refers to rudimentary ideas and not traditional values or knowledge of the ancient civilisation.

I have some points to show the comparison:

Old: A man never cries
New: It’s perfectly ok for a man to cry.

Old: Cooking is for girls
New: Boys can cook too

Old: Woman’s place is at home, cooking and taking care of children
New: Well it can be the other way around and still better it’s a joint responsibility

Old: Man can do whatever he wants
New: So can women too

Old: Confess and your sins will be pardoned
New: Why sin in the first place

Old: Homo sexuality is a disease
New: Whatever, its real and lets accept it

Old: A boy must take the first step in proposing
New: Come girls don’t be shy, you can do it too

Old: One must visit church, temple, mosque or whatever
New: You heart is where GOD lives, no need to go no where

Old: Educate, Graduate, be a responsible citizen
New: Doesn’t matter, as long as you take the responsibility for being a good citizen

Old: Hide your emotions; they are sings of your weakness
New: Go ahead, confess that you love someone

Old: Respect the elders
New: Yes indeed one must, but why only elders, why not all human beings

Old: Do something so good that when you are gone world remembers you
New: Don’t bother, just do good things and aspire to die unknown

Old: USA is saving the world
New: Actually it is ruining it

Old: Never quit till you die
New: Hey, save your head, you will have another chance to put a hat on

And I can go on with many such silly notions that still prevail in the year 2005. It makes me wonder if the world as a society has really progressed. We still have famine and poverty. There hundreds and thousands of people dying for no natural reasons. The old idea of control and empire has failed and we are still living the same. The modern kingdom is in form of multi billion dollar corporations and big countries like USA. They have very interesting ideas like WTO, Global village etc. They we also have their cousins, extreme opposite radicals like the Green Peace. I can understand the green part of it but I don’t see peace anywhere.

Once I witnessed the rally put up to demonstrate against G8 summit in Australia. Or it could have been some similar summit with so many international dignitaries attending the conference. The protesters were screaming, shouting, showing placards and making a huge hum drum about it. I was there. I was watching. I spent time on the sides observing the protesters. I was amazed from where did they get that energy? Not for long. As I walked over to nearby 7/11 shop to buy a drink and pack of smoke, I saw a few of the protesters there buying their own stocks. Stock of Red Bull energy drink!! This led me to investigate a little.

I came back that night and started talking with some protesters who were taking a break. Offered them some sandwiches and cigarettes and started talking about it. Many of them were high on one or the other mind altering substance like cannabis or ecstasy. I praised their efforts and expressed how much I admired their courage. They could not take this praise longer. Looking around making sure no one is hearing us, they confessed, the entire thing was not genuine. Many, not all, but many of the protesters there were paid to be there. Paid? I asked them who paid this and no one had a clue but they were all members of some labour union which sent them to protest around Australia and also paid them some money.

More I asked more I was convinced that it’s not exactly all that meets your eyes is what is actually happening.

This is where I am saying we are still living in the old ways. The ways of expanding kingdoms and controlling masses by any which way one can. Is there true freedom anywhere? Perhaps not. Perhaps there is, but we haven’t found it.

Tragedy is no one is even looking for it. Someone told me how can they look for something they haven’t known yet. With a deep sigh I realised how true this person was. How can we find that true freedom when we haven’t experienced it. Then again I feel we were born free but got conditioned by the old ways. That is why, maybe, we are afraid of new ideas.

Well whatever, do send your comments.

Why does it hurt?

When you see someone you like / love so much, having fun with someone else, why does it ache your heart?

Honestly it should not ache your heart. You should not feel hurt. Still, you do, why?

I have tried to understand this emotion and feel that it comes from fear. False fear of loosing someone.

I always said and believe that there is only one love and that is true love. This true love is universal and elevating. It heals people’s heart and minds. It powerful enough move mountains and make way in the sea. “Love” is the only thing that makes us different from Animals.

And still I see when people love, they suffer. What happened to that true compassion and warmth of a loving heart? Where is that drop of tear in mother’s eyes when she sees her baby walk first time? Why the jealousy rules when you see your loved one having good time with someone else?

Interesting, the word love is used to connote sex. Maybe that’s when the true meaning of love was lost. Then simply to hang on to it, humans invented various flavours of love. Platonic love, parental love, fatherly love, motherly love and many such became commonplace terminology.

Once I was asked a question that if I got married, how many children would I like to have. My answer was minimum 6 but if possible 8. Now don’t roll your eyes. I don’t intend to produce more off springs into this world. My idea was to adopt children from around the world. Not to have biological children was my decision then and is my decision now. In those younger days, I was laughed at and ridiculed by friends of same age. In fact I was labelled as someone who does not understand love and relationship.

Today, as I look around, those who laughed at me then are wondering where is all that freedom and joy? The same daily battle for survival has taken away the some of the most essential things in life including love. They are so cold now and in fact are so afraid of love.

I don’t know what happened to those good old days when a genuine warm loving hug from a friend was always so reassuring. Instead we have this cold hellos and brief hand shakes.

Maybe someday, someone will bring that love back into humanity. A love which has no fear, no pain, no possessiveness and no jealousy. Hope to see that before my time runs out.

Feeling the pressure of a crowded place?

Well it is a sign of utter loneliness. Either self inflicted or being discarded by society. It is after all loneliness.

Where does this come from? One popular belief is “fear of being hurt (again)” where another one says “being hurt several time”. Both of them actually come from the same stem that is, being “hurt” by “others”. I feel its very true in its concept of “hurt” “fear” “other” but I feel the orientation or rather the flow of fear is somewhat incorrect.

Consider the following case:

An ordinary person, good hearted, well mannered, sensitive, honest and caring does not have any social life or friends.

One would think why is this good soul is all alone? Old school orthodox would say, he/she has had a lot of “hurt” from “others” in past and hence prefers not to be close to anyone. However, still going about doing good to others. I would agree only if the person had NOT been a loner too at the same time. A cold unapproachable, non-socialising, cut chop and finish conversationalist type of person will definitely suite the conventional argument of being “hurt” by “others” in past.

But I add a twist here. A person is very sociable and very approachable with ability to have long conversations and also add some muses to bring about nice lightness. Person has a rather a very warm welcoming smile. Why still he/she is still alone?

I would say because they are so hyper sensitive, that the very fear that they may “hurt” “other” stops them from socialising. It comes from deep abundant love for the “other” that stops them from connecting to other for a simple fear of “hurting” “other”. Here the “other” could be substituted with partner, soul mate, friend, family, husband, wife, parents, children and almost any other living human being.

I find it really interesting to see this behaviour in people who really love someone else. Usually the intensity of love drives them to do some aggressive things. But to avoid any connection, even slightest of remote connection, does not make sense. I have seen such people find absolute peace in extremely crowded places but when they are in solitude place or are by themselves, they feel extremely stressed as if they were in crowded place.

In an honest request I wish I could talk to someone who finds it true in their life. Maybe I can get an insight into this profoundly loving heart and maybe I can explore their fears in an attempt to let them out once and for all. This way at least the beautiful soul will live to the fullest potential.


PS: Sorry friends this time the article is sort of not well organised.

This is my prayer to thee, my lord

This is my prayer to thee, my lord -
strike, strike at the root of penury in my heart.

Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows.

Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.

Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees before insolent might.

Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles.

And give me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will with love.

GITANJALI, XXX VI 4
Rabindranath Tagore