A little boy asked me if I knew 'what the International Date Line is?' and then went on to talk about some molonium balls, that I had no idea about. I saw the dissappointment in his eyes, when I told him that I knew about the International Date line. But being the teacher, my pride did not give way to tell him, I only knew about it 6months ago, and that many adults, wouldnt have a clue what it is. I'm glad though, that afterwards, my honour gave way to my humility, as I told him I had no idea what a molonium ball was. He proceeding to explain to me in finite details what it was. I'm sure what he said would have been absolutely right.
But then the very same boy, gets told of by another teacher for not thinking, for not listening, for not doing the given maths. The tears that came to his eyes made me feel crap. By teaching, do we teach?
Sunday, 9 December 2007
Friday, 7 December 2007
Wars
Ive always been appalled at wars as a firm believer in Ahimsai, Gandhiji's policy. Regardless of whatever my cousins claim about Gandhiji not being as gr8 as he is proclaimed to be, the policy is fabulous. If only everyone where to follow it, wouldn't the world be a more peaceful place.
An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind. Two wrongs do not make a right. And the list goes on. Violence never achieves anything.
But try telling that to a nation whose just had two of its trade centres collapse. A nation with the poorest of people. A society segregated by castes. A history of discrimination. A decade of territorial unrest. A lifetime of harassment. Then things are looking widely different.
But Gandhiji grew up in a period like this. He had firsthand experience. Yet he didn't feel the need to succumb to violence. Its all personal choice. Which mother or father wants their child to die at war. When has a farewell ever been anything happy, when your son or daughter is going to war. When has a politician been free of criticism, tension when his country is at war?
Recently i saw a Hindi movie. I have no idea what the name is, or for that matter who the actors are. All I know is that I found the mentality of the soldier in the movie highly disturbing. He was portrayed as a brave soldier who went to seek repentance at the foot of the family in whihc he killed a civilian by accident. The disturbing part was, he distinguished a soldier's death as distinct from a civilians death. A civilians life was held to have higher priority than a soldiers life. Have we forgotten that we all are human? Or does being a soldier strip that humanity from you? I don't understand. If soldiers cannot be human, why do we need soldiers?
Yet in the very same movie, another interesting thought occurred. The bride and groom challenge each other to a shoot out. And then the twist in the bollywood movie. And it happens to be a a computer game where you shoot each other. That sparked a thought in me. If we still need to fight wars, as some believe, why don't we do it through some high tech video game. Lives would not need to be lost, and we can still have 'wars'. Seems like an incredible idea to me!
An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind. Two wrongs do not make a right. And the list goes on. Violence never achieves anything.
But try telling that to a nation whose just had two of its trade centres collapse. A nation with the poorest of people. A society segregated by castes. A history of discrimination. A decade of territorial unrest. A lifetime of harassment. Then things are looking widely different.
But Gandhiji grew up in a period like this. He had firsthand experience. Yet he didn't feel the need to succumb to violence. Its all personal choice. Which mother or father wants their child to die at war. When has a farewell ever been anything happy, when your son or daughter is going to war. When has a politician been free of criticism, tension when his country is at war?
Recently i saw a Hindi movie. I have no idea what the name is, or for that matter who the actors are. All I know is that I found the mentality of the soldier in the movie highly disturbing. He was portrayed as a brave soldier who went to seek repentance at the foot of the family in whihc he killed a civilian by accident. The disturbing part was, he distinguished a soldier's death as distinct from a civilians death. A civilians life was held to have higher priority than a soldiers life. Have we forgotten that we all are human? Or does being a soldier strip that humanity from you? I don't understand. If soldiers cannot be human, why do we need soldiers?
Yet in the very same movie, another interesting thought occurred. The bride and groom challenge each other to a shoot out. And then the twist in the bollywood movie. And it happens to be a a computer game where you shoot each other. That sparked a thought in me. If we still need to fight wars, as some believe, why don't we do it through some high tech video game. Lives would not need to be lost, and we can still have 'wars'. Seems like an incredible idea to me!
Monday, 3 December 2007
Why orange?
Having been to a few too many swamiji speeches..the bugging question still remains. Why orange? Of all colours why do they wear orange? It must be a very important reason, or else, why would they wear the very same colour day after day. I'd get bored just wearing the same thing two days in a row.
My first point of call was wikipedia. Wikipedia - the answers to all life's questions! What a dissappointment. Well that was a dead end. Not even a mention of orange in swami.
My next advent..was to venture down the treacherous path of asking Swamiji's themselves. Surely they wouldn't blindly be wearing orange without a reason. My first attempt was a couple of years ago. A hot summery afternoon, having sat through 2hours, with slight dozes, I was looking forward to the end. Unfortunately, as it concludes, I get dragged to receive the blessing of the Swamiji. Yes, here's my one time opportunity, I think to myself. And with shaking nervousness, i ask in my pretty crappy Tamil, of why Swamiji wears orange.
I must say, not in a negative way, or in a way of disrespect, but Swamijis are almost as tactical as politicians. They have a way of answering questions, that seem so perfect at the time, and my humbleness adds to this, and then when you think back, man they haven't answered my question. Swamiji said, 'why do doctors wear a white coat?' A question for a question. With all due respect, I smiled and looked dumb. He continued ' It is a matter of identity, in the same way orange is our identity'. Iyoo, was i so dumb? Doctors, being the rich people they are, and after so many years of studying and having no life, don't wear coats cos they want to identify themselves as a doctor. I mean with their 99.95 enter, and brains, and all, at the end of their course, they'd know they are a doctor. They don't need a white coat to tell them. The lab coat, is for safety. So what is the orange code for? Back to square one.
Plan B...forget about it and stop demanding answers. Actually this wasn't on the plan. I guess the question, just went into hibernation mode. It didn't disappear, and a few years later, which is about a coupla days ago, another opportunity arrived. Carpi Diem, yup I seized the day. It was a youth special interaction session by another Swamiji. Although I'd name the spiritual discussion, as other things, which inconveniently lead to a person asking 'Whether BJP would consider renaming the Hindu religion, because it actually means a rogue'. What did BJP have to do with a youth discussion of the religion in Melbourne. Beats me. Anyways, to avoid this inconvenient circumstance, the organiser tactfully and thankfully altered the topic to his attire. Woot! Why miss the chance. My hand goes up asks "Y is it orange?" took a while for him to understand, but Swamiji, explained it was a colour signifying spiritual attachment. Ok all fine. But why????? Why does orange signify spiritual attachment? was the burning question. Of course I didn't ask.
And here i am still bugged with the question. What is it with orange? how come I don't feel all spiritual when i wear orange? Is it me, or doesn't anyone else ask why?
And then...I had this Bright spark. I had this light bulb flicker. Why not search orange in wikipedia. Yes! I mean how dumb! Its going to say Orange is colour. But as believer of following ur heart, I did it anyway. Orange. Wow only wikipedia could up with so inside out info on a colour. Did you know orange is the national colour of Netherlands and its not even on their flag.? Credit to wikipedia. and guess wht...Yes! my hopes and aspirations of wikipedia is not lost.. Under th
e title of mysticism orange is used to symbolically represent the swadhisthana chakra. Finally Ive found the reason. I can rest at peace. But not yet. Now i have to find out why orange symbolically represents the second swadhisthana chakra. Do life's questions ever end?
I'm glad for my little spiritual upbringing. I know what a chakra is, sorry folks not enough to explain it to u. Just search wiki...tht'll help u ;). alright,,,swadhistana chakra is the one associated with breathing. Alright tht was totally totally of the bulls eye. Swadhistana chakra is the chakra associated with genitals. Now it makes sense. According to wikipedia many saints have had to face the temptations of this chakra. No wonder they wear the symbollic colour of the chakra, so it'll help them control their temptations and remain in sainthood. Now it all falls into place.
My first point of call was wikipedia. Wikipedia - the answers to all life's questions! What a dissappointment. Well that was a dead end. Not even a mention of orange in swami.
My next advent..was to venture down the treacherous path of asking Swamiji's themselves. Surely they wouldn't blindly be wearing orange without a reason. My first attempt was a couple of years ago. A hot summery afternoon, having sat through 2hours, with slight dozes, I was looking forward to the end. Unfortunately, as it concludes, I get dragged to receive the blessing of the Swamiji. Yes, here's my one time opportunity, I think to myself. And with shaking nervousness, i ask in my pretty crappy Tamil, of why Swamiji wears orange.
I must say, not in a negative way, or in a way of disrespect, but Swamijis are almost as tactical as politicians. They have a way of answering questions, that seem so perfect at the time, and my humbleness adds to this, and then when you think back, man they haven't answered my question. Swamiji said, 'why do doctors wear a white coat?' A question for a question. With all due respect, I smiled and looked dumb. He continued ' It is a matter of identity, in the same way orange is our identity'. Iyoo, was i so dumb? Doctors, being the rich people they are, and after so many years of studying and having no life, don't wear coats cos they want to identify themselves as a doctor. I mean with their 99.95 enter, and brains, and all, at the end of their course, they'd know they are a doctor. They don't need a white coat to tell them. The lab coat, is for safety. So what is the orange code for? Back to square one.
Plan B...forget about it and stop demanding answers. Actually this wasn't on the plan. I guess the question, just went into hibernation mode. It didn't disappear, and a few years later, which is about a coupla days ago, another opportunity arrived. Carpi Diem, yup I seized the day. It was a youth special interaction session by another Swamiji. Although I'd name the spiritual discussion, as other things, which inconveniently lead to a person asking 'Whether BJP would consider renaming the Hindu religion, because it actually means a rogue'. What did BJP have to do with a youth discussion of the religion in Melbourne. Beats me. Anyways, to avoid this inconvenient circumstance, the organiser tactfully and thankfully altered the topic to his attire. Woot! Why miss the chance. My hand goes up asks "Y is it orange?" took a while for him to understand, but Swamiji, explained it was a colour signifying spiritual attachment. Ok all fine. But why????? Why does orange signify spiritual attachment? was the burning question. Of course I didn't ask.
And here i am still bugged with the question. What is it with orange? how come I don't feel all spiritual when i wear orange? Is it me, or doesn't anyone else ask why?
And then...I had this Bright spark. I had this light bulb flicker. Why not search orange in wikipedia. Yes! I mean how dumb! Its going to say Orange is colour. But as believer of following ur heart, I did it anyway. Orange. Wow only wikipedia could up with so inside out info on a colour. Did you know orange is the national colour of Netherlands and its not even on their flag.? Credit to wikipedia. and guess wht...Yes! my hopes and aspirations of wikipedia is not lost.. Under th
e title of mysticism orange is used to symbolically represent the swadhisthana chakra. Finally Ive found the reason. I can rest at peace. But not yet. Now i have to find out why orange symbolically represents the second swadhisthana chakra. Do life's questions ever end?I'm glad for my little spiritual upbringing. I know what a chakra is, sorry folks not enough to explain it to u. Just search wiki...tht'll help u ;). alright,,,swadhistana chakra is the one associated with breathing. Alright tht was totally totally of the bulls eye. Swadhistana chakra is the chakra associated with genitals. Now it makes sense. According to wikipedia many saints have had to face the temptations of this chakra. No wonder they wear the symbollic colour of the chakra, so it'll help them control their temptations and remain in sainthood. Now it all falls into place.
O But this just raises a thousand other questions about chakras. I suppose the thirst for knowledge is never ending. கற்றது கைமண் அளவு, கல்லாத்து உலகளவு. Till then forever pondering.
On a final note, something that i came across about the chakra, which I found interesting and pondering: on http://www.llewellynencyclopedia.com/article/253
'The main aspect of the second chakra, however, is sexuality. Sexuality is a life force. It is the water that softens the hard Earth and readies it for change. It is a force too often denied or perverted, and being robbed of our pleasure, we are robbed of our power. When we lose our desire, we lose our will. Power and will are attributes of the next chakra, and pleasure and desire are their seed. Sexuality is the flower of that seed. Power and will are its fruits. '
On a final note, something that i came across about the chakra, which I found interesting and pondering: on http://www.llewellynencyclopedia.com/article/253
'The main aspect of the second chakra, however, is sexuality. Sexuality is a life force. It is the water that softens the hard Earth and readies it for change. It is a force too often denied or perverted, and being robbed of our pleasure, we are robbed of our power. When we lose our desire, we lose our will. Power and will are attributes of the next chakra, and pleasure and desire are their seed. Sexuality is the flower of that seed. Power and will are its fruits. '
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