"Knowledge is power!"

‘Knowledge is power’ is what generally is said and believed to be. 
Of course, it is! 
One ought to aim and gain as much of it as one can. 
Quite true!

That said, it is the amount of ‘Common sense’ we possess and ‘Prudence’ we exercise in matters of life that keep us afloat in this world while knowledge, as always, is a perk. 

‘Knowledge’ being a vastly relative and an abstract term is common knowledge.
Of what one can attain in the span of a whole life time is just a minuscule of the available.

Enough if one realizes this.


Tail piece:

What are you left with in life if your one and only objective is but to gain knowledge and knowledge alone?

It exactly is why sages like me proclaimed that ‘Ignorance is Bliss’!

Now you shouldn't wonder why I always kept myself ‘ignorant’ rather than ‘knowledgeable’.

Take my advice and push your knowledge to the backseat where it belonged!

Be forever blissful!!!

"iPad Spirituality!"

Ah...the moment I open FB, the same bloody poser stares at me….'What’s on your mind?'

It sounds like “pehchan kaun?” from that comedy show on TV….or like Bhetala who isn't ever tired of testing Vikramaditya!

Oh, am I not pleasantly surprised to realize that my 'face' on FB does have a 'mind' after all?!!!

Gracias.... 

Well then, I would rather spill my beans....

******

Okay, the 'jobless' that I am, am now on a portal which claims to be the only one of its kind to promote 'spirituality'! Fortunately FB doesn't stake claim to any such grandiosity!

Among those thousands of its members, the community I am telling about can really boast of quite a few brilliant thinkers and writers. I feel extremely happy going through their wise contributions! A platform without parallel, where one finds great diversity in thought and expression!

But then, there too are certain glitches, glaringly visible. 

Alas, we can never find anything good sans one or the other annoying elements in this universe!

Yes, the admin have many a scheme in place to encourage active participation by all and sundry (such as I am)!

One such recent initiative was the monthly ‘BlogStar’ contest - with an ‘iPad mini’ on the offer to whosoever won the “BlogStar of the Month” title! And with what great results?!!!

Like us ordinary mortals, certain spiritual seekers too can't contain the base human tendencies lurking underneath their philosophical facades from surfacing overnight......What for but to win something tangible like a (silly) ' iPad mini', if not that (bizarre) 'title' itself!

Many who used to contribute some four / five blogs a month, straightaway got into business in right earnest, raining on us thunderous spiritual blogs at lightning speeds of  thirty or so a month, attaining great spiritual heights in the process. 

Besides all the spiritual genius, they showcased worldly skills too with equal ease and finesse in their own innovative ways of manipulating the star ratings, comments, shares etc. all of which to boost their point-count and win that coveted(?) ‘title’!

In this devilishly stormy scenario, an aggrieved blogger poured out his anguish in his post! Yours truly, as you all well know by now, could not help but volunteer with his “Free Tips” on how to win this spiritual battle ever so effortlessly!………………….….

I reproduce here-under what all I advised them on that 'spiritual' portal:

"Okay, I have these 'Free Tips' on offer to anyone aspiring to WIN the 'BlogStar' title (& that iPad mini) with a resounding BANG:

(1) Keep quiet for a month - make out 6/7/8....even 10 or more blogs a day - on any and every idiotic topic you can think of (pretty simple) - keep a ready-to-use stockpile of that junk!  [ammunition]

You don't need any originality of thought or expression - only the numbers count.

Tip:
(a) Copy paste anything from the 'Net'
(b) Add an Introductory & a Concluding sentence and give it a good enough Title
(c) Acknowledge source: 'Internet' ['blanket cover' - you are now 'honesty personified!']

(2) Create some 20/30 - as many profiles as you can! Post a few comments from each such profile on others' blogs during this 'preparatory' month - to make them look authentic. [logistics]

(3) A moral can always be added at the end of each blog - an expression of your moral hunger:

"How sad people have become so dishonest these days? Don't we STians have a sacred duty to uphold virtues as best we can?"

[You can go on shuffling the first & second questions just for a change, in each blog]

(4) For novelty, you may also say:

"Have a purpose in life and Work to that end - Doesn't matter even if it is as small as winning an iPad mini!

[No harm repeating the same in each of your blogs!]

(5) So now you are ready for the assault!

From the 1st of the following month, start throwing all your (own!) blogs at those, sitting underneath the 'Silent ST' with a missionary zeal @10/day!...........................................

(6) Post three comments per each of your 'creatively created profiles' and your ignorant / innocent replies on them!

*************
Receivable: iPad mini

Payable     : Honesty & Self-respect [nothing in fact....I don't have any!]
*************

"Rules are for Fools" [I don't intend to be one!]
*************

When you undertook a pious project, say, like lifting a new pair of shoes from a marriage pandal or such place & were on the exit route, nothing should distract you......no shouts, police whistles....whatever, from behind!

After all you have a purpose in life and a goal to achieve!

Ain't it?

Spiritually yours,

zukzukzuk

Tail piece:

Everybody wants to go to heaven....but nobody wants to die! [anonymous]

How come? 

"How to Deal with Desperation?"

It is always ‘Inspiration’ or ‘Desperation’ that drives one to think and act ‘Positive’ or ‘Negative’ in life!

‘Desperation’ is the feeling of utter helplessness in given situations with no apparent way out.

Desperation can make one so miserable as to despise even the God, the rest of the world and/or one's own self and existence.

This condition is experienced by many at some time or the other in the course of their lives.

There could be any number of causes or situations to make one desperate, and hence, miserable!

Desperation pushes one to decisions and actions, which more often than not, end up in catastrophe.

It is only ‘inspiration’, if one is fortunate to find in some form or source, which pulls back and resurrects one from the psychological doom likely to be caused by desperation.

Hence, it is of paramount importance that one needs to be ‘inspired’ in life to be saved from getting ‘despaired’.

In any desperate situation, one should never forget the very basic and universal truth that ‘Nothing is going to be the end of the Road’ and that ‘There always is Light at the end of the Tunnel’.

Also, one another thing to be remembered forever is that the sufferer is not alone or exclusive in this vast, vast world, but millions suffer from desperation and its misery, but sure come out happier.

Tomorrow is always going to be yet another and a better day, for anyone to look for!  

Modern day provides medications albeit with serious side effects, to counter depression which has many causes, desperation being one.

But of the many other larger gains it provides, one sure-shot remedy for prevention & cure for this problem is always there in ‘spiritualism’ which is inclusive or even independent of any religion.  

The role and benefits of ‘spiritualism’ in life is immense by any measure, as it negates all the negatives.

The sooner the better it would be, for anyone to realize this!

"In a nutshell"

‘Religion’ or ‘Faith’ basically is conceptualized by the ‘wise’ to bring in order, cohesion and peace in human habitations at the very beginning of evolution of civilization. 

End of the ‘man-eats-man’ phase and protection to the weak and the infirm (order); Tolerance, equality, bonding among people belonging to the particular faith (cohesion); Interaction, affinity, brotherhood, harmonious co-existence - all of which, culminating in the physical and psychological well-being (peace) – are all the fruits of introduction of religion in this universe.

Peace is the quintessential prerequisite for proper channelization of thought processes concerning all areas of human endeavor, aimed at advancement in humanities, arts, sciences and spirituality.

Great minds realized the futility of anything destructive (negativity); and the worth of everything constructive (positivity). 

Accordingly, they showed different ways and means to nurture and sustain positivity among humans through religious tenets. 

When endowed with fertile minds, diversity in thought is but natural. This caused the birth and propagation of different religions through the agency of great souls at different times in human history. 

There can always be new religions evolving so long as human race exists in this universe. 

Incidentally, no religion ignores the nature with all its creatures, without a proper balance of which, humans can’t survive for long on this planet. 

‘Spiritualism’ is innate to religion.

But then, certain thinkers, by virtue of their inherent knowledge and in their own innovative ways, went beyond religion in pursuit of self-realization. 

Hence, ‘spiritualism’ could be both inclusive and independent of religion.

Now-a-days ‘Hinduism’ is known as one another religion. 

People including those born as Hindus, are ignorant of what came to be known as Hinduism in fact, is ‘Hindu Dharma’ or ‘Sanatana Dharma’ - a way of life, and not a religion as has been contrived by the British and acknowledged by the rest. 

The fact of course, stands out that as with the times, ‘Hindu Dharma’ lost much of its sanctity, though not in totality. 

Though not adhering to their own religious principles in any great measure, people are getting more and more intolerant of other religious groups - a great irony. 

Religious intolerance is indicative of lack of reverence to own religious principles, which is not realized as such, by any! 

What all religious alienation we witness today, is sparked by ignorant fanatics and further fueled and bolstered by political leaders for their own selfish ends.

No sane person whichever religion he is aligned to, would harbor negative thoughts against another religion!

"What's on your mind?"

What's on my mind?

Ah yes, its old age....

I read a blog a moment ago, titled "Old is not always Gold". 

The lady started the blog expressing how very exhausting an experience it was meeting her old uncle etc. etc. with the customary spiritual overtures splashed here and there!

She was clearly in need of being reminded of a simple, yet relevant fact of life, which made me to post this comment on her blog: 


"Old-age is an inevitable phase of life.

Everyone loves it to be a well-written last chapter with a matching epilogue!

Well ultimately, how it always will be - what we sow, so we reap! 

Incidentally mam, you are not alone to experience exhaustion meeting an old, ever-grumbling uncle!

In fact, it feels such a trying experience for me too at times...whenever I meet my own old-self!"

"I don't at all mind...."

Every time I open Face Book, sure as hell an empty dialogue box  poses me a question! 

Oh God! this space never tires of asking "What's on your mind?"!!!

Okay, what is on my mind?

Well, there is no reason for me to mind telling whatever is there on my mind! Fine!...........

I respect a certain great soul - one learned and wise gentleman, a blogger, commentator and yes, a humorist too! 

He mixes humor and spirituality so intricately that reading his blogs & comments will be so very joyful and also make us contemplate deep on what has been conveyed!

He ended his recent blog this way:
...............................
...............................
Trickishly yours,
psn

[Oh, don't say there is no word 'trickishly' in English! He is a great Master of English language too! Its only that he is just, pleasantly tricky here as well!]

Well, I loved the content so very much that I couldn't but fall head over heals, as any of his readers would!

What is extracted below was part of my comment posted on his blog:

"Hmm…trickishly ours!?!!!

So my revered sir can be trickily ticklish if he so wished!.....Oh, nope!

He is only a champion of tricks……no sir, I don’t mean trickeries….can’t say a trickster either….not by any chance!

[o it meens sooo? o, reelly? gawd, i dinnoo! i hate foren langvage….damn ingileesh… an bannit foren!]

"…….desire for ‘attainment’ and desire for ‘dropping of the desire"…...


True Sir, it is the trickiest of all and the last trick for any to succeed at!

That exactly is why I said on your preceding blog page - the ‘master of both worlds’!"
....................
....................
(well, this doesn't matter hereabouts)

I don't at all mind if you say....none of the above too....

"Forgiveness"

“To forgive is divine!” is the universal 'Truth'!

Of the many aspects relating to “forgiveness” that the writer discussed so meaningfully in a blog that I read recently, “Who can forgive the guilty? Is it the aggrieved, or we people, who are not directly affected by the crime?” was pivotal to her write-up.

At a personal level, I believe that, whenever a rape / murder or any kind of irrevocable physical and/or mental harm is committed intentionally or knowingly by an individual, he/she if proved guilty, has to be punished, not by physical harm or killing in retaliation, as done by who we call the uncivilized (tribal or barbarian communities), but by segregating him/her for the rest of life from the society. 

To me, the lofty idea of providing an opportunity to reform simply does not work and carries no meaning at all, and is the greatest folly being entertained, and the greatest injustice meted out to the aggrieved!

Such a crime if ignored by a society is no society to live in, for normal humans.

Such society ceases to be a just society, and the community, no humans!

But alas, such is the ‘society’ we happen to live in! 

Are you and me, alien to this society?

Or is it just the apathy most of us are used to display in our daily lives?

I believe that we do have a duty to perform to the society we belong to, besides our own selves.

Our personal virtuosity alone cannot ensure a safe existence to our kids and theirs!

I wholly condemn and curse those, who sit in relative safety and advocate “a Fair Opportunity to reform (!?)” - to plumb hell! 

I care a damn if I sound impudent to these pseudo-intellectuals or if I amass sin for cursing certain sub-humans.

These irresponsible members of the society, according to me, are the real culprits, and even worse than those who actually commit such heinous crimes!