Spiritual Suckers

"You Indian?" he asked me sipping his whiskey.
"Yes" I replied as I tasted my brunch (on a weekday like today)
Its my usual khana place that serves a little healthier stuff. Not very crowded at that hour.
"Which part?" he asked again.
"South, Bangalore"
I expected his next question. I play this kind of a game sometimes. Its interesting.
"So what do you do here?"
"Oh, I'm on a research" I replied showing no interest in participating in the conversation. I'd just finished my workout and an awesome round of meditation. Enjoying the first meal of the day with a calm mind is my fav thing to do.
The whiskey got to the man. He didn't seem to like my short answers.
"Well, what sort of a research is it?" he asked again.

I took a few seconds before I answered.
"Spiritual values in modern management"
"Spirituality!!" he exclaimed. I instantly recognized the blabberer in him in the form of a philosopher waiting to explode.
I wonder what makes these Indians behave as if they have the copyright on spirituality. A quick scene from the movie 'The man who sued God' flashed in my mind. I sure would wanna do it sometime myself.
"Who do you follow?” This is the first nonsensical question I get from many so called spiritual people.
“No one really”
“How is that! You said you’re on a research”
“I am”. The man felt restless. The whiskey in him granted him an instant piece of wisdom.

He rattled a Sanskrit verse from a certain Vedic scripture.

“I don’t understand Sanskrit”. I interrupted.
He felt slightly annoyed that I didn’t acknowledge his great show of wisdom of the ancient verses. “Then you should understand”.
“I’m not interested” I said with a grin.
I’m not sure exactly what caused him that restlessness. Probably the half-done feeling (happens to male-beings especially at the time of intimacy)
He didn’t give up. “You know we should be proud of our country. India is the only country that has produced so many spiritual Gurus”, he emphasized.
“Not really” I said in disagreement.
He listed a couple of anandas and maharajs.
“What should I do with them?” I interrupted again with a desi smile on my face.
He thought I’m cynical.
“They come and go. So many have come and so many will. If we are God’s children, so to say, then India is not his only girlfriend’s place on earth that he is so kind with us. There are many masters around the world such as Gurdjeiff, Socrates, St. Paul, Jesus, Md.Paigambar etc. Only your frame of reference is limited”.

He fell silent.

“How come madira (alcohol) at this time of the day” I asked him trying to change the topic.
He cheered up. “Oh, just for fun. Don’t have much to do today?”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a professor”. He continued, “I’ve taught many students in my life and from my experience I tell you that spiritual knowledge is very much needed for us”.
“For what?” I asked (I know its not very polite of me :/ )

He volunteered to rattle another verse…
I interrupted again while I liked his effort in mugging ‘em. “I don’t understand Sanskrit”.
“Well then, I don’t understand what kind of spirituality you’re researching on”.
He fell quiet and looked disappointed.
“What is the point of it all? These Gurus, philosophy and these ancient scriptures”, I inquired.
“Realization… to realize certain things in our lives” He felt energized.
“Such as” I prompted.
“To achieve peace, happiness”
“And then?” I asked while I kept staring at his Whisky bottle (Not that I don’t drink :p )

He felt clueless. Maybe the conversation didn’t go quite the way he expected. I’ve seen many such spiritually-sick, pointless philosophers. My ever abusive father is one himself.

He got up and announced while he ordered for another peg. “Hang on, I’ll join you in a while”.
He filled his glass and sat across my table.
“What inspired you to come here on a research?” He asked. I liked his friendly tone this time.
I told him briefly about my past 5 month long monkhood before I gave up my career as a corporate coach and why I want to find a middle ground having seen life from both material and non material stand points.

Exactly what is it that makes thousands of our fellow Indians get into this nonsensical spiritual blabbering. What is it that we want to prove and to who exactly. Isn’t it meant for our own realization? Doesn’t it require us to be humble, honest and be willing to learn and most importantly ‘apply’ in our lives.

Exactly what is it that makes our people rattle things like this, show off and not follow anything?!

‘nahi gnanena sadrisham
pavtramiha vidyate
tat swayam yoga samsiddhaha
kaalenaatmani vindati’

[In this world there is nothing so sublime and as purifying as the transcendental knowledge. Only the person who practices yogic sciences would attain this knowledge in due course of time.]

I offered a verse from Bhagavad-Gita as I finished my brunch and got up to leave.
Not sure if another peg of his turned nonintoxicating.

Beauty of a woman

The following was written by the late educator-humorist Sam Levinson for his grandchild and read by Audrey Hepburn on Christmas Eve, 1992. It was also used by Ms. Hepburn on occasion when she was asked for beauty tips. [From Audrey Hepburn by Barry Paris, 1996, Putnam]


For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.

Rabba mera yaar miladere...

There she was. Right in front of me. Looking deep into his eyes. Beautifully carved eyes. Neatly done liner.. just the required amount. Invigorating smile, naughtiness in her eyes, love, affection, wanting...

She was touching him with great fondness, warmth. Gifted hands depicted her sensuality. right sense of dressing. She seemed to know what shade jeans is right on her, what sorta top complimented it... correct pair of sandals added extra beauty, grace to her cute feet. Soft and silky hair, good sense of fitness. There was every reason to go mad over her. She was just the girl I needed.

I sat there wondering. Such girls aren't seen everywhere... rare ones I always dream about. It was so nice to watch her. She touched him again and here I felt the warmth. She was gently stroking her fingers against his. She held them, tightened the fist, turned, squeezed, felt his skin, rubbed her shoulders against his. She was all over him.
I felt restless...
I looked at him in amazement. How lucky he was or so I thought. He seemed to be least bothered. slightly turned-away posture. Pleasant looking, average body, basic dressing. No special expression on his face, He seemed to be talking normally, completely unturned by her touch and moves. It looked like she was trying to woo him.

Wow! How does this happen !! She is all I ever wanted in a girl. So damn difficult to find them nowadays. at least in a city like Bangalore. not sure. Couldn't understand what really won her heart. Is he intelligent? But that cant alone be a reason for this intimacy. What exactly are the words, what behavior is that that she found admirable. Why is that I never get to meet these girls ever and why are they not single ever? I thought helplessly.

Not quite an apt view for someone single. Heart screamed in helplessness. How, exactly how to meet one such girl in this society? Where do I find someone who introduces me to them coz they don't entertain someone who speaks to them directly. Why are they scared of strangers so much, why do they live in that nutshell called network? How am I supposed to get through? I just don't find other type of girls as interesting as these ones. It doesn't turn me on at all. But no friend of mine knows this kind of a girl. Don't these girls understand this fact? What's wrong if someone they don't know tries talking to them, tries to know them. They call it an intention... what is that?
Isn't that the way friends happen? I've stayed single for years now. Am I destined, after all, to meet one girl like this? I wonder... I ponder. It aches my heart. Is it his disinterest that attracts her... No, I don't think so. How could it be? I would have loved her every single second. What a contrast. Is this how it is? I thought, thought n thought.

May be it's the society, maybe it's the culture or maybe I don't know. How come I didn't get the courage to continue with whoever came along? This choosiness is painful. But what is life lived in compromise. Who do I ask? God is not in a mood to answer just this question!

She bent over to him. Looking deep in his eyes. His eyes were somewhere else. She kissed him. My heart skipped a beat. Coffee day didn't exist, I was forgotten along with the crowd. How deep it felt, how deep it ached. It wasn't very polite of me to watch a couple like that. But my longing heart wouldn't care. It wasn't enough that I started a bad day. Coffee day radio decided to name the event with a song at the appropriate time.

Rabba mere yaar miladere...


..

MERA BHARAT GHULAM

Oh yes… I can feel the heat. I can feel the anger when someone insults our slogan. Did I say anger? Sorry read it as ‘annoyance’. How can we be angry? We are Indians, right? At the most we can feel a little annoyed when someone beats us, cheats us or loots us of our freedom. Anybody can walk over us… strip us off and do whatever they wish. Yes, we do feel angry sometimes and express in a very polite manner. We light candles, walk in peace protests. We march the peace protests like our sacred cows in a permitted boundary by the Government. And who are we fighting against… the Government !! It’s like asking a thief to watch over our valuables.

I read somewhere that terrorists have been disturbing us for 25 years now… holy____ TWENTY FIVE years!!! Wow, isn’t that great? God herself won’t tolerate this but we are Indians you see. More patient than the almighty. Yes, we’ve expressed.. and been expressing. I see the terrorists sitting in a corner and planning on opening a candle factory. The more people they kill…more candles will be sold.

Someone calls himself some sort of ‘Moral Police’ and beats women in public. Who told them ‘pubs’ are bad places? Exactly how would they explain ‘loving’ or ‘being lovers’ is against Hindu culture? They can’t explain it…in fact, they don’t need to explain it. They know the secret. The secret that many Rulers of India have known that “we are sheep”. We don’t dare to ask. We won’t stand up in the first place let alone asking be.

Which Hindu scripture asks us to disrespect women by beating or abusing them? Which scripture suggests us to sell our perverted thoughts in the form of ‘sex books’? Which holy scripture in the world is in favor of promoting ‘child pornography’? But it’s all over here…everywhere. The so called ‘moral police’ don’t fight this? They won’t. They only fight against innocent lovers.

Our land is a land that taught the world how to see God in women. How could these Rama sene fellas forget this when they raised their hand on women? They bring shame to Rama. We were ruled by invaders for more than 600 years… yes SIX HUNDRED. It’s not because they were strong. It’s because we were not. Let’s face it. Truth does not change just because we close our eyes. We are a third-world country(poverty stricken) not because we lack resources…but because we lack resourcefulness.

Please… people, for God’s sake. Lets Get up, Stand up and VOICE our birth right. Remember you and I work hard and pay taxes for all these uneducated idiots. The breakfast that our C.M eats comes straight out of our pockets. The police and the Government are not here to rule us but to serve us. It’s a system we’ve adopted for our security. They brought our night life rights to 4 am, then 2 and then they said 11.30 pm. Tomorrow they’ll ask you to be home by 9pm because it’s a healthy lifestyle. They know ‘all we can do is to walk around MG road with placards in our hands’. Let’s remember that the Police does NOT decide what we should do but we do and we pay them for the service.

I whole heartedly appreciate those who at least organize some protests. It feels bad to see that hardly a few people participate. Do you want to wait until your own sister is molested, until your own brother is beaten up. Fellow Indians, Bhagavad-Gita itself says “Vinashaya cha duskritam” (to annihilate the evil miscreants). Our politeness should not be the result of our fears but our strength.

I wrote this because I love my country…because I care for my people. Mera Bharat is truly Mahaan but not unless we stand up for our rights.

Witty One liners

I have a thing for Intelligence... nothing like a great humor of sense.
These are some I found:

-Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?

-Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

-Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?

-If corn oil comes from corn, where does baby oil come from?

-Why do you press harder on a remote-control when you know the battery is dead?

Dark - Your birth certificate is an apology letter from the condom factory.

-Crowded elevator smells different to a midget.

-About Car Seat: Front-Kids cause accidents. Rear-Accidents cause kids.

Funny facts:

-Canada is an Indian word meaning 'Big Village'.

-Castor oil is used as a lubricant in jet planes.

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

!

Ye zindagi dard bhi hai...
ye zindagi hai dawa bhi;
Dil todna hi na jaane...
jaane ye dil jod na bhi;

is zindagi ka shukriya... sadke me uperwale;
kal ki hame fursat kaha...
soche jo hum matwale.

[source- song 'jeevan ke din']

is mod se jaate hai kuch sust kadam raste....

I entered my supposedly-happening gym in Koramangala(Bangalore) the other evening trying my best to evacuate all worldly thoughts outta my mind. It's that innocent and lovely smile I can't miss of that receptionist every day.

I offered a wide-desi smile in return to an attitudinal grin of the coach who doesn't like me for not asking his guidance in anything. May be he sensed my observation of his shapeless "physique" in my eyes. Whatever, those days are over when I wondered about the people, the society, structure, fake personalities, countries blah blah blah. But what pissed(s) me off is that ultra stupid...utterly boooring "tujhe mirchi lagi to main kya karu" type songs. Then I run around talking to every bloody manager to get some energy music playing.

No matter how much I try to fit in this new age bull crap music... I just fail to digest it. I wonder what goes on in their mind for such music to compliment their thoughts and their tastes. Worse is these sensual(?) sophisticated-looking dames who sing along. Hello, is that the art of deceiving baby? isn't that attitude that you wearing... and isn't that your mind at work, does your heart say something or you bluntly go with someone else's choice???

Where is that sweetness we heard in a song like 'rimjhim gire saawan'?
Where's that soul stirring feeling as she sings 'mera kuch saaman'... 'yara seeli seeli' 'lo aagayi unki yaad, woh nahi aaye'
Where...exactly where are such people with taste, with passion, with that innocence and playfulness who sang adorable yet naghuty songs like 'accha to hum chal tel hai'?

I wonder where this new gen music is heading... if there are people who crave for a meaningful life when I hear songs like 'jhalak dikhlaja' !

Not that I'm an old fashioned fella who can't appreciate new songs... I fell in love with some songs like 'baras ja ay badal barasja' or 'agar tum mil jao' or 'aditi', 'mere haath mein'... etc. Certainly, taste differs from person to person but don't their hearts crave for a little melody, a little meaning and true expression!!!