Random Ramblings

My daughter appeared for a music theory exam at bhopal. the music teacher had assured her that she would be helped, to which my daughter had shot back , “i don’t cheat”

Eventually the exam was conducted on the terrace of a friend’s private house (music teacher’s freind) . most of the candidates were adults, who were not only copying from books but had also to be helped by the invigilators to do just that. my daughter kept watching the whole thing while she refused to be part of the cheating that was going on.

her music teacher saw her answer paper, and was surprised to find that many of the answers were correct. He was referring to a book and could find some answers incorrect and offered to help ,”just two lines….”. My daughter refused flatly. then came the gem,

” aapka mummy bahut strict hai, papa to normal hai na?”

when i heard that i actually felt so offended. what does it mean when an average indian today, specially on the northern side of the Vindhyas call you normal?

What is a ‘normal’ person expected to do in this time (kaliyug) and space (bharatvarsh) ?

At the workplace

– Do minimum work and get maximum pay, perks and privilages and ‘the other income’; hardwork even a donkey can do, we are human’s na ?

As a parent

– admit your child in the institution where you want him to be, after buying/making necessary certificates and negotiating the right price for the right service

As a student

– get maximum marks with minimum studies after all you are training yourself to do the same at the ‘workplace’

As a trader /businessman

– Obtain maximum returns for minimum services or goods, afterall you have to get rich quick to prove yourself.

As a taxpayer

– What tax and why ? just pay whatever it takes to avoid tax.

As a teacher

– Earn more from tutorials while conserving time and energy at regular teaching

As a doctor

– Expend your time and effort only on such treatment that maximizes the bill.

As a general citizen

– Spit in public places
– buy a platform ticket, parking ticket or traveling ticket only where absolutely necessary
– follow only such laws/rules where infringements are monitored and where the rates for bribe is higher than the cost of abiding the law.

…..and many more

under such circumstances, It would definitely be a compliment when you hear someone say “Oh, he is abnormal”

the other day my daughter was ticked off by her mother, for not taking off the shoes in the bed room; probably something that happens between all mothers and daughters. It went something like this:-

mom : it is so irritating.. keeping your shoes on, in the bed.
daughter : a ‘so what ?’ look …
mom : take them off.
daughter : no reaction

after sometime i suggested, “i am not getting irritated but it definitely is a bad habit”
promptly , my daughter took her shoes off.. to my wife’s surprise.

she later explained ” if mom got irritated it is her problem, but if i develop a bad habit, it is my problem”

yashodaragautama says 58 times
detachment brings
divinement
non expectation brings
deliverance
after deliverance
what is there to
call life///////////////

death is welcome as long as life goes on
but when death comes wonder why struggle
to beat it back as anyhow life has
become a living death

Ahhh! dues to creditors of life
child, mother, father , husband , son etc etc unpaid
want to rest restless mind, soul, body, eyes
but scared of the rest too
as still hoping to live a life which
not know how but?????????????

death is scary
life is wary
a third choice
wish i had

train journey is a great time to read. take a thick book, heavier the contents better it would be; a book like “The tao of physics”.
After every paragraph, look outside, at the scenic beauty and leisurely cudchew on the contents.

There are no easy answers

Today we have more choice than we can handle
and there are no easy answers

it starts from coffee or tea, indian, or south Indian (??),
Chinese or Thai cuisine

marriage or living in
for short term or long term

organization or freelance ..
family or friends

live in your home town or
make a home where you make a living

what about children and parents ?
to what extent you live for them and what do you expect from them ?

what are your rights and responsibilities
to family, society, country and to yourself.

Adopt or follow an established religion, complete with its core beliefs and rituals
or customise one , blaze a new track ?

today, more than ever before, there are more questions than answers;
and there are no easy answers.

————————————

Swami Vivekananda and Subramanya Bharathi
Some amazing coincidences

Swami Vivekananda and Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi are perhaps the greatest personalities in 18-19th century to have influenced the youth.
Both died young at the age of 39 years. Both were philosophers with an aggressive patriotic fervor. Everyone knows that Sister Nivedita was the disciple of Swami Vivekananda but few are aware that bharathiyar himself was a disciple of Sister Nivedita. Sister Nivedita’s parents were active members of Irish Home Rule Movement and it was natural that she encouraged the freedom struggle in India.

11 Sep 1897

Swami Vivekananda addressed the parliament of religions at Chicago,Hinduism shook US as only Hinduism can.

11 Sep 2001

Attack on WTC, Newyork, Islam shook US as only Islam can.