Talking about abstention from drinking or taking a resolve is relatively easy, when away from the ‘vulnerable’ ground/area/war-field, like early mornings at home amidst the warmth of a strong well-knit family where all other ‘concerned’ family members feel ‘reassured’ to hear of our ‘sincere’ resolve afresh each time. Even when in a hospital bed due to the very consequence of excessive drinking this resolve seems relatively easy.
But right inside the ‘Madhushaala’ (Shri Harivansh Rai’s famed poem), it takes a different kind of mind to hang on to such a resolve. The war is between experiences, and the tremendous ‘force’ of cravings induced at our very cellular level. That is where spirituality comes to one’s rescue. It affords an ‘experience’, which can sustain any external temptation.
The topic was rather ‘hotly’ debated amidst my age group fellow-students during our penultimate and final years of schooling. But even I could not then guess, as to why most of them found it difficult to accept my view point about it. Now, as I can see, it was the proximity, the age, which did not allow the safe-distance, to stand and look at it, ponder over it, and think sensibly about it. From that view point, I did not expect such positive ‘vote’ response to my views, from today’s youngsters too. They did surprise me(pleasantly of course). I did not even think of adding, the ‘what next’ after managing that sensible dealing with this natural urge. I am slowly learning to refrain from giving that ‘unsolicited’ details.
It is good to save, conserve and preserve money, the most convenient form of wealth. But when it gets accumulated to a noticeable extent, the vulnerability too increases proportionately. This ‘natural’ energy too, was once upon a time so noticeable, but today, it is no problem, like, we are more dependent on ‘plastic’ money, so much as to even forget how a gold coin’s touch ‘feels’… very few can take notice of that preserved energy-form. This energy can be channelized to help us evolve a bit faster into spirituality. That is an altogether different ‘issue’…
Psn (29th March, 2010)
The Question:
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100318115726AApuDpo
Tell me, spiritually (or otherwise)... how do you define sexuality?
And, as always... please elaborate. :-)
My answer:
It is no different from that urge called "Hunger". We humans overdo anything and everything. Most people have not known hunger for a long time. They eat as soon as the stomach feels 'empty'.
Please see, animals and other creatures eat and mate only in strict adherence to their natural urge and not other wise. We were 'expected' to evolve further, not fall even below, at least, that level!
Restrictions are looked at as setting better conditions, and are needed only when we seek refinement. That is how the institution called marriage evolved. When religious sanctity is accorded, the very same natural urge is now a means of spiritual evolvement. Maybe it is found beyond grasp for some of the present day people, but that is not entirely their fault. Even emotions are becoming less understood. As a kid I used to wonder, when I read about ancient Indian puranic stories where a young beautiful lady princess used to feel very lucky if an ascetic, way beyond old age even chose to marry her. Now I know exactly what kind of 'appeal' that very old-aged, grey haired sage holds for that young lady(much to the disappointment to many young suitors, princes even!). For most young ladies it is quite unthinkable to 'espouse' such an old person. even on a movie screen, leave alone real life!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Inter Personal Skills
A brief Prologue: (28th March, 2010….) It is with a bit of hesitation, that I decided to proceed with posting this blog. The only inspiration came from the hero of the English Movie “Independence Day” wherein, he took the precious hint when his father commented “You will catch a cold”. He realized that a virus that causes cold temporarily incapacitates a person. The brief time is enough to make a dent into the adversary’s defense system. Perhaps, I could at least be that innocent commentor, to inspire the young world of Hi-tech-techies, with impregnable fortresses of management-technology-jargons! Otherwise, I feel quite incompetent at this.(End of prologue)
I do not get to hear this term too often. But I did come to know of this, right in my early school days. That is what makes me wonder. How that simple school teacher who barely managed with very paltry salary, and stuck to the job for the sheer love of teaching could make a mention of this wonderful enriching concept, to the tiny tender buds that we were, then!! All that I could manage to grasp is that this skill had to do a lot with some kind of ‘all-round, all-inclusive, all-encompassing’ abilities.
These business schools must be focusing a lot on this concept. But in the outside, where also this is quite relevant, there is only an obscure mention. It does not attract any elaboration even.
Recently I read about the huge accumulating losses made by India’s National Carrier, Air India. I was wondering if it had been left in the hands of the legendary “JRD”, this situation would not have arisen. He was a ‘techie’ at aviation skills. He was cost conscious. He was consumer conscious. And the best part of it is that, all of the Tatas were Human Resource conscious. Recently Shri Ratan Tata touched heights of humility when he very simply put it that when he employed the staff, he did not ‘bargain’ for the Taj Hotel Staff to risk their very lives when they responded beyond the call of duty, and saved many people during the tragic attack on 26/11, and that the least he could do was to keep paying their regular salary, though the Hotel was unable to function till restoration work was completed(The body language of the staff who came on media, looked quite unassuming about the effortless ease with which they risked their lives, as if saying quietly “Oh! That is quite normal being a ‘TATA’ staff”!) Shri Jamshetji continues to shower his blessings on the descendants and the staff, without discriminating (A true TATA family in every sense)! I even remember the whispered old stories when our Political goons could not tolerate smooth relations at TATA Steel, where the Union Leader was equally popular with workers and management, and to create a dent in such a large work force, a foul means of ‘eliminating’ the leader had to be undertaken! My idea is not to initiate a debate about the validity of these stories. But, to access an example, which seems reasonable tangible, to have a glimpse of that unique combination of three major heads of abstract concepts. It is good enough to accept the incidents as hypothetical or at ‘fictional’ levels, though personally I would need to make a lot of compromise within myself for that.
1. Technical skills that in turn inspires creativity in the team.
2. Managerial skills that in turn churn out productivity, cost effectiveness and insulate or insure against possible obsolescence of the very business!
3. Human Relations skills, which invoke the highest levels of ‘Human’ Resources.
Unless an individual happens to strike a balance of these three, there would be stagnation at any level (individual-career-level, organizational growth level, or even that particular trade/industry level. We have seen examples in the famous lecture ‘Have breakfast, or be breakfast’!)
For those mystic beings, these skills are quite incidental by-products of the arduous trek on spiritual path, as I too could have a glimpse, fortunately!
Psn(24th March, 2010)
I do not get to hear this term too often. But I did come to know of this, right in my early school days. That is what makes me wonder. How that simple school teacher who barely managed with very paltry salary, and stuck to the job for the sheer love of teaching could make a mention of this wonderful enriching concept, to the tiny tender buds that we were, then!! All that I could manage to grasp is that this skill had to do a lot with some kind of ‘all-round, all-inclusive, all-encompassing’ abilities.
These business schools must be focusing a lot on this concept. But in the outside, where also this is quite relevant, there is only an obscure mention. It does not attract any elaboration even.
Recently I read about the huge accumulating losses made by India’s National Carrier, Air India. I was wondering if it had been left in the hands of the legendary “JRD”, this situation would not have arisen. He was a ‘techie’ at aviation skills. He was cost conscious. He was consumer conscious. And the best part of it is that, all of the Tatas were Human Resource conscious. Recently Shri Ratan Tata touched heights of humility when he very simply put it that when he employed the staff, he did not ‘bargain’ for the Taj Hotel Staff to risk their very lives when they responded beyond the call of duty, and saved many people during the tragic attack on 26/11, and that the least he could do was to keep paying their regular salary, though the Hotel was unable to function till restoration work was completed(The body language of the staff who came on media, looked quite unassuming about the effortless ease with which they risked their lives, as if saying quietly “Oh! That is quite normal being a ‘TATA’ staff”!) Shri Jamshetji continues to shower his blessings on the descendants and the staff, without discriminating (A true TATA family in every sense)! I even remember the whispered old stories when our Political goons could not tolerate smooth relations at TATA Steel, where the Union Leader was equally popular with workers and management, and to create a dent in such a large work force, a foul means of ‘eliminating’ the leader had to be undertaken! My idea is not to initiate a debate about the validity of these stories. But, to access an example, which seems reasonable tangible, to have a glimpse of that unique combination of three major heads of abstract concepts. It is good enough to accept the incidents as hypothetical or at ‘fictional’ levels, though personally I would need to make a lot of compromise within myself for that.
1. Technical skills that in turn inspires creativity in the team.
2. Managerial skills that in turn churn out productivity, cost effectiveness and insulate or insure against possible obsolescence of the very business!
3. Human Relations skills, which invoke the highest levels of ‘Human’ Resources.
Unless an individual happens to strike a balance of these three, there would be stagnation at any level (individual-career-level, organizational growth level, or even that particular trade/industry level. We have seen examples in the famous lecture ‘Have breakfast, or be breakfast’!)
For those mystic beings, these skills are quite incidental by-products of the arduous trek on spiritual path, as I too could have a glimpse, fortunately!
Psn(24th March, 2010)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Response Ability
There is no dearth of sermons, speeches, advices, warnings, disclaimers, FAQ’s, informative materials etc. Most of the times, very little of these get ‘registered’ into us,.
Our response ‘system’ is elusively unique. Most people give a thought even, only when it comes to handling problematic children of their own, who fail to respond to several of appeals (very much meant for children’s own welfare). How to make this children get the message? Shall we tell the teachers? Or is it better to request the close friends of these kids? Sometimes, talking to them over a mobile, the very same message at least gets ‘heard’.
A wonderful question came up seeking to find the effect of embellishing well, a message, with words.
I was incessantly pursuing the task of fine-tuning my own assessment, of my own levels of extracting the response, when I try to communicate. Work place atmosphere, the nature of ‘stock-in-trade’ etc contributed immensely to my experience. The spiritual pursuits added the reinforcements like that magical combination in Cement, sand, steel and jelly-stones in “R.C.C.” (Reinforced cement concrete). But with all this, I am nowhere near evoking a response when it comes to ‘spiritually-oriented-opinions”, for which I most eagerly await even for a mere acknowledgement of having read/heard.
In this backdrop, it would be highly speculative to judge my competence to answer this question. Let us see, if my apprehensions of an imminent failure trigger some response.
Psn (25th March, 2010)
Quote:
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100324024744AABYOKY
Which one would you give more importance to, and why; words carrying deep feeling or words with strong intent?
My Answer:
Despite strong intent and that 'deep' feeling filled words, all those religious books , teachings, speeches, sayings etc have almost fallen on deaf ears. True , they are quite famous, but used mostly as 'ornamental' and for deceptively cosmetic purposes.
So, the emphasis lies on our disposition, attitude, presence of mind, alertness, awareness, when we respond to something that we hear, whether be it wonderful words or even a deep silence!
A kid responded to strong intent which did not work for the bulk of the people around, when this Zen master simply conveyed a message in the most wonderful way! Words were redundant! (Quote: http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind…
Whenever anyone asked him about Zen, the great master Gutei would quietly raise one finger into the air. A boy in the village began to imitate this behavior. Whenever he heard people talking about Gutei's teachings, he would interrupt the discussion and raise his finger. Gutei heard about the boy's mischief. When he saw him in the street, he seized him and cut off his finger. The boy cried and began to run off, but Gutei called out to him. When the boy turned to look, Gutei raised his finger into the air. At that moment the boy became enlightened. )
Our response ‘system’ is elusively unique. Most people give a thought even, only when it comes to handling problematic children of their own, who fail to respond to several of appeals (very much meant for children’s own welfare). How to make this children get the message? Shall we tell the teachers? Or is it better to request the close friends of these kids? Sometimes, talking to them over a mobile, the very same message at least gets ‘heard’.
A wonderful question came up seeking to find the effect of embellishing well, a message, with words.
I was incessantly pursuing the task of fine-tuning my own assessment, of my own levels of extracting the response, when I try to communicate. Work place atmosphere, the nature of ‘stock-in-trade’ etc contributed immensely to my experience. The spiritual pursuits added the reinforcements like that magical combination in Cement, sand, steel and jelly-stones in “R.C.C.” (Reinforced cement concrete). But with all this, I am nowhere near evoking a response when it comes to ‘spiritually-oriented-opinions”, for which I most eagerly await even for a mere acknowledgement of having read/heard.
In this backdrop, it would be highly speculative to judge my competence to answer this question. Let us see, if my apprehensions of an imminent failure trigger some response.
Psn (25th March, 2010)
Quote:
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100324024744AABYOKY
Which one would you give more importance to, and why; words carrying deep feeling or words with strong intent?
My Answer:
Despite strong intent and that 'deep' feeling filled words, all those religious books , teachings, speeches, sayings etc have almost fallen on deaf ears. True , they are quite famous, but used mostly as 'ornamental' and for deceptively cosmetic purposes.
So, the emphasis lies on our disposition, attitude, presence of mind, alertness, awareness, when we respond to something that we hear, whether be it wonderful words or even a deep silence!
A kid responded to strong intent which did not work for the bulk of the people around, when this Zen master simply conveyed a message in the most wonderful way! Words were redundant! (Quote: http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind…
Whenever anyone asked him about Zen, the great master Gutei would quietly raise one finger into the air. A boy in the village began to imitate this behavior. Whenever he heard people talking about Gutei's teachings, he would interrupt the discussion and raise his finger. Gutei heard about the boy's mischief. When he saw him in the street, he seized him and cut off his finger. The boy cried and began to run off, but Gutei called out to him. When the boy turned to look, Gutei raised his finger into the air. At that moment the boy became enlightened. )
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Einstein’s experience of tastelessness!
Even before the subject of Physics (for that matter ‘Science’) took over my peace of mind in a very big way at school, I was fortunate to learn about Dr. Einstein.
And it is the ‘benediction’ part of the very same fortune, which has perhaps enabled me to take up this question the way I would always love to look at. (Though it looks silly, I am still quite apprehensive that if I had first known Dr. Einstein through Science lessons, instead of that brief biography in English Non-detailed syllabus, the admiration for the discoveries would have overshadowed my discovering the ‘great spiritual person himself’, within him)
I earnestly hope that my answer would not appear too ‘mystic’ to invoke an appeal to our ‘reasoning faculties’.
The fact is, I could not hold back my admiration for the Great thinker, scientist, and a yet greater, ‘human’ being.
Psn(24th March, 2010)
The question:
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100323213054AAgeQHD
Why is it "Tasteless" to live forever?
"I want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share, it is time to go. I will do it elegantly."-Albert Einstein
What's your opinion?
My answer:
In isolation, this question would attract an answer that has general and 'mass' appeal. But having quoted the Great Being 'Einstein' the reasons are unique.
Please note, "I will do it elegantly" is the whole of the clue !!!
We humans make lot of fuss when we 'go'. Very few people happen to even notice that other living creatures do it quite gracefully, elegantly and INCONSPICUOUSLY (of course, inconspicuous only to we the humans!). The tastelessness is due to the artificiality when a person steps into that realm of choicelessness, the ultimate freedom! "I want to go when I want" is very significant and indicates the heights of human capability wherein the rare type of real and true 'natural-death' is at will, and by choice, not waiting for the body to become incapable of 'housing' the life-energy. I shall reserve my interpretation of the words "my share" with a sense of sanctity (it is yet again, my share too!).
Mere 'thanks' looks ridiculously insufficient for this quote and of course the question.
And it is the ‘benediction’ part of the very same fortune, which has perhaps enabled me to take up this question the way I would always love to look at. (Though it looks silly, I am still quite apprehensive that if I had first known Dr. Einstein through Science lessons, instead of that brief biography in English Non-detailed syllabus, the admiration for the discoveries would have overshadowed my discovering the ‘great spiritual person himself’, within him)
I earnestly hope that my answer would not appear too ‘mystic’ to invoke an appeal to our ‘reasoning faculties’.
The fact is, I could not hold back my admiration for the Great thinker, scientist, and a yet greater, ‘human’ being.
Psn(24th March, 2010)
The question:
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100323213054AAgeQHD
Why is it "Tasteless" to live forever?
"I want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share, it is time to go. I will do it elegantly."-Albert Einstein
What's your opinion?
My answer:
In isolation, this question would attract an answer that has general and 'mass' appeal. But having quoted the Great Being 'Einstein' the reasons are unique.
Please note, "I will do it elegantly" is the whole of the clue !!!
We humans make lot of fuss when we 'go'. Very few people happen to even notice that other living creatures do it quite gracefully, elegantly and INCONSPICUOUSLY (of course, inconspicuous only to we the humans!). The tastelessness is due to the artificiality when a person steps into that realm of choicelessness, the ultimate freedom! "I want to go when I want" is very significant and indicates the heights of human capability wherein the rare type of real and true 'natural-death' is at will, and by choice, not waiting for the body to become incapable of 'housing' the life-energy. I shall reserve my interpretation of the words "my share" with a sense of sanctity (it is yet again, my share too!).
Mere 'thanks' looks ridiculously insufficient for this quote and of course the question.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
True Relation
A mind boggling question came up. Many things that climb up and down our list of priorities, decide the very basis of relationships. A ‘double’ agent suddenly becomes the most sought after loyalist, for the ‘intelligence’ interceptors.
My answer could perhaps irritate the asker / reader, initially. But I did not like to let off a casual reader lightly. And so I took a different perspective at the answer.
This, I am aware is in spite of other two ‘posts’ under the caption “Theory of relativity for commoners” (http://selfseekers.blogspot.com/2008/12/theory-of-relativity-for-commoners.html ), and another ‘related’ one, “Hierarchy of Relationships” (http://selfseekers.blogspot.com/2010/02/hierarchy-of-relationships.html ).
The answer itself is sufficient to do what I feel persuaded to go about in this brief introduction. So, I ‘ground’ it right here.
Psn(23rd March, 2010)
The question:
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100322190359AAXvxLO
Which relation is the the true and stronger one ?
There arer many relations in the life of Man? But which one is the most stronger and truthful?
My answer:
This relation with 'mother' earth.We spend most of our energies, time, resources, money, effort etc to get away from this relation all the time, to become available to do something else!
Please see, the bulk of our movements during all our life is to get away from gravity, which pulls us down towards earth all the time!
So the strongest bond, and relation, whether we like it or not, whether we agree or not, whether believe in it or not! Irrefutable truth. We are made up of the very same stuff, the earth (plus, the five elements held by it). We renew the relationship when we eat and also when we excrete.The ancient spiritual masters could see some truth in this, and that is why they formulated techniques to first reduce this relationship to the barest minimum level. Yogic exercises, postures that make the body light, agile, swift, less dependent on food, sleep(horizontal excessive gravity-effect), and even breathing deep (to extend the life span by reducing the intake per minute, etc), and then look at the inner freedom! But today, we have succeeded in making so many gadgets out of this earth-related materials that our dependence and relation is inextricably deep.
Sorry, but, other relationships (intra-human) are some way or other through this relationship. We fight with human relatives(parents, brothers, sisters, spouse, co-parceners etc), only when property rights are vital, till then our mutual relationships are cordial.
My answer could perhaps irritate the asker / reader, initially. But I did not like to let off a casual reader lightly. And so I took a different perspective at the answer.
This, I am aware is in spite of other two ‘posts’ under the caption “Theory of relativity for commoners” (http://selfseekers.blogspot.com/2008/12/theory-of-relativity-for-commoners.html ), and another ‘related’ one, “Hierarchy of Relationships” (http://selfseekers.blogspot.com/2010/02/hierarchy-of-relationships.html ).
The answer itself is sufficient to do what I feel persuaded to go about in this brief introduction. So, I ‘ground’ it right here.
Psn(23rd March, 2010)
The question:
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100322190359AAXvxLO
Which relation is the the true and stronger one ?
There arer many relations in the life of Man? But which one is the most stronger and truthful?
My answer:
This relation with 'mother' earth.We spend most of our energies, time, resources, money, effort etc to get away from this relation all the time, to become available to do something else!
Please see, the bulk of our movements during all our life is to get away from gravity, which pulls us down towards earth all the time!
So the strongest bond, and relation, whether we like it or not, whether we agree or not, whether believe in it or not! Irrefutable truth. We are made up of the very same stuff, the earth (plus, the five elements held by it). We renew the relationship when we eat and also when we excrete.The ancient spiritual masters could see some truth in this, and that is why they formulated techniques to first reduce this relationship to the barest minimum level. Yogic exercises, postures that make the body light, agile, swift, less dependent on food, sleep(horizontal excessive gravity-effect), and even breathing deep (to extend the life span by reducing the intake per minute, etc), and then look at the inner freedom! But today, we have succeeded in making so many gadgets out of this earth-related materials that our dependence and relation is inextricably deep.
Sorry, but, other relationships (intra-human) are some way or other through this relationship. We fight with human relatives(parents, brothers, sisters, spouse, co-parceners etc), only when property rights are vital, till then our mutual relationships are cordial.
Courage
I did not expect that my answer might ‘click’.
But this one was my ‘living’ experience. Not exactly ‘through’ martial arts, though. It is much more subtle than that. I had to work my way, to really appreciate the martial arts at that level, in-depth! (The “thumbs” up that pours in can only be felt, not seen or heard!).
Anyway, it is very difficult to convince that courage of this kind is worth it. It has been emphasized over and again since times immemorial, but it does not appeal to logic that easily. And it is therefore that I did not expect a positive response. But the mere ‘dotted’ line ‘comment’ looks like even a bonus!
I really hope that my humble efforts have been (and also remain so), instrumental in shifting yet another person into that ‘fast’ track, towards deeper levels of consciousness!
……………….. (me too !!)
psn (23rd March, 2010)
The question.
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100320062323AAjPiBq
How can i overcome to emotional factor?
i am physically strong guy...... learning marshal arts from two years.but can't able to fight with anyone, even though i am good at my fighting style.reason is emotional factor!!due to strong emotional mind i can't hit anyone.... this attitude is not useful in games like marshal arts.so, how to overcome emotional factor in my case??[plz ignore the grammar]
My answer:
What you think as your weakness seems to be your best strength. It takes a lot of courage, to "not want to hurt others"! Even those who lack the physical strength, satisfy their weakness of 'negative' emotion to hurt others by at least hurling abuses in place of blows which requires good fighting style. If the skills in martial arts grows without ever using it at games, competition or to hurt others, this power turns inwards and becomes a towering spiritual strength. Only very very lucky people manage to do it, though it is the desire of every genuine Master who teaches martial arts to see at least one or two disciples grow into spirituality.
Best wishes.
But this one was my ‘living’ experience. Not exactly ‘through’ martial arts, though. It is much more subtle than that. I had to work my way, to really appreciate the martial arts at that level, in-depth! (The “thumbs” up that pours in can only be felt, not seen or heard!).
Anyway, it is very difficult to convince that courage of this kind is worth it. It has been emphasized over and again since times immemorial, but it does not appeal to logic that easily. And it is therefore that I did not expect a positive response. But the mere ‘dotted’ line ‘comment’ looks like even a bonus!
I really hope that my humble efforts have been (and also remain so), instrumental in shifting yet another person into that ‘fast’ track, towards deeper levels of consciousness!
……………….. (me too !!)
psn (23rd March, 2010)
The question.
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100320062323AAjPiBq
How can i overcome to emotional factor?
i am physically strong guy...... learning marshal arts from two years.but can't able to fight with anyone, even though i am good at my fighting style.reason is emotional factor!!due to strong emotional mind i can't hit anyone.... this attitude is not useful in games like marshal arts.so, how to overcome emotional factor in my case??[plz ignore the grammar]
My answer:
What you think as your weakness seems to be your best strength. It takes a lot of courage, to "not want to hurt others"! Even those who lack the physical strength, satisfy their weakness of 'negative' emotion to hurt others by at least hurling abuses in place of blows which requires good fighting style. If the skills in martial arts grows without ever using it at games, competition or to hurt others, this power turns inwards and becomes a towering spiritual strength. Only very very lucky people manage to do it, though it is the desire of every genuine Master who teaches martial arts to see at least one or two disciples grow into spirituality.
Best wishes.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Finger "Chip"
A wonderful story!
When the asker commented about ‘especially’ my answer, I was tempted to re-tell it here too.
I hope you would love the story, and possibly it might keep you intrigued too!
Happy fingering.
Regards,
Psn(17th March, 2010)
The question:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100314090441AA1iWv4
Zen Story:What do you understand from this??? Read it and share your opinions?
Whenever anyone asked him about Zen, the great master Gutei would quietly raise one finger into the air. A boy in the village began to imitate this behavior. Whenever he heard people talking about Gutei's teachings, he would interrupt the discussion and raise his finger. Gutei heard about the boy's mischief. When he saw him in the street, he seized him and cut off his finger. The boy cried and began to run off, but Gutei called out to him. When the boy turned to look, Gutei raised his finger into the air. At that moment the boy became enlightened.
Additional Details
I didn't understand any of you especially Spiritualseeker.What is benevolent about cutting a student's finger???? I have heard that Zen masters are logical and I expect a clear,logical explanation not abstract spiritual ones.
My answer:
The great master Gutei was indeed an embodiment of compassion. Who else can muster courage to cut off the finger of a 'candidate' on the verge, with just one last barrier left to be removed, the finger! Usually, Zen masters give enough chance to opt out of the path when half-willing, half-hearted people seek to become disciples. This is a wonderful story of out-of-the-way benevolence.
Reply to asker's comments:
Sorry about the abstract answer. But that is the way it is. The very chance to look at this story is a stupendous reward for me. I once again bow before the Great Master Gutei, here and now. His compassion is indeed matchless!
When the asker commented about ‘especially’ my answer, I was tempted to re-tell it here too.
I hope you would love the story, and possibly it might keep you intrigued too!
Happy fingering.
Regards,
Psn(17th March, 2010)
The question:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100314090441AA1iWv4
Zen Story:What do you understand from this??? Read it and share your opinions?
Whenever anyone asked him about Zen, the great master Gutei would quietly raise one finger into the air. A boy in the village began to imitate this behavior. Whenever he heard people talking about Gutei's teachings, he would interrupt the discussion and raise his finger. Gutei heard about the boy's mischief. When he saw him in the street, he seized him and cut off his finger. The boy cried and began to run off, but Gutei called out to him. When the boy turned to look, Gutei raised his finger into the air. At that moment the boy became enlightened.
Additional Details
I didn't understand any of you especially Spiritualseeker.What is benevolent about cutting a student's finger???? I have heard that Zen masters are logical and I expect a clear,logical explanation not abstract spiritual ones.
My answer:
The great master Gutei was indeed an embodiment of compassion. Who else can muster courage to cut off the finger of a 'candidate' on the verge, with just one last barrier left to be removed, the finger! Usually, Zen masters give enough chance to opt out of the path when half-willing, half-hearted people seek to become disciples. This is a wonderful story of out-of-the-way benevolence.
Reply to asker's comments:
Sorry about the abstract answer. But that is the way it is. The very chance to look at this story is a stupendous reward for me. I once again bow before the Great Master Gutei, here and now. His compassion is indeed matchless!
Easy Now
The asker was kind enough to draw my attention to this wonderful question.
I loved to answer it.
I was wondering if it would persuade others too, to give it a thought.
The rewards are ample, and motivations to strive perennial.
My very best wishes,
Psn (17th March, 2010)
The question:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100317001119AA5QjBK
Can you imagine how many people would exist if everyone knew how easy it was to live in this physical life?
Now... if you disagree with this sentiment in ANY way, then please tell me... why?And, as always, please... elaborate. ;-)Thank you to those who answer...})})})})>much-love-to-you-all>({({({{(
My answer:
Well, as soon as this wisdom of 'easy-living' dawns, very few would choose to retain the 'physical' existence, and if so, for a very noble purpose, out of unimaginable extent of compassion, towards the left out ones. Such people also look at their own communication skills or at least an effective mouthpiece to convey the messages with least distortions, and maximum time-relevant, mass appeal. (The answer, when looked at, after having typed it out, looks as abstract as the question, so why spoil the brevity with any further elaboration? Let the thirsty ones seek further :) ...)
I loved to answer it.
I was wondering if it would persuade others too, to give it a thought.
The rewards are ample, and motivations to strive perennial.
My very best wishes,
Psn (17th March, 2010)
The question:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100317001119AA5QjBK
Can you imagine how many people would exist if everyone knew how easy it was to live in this physical life?
Now... if you disagree with this sentiment in ANY way, then please tell me... why?And, as always, please... elaborate. ;-)Thank you to those who answer...})})})})>much-love-to-you-all>({({({{(
My answer:
Well, as soon as this wisdom of 'easy-living' dawns, very few would choose to retain the 'physical' existence, and if so, for a very noble purpose, out of unimaginable extent of compassion, towards the left out ones. Such people also look at their own communication skills or at least an effective mouthpiece to convey the messages with least distortions, and maximum time-relevant, mass appeal. (The answer, when looked at, after having typed it out, looks as abstract as the question, so why spoil the brevity with any further elaboration? Let the thirsty ones seek further :) ...)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Co-Experience.
Saha-Anubhoothi is the root word in Sanskrit. Saha is simply “co” like that ‘& Co.,’ Sahapaati is the word for class-mates, meaning ‘learns along with the other’.
Interestingly enough, we find this word (sahaanubhoothi) being used liberally to mean only as some sort of sympathy, “kind-consideration”(using that discretionary capability to “allow” some concession in favour of somebody in a lesser comfort or in discomfort), etc ( I dare not graze into other pastures like sahataapam, anutaapam or paschataapam, because invariably it ends into getting heated, being a “taapam”. Already we are reeling with the summer heat, being March, and we are also heated up due to discussing hotly, a recent topic called ‘Global-warming’!).
But when we look at the word ‘anubhoothi’ it is clearly just an ‘experience’ (not an idea, imagination, or thought). Perhaps, pain brings a person a bit closer to ‘life-experience’ better than other situations like joy, success, etc. When there is a deep experience, it just permeates around. The other person around too does have that experience, but whether with or without any awareness is dependent on the ‘availability’ of that person. Generally, a bit broad-minded person, with that fellow-feeling or fellow-consideration becomes more readily available to experience the pain of other. That may be the reason why the meaning of saha-anubhoothi became restricted over a period of time. As a contrast, nothing really prevents us from experiencing the joy of the other person, but we are caught up in our own web most of the time, and so we inadvertently remain ‘unavailable ‘ for that experience. For instance, a young student, bags a Gold Medal in an University examination, and the whole family seems to share the joy. But please see, each has one’s own private reason for rejoicing the same event, quite unique, distinctive, and not ‘experiential’ most of the times! The feel of joy is not exactly through the experience of it, but the thought process of having compared the ‘expectation’ or anticipation, or even contra-expectation (beyond expectation), and its matching of the situation (the actualization of the Gold Medal). Though without much of that self-awareness, a kid going into the LKG on the first day of his schooling, due to that pristine innocence, happens to simply absorb the ‘experience’ of intense sorrow of another kid who cries in deep anguish of being suddenly left out alone in the hands of a total stranger, for the first time in his life. Having absorbed this experience from the crying kid, this fellow also starts crying without knowing why! That also is saha-anubhoothi.
A saha-dharmini (wife) was supposed to share the anubhoothi of her spouse for the rest of the life, having taken the sacred vows with fire as a divine witness. This tradition was based on the observation that only women are gifted with the capability to ‘feel’ anubhooti of another person. Now when a woman finds herself incessantly engaged in that co-experience, over a period of time, she is naturally freed from her own thought process, preferences, likes and dislikes. Meditativeness simply pervades into her quite effortlessly. Perhaps that is why no special religious rituals are ‘prescribed’ for a woman compared to endless ‘duties’ cast upon her male counterpart in a ‘grihastha’ aashrama life. Obviously she ‘waits’ upon the spouse most of the time, “all attention”.
When the deep reasons, perception of these reasons fade out over centuries, the traditional outlook of woman seems like subservience, and it is quite logical to struggle for liberation out of this kind of slavery. Rightly, we have that woman’s day, to remind that she has chosen to have that ‘saha-anubhoothi’ as a matter of ex-gratia towards the spouse and other men-folk, at her choice, and at will. The way the femininity has been designed, the physiology struggles to adjust to this ‘modern’ view/outlook, and we now have a spate of latest types of woman-related physiological health problems, needing constant medical help. (For those who are inclined to doubt or question the theory that women are gifted to ‘experience’ the anubhoothi better than men, there is an example, which may only demand a little bit of ‘faith’ in puranic stories. Krishna was capable of experiencing intense joy and joy being experiential, it permeated into those Gopikas (the bulk of women folk around that place called Gokul), who grossly outnumbered the men who chose to wander around Krishna quite aimlessly, due to the sheer joyousness permeating into any body receptive enough around him.
We, the present day citizens scatter only that negative emotion most of the time, putting up a ‘defensive’ long face as soon as we step out of our homes, and join the mainstream of crowd, wading through busy traffic, fretting and fuming through bottlenecks commuting to and fro our workplace, market place for shopping etc.
A little bit of conscious concerted effort in that direction to try out sharing experience would bring a lot of deep life-experience and a sense of joy into us.
With wishful regards,
Psn(11th March, 2010)
Interestingly enough, we find this word (sahaanubhoothi) being used liberally to mean only as some sort of sympathy, “kind-consideration”(using that discretionary capability to “allow” some concession in favour of somebody in a lesser comfort or in discomfort), etc ( I dare not graze into other pastures like sahataapam, anutaapam or paschataapam, because invariably it ends into getting heated, being a “taapam”. Already we are reeling with the summer heat, being March, and we are also heated up due to discussing hotly, a recent topic called ‘Global-warming’!).
But when we look at the word ‘anubhoothi’ it is clearly just an ‘experience’ (not an idea, imagination, or thought). Perhaps, pain brings a person a bit closer to ‘life-experience’ better than other situations like joy, success, etc. When there is a deep experience, it just permeates around. The other person around too does have that experience, but whether with or without any awareness is dependent on the ‘availability’ of that person. Generally, a bit broad-minded person, with that fellow-feeling or fellow-consideration becomes more readily available to experience the pain of other. That may be the reason why the meaning of saha-anubhoothi became restricted over a period of time. As a contrast, nothing really prevents us from experiencing the joy of the other person, but we are caught up in our own web most of the time, and so we inadvertently remain ‘unavailable ‘ for that experience. For instance, a young student, bags a Gold Medal in an University examination, and the whole family seems to share the joy. But please see, each has one’s own private reason for rejoicing the same event, quite unique, distinctive, and not ‘experiential’ most of the times! The feel of joy is not exactly through the experience of it, but the thought process of having compared the ‘expectation’ or anticipation, or even contra-expectation (beyond expectation), and its matching of the situation (the actualization of the Gold Medal). Though without much of that self-awareness, a kid going into the LKG on the first day of his schooling, due to that pristine innocence, happens to simply absorb the ‘experience’ of intense sorrow of another kid who cries in deep anguish of being suddenly left out alone in the hands of a total stranger, for the first time in his life. Having absorbed this experience from the crying kid, this fellow also starts crying without knowing why! That also is saha-anubhoothi.
A saha-dharmini (wife) was supposed to share the anubhoothi of her spouse for the rest of the life, having taken the sacred vows with fire as a divine witness. This tradition was based on the observation that only women are gifted with the capability to ‘feel’ anubhooti of another person. Now when a woman finds herself incessantly engaged in that co-experience, over a period of time, she is naturally freed from her own thought process, preferences, likes and dislikes. Meditativeness simply pervades into her quite effortlessly. Perhaps that is why no special religious rituals are ‘prescribed’ for a woman compared to endless ‘duties’ cast upon her male counterpart in a ‘grihastha’ aashrama life. Obviously she ‘waits’ upon the spouse most of the time, “all attention”.
When the deep reasons, perception of these reasons fade out over centuries, the traditional outlook of woman seems like subservience, and it is quite logical to struggle for liberation out of this kind of slavery. Rightly, we have that woman’s day, to remind that she has chosen to have that ‘saha-anubhoothi’ as a matter of ex-gratia towards the spouse and other men-folk, at her choice, and at will. The way the femininity has been designed, the physiology struggles to adjust to this ‘modern’ view/outlook, and we now have a spate of latest types of woman-related physiological health problems, needing constant medical help. (For those who are inclined to doubt or question the theory that women are gifted to ‘experience’ the anubhoothi better than men, there is an example, which may only demand a little bit of ‘faith’ in puranic stories. Krishna was capable of experiencing intense joy and joy being experiential, it permeated into those Gopikas (the bulk of women folk around that place called Gokul), who grossly outnumbered the men who chose to wander around Krishna quite aimlessly, due to the sheer joyousness permeating into any body receptive enough around him.
We, the present day citizens scatter only that negative emotion most of the time, putting up a ‘defensive’ long face as soon as we step out of our homes, and join the mainstream of crowd, wading through busy traffic, fretting and fuming through bottlenecks commuting to and fro our workplace, market place for shopping etc.
A little bit of conscious concerted effort in that direction to try out sharing experience would bring a lot of deep life-experience and a sense of joy into us.
With wishful regards,
Psn(11th March, 2010)
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Resonated Emotion
Ever visited the Kindergarten / nursery class of the tiny tots? The very first day of the ‘schooling? Not all children cry on the first day. Nor do they plan for it. In fact they look forward to some pleasant ‘out-of-routine’ adventure. It so happens that a few of the kids suddenly find themselves left alone, in the hands of total strangers(they have no idea that it is a ‘teacher’), and they suddenly feel insecure and scared. The comfort zone is lost for the first time, big way. They cry very intensely. This emotion simply permeates through other children. After the first few moments of total ‘receptivity’ and observation, these other children too start crying, not at all knowing why they do. The teacher is now grappled with a lot of ‘wholesale’ wailing lot of kids. An experienced teacher would have noticed the early birds, and knows that she/he needs to just handle them, and the rest would be ‘automatically’ consoled/calmed.
As adults, when the same emotions go very deep beyond the normal capacity to handle, then there is a small problem. An expert’s help may be needed. I was reminded of a wonderful movie “Chandramukhi”(in Hindi language, “Manichitra-thaazhu” in Malayalam), where the director/script-writer did dare to bring out a direct compare-and-contrast between the traditional belief of a person being ‘possessed’, with an exorcist to remedy, and at the same time, a renowned psychiatrist who can clearly demarcate the distinction between this empathy effect and the possession, and due to a deep appreciation of both these aspects, handles a rare type of experimental cure, quite successfully. In real life, very few tantriks can make out the difference (the symptoms are quite similar, as in this movie, with the heroine), and all they do is to try out the ‘standard’ prescribed rituals, which may work even at psychic levels if fortunate (otherwise, the problem gets further compounded!).
Anyway, the intuitive aspect of the mind, when it combines the creative, imaginative and emotive power, works wonders that baffles the best of logical thinkers. I suppose, spirituality might handle it better.
It looks like, I happened to hit the mark, when I attempted to answer a question which did not attract many answers. I was not quite sure if my answer would appeal to the asker. But I knew that if it did appeal it would be complete, leaving no doubts. Fortunately the asker could ‘place’ the answer at the right slot, and complete the puzzle. What he experienced quite inadvertently and unawares is perhaps, traditionally known as Bhava Spandana in Indian Yogic culture.
At diluted levels, we do experience these kinds of spill-over of emotions into one another. But it goes almost un-noticed due to varied reasons. A brief knowledge would help us to make ourselves less vulnerable, and yet available, at will.
Regards,
Psn(9th March, 2010)
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100308053530AAtn1u0
The question:
I may be foolish or selfish by asking this, I think anyone can help on this question please read below.?
Please read the whole thing, everything will lead to the question. Today a couple hours earlier, it was around 2-3am, I heard a man screaming outside "I am going to kill" you to a woman, I found out it was a woman because of her screams. I was in my room watching a Taiwanese police drama with the lights off. I am 18 years old almost 19, in my opinion I am an expect in my own thought out martial arts, I don't like hitting nor hurting anyone, nor do I like thinking or saying bad things about anyone, the martial arts I have never used on anyone nor do I ever plan to do so, the reason is because of the above and in my own opinion it has complete control of an opponents body, in the physical sense. In my opinion I am physically able to handle myself, I practiced punching trees, ran 10miles before, did 25 pullups, over 100 push ups, lifted extremely heavy weights. And not only in strength but also I can think in very complex ways how to overcome things or use them to my benefit. Before in my younger days I was fearless, I didn't care about dieing at all, that's how it lead to the martial arts I know. But the question and problem is, when I was sitting in my room hearing those screams, I didn't go outside and try to help, I know 95% I would have taken care of the situation with ease, 5% is if the other person somehow becomes lucky, that can always happen, so as you can I have carefully even made the percentage of success. But the decision I made was to call the police 911, with 2 girls with a sweet voice answering me, then for some reason I started to stutter murmuring my words as in a scared tone and shaking my heart beat rose, I became weak, while repeating several times my address. Why did this happen to me, am I that weak, in my younger times I was always seeking someone strong to fight against, always ready to fight dozens of people, whether they had knives I could have cared less, even if i was bloody all over I still would have gotten up, that's how I thought. Just today I was shivering with fear while calling the police just because of some screams. Why am I that pathetic, what am I scared of, even those 2girls who answered my call took care of situation like it was nothing. And me with all this background, was shaking in fear just by asking for help. I don't get it, I don't know if any of you believe in hell or heaven, but even if I died I know a person like would be sent straight to hell, because of own personal feelings and doings, maybe it might of been my fear of death, because who wants to burn in hell. Please give an answer if your so willing too.
My answer:
Practice of martial acts makes a person very receptive to emotional vibration from others. That is how, we can feel the fear creeping in the opponent when we stare into his/her eyes, and take a defensive posture. But unless we have a complete training the receptivity could make us also vulnerable. Especially, when we are not in a combative mood (like the situation in the question), the vibration received stays for a while, without a properly channelised outlet. Now the screams from the girl are full of fear. The same may have crept in, and while talking over the phone, it manifested and came out along with the words. This happens very rarely, and there is nothing to really worry about. But it gives us information about such a possibility. In any form of martial arts, breath awareness is insisted upon, as an essential tool. The very same breath awareness would have helped while speaking on phone too.
Best wishes.
As adults, when the same emotions go very deep beyond the normal capacity to handle, then there is a small problem. An expert’s help may be needed. I was reminded of a wonderful movie “Chandramukhi”(in Hindi language, “Manichitra-thaazhu” in Malayalam), where the director/script-writer did dare to bring out a direct compare-and-contrast between the traditional belief of a person being ‘possessed’, with an exorcist to remedy, and at the same time, a renowned psychiatrist who can clearly demarcate the distinction between this empathy effect and the possession, and due to a deep appreciation of both these aspects, handles a rare type of experimental cure, quite successfully. In real life, very few tantriks can make out the difference (the symptoms are quite similar, as in this movie, with the heroine), and all they do is to try out the ‘standard’ prescribed rituals, which may work even at psychic levels if fortunate (otherwise, the problem gets further compounded!).
Anyway, the intuitive aspect of the mind, when it combines the creative, imaginative and emotive power, works wonders that baffles the best of logical thinkers. I suppose, spirituality might handle it better.
It looks like, I happened to hit the mark, when I attempted to answer a question which did not attract many answers. I was not quite sure if my answer would appeal to the asker. But I knew that if it did appeal it would be complete, leaving no doubts. Fortunately the asker could ‘place’ the answer at the right slot, and complete the puzzle. What he experienced quite inadvertently and unawares is perhaps, traditionally known as Bhava Spandana in Indian Yogic culture.
At diluted levels, we do experience these kinds of spill-over of emotions into one another. But it goes almost un-noticed due to varied reasons. A brief knowledge would help us to make ourselves less vulnerable, and yet available, at will.
Regards,
Psn(9th March, 2010)
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100308053530AAtn1u0
The question:
I may be foolish or selfish by asking this, I think anyone can help on this question please read below.?
Please read the whole thing, everything will lead to the question. Today a couple hours earlier, it was around 2-3am, I heard a man screaming outside "I am going to kill" you to a woman, I found out it was a woman because of her screams. I was in my room watching a Taiwanese police drama with the lights off. I am 18 years old almost 19, in my opinion I am an expect in my own thought out martial arts, I don't like hitting nor hurting anyone, nor do I like thinking or saying bad things about anyone, the martial arts I have never used on anyone nor do I ever plan to do so, the reason is because of the above and in my own opinion it has complete control of an opponents body, in the physical sense. In my opinion I am physically able to handle myself, I practiced punching trees, ran 10miles before, did 25 pullups, over 100 push ups, lifted extremely heavy weights. And not only in strength but also I can think in very complex ways how to overcome things or use them to my benefit. Before in my younger days I was fearless, I didn't care about dieing at all, that's how it lead to the martial arts I know. But the question and problem is, when I was sitting in my room hearing those screams, I didn't go outside and try to help, I know 95% I would have taken care of the situation with ease, 5% is if the other person somehow becomes lucky, that can always happen, so as you can I have carefully even made the percentage of success. But the decision I made was to call the police 911, with 2 girls with a sweet voice answering me, then for some reason I started to stutter murmuring my words as in a scared tone and shaking my heart beat rose, I became weak, while repeating several times my address. Why did this happen to me, am I that weak, in my younger times I was always seeking someone strong to fight against, always ready to fight dozens of people, whether they had knives I could have cared less, even if i was bloody all over I still would have gotten up, that's how I thought. Just today I was shivering with fear while calling the police just because of some screams. Why am I that pathetic, what am I scared of, even those 2girls who answered my call took care of situation like it was nothing. And me with all this background, was shaking in fear just by asking for help. I don't get it, I don't know if any of you believe in hell or heaven, but even if I died I know a person like would be sent straight to hell, because of own personal feelings and doings, maybe it might of been my fear of death, because who wants to burn in hell. Please give an answer if your so willing too.
My answer:
Practice of martial acts makes a person very receptive to emotional vibration from others. That is how, we can feel the fear creeping in the opponent when we stare into his/her eyes, and take a defensive posture. But unless we have a complete training the receptivity could make us also vulnerable. Especially, when we are not in a combative mood (like the situation in the question), the vibration received stays for a while, without a properly channelised outlet. Now the screams from the girl are full of fear. The same may have crept in, and while talking over the phone, it manifested and came out along with the words. This happens very rarely, and there is nothing to really worry about. But it gives us information about such a possibility. In any form of martial arts, breath awareness is insisted upon, as an essential tool. The very same breath awareness would have helped while speaking on phone too.
Best wishes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)