Inspiration – Swami Vivekananda

Words can be very helpful when you really want them.

The lines that follow are sentiments that I truly identify with, and influence my thinking greatly as an individual. 

Pearls of wisdom from Swami Vivekananda.

1.”You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.”

2.”Be a hero. Always say, “I have no fear.” Tell this to everyone—“Have no fear.””

3.”Go on saying, “I am free.” Never mind if the next moment delusion comes and says, “I am bound.” Dehypnotize the whole thing”

4.:Stand up, be bold, be strong. Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders, and know that you are the creator of your own destiny. All the strength and succor you want is within yourself. Therefore make your own future.”

5.”Those who grumble at the little thing that has fallen to their lot to do will grumble at everything. Always grumbling, they will lead a miserable life, and everything will be a failure. But those who do their duties as they go, putting their shoulders to the wheel, will see the light, and higher duties will fall to their share”

6.”Perfection does not come from belief or faith. Talk does not count for anything. Parrots can do that. Perfection comes through selfless work.”

7.”Don’t look back—forward, infinite energy, infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring, and infinite patience—then alone can great deeds be accomplished.”

8.”Each work has to pass through these stages—ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.”

source: wikiquote.org

Menial alright

The best thoughts always seem to come while travelling.

As it happened, I decided to take the air-conditioned deluxe bus from Majestic to Electronic city.

Believe me, it was more of a necessity than a luxury - it was the peak hour, and the distance is such that a seat is necessary.

I paid the fare of Rs 45, deliberately giving him a 100 rupee note, hoping to get some change. But the conductor sweetly refused it, asking ( in broken english ) for a 50 rupee note instead.

Suddenly, a sense of luxury crept in. I felt like a king sitting on a high pedestal throne.

Loftily I gave him the last of my change.” Thank you sir ! “

And I realised a real business philosophy here…We really like to be served, don’t we?

We want to be treated as gods, we want our ego to be flattered to the fullest, never mind the money.

That sense of false importance, prevalent during the yesteryear ( visualize the white man ordering his slaves around, getting them to do all his dirty work ) still exists in everyone of us, in bits and pieces.

I see it everywhere – waiters in hotels, household servants – we seem to love the concept of menial labour.

What the heck, we have the money – let’s pamper ourselves!

We have to leave it to time, probably,  to teach us some lessons.

Wastage

This is an issue that’s very close to my heart. So close, in fact that it tends to prey on my conscience.

Please don’t waste. Whatever it is. Food, water, petrol, money – they are all in short supply.

Particularly food.

The cavalier attitude with which people treat food astonishes me.If you don’t like the food somewhere, don’t go there. If you feel won’t be able to last another round at the dining table, don’t fill your plate up.Complete that glass of water which you sipped at lunch.

Small things that we don’t bother to care about!

There are more important issues than the mindless drudgery that we go through everday.

Think of the difficulties faced by farmers all over the world to give us the rice that we eat.

Think of the children dying by the hour,  of extreme poverty and hunger.

We cannot save the world, I agree.

We cannot spend a billion dollars like Bill Gates on community service.

But we can stop being frivolous by putting an end to our appalling wasting habits.

Please adopt the resolution ” I will not waste indiscriminately “

Remember, small resolutions such as these make a big difference to you and the world.

Eventually they matter more than that billion dollars.

Please visit:

http://www.poverty.com/

 

Mrs.Jagadha Ganapathy

The irony of it all is that we realize….when it’s already too late.

This third post of mine is dedicated to the late Mrs.Jagadha Ganapathy. My paternal grandmother.

Remembering her is possibly the least I can do, given the love and care she has bestowed on me as a grandson.

Mrs.Ganapathy was not one of the regular paati-ma’s you would think of. Weak,false teeth,stereotyped? – No sir!

She knows subjects like law (being the daughter that great man Justice A.S.P.Aiyar) inside out, she’s won a bike race (just because another guy challenged her that a woman couldn’t do it) and if some smart-ass of a sales guy tries smart-talking her into a deal, she can really throw him off guard with her knowledge of the stock market.

That last paragraph could be very frightening, I know… but thats not the complete story…My paati has a softer side to her…

She’s an unbelievably good cook and makes cooking look ridiculously simple…those sumptuous sunday lunches still remain fresh in my memory …yummy!!

A very kind and generous person by heart, she cared and looked after all those who had served her,be it the house-maid or the coconut-seller.

And she had a soft corner for both of us ( me n my sis)…  

There are so many things I can write about my grandmother – Indeed, a single post does not suffice.But the primary purpose behind my wirting this post, is the fact that she’s been a great source of inspiration for me in my personal life.

She made a mockery of the problems she faced in her life and banished them, as if they were mosquitoes or something

And really, my problems are nothing in comparison.

Well, there’s no doubt I’m missin her, but again, the least I can do is to strive to emulate her in her ideals and attitude in life.

The Brindavan

Rewind back to late 2003.

Katpadi railway station.

A young bunch of first years, fresh from a year-old friendship, waiting at the far end of the railway station…

Dusk falls…The Brindavan is, by its own standards early…read half an hour late…

 but who’s complaining … the girls around are much more than we could ask for

The train arrives and a crowded unreserved compartment awaits us….

Meanwhile, vignesh and i have used the ‘technique’ to cross over to the other side of the track and get in from the opposite side

The footboard, if not already booked, is our goal… and we park ourselves comfortably.

The feeling was not just plain excitement, it was much more - as if we had accomplished a rare feat…

He takes his precious walkman out and we both know the batteries would probably last till the next station…the horn sounds and the train leaves, as we fade into the sunset…..

A half a dozen songs gone and both of us half-asleep, I awake….Was it the ferocity of the wind or the velocity of the train? Now I sit alone, my friend half asleep…with only my thoughts for company…

Ah, memories! The greatest treasure a man can have…

First up

For long, I’ve been wanting to maintain a written account of anything that’s been memorable to me, but it’s never happened.The problem with me is that my laziness has never permitted me to engage in such ’atrociousness’…

Well, not anymore, anyway – and about time as well; I have decided to put all these issues behind me and really start keeping track, because i feel certain feelings/thoughts really do deserve more space than just the back of your mind.

And opinions do change people, don’t they?