Change

There's an age when the commonest sparrow evokes passion
And then comes an age when one waits for the nightingale

An age of euphoria for the first showers of spring
And then the age of waiting for endless nights, when nothing sates

In front of my Lord I come
Bemoaning what I have become
O my Lord deliver from this ill
This steady descent to peril

My focus is lost
My purpose is lost
My belief is shaken
Ye Evil avast!

Thoughts roil the mind
Benumb the nerves
I fail in everything
As I watch aghast!

Another Fancy game

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The Realisation and the Realised Self

Ishavasya Upanishad stanzas 5,6,7 with translations from

http://acharya.iitm.ac.in/mirrors/vv/scripture/upanishads/isa1.html

Tadejati Tanaijati Tad Dure Tadvantike
Tadantarasya Sarvasya Tadu Sarvasyasya Bahyataha

That moves, yet moves not
That is far, and yet That is near
That is within everything,
Yet also outside everything

Yastu Sarvani Bhutani Atmanyevanupasyati
Sarvabhuteshu Chatmanam Tato Na Vijugupsate

The man who perceives all beings as his own Self
And his own Self as other beings is free from dislikes

Yasmin Sarvani Bhutani Atmaivabhud Vijanataha
Tatra ko Moha kah Shoka Ekatvamanupasyataha

What misapprehension or sorrow can there be for the realised one
Who sees the oneness everywhere and all beings as his own Self?

A very good and easily understandable interpretation of the Ishavasya Upanishad can be found here. Its by Swami Paramananda

http://www.yoga-age.com/upanishads/isha.html

The Sanskrit texts of all the Upanishads can be found here

http://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/

The Ishavasya is a very significant Upanishad because most of the thoughts herein have been elucidated further in The Bhagavad Gita.

The very well known and so called Vedic Peace Mantra - Om Poornamadam Poornamidaha .... occurs at the beginning and end of this Upanishad.

The Border-Gavaskar Panipat

visit Ortist

Peshwa Anilrao Kumble vs Ricky Shah Ponting

Conquering Inaction

"Yield not to unmanliness O son of Pritha. There is in this world neither sin nor misery, neither disease nor grief; if there is anything in this world that can be called sin it is this - 'fear'; know that any work which brings out the latent power in thee is Punya (virtue); and that which makes thy body and mind weak is, verily, sin. Shake off this weakness and faint-heartedness! Thou art a hero, a Vira; this is unbecoming of thee"
- Swami Vivekananda expounding on a shloka in the Gita

Uncertain Passion

Is there a larger basis for our motivation or is it just driven by passion

Passion is a force of impulse with extremely limited energy and duration. It is also highly uncertain and uncontrollable

If one tries to control passion, doesn't give it a free rein, then it is never the same as then one cannot at all make use of passion as a force

So either way, passion is not something upon which one can base one's objectives and the motivation to attain those objectives. One's aim and the drive to achieve it need a more enduring basis, which volatile passion cannot provide.

The Maidenly Man

Statutory Warning: If you believe in propriety and decorum, you may not like to read the following :D

It all started with a frnd of mine sending me the following mail titled:
Women Superiority: have fun guys ;)

We got off the Titanic first.

We can scare male bosses with mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.

When we buy a vibrator it is glamorous. When men buy a blow up doll
it's pathetic.

Men's clothes make women look elfin and gorgeous. Men look like
complete idiots in women's clothes.

We've never lusted after a cartoon character or the central figure in
a computer game.

Taxi's stop for us.

Men die earlier, so we get to cash in on the life insurance.

We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.

We know the Truth about whether or not size matters.

It's possible to live our whole lives without ever taking a group shower.

We don't have to fart to amuse ourselves.

We never have to wonder if his orgasm was real.

Needless to specify her gender :) ..Then we exchanged a series of mails and soon found ourselves discussing about this new age India where according to me in guy-gal relationships, especially in marriage, a new situation has crept in- experienced girl vs inexperienced (inept?) guy.

My frnd had certain disagreements about it so I presented to her a sample situation of a wedding night which can be a possibility in this new age urban millieu.

I am presenting hereby an unedited version of what I sent to her

scene - inside a bedroom...the bed is decked with flowers and there are garlands hanging down from a canopy...mellow light to add to the ambience....the bride is lazily lounging on the bed...her arms under her head and one leg crossed over another with a wry expression on her face...thinking if this chap who is abt to come in is goin to be any good enuf

there is noise outside as the door is opened and the guy is pushed inside by his giggling friends...he comes in shy and a bit wary...the girl crooks up her eyebrows giving him an appraising glance but stay as she is....the guy is intimidated

girl: Oh at last you have come, huh
guy(shyly): ya
girl: what took you so long.
guy: I..
girl (cutting him abruptly): now see that glass of milk over there
guy, looking thirstily at that...he reaches out to it
guy: but it is cold
girl: of course its bcos you took so long, duffer...now I will have to drink cold milk, thankfully today I do feel like having cold milk.. otherwise I wud have blown the living daylights of you...its so hot in here and you have not even arranged for an AC
guy: Sorry, that slipped out of my mind
the thing was in dealing with relatives, the wedding organizers, the hotel and everyone else, he was weary more than he was wary.
girl: beware nothing else slips...else u will find ur life slippery, okay...now when will u bring that glass over here...and I cud do with a massage of my legs, oooh they ache so much
guy: massage ur legs
girl: duffer, havent u ever massaged a girl bfr...thats the best way to arouse her and go higher and higher, taking her higher and higher
guy: no..er I havent
girl: u havent :O ... u mean some girl let u get away that easily
guy (confused): get away with what
girl (as if something at last dawned upon her): DONT TELL ME YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN WITH A GIRL...YOU ARE A FUCKING VIRGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
guy (smiling): fucking and virgin...thats seems like an Antithesis (he was somewhat of a scholar...but obviously not scholarly in the areas his new wife preferred)
girl: Anti thesis...whatever that means?? dont put on ur Phd airs over here okay...you have done no fucking thesis on fucking and I am not gonna have you slobber over me like some jerk...come and massage me first and then we will see if u r any good with this
...hey bring that milk also will u, stupid BOZO

So the Phd scholar on his wedding night started with a new apprenticeship under this new age mistress

My friend had certain disagreements and so she gave me a point to point rebuttal

1. Guy waits for the girl atleast in tamil movies.. havent seen in reality

2. Girl is too scared.. umm too out of place to be so rude..

3. No one does it on their first day unless its love marriage.. or its
a rape....

4. Make sure to check the girl for AIDS :D :D

5. Girls cant get experience without guys getting it.. umm besides...
guys dunno anything abt how to make a girl happy.. so even if the girl
is exp.. chances are she never orgasmed so technically she still is
clean state

6. If you are worried about consequences.. umm look for married
aunties.. they would be more than eager to teach u how :P :P


To conclude, allow me to share an anecdote (courtesy my good friend who participated in the discussion above)

A priest offered a Nun a lift.

She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg.

The priest nearly had an accident.

After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.

The nun said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'

The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand
slide up her leg again.

The nun once again said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'

The priest apologized 'Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.'

Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.

On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129.
It said, 'Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.'

Moral of the story
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

Well this anecdote summarizes the typically sad situation of this age - most guys are not good at their job and most women confuse the matter further

Damn it!

As slow as snail
The bluntest nail
Its bound to fail
And end in a big wail
Gets swept by a gale
Showered by hail
Foolish Foolish!
Finds trapped in jail

Goes round and round
Gets confused
Chasing Chasing
Its own tail

Others grasp in a moment
What it doesn't learn in a lifetime
Plods through chapters
Ending in blunders
Needless thunders
Worthless wonders
Thick as dunders

A saga ends and
begins another tale
Bloody hell!

Idyll

One day he passed by a dale
and heard the call of a siren
that pierced through his sub-conscious
deep into his being
and he decided to stay put

a hut was made overlooking the gentle downs
with a pristine lake by one side
he was away in isolation
yet he had everything he wanted
there was Net to converse, to know
and yet he could shut it whenever he wished
he could listen to any tune
time and time again
he could read whatever he wanted
he had no chores to do
a kind samaritan came from nowhere
and volunteered to take care of him
she asked for nothing
but was more motherly than his mother had ever been

he could exactly do what he wished for
and had complete freedom
he could stay in and be connected for as long as he wanted
he could read, he could listen to any melody he wished
and then he could venture out if bored
cut a few logs, for firewood
shear the lambs, only because he enjoyed it
or just play with the shepherds
and tell them of the wider world
yet detach from them with no ties
no commitment to anyone
he was as free as any bird
he would watch the reflection of moon in the lake all night long
and wake up late in the afternoon
and then bathe under the waterfalls, taking in a cool refreshing dip
in the evening, sip a cup of coffee watching the sunset beyond downs
he did not even have to think,
leave alone do anything for his bare necessities or survival

thoughts flitted like flies
there was no constant
he let it be..after all there was no aim, no end to attain
no money to be earned for bread, wine or shelter
no human ties or responsibilities

he had come there with a pain which the siren tapped
he had none to call his own
and yet it is that yearning that propelled him
to write, to read, to listen, to know
to sense
to percieve
now that pain was his most valuable posession
as it was his life force, it made him feel alive

he liked the unknown siren, who was forever in the distance
it was beautiful to imagine how beautiful she might be
it was thrilling to feel the intrigue surrounding her
yet her allure remained only as long as she was obscure
so he never really wished to meet her despite wanting to do so

as days passed by he grew bored
freedom was desirable when bound in chains
but when one is free in the air,
there is a sense of rootlessness

yet the siren's pull kept him there
her enchantment never ceased
and then as some more days passed by
he realised that being bound had been a habit
which will take some while to shrug off
and when that bind of bind started wearing thin
the idyll looked beautiful like never before

In Search of...

In search of..
I have no clue
In search of..
dunno what to do

In search of..
a passion lost?
In search of..
a compelling thought?

In search of...
something to occupy
In search of
the wings to fly

In search of..
a true meaning
Dedicate my life to
a new beginning

A way that shall
fulfil my soul
A lasting content
is my only goal

The Science of Love

Cliched title you would think, but wait a minute before you pronounce any judgment and read the following excerpt from an article I found while surfing.

Thirty-one-year-old Dana Commandatore claims she has never been the kind of woman men immediately notice. But one night last year, while at a singles bar with friends, she couldn't keep the opposite sex away. "Guys were coming up to me and getting very close, and I was like, 'Wow!'

Want to read more - I bet you will, but suffer my monologue a while. Brain research especially related to interpersonal relationships, attitudes, individual characteristics has always interested me..yet without doubt understanding the oft talked about, yet least understood (at least for those who are not afflicted by it) concept of love is most fascinating. Most scientists believe that it is to the secrets held within the labyrinth known as brain that we have to look for answers. Recently I saw an interesting program on Nat Geo in their show - Naked Science, where they talked of three stages of love - Attraction, Seduction/Romance, and Love (or long term bonding) and there were theories about each of these stages, novel experiments to prove those theories. As I was searching for articles to delve more in this subject, I came across this article, which talks exactly on the same topic.

So how come Dana Commandatore (yup, the lady in the singles bar) attracted all those men like bees to a flower..read on.

The New York City office manager, now in a committed relationship with one of the men she met that night, credits her ability to attract him that evening to a costly potion ($60 for a tenth of an ounce) called Falling in Love. Its manufacturer, Philosophy cosmetics, claims the concoction is laced with pheromones, those odorless airborne molecules, synthesized from human chemical secretions, that are purported to boost attractiveness. (And yes, it's available at a department store near you.)

Bunk? Sniff if you will. Many do. But whether one believes Commandatore is hopelessly susceptible or remarkably savvy, one thing is clear: New research in the field of love and attraction shows that romance--long the domain of poets, philosophers and five-hankie movies--may be ruled as much by molecules as it is by emotion.

In fact, scientists now believe that the impulse that drives us to mate, marry and remain monogamous is not a result of mere social convention: It is also a complex mix of naturally occurring chemicals and hormones--Cupid's elixirs, if you will--that helps guide us through life's most important decision. That physiological component, say the researchers, may help explain some of love's mysteries: why opposites attract, why so many seemingly mismatched couples succeed, why we stick together with partners through even the worst of times.

Another excerpt

Indeed, what scientists believe they already know about matters of the heart is remarkable. To illustrate their findings, follow the story of Mike, a fictional Everyman, as he falls in love. One night, Mike, single, nervously arrives at a party, gets a drink, then scans the room. Science tells us that, unconsciously, he is already noting the size and symmetry of the facial bones of the women around him (a recent study by University of New Mexico biologists found that symmetrical bone structure is prized more than anything because it suggests a lack of undesirable genetic mutations). He also studies the women's curves, as research shows that men prefer waists to be 60-80 percent the size of hips, an indicator, however crude, of health and fertility. (Women, for their part, seek men with slightly feminized faces--think Leonardo DiCaprio--because they appear warmer, kinder and more trustworthy.) "Judging beauty has a strong evolutionary component," says University of Texas at Austin professor of psychology Devendra Singh. "You're looking at another person and figuring out whether you want your children to carry that person's genes."

Want to know whether Mike finds someone special in that party? - Okay, here's the link for you

http://www.saddleback.edu/faculty/jfritsen/articles.html#love_addiction

PS - As an after after thought probably I should have titled this post as "The Dopamine Effect" - sounds better na?

Choked

Those haunting strains
of a score of violins
A spirit evoking symphony
And a nostalgic note

The tune bestirs the being
from an indolent ease
A burning restlessness
brings a violent peace

Yet the tongue goes dry
And the mind is numbed
At loss for unheard of words
Erudition is stumped

Unquenchable fire rages on
Smoky emotions get choked
Breatheless dumb cannot express
Even if the soul is evoked

Joining

-

A song that paints in white
to dispel an all pervading gloom
We sing for a love rediscovered
A new life from hopeless doom

Those old unforgettable strains
The Muse to my nostalgic heart
A familiar ode, of who else but yours
Bridges what has been rent apart

The gaily vivid yellow blossoms
Lingering with a fragrance of yore
Now springs alive a dead spirit
Refreshed, to the skies does it soar

Like rivulets snaking mountains
to lose themselves in the river
Once we are one soul, one sea
What is then You, what is Me

.