No - this is not a post about maya - the veil of illusion.
In our life, we circumscribe ourselves to situations that are socially acceptable. Read as "normal". Normal might be sick or stupid in terms of "intelligent behavior" but we have no qualms taking them in our stride. My window into life's harsher realms is the movies. All these thoughts were triggered when I was reading the review of RGV's latest movie. Context doesn't matter though.
Life is all encompassing. It contains situations we cannot conceive going through to the gentlest and subtlest of them all. For most of us, even witnessing an animal's life being taken at the sacrificial altar can be out of bounds. Yet this happens (in a far more insensitive manner) to food on our plate. This question was on my mind when the video for how meat production happens fell on my lap. My question to myself was - do I need to watch this? If I refuse to, am I insulating myself from reality that is so existent. Was this ostrich behavior? It is a valid question. Equally valid is another aspect - this is not the reality I want to create and experience. Why do I want to subject myself to it?
I think there is no right answer. My take is:
1) In intent (and consciousness) with which we subject ourselves to all material we perceive is vital. For example, there is a pole of difference between someone watching violent content with sadistic intent and empathizing intent. While the external event itself can be unaltered, the perceiver is altered, even to opposite effects based on the intent.
2) Life doesn't care about society. Anytime, life can throw a situation which is totally out of bounds from day to day experiences? Is it good to face them unprepared? Were people prepared with the tsunami hit them or is it better to face the possibility before hand?
The solution: Hitch your inside to the highest star you want to attain and do not let it go irrespective of what you go through outside. Whatever happens on the outside will only contextualize itself to facilitate that. Yes, its a simple fix - but not an easy one!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Trek to Velliyangiri 7th Hill
I remember a trip I had made to Yercaud when I was in 9th or 10th grade. A casual remark made by my geography teach stuck to my mind firmly. She probably rued later making that comment. She said that clouds would pass through us at such heights. From that time, I kept pestering her to take me to the place where clouds would pass through me. Will it be cold? Can I touch it? Can I put it in my bag? These were some of the questions I kept asking her. Eventually, she resigned - "It's not the right condition today. I am sorry!"
Here, at 1750m (5750ft) above sea level, at the entrance of the 7th hill temple, winds where blasting at near gale force speed. The once-coveted clouds were seething through me. Misty sprays enveloped anything on their path. The temperature was probably close to 6-7 degrees (I am not sure). But all I could manage was a blank stare without emotion. My body and mind were totally worn down. There was no despair, elation or joy. Just empty hollow space inside. I still couldn't help wondering how the elemental forces of nature had conspired to form this grand space for the Adi Yogi. The entrance, naturally formed was an arch that comprised of three monolithic stones. From the stone on the top hung moss like adornments that were still fresh. The linga inside was suyambu - self formed. Indeed, we were in the space the Adi Yogi once trod.
We later visited the space where Sadhguru Shri Bramha had shed his body. Here the elements assumed fiercer proportions. Powerful misty clouds screaming through anything they met on the path - a dangerously placed precipice that fell five thousand feet below beyond with seating room for one or two at most - this was the spot. Of course, it was too dangerous that time - so we were asked to maintain a respectful distance from the spot.
This was the land - almost the place where very few humans tread - the land which Shiva walked upon once. Countless Yogis followed suit - Agasthya, Krishna, Arjuna and later Sadhguru Shri Bramha as well. This is the place where nature does her part to demonstrate the intensity of the people who once trod the place. Now, an organization called "then kailaya bhakti iyakkam" (South Kailash Devotional Movement) is trying to make more people realize the sacredness of the space. It is trying to establish basic infrastructure for people to stay here for a night or two along with other supporting necessities. Nothing exists now. So people have to come here, spend a couple of hours and then trek back - because the trek takes the remaining part of the day.
We were close to this place once - see here - and now I realize we had reached the top of the 6th hill the previous time. We couldn't have made it to the 7th. If you need a little more information on the terrain, look there. Some random and not so random notes below about this trek:
10 minutes into the trek, I stopped for a breather. I do not know what happened, but I was two steps away from passing out. My vision was blurring out and voices of people around me were growing fainter. We were instructed not to sit, the idea being that calf muscles could easily sprain. If I did not sit, people would have to carry me on a stretcher! So I sat and fortunately, things returned to normal. I still do not know why my body responded so aggressively. I was carrying a heavy load - 6kgs (13 pounds). I should travel lighter next time. Contrary to their instructions, sitting whenever I was tired and moving on later really helped! One liter of Gatorade also helped. It lasted until I reached the top of the 7th hill.
The hill, unlike Sathuragiri, is replete with water. At the top of the hill, its a blast! And literally!
My inspiration for the trip - not for, during actually - were two people. A 65 year old man, who I did not interact much with, walked with determination and his own load to the top and back with minimal help from the volunteers. Another was a 12 year old girl - who really should have been 36. She was quiet throughout the trek except to answer questions posed by fellow trekkers. No fuss, no elation, no emotions, no complaints - she just trekked. Once in a while, a volunteer or a fellow trekker took her bag. When returning, I asked her why she wanted to trek this mountain.
"I don't know."
"How was the trek?
"Good!"
"Did you ask to trek or did your parents ask you to go?"
"I wanted to come."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Did you find it difficult?"
"No."
She wasn't being curt or rude - she was just answering. I am not sure if it is a credit to great parenting or for the way she was made!
The volunteers were amazing. I know one of them carried like 15kgs to the top. Contrast this to the guy who almost fainted carrying 1/3rd of it!
One participant later shared [not verbatim] - "I do not know any Shiva. I have no clue who he was or how he existed. All I know is that my Guru trekked this place. Every stop I took, I only wanted to remember that my Guru once passed this place."
The Swamiji later clarified - "I doesn't matter how you make the connection. As long as you make it its fine!"
The Swamiji also said something startling - but not surprising. [not verbatim]: "The divine may decide to close itself to you. But a Guru can override that decision. The divine is helpless to that." - I ALWAYS ALWAYS knew it. Except that this time it was so in-the-face. And add to it whatever was quoted by the Swamiji was from the Adi Yogi's mouth! Another enlightened one expressed this same sentiment like this. These verses have stronger import now:
"If You are too choosy as to who should cross the door
A mistake with Me You made!
This new sense has left me so senseless
That I will keep this door open
For every vermin that can crawl and cross.
Pardon Me My treacherous arrogance
As I am only You!"
I realized that true enjoyment of simple pleasures takes immense work. Cold breeze that wipes of sweaty beads or early morning tea to ward off biting cold. You have to earn the privilege of enjoying these things.
I am not sure if I did anything fruitful in the trek - but it appeared that some things that I had to do weren't possible in "normal" conditions. Like taking a dip at 8PM in the night in an ice cold pool or waking up at 5am in the morning at near freezing temperatures.
If there is one thing I truly realized in the trek - it is that I am still a fledgling. One volunteer later asked me how the trek was. I told him nothing touched me. He asked me why I was expecting something to touch me? I told him it is very difficult to put in so much effort and not expect anything. I then told him my preparation was insufficient. He smiled and answered - "I am so glad you realize your preparation is insufficient!" He meant to imply he was glad I hadn't concluded the mountain is ineffective. I am not that stupid. This has been a pathway, if not home for countless Yogis. Sadhguru mentioned that even pigs that used to stray at the top once could escape receiving the grace of the space. I was happy to hear that. At least that should have happened to me!
The Swamiji was very sick at the start of the trek. He was suffering - wrong word - going through hypertension. He still decided to take the trek AMA (American lingo - against medical advice). He was later commenting - "Given a choice, I would have taken his advice and stayed at the bottom. But there is no choice and that is the beauty of my life!"
I should see how long this humility lasts! I am just a man, imperfect lowly...
Here, at 1750m (5750ft) above sea level, at the entrance of the 7th hill temple, winds where blasting at near gale force speed. The once-coveted clouds were seething through me. Misty sprays enveloped anything on their path. The temperature was probably close to 6-7 degrees (I am not sure). But all I could manage was a blank stare without emotion. My body and mind were totally worn down. There was no despair, elation or joy. Just empty hollow space inside. I still couldn't help wondering how the elemental forces of nature had conspired to form this grand space for the Adi Yogi. The entrance, naturally formed was an arch that comprised of three monolithic stones. From the stone on the top hung moss like adornments that were still fresh. The linga inside was suyambu - self formed. Indeed, we were in the space the Adi Yogi once trod.
We later visited the space where Sadhguru Shri Bramha had shed his body. Here the elements assumed fiercer proportions. Powerful misty clouds screaming through anything they met on the path - a dangerously placed precipice that fell five thousand feet below beyond with seating room for one or two at most - this was the spot. Of course, it was too dangerous that time - so we were asked to maintain a respectful distance from the spot.
This was the land - almost the place where very few humans tread - the land which Shiva walked upon once. Countless Yogis followed suit - Agasthya, Krishna, Arjuna and later Sadhguru Shri Bramha as well. This is the place where nature does her part to demonstrate the intensity of the people who once trod the place. Now, an organization called "then kailaya bhakti iyakkam" (South Kailash Devotional Movement) is trying to make more people realize the sacredness of the space. It is trying to establish basic infrastructure for people to stay here for a night or two along with other supporting necessities. Nothing exists now. So people have to come here, spend a couple of hours and then trek back - because the trek takes the remaining part of the day.
We were close to this place once - see here - and now I realize we had reached the top of the 6th hill the previous time. We couldn't have made it to the 7th. If you need a little more information on the terrain, look there. Some random and not so random notes below about this trek:
10 minutes into the trek, I stopped for a breather. I do not know what happened, but I was two steps away from passing out. My vision was blurring out and voices of people around me were growing fainter. We were instructed not to sit, the idea being that calf muscles could easily sprain. If I did not sit, people would have to carry me on a stretcher! So I sat and fortunately, things returned to normal. I still do not know why my body responded so aggressively. I was carrying a heavy load - 6kgs (13 pounds). I should travel lighter next time. Contrary to their instructions, sitting whenever I was tired and moving on later really helped! One liter of Gatorade also helped. It lasted until I reached the top of the 7th hill.
The hill, unlike Sathuragiri, is replete with water. At the top of the hill, its a blast! And literally!
My inspiration for the trip - not for, during actually - were two people. A 65 year old man, who I did not interact much with, walked with determination and his own load to the top and back with minimal help from the volunteers. Another was a 12 year old girl - who really should have been 36. She was quiet throughout the trek except to answer questions posed by fellow trekkers. No fuss, no elation, no emotions, no complaints - she just trekked. Once in a while, a volunteer or a fellow trekker took her bag. When returning, I asked her why she wanted to trek this mountain.
"I don't know."
"How was the trek?
"Good!"
"Did you ask to trek or did your parents ask you to go?"
"I wanted to come."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Did you find it difficult?"
"No."
She wasn't being curt or rude - she was just answering. I am not sure if it is a credit to great parenting or for the way she was made!
The volunteers were amazing. I know one of them carried like 15kgs to the top. Contrast this to the guy who almost fainted carrying 1/3rd of it!
One participant later shared [not verbatim] - "I do not know any Shiva. I have no clue who he was or how he existed. All I know is that my Guru trekked this place. Every stop I took, I only wanted to remember that my Guru once passed this place."
The Swamiji later clarified - "I doesn't matter how you make the connection. As long as you make it its fine!"
The Swamiji also said something startling - but not surprising. [not verbatim]: "The divine may decide to close itself to you. But a Guru can override that decision. The divine is helpless to that." - I ALWAYS ALWAYS knew it. Except that this time it was so in-the-face. And add to it whatever was quoted by the Swamiji was from the Adi Yogi's mouth! Another enlightened one expressed this same sentiment like this. These verses have stronger import now:
"If You are too choosy as to who should cross the door
A mistake with Me You made!
This new sense has left me so senseless
That I will keep this door open
For every vermin that can crawl and cross.
Pardon Me My treacherous arrogance
As I am only You!"
I realized that true enjoyment of simple pleasures takes immense work. Cold breeze that wipes of sweaty beads or early morning tea to ward off biting cold. You have to earn the privilege of enjoying these things.
I am not sure if I did anything fruitful in the trek - but it appeared that some things that I had to do weren't possible in "normal" conditions. Like taking a dip at 8PM in the night in an ice cold pool or waking up at 5am in the morning at near freezing temperatures.
If there is one thing I truly realized in the trek - it is that I am still a fledgling. One volunteer later asked me how the trek was. I told him nothing touched me. He asked me why I was expecting something to touch me? I told him it is very difficult to put in so much effort and not expect anything. I then told him my preparation was insufficient. He smiled and answered - "I am so glad you realize your preparation is insufficient!" He meant to imply he was glad I hadn't concluded the mountain is ineffective. I am not that stupid. This has been a pathway, if not home for countless Yogis. Sadhguru mentioned that even pigs that used to stray at the top once could escape receiving the grace of the space. I was happy to hear that. At least that should have happened to me!
The Swamiji was very sick at the start of the trek. He was suffering - wrong word - going through hypertension. He still decided to take the trek AMA (American lingo - against medical advice). He was later commenting - "Given a choice, I would have taken his advice and stayed at the bottom. But there is no choice and that is the beauty of my life!"
I should see how long this humility lasts! I am just a man, imperfect lowly...
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Creativity versus Productivity
Many years ago, I was reading an interview of iLaiyarAjA.
(All of the following are my paraphrasing)
The question to him was – “How are you able to come up with so many fresh tunes time after time?”
His response was fascinating – “If you go through the same life situations again and again, your life becomes monotonous. But someone who is cornered and vulnerable has to do something out of the box to achieve something. I behave like the latter. I eliminate common approaches to solving any problem which forces me to think from a fresh perspective. May be that is the reason for the freshness.”
So simple! You can never stop the mind from thinking the same thing. But you can eliminate the option the mind provides (which comes from knowledge or experience – only two possibilities. Even experience is multi-dimensional knowledge which is still the same thing!) which leaves the option of dipping into sources you never knew you had – provided you can tune into it.
That was the time I was coding a lot – my job function involved that. So for one programming problem I was presented with, a solution immediately popped into my head. I decided to eliminate that option. Immediately a void surfaced because my experience was just invalidated. But after some time of contemplation, another solution, just as effective, but totally off-beat surfaced. Later on a review with my manager, he had to convince himself with multiple reviews that it actually worked as intended. He then asked me – “It looks totally different. Why didn’t you do it in a more straightforward way?” Well, I didn’t tell him IR asked me to!
The whole world (with linchpin exceptions!) is bent on productivity. While necessary, it is overrated. Productivity is squeezing the last ounce of juice out of an existing process. Creativity is coming up with a new way or process. Many times, creativity trumps productivity even in terms of efficiency. Compare two scenarios – Travelling from A to B, which is a 10 km route. The goal of productivity is to increase the speed of travel so the time is reduced. Creativity is similar to getting from point A to B through a different route. Now this route may well be 4 km or even 25 km. The point is that the exercise is much more enjoyable because you are traversing through uncharted territory.
The world needs more creative people. Not productive people!
(All of the following are my paraphrasing)
The question to him was – “How are you able to come up with so many fresh tunes time after time?”
His response was fascinating – “If you go through the same life situations again and again, your life becomes monotonous. But someone who is cornered and vulnerable has to do something out of the box to achieve something. I behave like the latter. I eliminate common approaches to solving any problem which forces me to think from a fresh perspective. May be that is the reason for the freshness.”
So simple! You can never stop the mind from thinking the same thing. But you can eliminate the option the mind provides (which comes from knowledge or experience – only two possibilities. Even experience is multi-dimensional knowledge which is still the same thing!) which leaves the option of dipping into sources you never knew you had – provided you can tune into it.
That was the time I was coding a lot – my job function involved that. So for one programming problem I was presented with, a solution immediately popped into my head. I decided to eliminate that option. Immediately a void surfaced because my experience was just invalidated. But after some time of contemplation, another solution, just as effective, but totally off-beat surfaced. Later on a review with my manager, he had to convince himself with multiple reviews that it actually worked as intended. He then asked me – “It looks totally different. Why didn’t you do it in a more straightforward way?” Well, I didn’t tell him IR asked me to!
The whole world (with linchpin exceptions!) is bent on productivity. While necessary, it is overrated. Productivity is squeezing the last ounce of juice out of an existing process. Creativity is coming up with a new way or process. Many times, creativity trumps productivity even in terms of efficiency. Compare two scenarios – Travelling from A to B, which is a 10 km route. The goal of productivity is to increase the speed of travel so the time is reduced. Creativity is similar to getting from point A to B through a different route. Now this route may well be 4 km or even 25 km. The point is that the exercise is much more enjoyable because you are traversing through uncharted territory.
The world needs more creative people. Not productive people!
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
planet earth
I wanted to write this much later, but with this week being WWW (world wildlife week), I think it makes better sense.
First, WWW - we need this, but that we got into a place of needing this is insulting. Insulting both to the animals and to humans. Animals - because it akins to them begging us for a chance to continue living. And humans because it reflects on us so poorly. I don't want to write about this because it makes my insides so caustic and spiteful.
The only solution is for global consciousness of the planet to rise significantly. We cannot do it through laws. Or through laws which are totally bullet proof. For this, for all nations in the world, the environment as it is (which includes the animals, fishes, the snow caps, glaciers, rivers, oceans) must become top priority. Not economy. Well, it is not necessarily mutually exclusive, but we've got it to a point where a decision has to be made. Between a choice of the two, the former must always come first. I wonder how deeply into the mire we will be realizing this. If not the Governments, the corporations must do it - at this point, it is a pipe dream.
Now to planet earth - I am talking about the TV series. Someone said, dedication is scarce material on the planet. I think its probably because the crew sucked up all of it for their project. With a whopping 25 million dollars allocated to the project, the crew has spared no effort or time to capture absolutely exotic and touching footage from all over the planet. Whether it is spending a month to capture a five minute footage of the snow leapord, or braving the mighty Antarctic winter to shoot the majestic emperor penguins or waiting days in the night to capture lions hunting an elephant (seriously! this is real and happened!) - this crew has pushed all bars of technology and commitment to the hilt. The feather in the cap is their attitude - at the end of an episode, where they are camping on the arctic to shoot polar bears, one of the crewman in their head is startled to see the head of a polar bear in their window - pushing its face against the glass. David Attenborough says - "It's a startling reminder that WE are visitors in THEIR land."
The sad part is that, in the next 10 or so years, all the footage we have as part of the series and similar initiatives is the only place where we will be seeing these.
Good luck humans - hope all these at least makes you all happy. Otherwise what's the point!
First, WWW - we need this, but that we got into a place of needing this is insulting. Insulting both to the animals and to humans. Animals - because it akins to them begging us for a chance to continue living. And humans because it reflects on us so poorly. I don't want to write about this because it makes my insides so caustic and spiteful.
The only solution is for global consciousness of the planet to rise significantly. We cannot do it through laws. Or through laws which are totally bullet proof. For this, for all nations in the world, the environment as it is (which includes the animals, fishes, the snow caps, glaciers, rivers, oceans) must become top priority. Not economy. Well, it is not necessarily mutually exclusive, but we've got it to a point where a decision has to be made. Between a choice of the two, the former must always come first. I wonder how deeply into the mire we will be realizing this. If not the Governments, the corporations must do it - at this point, it is a pipe dream.
Now to planet earth - I am talking about the TV series. Someone said, dedication is scarce material on the planet. I think its probably because the crew sucked up all of it for their project. With a whopping 25 million dollars allocated to the project, the crew has spared no effort or time to capture absolutely exotic and touching footage from all over the planet. Whether it is spending a month to capture a five minute footage of the snow leapord, or braving the mighty Antarctic winter to shoot the majestic emperor penguins or waiting days in the night to capture lions hunting an elephant (seriously! this is real and happened!) - this crew has pushed all bars of technology and commitment to the hilt. The feather in the cap is their attitude - at the end of an episode, where they are camping on the arctic to shoot polar bears, one of the crewman in their head is startled to see the head of a polar bear in their window - pushing its face against the glass. David Attenborough says - "It's a startling reminder that WE are visitors in THEIR land."
The sad part is that, in the next 10 or so years, all the footage we have as part of the series and similar initiatives is the only place where we will be seeing these.
Good luck humans - hope all these at least makes you all happy. Otherwise what's the point!
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