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TRS Iyengar

Do I really exist? Or not?

Posted Friday, July 31, 2009 (116 days 7 hours ago.) Viewed 70 times.

It is for the individual "each" for a soul search. What has Religion done for humankind? Especially at the present level and form. Does any religion teach you the moral right to tolerance? Why are the great personalities with credible followers not on the right thinking path? Are they afraid of losing their followers? Or are there any wider conspiracies to nullify the basic religious tenets? Here are some pointers: one can easily judge the facts. Nothing fictional. A real thought provoking passage is ready, for one to get a perspective view. Yes, right from the stone-age to the modern satelite & space-age, the human is filled with so many questions and doubts; man has been using his intellect to make research only upon second and third person objects. Man's questions and doubts are only about the world and God and even beyond! Why? Because no man ever raises any questions or doubts about himself, that is, about his own - " who am I?" - and his own knowledge ( chith), of his own existence ( sath), "Do I exist or not?". Since all doubts rise only about the knowledge, which man has of the existence of the world and God, all this time he has been eagerly making research only about these other two entities and not about himself.

What benefits has mankind derived from the progress in knowledge - the progress that it has made by dividing itself into two large sections and by researching the said two broad directions? The human intellect, which started research on the world, has now discovered a wonderful material science, which can split even atoms: the fundamental particles of which this world is said to be composed off. The discoveries made by scientific research are innumerable. But when we consider the unlimited number of objects in the world - such as the planets and stars in space which still remain unknown to us - it is clear that there can be no end to scientific research and that the human intellect can never see the other shore of the vast ocean of scientific knowledge. By discovering innumerable powers hidden in nature - such as the power of magnetism, fire, water, steam, wind, petrol, electricity and atomic energy - and by inventing all kinds of contrivances, machines and weapons to make use of these powers, scientific research has resulted in terrible great wars, which have made the whole world tremble and which have caused destruction and bloodshed on a hitherto unprecedented scale.

And what about the research made in the other of the above said two directions? Namely the "Self"? The human intellect, which started to make research on God, has produced many religions. Each one of these religions has framed and espoused many different beliefs and dogmas of its own; they have divided the people amongst themselves into many different sects, Religion & caste and they have tried to propagate and make all people follow their own dogmas. Since ignorant people are unable to comprehend the common truth which underlies all religions, they become victims to religious fanatism and (1) due to their attachment to their own religion, and (2) by that miscconception that they were brought up and forced to follow, they condemn all other religions, (3) they try to convert people of other religions to their own religion; (4) they even stoop to the level of becoming entangled in religious wars, and thus, with the help of the weapons invented by science, they also result in human bloodshed. The history of the world itself bears testimony to this fact.

Now, should we not at least try to put an end to all the evils and miseries which have befallen mankind as a result of our "rising" and using our intellects to make research upon the world and God, which are second and third person objects? And one more fact that everyone should understand - that a religion should survive and grow only on its own strength and merit; not on the weakness of another!

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Recession? Job loss? Take a break.

Posted Sunday, March 29, 2009 (240 days 6 hours ago.) Viewed 118 times.

Worry not, as you will find another source, sooner than soonest!

Of late, everyone is hearing from many friends here and elsewhere who/whose near and dear ones have recently lost their jobs who are worried about finances and their future job prospects. Being unemployed can be very scary and challenging, personally and financially. It's a time that requires a great deal of faith and fortitude. Try to get a great deal of support from all quarters by keeping polite, calm and practical ways and means. But for those unfortunate ones, who have experienced job loss, for them, here are a few friendly suggestions:

Avoid negativity - Take a break from negative news and media. Even though the job market is tight, many companies are still hiring. Reconnect with family, friends and former business associates, they may know of possible opportunities. Re-visit your skills, talents and abilities. Perhaps you have skills you've forgotten or that can be applied in a different way or field than you thought possible. Pay attention to how you are spending your time--it's your most valuable asset! Be proactive in your job search everyday. Never lose heart, as there is always a brighter side for every episode in life.

Get support if you need it - you don't have to go it alone! Create consistent self-care habits that will help you to stay healthy and positive. Eat a healthy diet, exercise, take walks, pray, meditate, get plenty of sleep and avoid excess caffeine and alcohol or any sort of addictives. Stay connected to others, be in a community. Connect with others on net who are also going through tough times and can offer you support. Keep your eyes and ears open - opportunities can present themselves in unexpected ways and places. Dilute your requirements/ lower the bar if need be. It is just an economical measure for you to make sure that immediate and emergency needs are met with; keep a tab on balancing your essentials and unwanted. This way you can minimize your expenses.

Don't isolate yourself - get out of the house everyday and explore the job options in and outside your own areas of interest/community. Pray daily, meditate and focus for a good guidance and support from the Lord God, to help you find your perfect job. Never allow any negative force to come near you. Keep the company of the ones who have positive thoughts and good experience in life.

May the good Lord sustain one's spirit as one searches for new and meaningful work. He has blessed us with a healthy body and a keen mind for which one needs to be grateful. It is we, who need to sharpen our mind and thoughts to grasp every available opportunity. Let Him open the path as one seeks employment that will allow one to support the family and oneself while serving others and the divine purpose. Surely, a person with a peaceful mind and clear vision can come out of the man made mess, quite easily. Above all, be confident, that you will achieve a good level of success in your life. Wishing you all the best in your hunt.

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Social Evil - The Divorce and after life.

Posted Saturday, August 23, 2008 (1 year 93 days ago.) Viewed 274 times.

Marriage, a thousands of year affair, with good progeny and a healthy generation to continue has now reduced to shameless act of divorce. In many cases, the give and take policy in day to day life is becoming one sided affair, only take and no return. This can safely be said in the case of both partners. Moreover, the freedom given to the younger generations from the childhood days are, in many cases misused to find their own way, rather than accepting the traditional way of finding a partner. In some cases, the marriages are fixed by the younger, then approved by their parents! This is in contrast to the traditional way, where elders decide on this matter. Just because they were brought up in an atmosphere and circumstances, where the traditional values are forgotten. Nevertheless, parents themselves are to be blamed in many cases, as they did not bring them up within their fold and never thought of teaching them the values and ethos of our own culture. Ego and personality clashes, differences in personal nature that causes the splits rather than accepting and adjusting to the reality; not giving any value to the progeny and future generation thoughts. Though one might think this for the Indian community, I am placing it here for entire human community that has some or other interest in the future of the society in general and the world we create and leave for the rest. In all my researches within educated community, what I found is, the most astonishing factors that I list below:

1. Economic freedom, independence and employment opportunity with higher pay slab causes to gain upper-hand; the trend is mostly reversing the home maker status is now to be the other way round, if not sharing the burden.

2. Many feels, settling in overseas, mainly in the US of A with a green card is sole concern and for this sake, they do not mind cheating! By hooch or crook, their interest is to land and avail the card. Then the drama unfolds. I am telling this fact, that even among the boys are it is their dream.

3. If born and brought up in a high rich families, these trends are some how escapes; the middle class families dreams are too high to state here. But the lower middle and economically lower families are some how coping with the situations to stick together, rather than going for a divorce.

3. Parting and divorcing has become a norm with some elite families that I observed all along. May be, they think it is a kind of social strata that they choose or ignore the values to their personal benefits.

4. I know a family in the US, whose wife deserted her husband after 18 years of living with him; that too having two grown up children, now with their father. She just left only to get more rich and married an American willingly! Leaving behind her own issues, a boy of 14 years and a girl of 17 years. Just for sheer luxury life style. I am worried, where these sort of marriages will lead them to. It is a shame to the humankind that for sheer lust for money, luxury & comforts they sacrifice ethical values and break the bondage.

Now, let us see how we can avoid these social evil that is prevalent not only in the developed nations but also in the Eastern countries, where such break in marriage was unheard once and the married life for so sacred for them to split. In the Indian sub-continent, once the order was to select a suitable alliance by the parents; then the marriage takes place with lots of fanfare, pomp and celebrations and the witnesses of all the close relatives, near and dear are present. The marriages has one aim, bondage for lifetime! Lover each other from then on. Wherein, now a days they love each other, arrange the marriage through parents despite not knowing the implications or about the future and that breaks when the point of disagreement begins show its face. Though the Indian marriage conditions are albeit different from the western culture, I put it here for every one to think on these lines for creating a better, peaceful and happy worthy generations in the future to come.

Only an unshakable faith in unity can clear the air. An in depth understanding of each others needs, character, behavior pattern and the mutual tolerance capacity that should be be judged by each other before they come to the nuances of the alliance.. By which time a year or more passes and they get a fine opportunity to develop and evolve a co-operative system, thus preventing any break in their wedded life. When at times the understanding fails, then the elders used to interfere to pacify the couple. If that too fails, then keep them separated for a specific period and counsel them in private with all the sorts of examples and exceptions. This period allows them to munch their thoughts of the facts and by then their anger is vented out to accept the reality.

The other sort of counseling through astrologers, seers and Gurus of their family did help a lot! Yes, when the family members words no longer taken by the couple, then they take chance with every available alternate mode to keep them united. And the social stigma attached to the separated couple did cause some uneasiness with both, thus mending their way for re-union of the couples and continue with their bondage. In fact, most of the joint family system that prevailed in those days, never saw any such rift taking them for divorce. It was the elders in the family to interfere and pacify the warring couples to bring them on line; it was also a family prestige issue for them to bring the matter into public or litigation that saved the bondage. By the time these adjustments arrived, they get an issue to bring up, a child in the family would always help the family from breaking!

So when next time some one thinks of going for divorce, ask yourself - what sort of society you live in and what sort of society you are going to create by this divorce. Suppose, if you remarry what if you get a worst than the first alliance? (This is what I got the answer from many, who remarried, had to say that their earlier marriage was good to some extent, when they compare the present!)

Whether it is for the wife or husband; take a cue from her/him - don't force your ideas or thoughts to other but say politely what the benefit or loss by making such an idea. Try to listen, your better half may even have some sound and valid reasons for his/her ideas. One can really understand these when they involve in love to each other; otherwise, every word here is a waste. Though, I have a lot more to add here, I would like to get the response from concerned individuals before I proceed further. Whether it is received in good taste or otherwise, I welcome the comments, suggestions and criticism as well on this subject. Think twice before you meet your lawyer, whether it is really a necessary to go for a divorce?

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