1. THE FRUIT OF SILENCE IS PRAYER
THE FRUIT OF PRAYER IS FAITH
THE FRUIT OF FAITH IS LOVE
THE FRUIT OF LOVE IS SERVICE
THE FRUITOF SERVICE IS PEACE.
2 Mother Teresa's Anyway Poem
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
STREET JUSTICE IS NOT BLIND
STREET JUSTICE IS NOT BLIND
In my last topic for discussion “Blessed are the Meek for they will inherit the earth” the consensus seems to be veering around with the view that it had not happened in the past and will not happen in future too.
It appears that the only alternative left to them is to unite and fight for their rightful dues, with violence if necessary. The old saying can possibly modified to read as “meek of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your hunger.”
This brings us to the moot point if we have lost faith in our justice system- social, political and judicial. Will it be fair to say that taking law into ones’ one hand is the only answer? Is it right to violently rebel against oppression, injustice, and inequality so on and so forth? At some point of time most of us have been victim of the system. Are then the criminals, terrorists, mafias, extortionists etc justified in doing what they do because they too in most case are the victim or, so they claim, of all such social, political and judicial malice?
It is often said that Justice is blind. So many innocent have been convicted and equally many culprits have gone scot free. Thousands of prisoners are languishing in jails, awaiting trial, some of them innocent. Some of them are already in jail for a period more than prescribed , if convicted. Thousands are declared absconding. Thousands of cases remain unsolved and files are closed. Thousands of people are convicted for different crimes and start the same again once out of jail. Rich people can twist the arms of justice any which ways they want by hiring the best lawyers, bribing and influencing the system to save their or their relatives’ skin.
Contrary to this, justice on the streets is quick and effective. No one can dare to disobey or double cross the street mafia lords. The punishment is death without trial. The gang wars are not only for supremacy in the trade but for the punishment of the breakaway members. Loyalty is rewarded abundantly but disloyalty is dealt with cruelty to set an example. The punishment is exemplary and not cosmetic. Street justice is close to the justice imparted by old kingly autocratic establishment.
It can be argued that the former is the outcome of an evolving society and the latter is barbaric. If one is a tool in the hands of the civil society the other is a weapon in the hands of the uninitiated barbarians. If one gives full opportunity to defend, the other does not do any such play acting. One believes that let hundred culprits go free rather than convicting an innocent person. The other believes in instant justice once the judge is convinced. In both the cases the judge may go wrong but in former case the judge may hide behind the law but in latter case the judge takes upon himself the onus of fair justice and is not shy of making amends by helping the family of the wronged person financially or otherwise
People take law into their hands many a times because they do not believe the system. Some even take help of street justice. Street justice is mostly imparted by a person who is a judge and a witness at the same time. His dictate prevails. So is the case in present justice system too. Might is right still prevails only the tools have changed that look a bit sophisticated and civilized, more of a disguise of the same age old system of justice. Our justice system of the day is the outcome of continuing evolution of civil society. In many ways it is better than the street justice. Panchayats and Fast courts, Lok Adalats and similar variants have been tried to streamline the system for delivering quick and fair justice but have remained out of reach or ineffective and therefore blind.
Justice delayed is justice denied and justice denied is more criminal than the crime itself. Any system that cannot deliver is either corrupt or simply blind. There is no harm in resorting to street justice. People are taking law into their hands also because they have no mai- baap (Godfather) in the corridors of power. More and more such cases are coming to light.
Street justice is in no way the answer because it is the weapon of the unsatisfied, frustrated and perverted souls but then when it comes to revenge or seeking equitable justice and there is no way out, street justice comes to the rescue and people resort to it unmindful of the repercussions.
Over to you, friends!
.
In my last topic for discussion “Blessed are the Meek for they will inherit the earth” the consensus seems to be veering around with the view that it had not happened in the past and will not happen in future too.
It appears that the only alternative left to them is to unite and fight for their rightful dues, with violence if necessary. The old saying can possibly modified to read as “meek of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your hunger.”
This brings us to the moot point if we have lost faith in our justice system- social, political and judicial. Will it be fair to say that taking law into ones’ one hand is the only answer? Is it right to violently rebel against oppression, injustice, and inequality so on and so forth? At some point of time most of us have been victim of the system. Are then the criminals, terrorists, mafias, extortionists etc justified in doing what they do because they too in most case are the victim or, so they claim, of all such social, political and judicial malice?
It is often said that Justice is blind. So many innocent have been convicted and equally many culprits have gone scot free. Thousands of prisoners are languishing in jails, awaiting trial, some of them innocent. Some of them are already in jail for a period more than prescribed , if convicted. Thousands are declared absconding. Thousands of cases remain unsolved and files are closed. Thousands of people are convicted for different crimes and start the same again once out of jail. Rich people can twist the arms of justice any which ways they want by hiring the best lawyers, bribing and influencing the system to save their or their relatives’ skin.
Contrary to this, justice on the streets is quick and effective. No one can dare to disobey or double cross the street mafia lords. The punishment is death without trial. The gang wars are not only for supremacy in the trade but for the punishment of the breakaway members. Loyalty is rewarded abundantly but disloyalty is dealt with cruelty to set an example. The punishment is exemplary and not cosmetic. Street justice is close to the justice imparted by old kingly autocratic establishment.
It can be argued that the former is the outcome of an evolving society and the latter is barbaric. If one is a tool in the hands of the civil society the other is a weapon in the hands of the uninitiated barbarians. If one gives full opportunity to defend, the other does not do any such play acting. One believes that let hundred culprits go free rather than convicting an innocent person. The other believes in instant justice once the judge is convinced. In both the cases the judge may go wrong but in former case the judge may hide behind the law but in latter case the judge takes upon himself the onus of fair justice and is not shy of making amends by helping the family of the wronged person financially or otherwise
People take law into their hands many a times because they do not believe the system. Some even take help of street justice. Street justice is mostly imparted by a person who is a judge and a witness at the same time. His dictate prevails. So is the case in present justice system too. Might is right still prevails only the tools have changed that look a bit sophisticated and civilized, more of a disguise of the same age old system of justice. Our justice system of the day is the outcome of continuing evolution of civil society. In many ways it is better than the street justice. Panchayats and Fast courts, Lok Adalats and similar variants have been tried to streamline the system for delivering quick and fair justice but have remained out of reach or ineffective and therefore blind.
Justice delayed is justice denied and justice denied is more criminal than the crime itself. Any system that cannot deliver is either corrupt or simply blind. There is no harm in resorting to street justice. People are taking law into their hands also because they have no mai- baap (Godfather) in the corridors of power. More and more such cases are coming to light.
Street justice is in no way the answer because it is the weapon of the unsatisfied, frustrated and perverted souls but then when it comes to revenge or seeking equitable justice and there is no way out, street justice comes to the rescue and people resort to it unmindful of the repercussions.
Over to you, friends!
.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER
Divine Life Society was founded by Swami Sivananda on Jan.13, 1936 at Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. I wish to share the Universal Prayer with friends. Swami Sivananda in simple terms taught to “be good and do good”.
THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER
O ADORABLE LORD OF MERCY AND LOVE!
SALUTATIONS AND PROSTRATIONS UNTO THEE.
THOU ART OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT AND OMNISCIENT,
THOU ART SATCHIDANANDA (EXISTENCE-CONSCIOUSNESS-BLISS ABSOLUTE)
THOU ART THE INDWELLER OF ALL BEINGS.
GRANT US AN UNDERSTANDING HEART,
EQUAL VISION, BALANCED MIND,
FAITH, DEVOTION AND WISDOM,
GRANT US INNER SPIRITUAL STRENGTH,
TO RESIST TEMTATIONS AND TO CONTROL THE MIND,
FREE US FROM EGOISM, LUST, GREED, HATRED, ANGER AND JEALOUSLY,
FILL OUR HEARTS WITH DIVINE VIRTUES.
LET US BEHOLD THEE IN ALL THESE NAMES AND FORMS,
LET US SERVE THEE IN ALL THESE NAMES AND FORMS,
LET US EVER REMEMBER THEE,
LET US EVER SING THY GLORIES
LET THY NAME BE EVER ON OUR LIPS,
LET US ABIDE IN THEE FOR EVER AND EVER.
I hope you will like it. Please visit www.sivanandaonline.org for more details.
Hari Lakhera, Delhi, Feb 4, 2011
THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER
O ADORABLE LORD OF MERCY AND LOVE!
SALUTATIONS AND PROSTRATIONS UNTO THEE.
THOU ART OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT AND OMNISCIENT,
THOU ART SATCHIDANANDA (EXISTENCE-CONSCIOUSNESS-BLISS ABSOLUTE)
THOU ART THE INDWELLER OF ALL BEINGS.
GRANT US AN UNDERSTANDING HEART,
EQUAL VISION, BALANCED MIND,
FAITH, DEVOTION AND WISDOM,
GRANT US INNER SPIRITUAL STRENGTH,
TO RESIST TEMTATIONS AND TO CONTROL THE MIND,
FREE US FROM EGOISM, LUST, GREED, HATRED, ANGER AND JEALOUSLY,
FILL OUR HEARTS WITH DIVINE VIRTUES.
LET US BEHOLD THEE IN ALL THESE NAMES AND FORMS,
LET US SERVE THEE IN ALL THESE NAMES AND FORMS,
LET US EVER REMEMBER THEE,
LET US EVER SING THY GLORIES
LET THY NAME BE EVER ON OUR LIPS,
LET US ABIDE IN THEE FOR EVER AND EVER.
I hope you will like it. Please visit www.sivanandaonline.org for more details.
Hari Lakhera, Delhi, Feb 4, 2011
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
Nor angel I, nor man, nor brute,
Nor body, mind, nor he or she,
The books do stop in wonder mute
To tell my nature, I am He.
Before the sun, the moon, the earth,
Before the stars or comet free,
Before even time has had its birth,
I was, I am and I will be.
Not two or many, ’tis but one,
And thus in me all me’s I have,
I cannot hate, I cannot shun
Myself from me, I can but love.
From dreams awake, from bonds be free,
Be not afraid. This mystery,
My shadow, cannot frighten me,
Know once for all that I am He.
Source: Swami Vivekananda, On Himself (The complete works of Swami Vivekananda)
Nor body, mind, nor he or she,
The books do stop in wonder mute
To tell my nature, I am He.
Before the sun, the moon, the earth,
Before the stars or comet free,
Before even time has had its birth,
I was, I am and I will be.
Not two or many, ’tis but one,
And thus in me all me’s I have,
I cannot hate, I cannot shun
Myself from me, I can but love.
From dreams awake, from bonds be free,
Be not afraid. This mystery,
My shadow, cannot frighten me,
Know once for all that I am He.
Source: Swami Vivekananda, On Himself (The complete works of Swami Vivekananda)
Sunday, January 30, 2011
THE MEEK WIIL INHERIT THE EARTH.
“BLESSED ARE THE MEEK,
FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH” Mathew 5:5
This verse form the Bible has been variously explained ever since and here is yet another humble attempt to understand this.
I WAS REMINDED OF THE ABOVE VERSE for this topic by a recent Supreme Court verdict which re-established the truth that the original inhabitants of this Sub-Continent of ours i.e. India were the tribals scattered over Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Madhaypardesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra and some parts of Karnataka. All others namely Aryans, Dravids, Mughals, British etc were late entrants and hence migrants. The Court stated that Tribals have equal rights over the natural resources of this country and cannot be whisked away without their will. Today Tribals constitute some 8% of Indian population. Except The Hindu, the media both print and electronic did not report it because of obvious reasons. How could they annoy their moneyed and powerful bosses? Dr Binayak Sen who dedicated his whole life in the service of these humble souls is being haunted by the courts. But then it is a very large issue.
History is full of tales of oppression of the meek by the strong. “Trail of Tears” is the most pathetic one. During our trip to the Smokey Mountains, Tennessee ,USA, we were told about this sad story.
click image for close-up In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," because of its devastating effects. The migrants faced hunger, disease, and exhaustion on the forced march. Over 4,000 out of 15,000 of the Cherokees died.
This picture, The Trail of Tears, was painted by Robert Lindneux in 1942. It commemorates the suffering of the Cherokee people under forced removal. If any depictions of the "Trail of Tears" were created at the time of the march, they have not survived
There is huge difference between meek and cowards. Meek are not cowards. It is just that they have been conditioned to believe that justice will be done one day. They have yet to learn the maxim of ‘tit for tat’ or ‘eye for an eye’. The greatest example of a meek and resolute person was our own Mr. M. K. Gandhi. He asked the British to leave and let India be governed by Indians. He reasoned out with them with passion and compassion and even when they tortured him did neither flinch nor hate the tormentors. Instead he launched a peaceful agitation which he called Satyagrah and finally India had its Freedom.
A common man or woman is not Gandhi. All what he/she wants a peaceful life, live let and live. But day in and day out this person is denied the rightful dues. If one is not arrogant or violent, he is considered weakness and cowardice. The sharks in the streets are ready to strike and kill. The meek is pushed in a queque, thrashed for no fault, ridiculed all the time and denied his rightful dues.
These Tribals of India or the Indians of USA to my perception are the ‘Meek’. They are gentle, humble and considerate. People who are displacing them are arrogant and violent. And the Lord said the meek will inherit the earth so why is it that the meek often become the target of oppression and exploitation.
In our own Epic Ramayana, Lord Rama was on the side of the meek-the saints and sages, starting from the tribas, the boatmen Kewat, the eagle Jatayu, the dethroned Sugreeva, the outcast Sabari, the harassed Vibhishan,
In spite of all this His Prophesy does not seem to be present on the ground. As someone said in frustration, “The problem with God is that He has no father, no family and no roots” . We His creation, have a biological father, a family and roots that we have to care about. The God would not know what the ‘meek’ are suffering in the hands of the ‘strong, both of them being His creation or does He?
People are hackled and shoved just because they cannot be as aggressive or violent. Cheats and cunning flourish. Honest and sincere get punished. One may be tempted to say that this is because of the bad Karmas of past or present life. One may say the oppressor should be dealt in the same coins. What would you say?
FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH” Mathew 5:5
This verse form the Bible has been variously explained ever since and here is yet another humble attempt to understand this.
I WAS REMINDED OF THE ABOVE VERSE for this topic by a recent Supreme Court verdict which re-established the truth that the original inhabitants of this Sub-Continent of ours i.e. India were the tribals scattered over Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Madhaypardesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra and some parts of Karnataka. All others namely Aryans, Dravids, Mughals, British etc were late entrants and hence migrants. The Court stated that Tribals have equal rights over the natural resources of this country and cannot be whisked away without their will. Today Tribals constitute some 8% of Indian population. Except The Hindu, the media both print and electronic did not report it because of obvious reasons. How could they annoy their moneyed and powerful bosses? Dr Binayak Sen who dedicated his whole life in the service of these humble souls is being haunted by the courts. But then it is a very large issue.
History is full of tales of oppression of the meek by the strong. “Trail of Tears” is the most pathetic one. During our trip to the Smokey Mountains, Tennessee ,USA, we were told about this sad story.
click image for close-up In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," because of its devastating effects. The migrants faced hunger, disease, and exhaustion on the forced march. Over 4,000 out of 15,000 of the Cherokees died.
This picture, The Trail of Tears, was painted by Robert Lindneux in 1942. It commemorates the suffering of the Cherokee people under forced removal. If any depictions of the "Trail of Tears" were created at the time of the march, they have not survived
There is huge difference between meek and cowards. Meek are not cowards. It is just that they have been conditioned to believe that justice will be done one day. They have yet to learn the maxim of ‘tit for tat’ or ‘eye for an eye’. The greatest example of a meek and resolute person was our own Mr. M. K. Gandhi. He asked the British to leave and let India be governed by Indians. He reasoned out with them with passion and compassion and even when they tortured him did neither flinch nor hate the tormentors. Instead he launched a peaceful agitation which he called Satyagrah and finally India had its Freedom.
A common man or woman is not Gandhi. All what he/she wants a peaceful life, live let and live. But day in and day out this person is denied the rightful dues. If one is not arrogant or violent, he is considered weakness and cowardice. The sharks in the streets are ready to strike and kill. The meek is pushed in a queque, thrashed for no fault, ridiculed all the time and denied his rightful dues.
These Tribals of India or the Indians of USA to my perception are the ‘Meek’. They are gentle, humble and considerate. People who are displacing them are arrogant and violent. And the Lord said the meek will inherit the earth so why is it that the meek often become the target of oppression and exploitation.
In our own Epic Ramayana, Lord Rama was on the side of the meek-the saints and sages, starting from the tribas, the boatmen Kewat, the eagle Jatayu, the dethroned Sugreeva, the outcast Sabari, the harassed Vibhishan,
In spite of all this His Prophesy does not seem to be present on the ground. As someone said in frustration, “The problem with God is that He has no father, no family and no roots” . We His creation, have a biological father, a family and roots that we have to care about. The God would not know what the ‘meek’ are suffering in the hands of the ‘strong, both of them being His creation or does He?
People are hackled and shoved just because they cannot be as aggressive or violent. Cheats and cunning flourish. Honest and sincere get punished. One may be tempted to say that this is because of the bad Karmas of past or present life. One may say the oppressor should be dealt in the same coins. What would you say?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING 'WAS'
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING ‘WAS’
Humans have a penchant towards their past. It never ever stops following the present, try whatever one may. It is almost futile to even make an effort. It is possibly because he cannot make any amends.
We have some sort of love hate relationship with our past. We love the good part of and hate the bad of it. For most of the good parts we give credit to ourselves and for most of the bad parts, we blame others. We fail to apportion credit and blame in equal measure. In our quest to acquire various objects of desires, we did hurt some and pleased some.
Then there are always some ‘ifs’. If only I had done/not done this or that. If only I had said/not said this or that. It is often suggested that we should dump our past somewhere and move on. There is always something to remind you even if you have really forgotten about it.
There is another type of ‘was’. The united joint family now replaced by nuclear families. The cultural heritage now degraded by modern values. The neighborly brotherhood now shadowed by strangers surrounding you.
Modern technology has made some of our past not to be so proud of. Telephones, televisions, computers, digital cameras, digital or quartz watches, motor cars, scooters, shopping, travel and the list is endless. Still we do remember that ‘was’ and so will present generation will remember their ’is’ when it becomes ‘was’.
There is always a tendency to compare the present with the past. Recounting the days in school or college or office comes easily. In most cases the past seems to be better than the present. At what stage of life does this really happen? When do we start realizing this ‘was’? What became our “was’ and from what age? Not many of us remember the very early stage of in life say when we were under 5 or 6 year old.
Does it have to do something with the stage in our life when we are no more active like post retirement age? This ‘was’ is a great pass time of elders depreciating all that is present in order to appreciate what was ‘was’.
Humans have a penchant towards their past. It never ever stops following the present, try whatever one may. It is almost futile to even make an effort. It is possibly because he cannot make any amends.
We have some sort of love hate relationship with our past. We love the good part of and hate the bad of it. For most of the good parts we give credit to ourselves and for most of the bad parts, we blame others. We fail to apportion credit and blame in equal measure. In our quest to acquire various objects of desires, we did hurt some and pleased some.
Then there are always some ‘ifs’. If only I had done/not done this or that. If only I had said/not said this or that. It is often suggested that we should dump our past somewhere and move on. There is always something to remind you even if you have really forgotten about it.
There is another type of ‘was’. The united joint family now replaced by nuclear families. The cultural heritage now degraded by modern values. The neighborly brotherhood now shadowed by strangers surrounding you.
Modern technology has made some of our past not to be so proud of. Telephones, televisions, computers, digital cameras, digital or quartz watches, motor cars, scooters, shopping, travel and the list is endless. Still we do remember that ‘was’ and so will present generation will remember their ’is’ when it becomes ‘was’.
There is always a tendency to compare the present with the past. Recounting the days in school or college or office comes easily. In most cases the past seems to be better than the present. At what stage of life does this really happen? When do we start realizing this ‘was’? What became our “was’ and from what age? Not many of us remember the very early stage of in life say when we were under 5 or 6 year old.
Does it have to do something with the stage in our life when we are no more active like post retirement age? This ‘was’ is a great pass time of elders depreciating all that is present in order to appreciate what was ‘was’.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
THEY LIVE AMONG US
THEY LIVE AMONG US
I wish to narrate this incident and wish you all a very happy 2011. I am sure there will be more such people among us.
This happened on Monday 27th December, 2010. My elder is here from the USA with her family for the New Year. We have a plan to visit Sunderbans close to Kolkota with her friends. We had to leave by the afternoon flight to Kolkata.
Her friends have sent her e-ticket by email. I have internet at home but no printer. So we decided to go out to a cyber café and take a printout of the ticket. Totally unmindful of the fact that Monday being a holiday for the local shopkeepers and small businesses in our area, we go to the cyber café I know and find it closed. We try to locate some other cyber café or a place with internet and printing facility without success. We decide to get it done at the Airport counter of the Airlines for which we may have to squeeze some time and reach early at the Airport.
I wanted to make a last try and entered an office to enquire if they could guide us to a cyber café nearby. We enquired from the lady sitting in the office. She tried to exercise her memory but in vain. She casually asked what we need it for. I said to take a print out. She said you can as well do it here.
Obliged to hear that, my daughter logs on to her account and takes a printout of the ticket. We thank the lady and slightly hesitatingly ask the charges.
“No way, Sir. It’s just nothing. Have a nice flight”
“Many thanks.” we murmur and leave thanking her in our heart of hearts.
They live among us.
31.12.2010
I wish to narrate this incident and wish you all a very happy 2011. I am sure there will be more such people among us.
This happened on Monday 27th December, 2010. My elder is here from the USA with her family for the New Year. We have a plan to visit Sunderbans close to Kolkota with her friends. We had to leave by the afternoon flight to Kolkata.
Her friends have sent her e-ticket by email. I have internet at home but no printer. So we decided to go out to a cyber café and take a printout of the ticket. Totally unmindful of the fact that Monday being a holiday for the local shopkeepers and small businesses in our area, we go to the cyber café I know and find it closed. We try to locate some other cyber café or a place with internet and printing facility without success. We decide to get it done at the Airport counter of the Airlines for which we may have to squeeze some time and reach early at the Airport.
I wanted to make a last try and entered an office to enquire if they could guide us to a cyber café nearby. We enquired from the lady sitting in the office. She tried to exercise her memory but in vain. She casually asked what we need it for. I said to take a print out. She said you can as well do it here.
Obliged to hear that, my daughter logs on to her account and takes a printout of the ticket. We thank the lady and slightly hesitatingly ask the charges.
“No way, Sir. It’s just nothing. Have a nice flight”
“Many thanks.” we murmur and leave thanking her in our heart of hearts.
They live among us.
31.12.2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)