This is what life is all about
Yesterday in the morning when I turned on the TV at ten past six to view Bharadaththil dharmam, பாரதத்தில் தர்மம், the TV opened with the Star Movie channel.
A man was sitting comfortably in a speeding motorboat in the middle of the sea. Nobody else was with him. There was nothing else in sight, just the vast expanse of the sea, with its rolling waves. There wasn't any clue as to what time of the day it could be, but the clear blue sky indicated a sunny day. The man was very relaxed. The movie ended with that scene. I don't know what movie it was, or anything about the movie. The scene looked so good; it got etched in my mind.
I felt what a satisfying experience it must be and how lucky he is to be able to do that.
It also made me think.
For the man to feel that relaxed in a tiny motor boat, in the middle of the sea, how much preparation must have gone into it, what all the competencies he must have developed to get that self-confident, how comfortable he should be with himself to be on his own, how much trust he must have in himself and in a higher power to be able to face any adversary.
Whatever we do, this is what life is all about.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
My mother's prayers
My mother’s prayer habits were very simple. In the morning she would clean the small area specially designed in the corner of the dinning room, where we had the Kovil azhwar and some God pictures. She would remove previous day’s flowers, wipe off the Kolam, do fresh kolam, clean the wick of the oil lamp, add oil and light it and adjust the wick so that the flame would be just perfect.
When the milk is boiled, she would take a tumbler full of the freshly boiled milk, add sugar, mix it pouring it from the tumbler to another a few times to cool it enough before she would place it in front of the Gods.
At that time she would also say a few prayers aloud. They were a mixture of various slokas. I haven’t paid enough attention to it or asked her about what they meant. Recently going through some list of slokas I recognised some of the ones amma used to recite.
Amma knew so many tamil prayers of various azhwars, all the Andal thirupavai, and understood the meanings fully. Though it is in Tamil, being the old Tamil some words are not so easily recognizable. She didn’t find them difficult at all. Out of all those the one she used to recite in the morning so appropriately is the 29th poem -
'Chittram chirukaale vandhunnai seviththu' (சிற்றம் சிறுகாலே வந்துன்னை சேவித்து)
This has become my favourite now.
Another one was on Lakshmi Narasimhar -
यस्या भवत भक्त जनार्दी हन्तु
पितृत्व मन्येशु विचार्य तूर्णम
स्तम्भेवतारः तम अनन्य लभ्यम
लक्ष्मी न्र्सिम्हम शरणम प्रपद्ये
I don’t know how she learnt it. Reading it now I realize how well she used to pronounce it.
The third was on Thirupathi Venkataramana -
श्रीमान वेंकट नाधार्य कवितार्किक केसरी
वेदांता चार्य वर्योमे सननिधत्तां सदा हृदि l
Undoubtedly, she knew the meanings of these too. She recited these as if talking directly to her Gods.
When the milk is boiled, she would take a tumbler full of the freshly boiled milk, add sugar, mix it pouring it from the tumbler to another a few times to cool it enough before she would place it in front of the Gods.
At that time she would also say a few prayers aloud. They were a mixture of various slokas. I haven’t paid enough attention to it or asked her about what they meant. Recently going through some list of slokas I recognised some of the ones amma used to recite.
Amma knew so many tamil prayers of various azhwars, all the Andal thirupavai, and understood the meanings fully. Though it is in Tamil, being the old Tamil some words are not so easily recognizable. She didn’t find them difficult at all. Out of all those the one she used to recite in the morning so appropriately is the 29th poem -
'Chittram chirukaale vandhunnai seviththu' (சிற்றம் சிறுகாலே வந்துன்னை சேவித்து)
This has become my favourite now.
Another one was on Lakshmi Narasimhar -
यस्या भवत भक्त जनार्दी हन्तु
पितृत्व मन्येशु विचार्य तूर्णम
स्तम्भेवतारः तम अनन्य लभ्यम
लक्ष्मी न्र्सिम्हम शरणम प्रपद्ये
I don’t know how she learnt it. Reading it now I realize how well she used to pronounce it.
The third was on Thirupathi Venkataramana -
श्रीमान वेंकट नाधार्य कवितार्किक केसरी
वेदांता चार्य वर्योमे सननिधत्तां सदा हृदि l
Undoubtedly, she knew the meanings of these too. She recited these as if talking directly to her Gods.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Be aware of outdated practices - bring about a change
Be aware of outdated practices
Yesterday I felt, the song 'We shall overcome' is outdated and not relevant at all anymore for students to continue to sing in schools as a patriotic song. 'We shall Overcome Someday' (हम होंगे कामयाब एक दिन - in Hindi) is not saying much.
It was originally written by Rev. Charles Tindley, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was used as protest song during US civil rights movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and U.S. Senator for New York Robert F. Kennedy used it while leading the anti-apartheid crowds in Africa.
The website http://www.songsforteaching.com/positiveattitudes.htm has lots of 'Songs That Build Positive Attitudes and Self-Esteem', appropriate for schools.
Yesterday I felt, the song 'We shall overcome' is outdated and not relevant at all anymore for students to continue to sing in schools as a patriotic song. 'We shall Overcome Someday' (हम होंगे कामयाब एक दिन - in Hindi) is not saying much.
It was originally written by Rev. Charles Tindley, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was used as protest song during US civil rights movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and U.S. Senator for New York Robert F. Kennedy used it while leading the anti-apartheid crowds in Africa.
The website http://www.songsforteaching.com/positiveattitudes.htm has lots of 'Songs That Build Positive Attitudes and Self-Esteem', appropriate for schools.
Just a few for sample -
What a Wonderful World
by Louis Armstrong
I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom, for me and for you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue, clouds of white
Bright blessed days, dark sacred nights
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
The colors of a rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do
They’re really saying, I love you.
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more than I’ll never know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
A Bright Tomorrow
by Laszlo Slomovits
Painting a bright tomorrow begins here today.
I get to choose the colors, I get to have my say,
By how I think today.
I can think in the very best way.
I get to choose every day.
My mind is like a brush, I paint with each thought.
If I don’t like the way things look, I look at the paints I brought
And think a different way.
I can think in the very best way.
I get to choose every day.
Yesterday is done, there’s no way I can change it.
Tomorrow’s not yet here, but I can pre-arrange it
By how I live today.
I can think in the very best way.
I get to choose every day.
If I don’t like a color I chose, I can create another shade.
I can just paint over it again and again, till I am happy with what I made.
It’s all in how I choose to look, it’s all in how I choose to feel.
The cup may look half empty, but half full is just as real.
I choose to see the world, filled with love and grace.
I choose to see myself, in the perfect time and place
By how I think today.
I can think in the very best way.
I get to choose every day.
So, painting a bright tomorrow, begins here today.
I get to choose the colors, I get to have my say
By how I think today, by how I act today,
By how I live today.
I can think in the very best way.
I get to choose every day.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Thought for the day
Thought for the day
I appreciate my friend Geetha Gopinath who sends me ‘thought for the day’ almost everyday. Some days her message is the first one I get in the morning.
Here are a few latest ones –
20.07.2010 - Good plan of today is better than a great plan of tomorrow. Look backwards with satisfaction and look forward with confidence.
19.07.2010 - Not all fingers are same in length, but when they are bent all stands equal. Life becomes easy when we bend and adjust in any situation.
18.07.2010 - Graham Bell, the man who invented the phone never made a call to his family because his wife and daughter were deaf. Life is more than just living for ourselves.
Lately, working on being open-minded, I feel happy I am able to relate to these as relevant to me and take every message to be directed towards improving me.
Thank you Geetha for your service.
I appreciate my friend Geetha Gopinath who sends me ‘thought for the day’ almost everyday. Some days her message is the first one I get in the morning.
Here are a few latest ones –
20.07.2010 - Good plan of today is better than a great plan of tomorrow. Look backwards with satisfaction and look forward with confidence.
19.07.2010 - Not all fingers are same in length, but when they are bent all stands equal. Life becomes easy when we bend and adjust in any situation.
18.07.2010 - Graham Bell, the man who invented the phone never made a call to his family because his wife and daughter were deaf. Life is more than just living for ourselves.
Lately, working on being open-minded, I feel happy I am able to relate to these as relevant to me and take every message to be directed towards improving me.
Thank you Geetha for your service.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Deepam - the lamp oil
I saw the advertisement on TV for Deepam – the lamp oil. I thought it was a novel idea.
I like the God’s room smell of flowers, incense and camphor. In the 60s, my mother used to light an agarbathi called Sugandha Sringar. It was thick and long lasting. To me that smell represented my mother. Wherever I may be that smell used to transport me to the God’s room in my mother’s house. The brand has been discontinued and not available anymore.
Lately I have been disappointed with the quality of the incense sticks available in the market. I have tried quite a few. They give out lot of smoke and drop lot of ashes, but not emit enough perfume to linger in the house.
I may find some agarbathies smell nice in other’s house but they never satisfied me ones brought home. Finally I gave up lighting agarbathi all together.
This commercial for Deepam lamp oil really impressed me. The idea of a lighted oil lamp giving out the divine smell (two-in-one) appealed to me greatly. (www.divinityproducts.net)
Yesterday when I went to buy my groceries in the neighbourhood shop, quite by accident I saw a bottle of the oil on the counter. I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to go home to try out the oil.
I opened the bottle; it smelled so good. I read the ingredients list and was amazed to see how much thought has gone into preparing the oil mixture. I added the oil and lighted the lamp. It didn’t give out a whole lot of perfume, but somehow the thought that I have used this oil made me feel good. I expect using it for a few more days would permeate the room with the smell of the perfumery compound used in the oil.
When you are happy with something you just don’t give up; you have faith in it and expect it to work.
The smell of the oil that I had rubbed in the back of my hand lingered for long time and made me feel so happy.
I like the God’s room smell of flowers, incense and camphor. In the 60s, my mother used to light an agarbathi called Sugandha Sringar. It was thick and long lasting. To me that smell represented my mother. Wherever I may be that smell used to transport me to the God’s room in my mother’s house. The brand has been discontinued and not available anymore.
Lately I have been disappointed with the quality of the incense sticks available in the market. I have tried quite a few. They give out lot of smoke and drop lot of ashes, but not emit enough perfume to linger in the house.
I may find some agarbathies smell nice in other’s house but they never satisfied me ones brought home. Finally I gave up lighting agarbathi all together.
This commercial for Deepam lamp oil really impressed me. The idea of a lighted oil lamp giving out the divine smell (two-in-one) appealed to me greatly. (www.divinityproducts.net)
Yesterday when I went to buy my groceries in the neighbourhood shop, quite by accident I saw a bottle of the oil on the counter. I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to go home to try out the oil.
I opened the bottle; it smelled so good. I read the ingredients list and was amazed to see how much thought has gone into preparing the oil mixture. I added the oil and lighted the lamp. It didn’t give out a whole lot of perfume, but somehow the thought that I have used this oil made me feel good. I expect using it for a few more days would permeate the room with the smell of the perfumery compound used in the oil.
When you are happy with something you just don’t give up; you have faith in it and expect it to work.
The smell of the oil that I had rubbed in the back of my hand lingered for long time and made me feel so happy.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
வார்த்தை ஜாலம்
மங்கையர் மலரில் இந்த ஜோக் படித்தேன். ரொம்ப ரசித்தேன். எழுதியவரின் சாமர்த்தியத்தை வெகுவாக பாராட்ட முடிந்தது. எனக்கும் இப்படி எழுத வேண்டும் போல ஆசையாக இருக்கிறது.
மனைவி - உங்கள் அம்மா சொல்வதை கேளுங்கள்.
கணவன் - உனக்கு கோபம் வராதா?
மனைவி - அம்மா சொல்வதை கேளுங்கள், நான் சொல்வதை செய்யுங்கள்.
மனைவி - உங்கள் அம்மா சொல்வதை கேளுங்கள்.
கணவன் - உனக்கு கோபம் வராதா?
மனைவி - அம்மா சொல்வதை கேளுங்கள், நான் சொல்வதை செய்யுங்கள்.
For the love of God
For the love of God
In Vipasana meditation the teacher Mr.Goenka told us the history of how he came to learn the Buddhist meditation. When he was suffering with an incurable migraine headache, at a friend's suggestion he went looking for the small sect of people practicing this form of meditation in Burma. When he told the guru that he has come in search of him to get cured of his headache, the guru refused to teach him, as it is not for treating any health problem but to achieve the highest goal of liberation from the cycle of birth & death.
Today while listening to Vellukudi it made sense to me. All these years while visiting temples or praying to God I have never asked for any favours from God.
Today I realized that he is just waiting for me to ask. I asked for his love and help to believe in him and have faith in him and to constantly be aware of him and do everything for the love of God.
In Vipasana meditation the teacher Mr.Goenka told us the history of how he came to learn the Buddhist meditation. When he was suffering with an incurable migraine headache, at a friend's suggestion he went looking for the small sect of people practicing this form of meditation in Burma. When he told the guru that he has come in search of him to get cured of his headache, the guru refused to teach him, as it is not for treating any health problem but to achieve the highest goal of liberation from the cycle of birth & death.
Today while listening to Vellukudi it made sense to me. All these years while visiting temples or praying to God I have never asked for any favours from God.
Today I realized that he is just waiting for me to ask. I asked for his love and help to believe in him and have faith in him and to constantly be aware of him and do everything for the love of God.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Responsible Care
To
The Editor
The Hindu
I was flabbergasted to read Karthik Subramanian’s review of the tamil movie ‘Kalavaani’ (the thief) in the Friday Review of the Hindu dated 2nd June, the day after I saw the movie. Having nothing to do on a rainy day afternoon in a hill station, we went to the only theater in town that happened to be screening Kalavaani. There were 5 other boys besides the 3 of us in a theater that can hold 400 people.
When the movie started with the slide ‘Drinking and smoking is injurious to health’ gave away the main activity of the ‘hero’. We couldn’t sit after the first 20 minutes. The reason we stayed for nearly an hour is only because we wanted to give enough time for the taxi driver who took us to the theater to enjoy his 10-year-old daughter’s birthday celebration that evening. We also hoped the movie might get better. Reading in the review - ‘Most importantly, and more realistically, the `Kalavaani' never reforms’ – we are glad we didn’t stay longer.
The story is about a vagabond son who blackmails his mother to part with the money his father, a labourer from Dubai, sends every month. He hangs out with his friends at bars, makes moves on every girl he sees and leads a carefree life. He and his brat-pack pull non-stop pranks on the local Panchayat (keep the audience in splits!!?? – oh, please) and pick up fights with any one they possibly can. The good for nothing ‘hero’ falls in love with the local schoolgirl and works on her to make her fall in love with him.
I can’t understand how the reviewer can call this - ‘a heart-warming tale’, ‘worthy addition to the catalogue of neat entertainers', ‘a winner’ etc.
I agree that the lead pair Vimal and Oviya live their characters so well that it made me want to slap them hard to bring them to their senses.
How does Karthik Subramanian rate this as ‘Fun family entertainer’? Would anybody in their right mind, like their son or daughter to learn the 'ideal values' from the lead pair and follow their examples and be able find it funny and laugh?
Please be responsible. I told as many people as possible not to trust The Hindu review of the movie.
The Editor
The Hindu
I was flabbergasted to read Karthik Subramanian’s review of the tamil movie ‘Kalavaani’ (the thief) in the Friday Review of the Hindu dated 2nd June, the day after I saw the movie. Having nothing to do on a rainy day afternoon in a hill station, we went to the only theater in town that happened to be screening Kalavaani. There were 5 other boys besides the 3 of us in a theater that can hold 400 people.
When the movie started with the slide ‘Drinking and smoking is injurious to health’ gave away the main activity of the ‘hero’. We couldn’t sit after the first 20 minutes. The reason we stayed for nearly an hour is only because we wanted to give enough time for the taxi driver who took us to the theater to enjoy his 10-year-old daughter’s birthday celebration that evening. We also hoped the movie might get better. Reading in the review - ‘Most importantly, and more realistically, the `Kalavaani' never reforms’ – we are glad we didn’t stay longer.
The story is about a vagabond son who blackmails his mother to part with the money his father, a labourer from Dubai, sends every month. He hangs out with his friends at bars, makes moves on every girl he sees and leads a carefree life. He and his brat-pack pull non-stop pranks on the local Panchayat (keep the audience in splits!!?? – oh, please) and pick up fights with any one they possibly can. The good for nothing ‘hero’ falls in love with the local schoolgirl and works on her to make her fall in love with him.
I can’t understand how the reviewer can call this - ‘a heart-warming tale’, ‘worthy addition to the catalogue of neat entertainers', ‘a winner’ etc.
I agree that the lead pair Vimal and Oviya live their characters so well that it made me want to slap them hard to bring them to their senses.
How does Karthik Subramanian rate this as ‘Fun family entertainer’? Would anybody in their right mind, like their son or daughter to learn the 'ideal values' from the lead pair and follow their examples and be able find it funny and laugh?
Please be responsible. I told as many people as possible not to trust The Hindu review of the movie.
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