The Right Thing!

The Right Thing!

The small child said to his sister, " so I saw my friend bully and beat up a kid smaller than him. I wanted to stop him but did not".

The little girl said, "why didn't you? You should've done the right thing and helped the smaller kid."

"But then my friend would've not wanted to be my friend anymore and I would've lost him as a friend. He is my only friend", the brother replied.

I told the child that he should've done the right thing. He shouldn't ever think that he's without a friend because God is our best friend and always there for us. I assured him that God would've found him a new friend if he had lost this one by doing the right thing.

The thought that would not leave me was "how many adults do not do the right thing with the same logic?"

Written on Saturday, September, 7,2013

It's Your Responsibility!

Sense of responsibility!

No one will like it if I called it a sense of duty. But it should be that!

It's the essence of humanity.

Humanity is faced with perplexing predicaments. Environmentalists argue, philosophers clash, theorists compete...scientists try, pundits lecture, priests preach. 

Solution to all crisis lies in one key factor..regardless of whether they are age old issues like morality, ethics or more nouveau ones like global warming or clean air. The solution to all is "The sense of duty" or some may call it "The sense of responsibility"!

Everyone wonders what went wrong?

I tell you what went wrong.

We became I.

I is the problem.

We has a relation, a bond that breeds responsibility, a duty to the relationship.

I is free of all bonds.

I is egocentric, narcissist and above all selfish.

What I does not understand is that I is self destructive as well.

We can save each other.

I cannot stop I if I goes wrong.

All dilemmas will be removed when I will become a We.

The process starts at the birth of a child!

The way a child is brought up forms a society.

Parents have a duty towards their Child. They should raise a responsible human being. To give the child a good example, they need to correct their own ways.

At the birth of a child, I becomes a we. The parent is no more free. The parent is now duty bound. The parent has to care for the environment to leave a better place for the child. The parent has to practice the faith in order to teach the same values to the offspring. The parent has to give the child good education so that the next generation can carry on the torch...

Aren't the parents already doing all this?

No.

They are teaching something that they do not practice themselves.

Children are smart. Their vision is not tainted by manufactured lenses. They observe with the natural clarity that they are born with. This vision absorbs all the polluted smog and dust spread by their elder human beings as they grow and eventually their own sight gets effected and the clarity goes away.

What is this sense of duty that can cure all this?

The delta of this purifying emotion lies in recognizing the duty to the Creator.

This is the source!

This duty is inherent in the nature of a new born that gets buried under layers of man made muck.

If the parent realizes the call to duty towards the Creator, the parent will do the utmost within power to raise a responsible child by being a responsible parent.

The parent will not alter the message of the divine books to fit the worldly whims.

The parent will not drink alcohol knowing its ability to impair judgement.

The parent will not eat filth, be reckless, selfish, etc, because all these are by products of irresponsibility.

A child is a reminder of the mortality of the parent. It hints at the passage of time and the ultimate reality of a world one day without the parent. It should be a wake up call for the parent to clean up all acts.

A child is the Creator's biggest blessing that can be the cause of salvation of the parent.

I ask!

I raised my hands to ask ..

The heart started interrogating...

What are you going to ask?

Have you counted what you have received so far?

Have you given account of all the favors?

Have you even acknowledged all that you got?

What more do you want?

Each passing time is more..

Each breathing moment is more...

Each ticking second is more...

You got more time, more breath, more seconds...

More chance, more opportunity, more shot...

To:

Correct your ways!

Turn to your Lord...

Ask forgiveness, ask His mercy, ask His benevolence,

Ask His help, ask His support, ask His generosity,

Ask His leniency, ask His compassion, ask His grace...

I realized how small my hands were and how long the never ending list was!

But my heart also knows that

He gives without asking and multiplies on request.

He grants without account and increases on gratitude.

He bestows without merit and showers on effort.

He confers without discrimination and pours on deeds...

He is the most Merciful, most Kind, most Generous, most forgiving...

Hence,

With my tiny hands outstretched,

And full faith in my heart,

I ask and I ask and I ask ....

 O my Lord, O Almighty,

Give us, grant us, bestow upon us, confer upon us...

The best from your endless wealth of bounties.

Ameen 

It's Full Moon Once Again!

It's Full Moon once again!

I look outside my window and am mesmerized.

Everything outside is engulfed in a pure serene whiteness.

The thick foliage on tall oak and maple trees in my backyard remind me of intricate designs carved in ancient palaces. 

The distant hills, standing tall with their proud peaks appear in awe of the silver disk shining so brightly in that partially cloudy sky.

Clouds are scattered around the majestic beauty like devoted slaves.

The imposing Moon is gleaming high above in the sky indifferent to all earthly subjects.

It's rays illuminating and touching everything in their path.

There is a calm quietness that speaks to the souls.

I am mesmerized!

I listen, it says...

The moon never discriminates between gender, color, age, race or creed.

It's beauty is a thing of enjoyment, free for all!

It embraces everyone alike.

It caresses each tenderly.

It's Nature!

It's Creator's blessing like everything else.

It's created for us, not vice versa!

I look at the moon once again.

It's nothing but a barren rock!

There is no beauty there if you land on its surface.

It appears beautiful from far away, shining in the borrowed light of Sun!

And yet it is kind and gentle.

It's not cruel!

It's us human who cannot help smearing its beauty!

We have to hide our own downfalls....by blaming others...

So we create legends!

We attempt to mix fear with tranquility...

We propagate myths about vampires, ware wolves and stalkers.

I look at the compelling sight all around and realize,

Humans may do whatever they want!

They won't be able to tarnish her shine.

Nature will smile at their futile tries.

I look around and I marvel!

Its Nature at her best!

She's showing me her power!

She's reminding me to be mindful, 

be respectful!

And be humble.

She's pointing out the vulnerability of humans.

It's calling me to my origins, my roots, my beginning.

It's telling me to be myself!

Be Human!

Nature...how it started!

Monday, July 22, 2013

Love nature in all it's forms & diversity.

People call it Mother Nature for a reason!

She knows us, she knows our needs!
She is always there for us but its us who take her for granted, ignore her and abuse her like truly spoiled children.
But she is not always forgiving for her cruel misuse and her wrath is venomous.
She passively watches us use destructive behavior and gives us many chances to make amends, but once she decides that it is enough, she roars up like an injured tiger and then there is no turning back. She forgets all compassion and unleashes her fury.

I look around me and marvel at the beauty that surrounds me.
My heart sings praises of The Lord who created these wonders!

Sometimes we need another person to point out the obvious!

I remember a long time back, my mother, who was visiting from out of country, remarked at the incredible beauty of my town where I had settled a year earlier.

Her remark came as a jolt to me. I had not paid any attention to the abundant natural marvels around me before that. Her words acted like a key in opening a tightly shut door. Once that door got ajar, nothing could lock it again.

Listening to her, I looked around and thought, WoW and my God! How in the world had I overlooked such beauty?

In the days and years to come, the echo of her words stayed with me. Countless times I have caught myself stepping away from the chaos of hectic daily life and take a breather by looking and appreciating the natural beauty scattered all around.

One thing is for sure. Nature has never let me down. It has always played a role in uplifting my spirits.

Nature's way is the balanced way. It is the way the Ceartor wanted it to be!

Chaos occurs whenever we deviate from the path intended by nature.

Nature is on humanity's side!

When I look around, it feels to me like everything is created to serve the best of creation, the human beings. 

Everything runs according to a system and that system will run quite smoothly if the humans will let it be!

But no. The arrogant, self serving humans have to meddle with the system.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against progress and advancement.

I'm against such progress that goes against nature.

Such an advancement is an uphill battle that is bound to find no safe haven.

On the other hand, human effort that enhances the course of nature opens doors to unfathomable bliss.

So when I say nature, I think of all creation!

Just finished watching a beautiful video of the process of human formation from the point of conception to actually looking like a human child in the womb.

Chills & goosebumps!

Could not hold back my tears in awe and fear!

So this is the ultimate reality of human beings!

Nothing but a miniscule particle, not even visible individually on its own by the naked human eye!

But once nourished though a natural system set by the Creator, gaining strength and coming of his own, the same miniscule particle now owns the might and strength to wreak havoc not only on nature and natural systems but on his own self as well.

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The Golden Teapot!

The bell shrieked the second time as I tried to hold my seven month pregnant belly in one hand while supporting the aching back with the other. I felt relief run through me as I shot a quick sneaky glance at my one year old sleeping son. I was afraid the loud shrill of the bell would wake him up. I had no time to spare at the moment and wanted to reach the kitchen before the next desperate cry of that most annoying bell.

The bell had sounded an hour earlier than my expectation and it meant only one thing. Ruby Baby had returned home earlier from her shopping. I had already set the trolley with the bone china tea set and polished silverware. The shining crystal serving dishes were all ready to be filled out with the exotic food that just needed my last final touches. 

It was time for the evening tea and my daily routine but today I was finding it hard to concentrate. My thoughts kept going back to my little brother and aging parents. I was trying to form the words in which I had to deny them the request. The thought had occurred to ask Ruby Baby once more but my past experiences had taught me never to ask her for the same thing after she had announced her opinion. Nothing on earth could ever make her change her mind once she decided on a course of action.

This morning I had gathered all my courage, swallowed my pride and spoken up while handing her twenty thousand rupees that she had asked me to get from her cupboard. She had just returned home from the parlor and did not want to spoil her five thousand rupees manicure. With my heart in my throat I had told her about my dad's request. He had to deposit two thousand five hundred rupees as school fees in order for my nine year old brother to continue his education in the village's only school. My dad had somehow managed to save four hundred rupees and needed the rest. I told him that I had saved two hundred in past two years while working for Ruby Baby as a house keeper. I had assured him that she would surely help me. I had never asked her for anything in the past two years and my tongue stuttered as I had told her my need this morning.

Once again, I tried to focus as I dished out the French pastries for the evening tea but my thoughts kept going back to how her face had looked genuinely sad when she had excused and told me how tight her budget was this month while she took those twenty thousand rupees from my hand that she was going to put in her purse for shopping.

I Want It Right Now!

I want it right now, right here!

We live in an era where everyone wants to live in the moment. Past is boring history and future is very vague. "All  one's got is today", is the thinking on everyone's mind. True, that present is a gift, but what's the hurry to unwrap it so urgently? There was a time when people used to wait for the right moment to open their gifts. They would carefully remove the tapes and save the paper for future reuse. Many a times, the gifts were recycled too!

Not anymore. Now, everyone wants to rip open that expensive, well detailed packing in the zest to use that gift. No one has the time to wait. Waiting is like wasting precious time. House of Cards was released as a full season because viewers don't have the patience to wait a week between episodes. We don't even wait for fruits and vegetables to ripen on trees. We want seasonal foods all year round. We mess with nature and use innovative methods to fulfill our desires. Plastic money has made everything accessible. There is no need for self restraint in a world of mortgages, financing and bank credits.

Yes, no one has the patience for anything. No one actually has the patience to hear about Patience"! Patience is one of the core virtues that faith systems, religion and morals try to instill through various practices and is becoming extinct in modern times. In the pursuit of lusty whims and desires, morals are being trampled under hasty feet dancing on the tunes of greed. Media channels are sending blasting messages of self centeredness. Getting old is so scary that a big portion of almost all salaries go to vanities. Scarce resources are being used in producing, promoting and consuming products that claim to enhance and preserve beauty and youth. We all are trying to escape the inevitable by delaying it at all costs. We are avoiding realities of future. To face that we will need to be patient, contained, and  self restrained.

Masses are depressed. Majority is anxious and almost everyone is under pressure. Panic attacks are common and antidepressants are household brand names. Families are dysfunctional and youth are confused. Children are hyper and parents are restless. Elderly are forgotten and young are lost. Adults are in gyms and minors are at caring centers.

Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and temples are everywhere, yet spirituality is missing. There are more interfaith efforts but faith is lacking. People are mindful but reluctant to use those minds. There is more awareness but wisdom is crying. There are more opportunities but potentials are being wasted. All are seeking but peace cannot be found.

The situation may look bleak but I'm not despairing. In fact, this might be the exact fork in the road from where humanity might lead towards the right direction, if it chooses wisely and make the right effort. The situation is not going to improve until and unless we take reins and realize the need of the times. The need of the time is to get a grip. Learn to be patient. Learn contentment. It's okay to fail at times. It's okay if we don't get it right now. It's fine if everyone else is doing it. It's time to learn to be self restrained.

It is time to turn to faith, religion and morals. It's time to think beyond this moment and this world. It's time to reflect, meditate and think. To learn and understand. Not just listen but process and analyze. With the awareness, fast media, globalization, melting pot societies and interfaith opportunities, we have the right tools at hand to build the strong, tolerant, diverse, respecting and peaceful societies that the world desires. I have hope and I have faith in humanity.