Foreclosure of many dreams - Reprise

SABN and Anonymous have made some pretty serious points that drive me to recollect and reproduce something very, very poignant while in Russia. What comes to mind is Arthur Ashe's (the first black man to win the Wimbledon) response when he was diagnosed with AIDS (due to a botched blood transfusion):

The world over, 50 million children start playing tennis, 5 million learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, when I was holding a cup I never asked GOD ‘Why me?’. And today in pain I should not be asking GOD ‘Why me?'

His courage is definitely worth more than his Wimbledon cup.

Throwing light on enlightenment

SABN Speaketh: In enlightenment, the memory of who we are in this physical world is forgotten and the desire of who we want to be in this material world is forsaken.

Foreclosure of many dreams

Many years back, I was disappointed that I did not get into Goldman Sachs when some of my MBA classmates who I was sure were not as qualified got through. And for those who don't know, Investment Bankers are (were) the most pampered lot of all. They live in private jets when not Manhattan penthouses, and drop by to Monaco for weekend breaks.

It all went well for many of us lesser MBAs, though far better for those in Wall Street. Till one fine sunny morning, a plane ran into the World Trade Centre and many didn't live to tell the tale. This is what I happened to recollect when I read about the Air India Express tragedy. Such is the lullaby of life, you go to sleep when you least expect it. And when it happens, no power or prestige can preclude it. In one unassuming moment, achievements, ranks, fame, name, recognition, all cease to exist.

In spite of all the personal discomfort and universal disdain, this is where spiritual grounding helps you. To connect, even if it be in sporadic spurts, to the truth that all this will not last. But to gain that timeless concord with the symphony of Real-ity, you have to keep peeling off the many layers of make-up that prevent you from coming face to face with your true face.

Many remain ensconced comfortably with the make-up. Some want to see beyond. Alas, even Courage comes with Grace. Notwithstanding, God is still an Accountant, and every small entry matters.

The question remains: Do we want comfort, or do we want credit?

SABN Classic - 03 - Priorities of Life

SABN Speaketh: How ironical it is that, the human mind considers the defeat of the ego more excruciating than the suffering or even death of the body!

We sow all the chemicals our children reap

Brothers and sisters,

I just came across this wonderful site that is the web address for a movie that documents a very sick-to-the-stomach bit of information: Since the end of WWII, modern humans have been exposed to 100,000 chemicals a day in a society that has created roughly 500,000 million tons of chemicals.

Are they affecting your to-be-born children? This documentary has to be unsettling, if not just informative. http://www.underkastelsen.se/

Karma has to be the greatest invention of God.

The Seven Drops of Supporting your Mother

Today, I started another dropintheocean activity to support our planet.

As of today, I have quit shampoo and face wash with the purchase of a environment and animal-friendly substitutes from Body Shop. At five times the price of the generic (sprayed-into-rabbits'-eyes tested) versions, they are a hole-in-your-pocket, even if they be a goal for your soul. Still, He watches and weighs, and eventually, everything matters.

On Earth Day, I also started my tooth-brushing ritual with mugs of water, rather than with a running faucet. I don't know how many litres I have not drained Mother Earth by with this endeavour till date, but I really am not about numbers. I know what you are thinking, but insanity is just on the far side of inspiration.

Seven drops will surely make an ocean.

Tube vision

Took the Metro finally. It's quite what you expect it to be, smooth, silent and uneventful. And surprisingly crowded,- probably the Friday effect.

A return from Deira City Centre to Mall of the Emirates costs AED 11/- per person, and another AED 2000/- if you want to stop wherever you want. Also, for another AED 200/-, you can also eat and drink on board.

That apart, it's actually a very fresh perspective on Dubai, and the city really looks greener on the high side. Like Dhanya noted, Sheikh Mohammed truly had something that the rest of the Peninsula didn't,- vision. In spite of having oil sprouting out of the ground, none of our neighbours could conceive of anything remotely close, and many still don't seem to have figured it out.

If it weren't for the recession that even our friendly-neighbourhood conmen from Wall Street couldn't predict, Dubai would have steamed ahead even more. Talking about prediction, they sure didn't predict it, as they actually invented it for all of us to suffer.

Anyway, great going Dubai.

Reading Between the Lines - 18 - Ms. Point UK

The National, 19-05-2010: Baroness Warsi is UK's first female Muslim minister

P's C: As a faithful friend of the States, the Kingdom replicates even in marketing. The latest, well-intentioned, but evidently diplomatic overkill was to rope in a nobody, but specifically Pakistani-Muslim-Woman, to become a Minister of Cameron's cabinet.

Cameron’s appointment of Baroness Warsi has been welcomed as a “great honour” for those who realize how important it is for the Kingdom to appease the minority as a form of remaining the majority. Her Highestness the Baroness has been entrusted with the challenging portfolio of 'being the UK's first female Muslim minister'.

Caption: Baroness Warsi described her rise from a working-class lass to an absolutely-no-portfolio minister as 'humbling'.

Reading Between the Lines - 17 - Miss (the Point) USA

Kansas City, 18-05-2010: Arab-American from Michigan crowned 2010 Miss USA

P's C: America makes diplomatic headway into the Arab world by crowning Arab-America as Miss USA. This is significant, since this well-clad parade is exactly what the Arab world wants strong representation for from America. Talking about the contest itself, it is very noteworthy to remember that before the winner bursts into tears, she always confesses that she wants to 'be an ambassador for world peace'.

That's before she steps into movies or magazines.

Akshaya Trituya

Alukkas brings me spiritual Joy.

They are so kind enough to remind me of that mythical, yet auspicious festival, Akshaya Trituya (hope I have even got the spelling right), which, although unknown like till yesterday, is so very important that it has to be celebrated with purchase of gold. Alukkas also confirms that 'Only gold is auspicious', dispelling my doubt that cement was also a very auspicious commodity.

Such spiritual guidance can only come from your friendly neighbourhood jeweller Guru. In fact, Alukkas reminds us that purchase of gold on this very important Hindu (or was it Buddhist or maybe it was Zionist) festival day will ensure prosperity for the rest of the year. Now, wasn't there this guy who bought gold on this very important day last year and drowned in the Pacific Ocean a few weeks later?

Either way, with the current rate of gold, the rich can be assured that only they will be able to afford prosperity for the year ahead.

The Ideal Conference

Disclaimer: The following report is a fictitious article. All innuendos are unintentional, and the speakers referred to are all fake, I mean 'fake' as the antonym of 'real', not the synonym of 'one who engages in only lip-service'.

We had a great Conference yesterday. It was a meaningful exercise and the hotel atmosphere made it worth the effort. There were two types of juices for breakfast, and the muffins were actually eggless. The lunch prasad was a feast, with three types of dessert, and at least five dishes, just right to further our sadhana of sense-control.

All in all, a great experience. Although this could have been conducted in our Mandir itself, it was decided otherwise, as a Mandir conference wouldn't afford the opportunity for spending AED 150/- per person, and the hotel venue would ensure that only the rich can participate.

By the way, I also learned a few important things that I never knew till now:

• I am also God (no, seriously!).
• Love all, Serve All (one can never have any Conference without this very strong statement fired from hollow cylinders).
• God made the universe as the Vedas say so (with audio effects to make it sound even more impressive).
• I should see God in everyone (not joking, although this came from a speaker well-known for doing just the opposite).

But my dear friends, I also have to reveal a shocking bit of news relayed by an old student during our workshop, and this will shake you to your spiritual core, which is the stomach. "There is politics even in OUR organization!!!" I know this comes as a shock to you, but yes, it is true. The whole workshop shook with the concurrent gasps of 40 appalled participants, as this student made this statement.

But if this is true, I do hope it remains at the lower levels of the organization, and not at the level of the eminent preachers, I mean speakers, who are mostly above the spiritual law of practice what we preach. In fact, one of the true-blue preakers (preacher-speaker) averred that: 'I am not nothing, I am everything'. The overpowering conviction of this person's statement, founded on the ubiquitous officer-level air of being indispensable to the movement, made me realize how much emptier I have to be inside before I can reach the level of a spiritual smooth-talker of that preaker's lofty stature.

But this shock (from the old student) apart, it was a great Conference. And there was enough ice-cream for everyone.

Perspective is Everything

Richard Feynman:

There are 10^11 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers.

Arabia as you have never known it

Sometimes, stereotyping is wrong. Other times, it's totally wrong. Syria is a perfect example for the latter. You will not believe that all this dance and song was in a Muslim country. And they just won't have it any other way.

The women and men were dancing and singing like there was no Saudi Arabia. And it really didn't seem gross,- they seemed perfectly convivial. The picture was taken in the Damascus Gate, the world's largest restaurant as per the Guinness Book of Records. It is, also, not coincidentally, the world's largest single source of hummus.

The occasion was a gala dinner for all the participants of the Medical Conference which Dhanya attended, and where, I too tagged along (as usual). The dancers were leading medicos in their field, just free to be themselves, and perfectly hospitable. Sometimes, freedom doesn't hurt, especially, if in measure.

Extremes usually lead to extremism.

Syrian sojourn

In Damascus, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Also, the oldest city in the world to keep getting invaded continuously,- which is also a reflection of mankind's general tendency for conflict out of habit.

On the bright side, every woman in the street has to be Aishwarya Rai, and every man, Matt Damon. These people are incredibly beautiful, and incredibly modern, considering that it is a Muslim state. Throughout the last three days, I have seen just one fully-veiled woman. Figured out later that she was a delegate from Saudi (where else) who had come for Dhanya's medical conference. Speaking of which, this is a pretty high-profile conference. Dhanya was a speaker, and the second speaker after her was the Minister of Health from Sudan. Wonder when I will get into such a un-humbling situation.

Back to Syria, did you know that this town with the most narrow roads in the world for the oldest city in the world is also one of the most expensive cities to live in? Not that the amenities are much to talk about. But then, that is Syria. Everything is fine except that it is within shouting distance of Israel and Palestine (with their natural propensity of violence as exercise), and so a bit of Israelistine attitude is in them.

But that apart, beautiful place, beautiful people, bad roads.

N.B.: Pictured inside Obayyad Mosque, probably the only place in Syria where the women have to be seen with a gown and head covered, more because they are in a mosque, rather than in Syria.

Reading Between the Lines - 15 - United effort

Daily Markets 04-05-2010: United, Continental Merge Into World’s Largest Airline

P's C: United, Continental Merge Into World’s Largest misplacer of luggage