I couldnt speak.For a good period of 11 days.Not because of any physical malfunction or of shock or joy!For those who know of me for over a period of time must be gasping in awe thinking,nodding their heads in negative saying, "That woman"not speak for 1 days ..Naah she must be fibbing...
Ok you people who know me sooo well:)I kid you not , perforce had taken a vow of silence known as "Noble Silence" isolated myself in a remote location where there were 200 other same sex inmates of all castes creed and communities,no TV,No reading or writing material,No music and horror of horrors No Mobile phone.Day would begin at 4 am (yes you sleepy heads) and end at 9 pm.And it was pure bliss...
These are the rules if one has to undergo a Vipassana course at the Vipassana International meditation centres.To the uninitiated "Vipassana" is a technique which was introduced to mankind by none other than the "enlightened one" Siddharata Gautama Buddha.A meditation technique which is so different from what one expects "meditation" to be.This works on the principle of the only thing any living being should be concerened about;Ones own breath or respiration, the very underlining definition of what qualifies one as being alive.
But that doesnt mean there are long droning discourses on "How great Gautama Buddha was" or any "Moral education discourses" or "Chanting" or "Rites or Rituals" which Buddhist monks may follow.This just teaches pure meditation by observing you breath.No visualizations,no thinking of an image,no beads,no chants or mantras.What is even more fascinating is why this is being taught ? Of course as one would crudely put it for mind control.But more predominantly this entire technique is fascinating as it is driven by a principle of meta physics .So the rational being in you who either gets emotional and teary eyed with religious fervor or the cynic in you who sneers at the thought of everything stigmatised with any religious association,either of the self cannot deny something which is "scientific" and more so after it being "experiential".While all other religions teach and preach morality,good conduct none of them give it as your personal experience.Also as the teacher said "If Buddha attained enligtenment, it was his hardwork.Following Buddha will not lead you to enlightenment.Following his practise, experiencing the truth yourself will help you "
That is the key.Here the experiential bit doesnt mean getting a emotional high on being promised health wealth or salvation by following a particular religion.The experience is on the three basic regulating principles of nature or science :-
1)Matter in every state comprises of atoms which vibrate in a fixed area.
2)Every particle can be converted into energy and every energy surge can become matter.Therefore electromagnetic waves arise and subside continuosly.They are never permanent.
3)Energy or what we can can call as life force in our body which we feed oxygen when we breathe, causes bio-chemical reactions in your body, which make us behave in a particular manner.
The entire technique of Vipassanna trains your mind to just observe the above two,within the confines of your body.Why only observe ? Bio-chemicals released stimulate reactions such as anger,passion,joy,ecstasy etc.This we actually start experienceing by the 5 th or 6 th day of the course. Therefore if we know our reactions within we can always be in control of our behaviour.
What are the benefits ?
Well to begin with the gross ones, I could sit down next to women who would let out huge burps or err F.... , eat with them in the same dining hall where we stood in a line to get food,look at all creatures including roaches,bullfrogs,earthworms,bees,ants,wasps without shrieking like a banshee and throwing a fit :)
Now seriously, it changed something within me in 11 days. I still shout or get harrased at work due to the stress, but no longer it "affects" me.No shooting up of BP,no apoplexy surges thinking how could "this happen",no feeling of being thwarted ,cheated or being shortchanged all normally leading to so much of internal anguish with the question "Why Me" or "I am sooo nice to people, why does god always be unkind to me" types of thought.So it kind of builds up your mental resilience assiting you not to react.
Being the natural commercialised humans to those who are wondering whats the course fees? Well surprise surprise!There are no course fees. They feed you, provide you with clean spartan rooms with electricity,bedding etc for 10 days ,At the end of the course you "MAY" donate as much as you feel or leave without giving a single penny.
Saw a lots of people from very backward classes contribute as low as Rs.200 in the daan peti.
If it can happen to me so can it to you.Strongly recommend it to my friends and those who may not be my friends either to do this atleast once in their lifetime.Has made me immensely wealthy.Losing your voice for !! days is a very small price for what you get in return.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
And we all lived happily ever after
Scene 1 :Month June 2011
A 12 member team putting forth frantic points on pros and cons of how corruption is eating away into the economy,how innumerable hardships are faced by a person in the lower or middle economic strata of society.Passions are high, languages many. Some reticent,hemming and hawing while some dedicated,earnest and some wondering whats in this for us?Lots of suggestions and ideas.Formulated on paper as an agenda.Suddenly one asks the convenor a question which must probably be foremost in a million minds if not more "Why are you doing this?" pat comes the reply because "Main is desh mein parivartan lana chahta hoon "(I want to see this country change).At the conclusion of the meeting when people are rushing away some still hemming and hawing and some others still earnest, the convenor turns to yours truly and asks " Will your mail reach me today ,I will implement it as we decided" .As I feel sceptical in my mind thinking 'Amidst all this where are you going to find the time?Are you serious about taking MY suggestions' the gleam of excitement catches my eye and I mumble "Surely so." . I send the mail as promised and as agreed the entire team management is alerted about how to operate, a separate media cell is formed with tasks and responsibilities. Every single member has been communicated that I would be one of the co-ordinators.I talk with them they talk back with me.(No attitude or stony silences)
Cut to scene 2
Scene 2 July 2011
A belligerent posse' of " government" representatives being openly hostile and to put it mildly trying to "roger" our confidence , shouting at us not willing to listen.
"Sir we have the results of the referendum"
Response: Not in so many words -Go to hell .
"But Sir this is what people want"
Response : Again in not so many words-Go to hell
"We are going ahead with our protest"
Response : Yet again in not so many words -Go to hell
"Could you atleast consider ..."-cut short
Response :You guessed it right -Go to hell.
Scene 3:August 9th Mumbai
A large gathering of Marathi and National press gathered at Press club.The veteran,determined septugenarian who leads the protest,with the convenor answering hostile questions .Some intelligent some not so intelligent (eg: "We heard you are going to sing with small children on a reality show.So are you going to become a publicity seeking rock star")types.The press meet followed by an audience address where a huge force of police has been deployed and a few thousand in the gathering.A brilliant rousing speech by the septugenarian followed by march towards August Kranti Maidan in commemoration of Quit India.Beautiful atmosphere with slogans of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" "Vande Maataram".Confidence in the movement buiding rapidly.Frantic call for last minute negotiations to happen again in capital. But as expected :Response Go to hell :)
Scene 4 :August 15th,16th,17th,18th -
Mayhem
Arrests :- And me thinks thank you lord for blessing "go to hell" varieties with foolishness and arrogance,want to kiss them for their sheer idiocy.
Release :- And me gets into my part of action when the leader stays put(no contact possible in jail)
Refusal to get out of prison:- And me laughs ,laughs and laughs at the idea of "Go to hell" being totally flummoxed
Demands :- And me realises if the will is strong,unbending for a belief which is for social good, a cause which people support,difficulties,critics fall away.
Scene 5: August 19th-26th
Various other "government" representatives are playing hotch-potch.Some open their mouths wide enough to reveal their underbelly yet some other act polished wheeling dealing and a super "intelligent" fool blabbering away before the country with a not so original idea.Methinks more kisses are due to such foolish behaviour.Thennn a close friend jumps into the bandwagon insisting I get into negotiations :) My response Agar government remote control se chal sakta hai to protest communication bhi toh remote control se chal sakta hai :)Not my mieter.Am lured ,cajoled, threatened saying "I shall get fame,glory".But "foolisheness"is not my virtue :- Sigh.
Always in touch with the core team,advicing co-ordinating with people who "create" make believe news,what can be done alternatives.
But mostly fighting off a whole horde of "arm chair critics" talking about things like democracy,parliamentarian approach,blackmail,evil intentions of the protestors,political vested interests,how protestors were behaving without being violent, why,who,clothes, actors,how could we hold the country to ransom,how the septugenarian protestor was hitler,how someone else was being fed,why the grounds were messy,why someone was on the team,why intermediaries,why no intermediaries...
Me thought many many times to say :- Go to hell,all of you.If you guys dont get it that the cause affects all of us not one or none ; but instead sat patiently explaining and responding with corrective action of the "protesting" team.Whole nation tense as the veteran septugenarian was still protesting.Seasoned,experienced,stubborn.Qualities of the protesting team.
Scene 6: August 28th
Compromise reached inspite of the best attempts "Go to hell" to scuttle.Protest deffered.Government sulkingly accepting some terms. Sitting people started to stand in the "standing committee".Others who had been standing in the forefront had to hastily sit on their err rumps.
Me thinks :-Congratulations are in order.
Me also thinks
1)The people of the country who did not believe in the protest, are they so lethargic that they can only criticise?Why dont they come with an alternative solution?
2)Considering that the critics are kicking and alive,instead of digging out dirt on someone who atleast wishes to change the country,why dont they start by changing their surrounding of potholes or garbage.Or will they at least employe "maids" who are above 18 years of age?
3)Are these people deserving of change in the country as they dont seem to mind a politician siphoning their tax money to fill collective pockets and claim "dementia"or another "distribute" public money to private parties for large considerations.
4)Me also thinks these are "arm chair critics" mostly writing away , cutting pasting or putting words on a piece of paper as their change or "parivartan" can be in their minds in an "utopian" unreal world where like meets like,happiness in some thoughts ,in complete agreement with the current "government" as WORDS ARE ALL WE GET AS WORDS ARE ALL WE DESERVE
And we all lived happily ever after....
A 12 member team putting forth frantic points on pros and cons of how corruption is eating away into the economy,how innumerable hardships are faced by a person in the lower or middle economic strata of society.Passions are high, languages many. Some reticent,hemming and hawing while some dedicated,earnest and some wondering whats in this for us?Lots of suggestions and ideas.Formulated on paper as an agenda.Suddenly one asks the convenor a question which must probably be foremost in a million minds if not more "Why are you doing this?" pat comes the reply because "Main is desh mein parivartan lana chahta hoon "(I want to see this country change).At the conclusion of the meeting when people are rushing away some still hemming and hawing and some others still earnest, the convenor turns to yours truly and asks " Will your mail reach me today ,I will implement it as we decided" .As I feel sceptical in my mind thinking 'Amidst all this where are you going to find the time?Are you serious about taking MY suggestions' the gleam of excitement catches my eye and I mumble "Surely so." . I send the mail as promised and as agreed the entire team management is alerted about how to operate, a separate media cell is formed with tasks and responsibilities. Every single member has been communicated that I would be one of the co-ordinators.I talk with them they talk back with me.(No attitude or stony silences)
Cut to scene 2
Scene 2 July 2011
A belligerent posse' of " government" representatives being openly hostile and to put it mildly trying to "roger" our confidence , shouting at us not willing to listen.
"Sir we have the results of the referendum"
Response: Not in so many words -Go to hell .
"But Sir this is what people want"
Response : Again in not so many words-Go to hell
"We are going ahead with our protest"
Response : Yet again in not so many words -Go to hell
"Could you atleast consider ..."-cut short
Response :You guessed it right -Go to hell.
Scene 3:August 9th Mumbai
A large gathering of Marathi and National press gathered at Press club.The veteran,determined septugenarian who leads the protest,with the convenor answering hostile questions .Some intelligent some not so intelligent (eg: "We heard you are going to sing with small children on a reality show.So are you going to become a publicity seeking rock star")types.The press meet followed by an audience address where a huge force of police has been deployed and a few thousand in the gathering.A brilliant rousing speech by the septugenarian followed by march towards August Kranti Maidan in commemoration of Quit India.Beautiful atmosphere with slogans of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" "Vande Maataram".Confidence in the movement buiding rapidly.Frantic call for last minute negotiations to happen again in capital. But as expected :Response Go to hell :)
Scene 4 :August 15th,16th,17th,18th -
Mayhem
Arrests :- And me thinks thank you lord for blessing "go to hell" varieties with foolishness and arrogance,want to kiss them for their sheer idiocy.
Release :- And me gets into my part of action when the leader stays put(no contact possible in jail)
Refusal to get out of prison:- And me laughs ,laughs and laughs at the idea of "Go to hell" being totally flummoxed
Demands :- And me realises if the will is strong,unbending for a belief which is for social good, a cause which people support,difficulties,critics fall away.
Scene 5: August 19th-26th
Various other "government" representatives are playing hotch-potch.Some open their mouths wide enough to reveal their underbelly yet some other act polished wheeling dealing and a super "intelligent" fool blabbering away before the country with a not so original idea.Methinks more kisses are due to such foolish behaviour.Thennn a close friend jumps into the bandwagon insisting I get into negotiations :) My response Agar government remote control se chal sakta hai to protest communication bhi toh remote control se chal sakta hai :)Not my mieter.Am lured ,cajoled, threatened saying "I shall get fame,glory".But "foolisheness"is not my virtue :- Sigh.
Always in touch with the core team,advicing co-ordinating with people who "create" make believe news,what can be done alternatives.
But mostly fighting off a whole horde of "arm chair critics" talking about things like democracy,parliamentarian approach,blackmail,evil intentions of the protestors,political vested interests,how protestors were behaving without being violent, why,who,clothes, actors,how could we hold the country to ransom,how the septugenarian protestor was hitler,how someone else was being fed,why the grounds were messy,why someone was on the team,why intermediaries,why no intermediaries...
Me thought many many times to say :- Go to hell,all of you.If you guys dont get it that the cause affects all of us not one or none ; but instead sat patiently explaining and responding with corrective action of the "protesting" team.Whole nation tense as the veteran septugenarian was still protesting.Seasoned,experienced,stubborn.Qualities of the protesting team.
Scene 6: August 28th
Compromise reached inspite of the best attempts "Go to hell" to scuttle.Protest deffered.Government sulkingly accepting some terms. Sitting people started to stand in the "standing committee".Others who had been standing in the forefront had to hastily sit on their err rumps.
Me thinks :-Congratulations are in order.
Me also thinks
1)The people of the country who did not believe in the protest, are they so lethargic that they can only criticise?Why dont they come with an alternative solution?
2)Considering that the critics are kicking and alive,instead of digging out dirt on someone who atleast wishes to change the country,why dont they start by changing their surrounding of potholes or garbage.Or will they at least employe "maids" who are above 18 years of age?
3)Are these people deserving of change in the country as they dont seem to mind a politician siphoning their tax money to fill collective pockets and claim "dementia"or another "distribute" public money to private parties for large considerations.
4)Me also thinks these are "arm chair critics" mostly writing away , cutting pasting or putting words on a piece of paper as their change or "parivartan" can be in their minds in an "utopian" unreal world where like meets like,happiness in some thoughts ,in complete agreement with the current "government" as WORDS ARE ALL WE GET AS WORDS ARE ALL WE DESERVE
And we all lived happily ever after....
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