Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Being a Trojan Horse!










Trojan Horse signifies the innovation of strategic thinkers to win war in a prolonged deadlock situation. While the focus is on winning by exploiting the curiosity of the human nature and celebrating success prematurely I thought it will be apt to look at the situation from the point of view of Trojan Horse itself. (Today several smart Viruses enter computers using Trojans breaking the firewalls and sit in computers waiting to attack. I will not know how the those Trojans feel though).
"I felt good when I was being built as taking birth is a happy event. There were smart people around me who decorated me and said that the more smarter I look, the more certain they are to win. Then they went into their tents and came back with 20 of their bravest men and said from now you are part of this horse. I was happy as to have these brave hearts inside you is a matter of pride. They seemed very motivated and I got the same motivation having them in. What is the noble task I have to perform was the question that excited me to stay awake. Then I found all the army pack up and walk out to the boats. The whole place was empty. I wanted to shout -you have left us here. But the heart beats of the men inside me made me feel good. Maybe there is an adventure pending said my head. It was afternoon and I found the gates of the city near opening and a few men walking out to watch me. They signalled with their trumpet and soon there was a rush of young, old,women and children wanting to see me. Some people said "This was the gift for their persevarance", some said " This is a momento of their victory". I wanted to tell them as long as you praise me I am fine. I also have some people inside me. But no-one bothered to check me as they were celebrating. I liked their dances around me. Since I had wheels some men dragged me into the city. I felt happy to be inside the city rather then on the shores of the sea which made me cold. The celebration continued till late with drinking and dancing. I felt bored after sometime. But I was woken by the movement of the men inside me. One by one they got down and with swords started to run towards the gate. They killed everyone on the way and opened the gates. There was a rush of army who came in and then what I say was blood and cries. I was terrified and felt sorry. But nobody bothered about me. There was just agony and pain. I was responsible for all this. I gave them happiness to steal happiness.... this thought made me feel depressed. But next day the winners came to me and said-you made the victory possible and danced around me with happiness. I did not know if I was born for this-to alternate between happiness and sorrow. I decided I will not be depressed with such events as I am a dead wood, a toy. Why should I take the blame for being a toy of happiness to some, vengenace to some, strategy to some, victory to some and betrayal to some. I signify everyone's life and if you realize me in your life you may realize God."

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Donkey and the Horse!

There lived a happy, enthusiastic donkey who enjoyed whatever he did. His enthusiasm got him a lot of friends-not just other donkeys but other animals too. He used to hum his favorite music when carrying dirty clothes-others used to smile not at the quality of his music but at his attitude. One fine day all the kings horses came to the river for having a bath. The donkey was talking non stop to his friends while one horse a rare breed was attracted to it. So it went to the donkey and proposed. The donkey was thrilled at this. He said he will think about it but was already floored. He went around to trumpet his glory and next day when the horse came again, he willingly accepted the offer. The beautiful horse had all the grace of royal but did not have friends as she thought she is much above other horses. She used to be finicky about small things and get angry with small provocations. Only when the king was around it behaved tame and ensured that it gets the royal treatment other times.
When the donkey started to live with the horse it realized it had to make compromises. First was it had restrict its laughter. The horse said "Why do you always have the toothpaste smile? Are you really genuine?" The donkey tried to look serious. Inspite when it met old friends and shared a joke it used to laugh loud on which the Horse thought "The donkey is telling something about me to his friend and laughing. Let him come back home." The horse used to push non issues on the donkey. Frustrated the donkey used to lie low and avoid friends. The horse then said " Stop carrying the dirty clothes. You smell really bad. I will look for something better after I speak to the king." It really did. Donkey was given the job of carrying army tools instead of dirty clothes. The horse used to remind the donkey that it is her power that got him a better job though donkey used to like the earlier job better. One day on old habit the donkey was humming a song..the horse said "will you please shut up. you or your family have no relation to music. Why do you create headache for me?" The donkey just shut up. The donkey used to eat anything earlier including paper. The horse asked to stop it and eat only the most healthy stuff provided by the palace. The donkey was very depressed as one by one its freedom was lost. So it decided to go alone and stand for a few hours near a low wall pushing and scratching its back. But alas the horse found him and said "Who are you waiting for? I love you so much but you are not reciprocating it". Donkey went back to the palace patiently. One day when the donkey was not really well the Horse said " I think you are becoming lazy thinking you are a horse breed like me and just because you are my husband does not deserve you a royal treatment. So better get up and wash the whole stable so that other horses know I am the boss". The donkey objected and started to fight. The horse said " Why can't you be nice to me as you have been to your friends? I know you are an egoist and I spoilt my life by marrying a donkey who knows no comfort, no character and no taste." The donkey was stunned. Afterall it did not know what ego was till it got exposed to the horse. It wanted to list the freedom it lost by agreeing to live with her but decided that it does not help anyway. So it started to clean up the stable with tears in its eyes. The Horse got a promotion when the prince chose it as his favorite and from then on the donkey lives a servant life in the stable. It tells other horses it is proud of his wife and the kids are so special. But it cries every night silently in the stable praying God to get freedom as though he wants to run off he resists the thoughts. He knows that he made the decision and he should own the consequences till the end even if it means enduring a life time of mental suffering.
There is no moral of this story but philosophically a lot can be concluded.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Chaos is order!

Everyday we face situations which are part of learning either reinforces what we already know or contradicts what we think we know. With reinforcement we are perfectly ok as we are comfortable. But when contradiction happens we behave differently-we either ignore this as a one off or try to be on justification mode. This is common to most but some try to learn from such contradictions by accepting Chaos is Order. When there is a rule and rulers are checking your behaviour with respect the rule you may turn out to be a rebel. But when Rebels start ruling you turn out to be hero. This is a fact-not a contradiction. Chaos is not a fearful event-in fact it will be needed when we stagnate. The challenge is to create this chaos is a systematic way-diplomats usually are afraid to create chaos as it is against their comfort zone. Random Chaos is waste of energy as there is no pattern to it. Impulsive Chaos is self destructive as there is no plan to it. Planned Chaos is the best as the Leader drives this with an end in mind. He challenges the equilibrium with a hope to create new equilibrium. The leader may run a risk of being thrown out due to this (like Gorbachev) but he still thinks it is required for the greater well being.
This Order in Chaos is also part of creation of Universe as God plays the role of Chaos creator.
There are people who complain about small things starting from my wife does not respect me to I feel a vacuum of why I exist....but if you want to discover yourself try to look at Order in Chaos in your own life. You can decipher the truth much better and live your life as though today you were born without looking forward to anything. This is not easy but one should strive to take lesser carry forward stresses in this fast forward world.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Karma Yoga!

There is a nice story which illustrates Karma Yoga.
There was a rich man who felt that he has proved enough in professional life. He decided to evoke renounce family/city life and moved to a forest to perform penance. He stayed in the forest for the whole day/night sitting under a tree in penance. He used to walk to a nearby village to beg food (just enough). Months passed. One day he was sitting under the tree in the morning when something fell on his shoulder. He touched it to find sticky liquid there. Angrily he looked up and he found a Crane sitting-his sight hit the Crane and it fell dead. He felt sorry for the bird but thought that he is slowly graduating in this penance and felt satified at the same time. That day he went to the nearby village as usual. Seeing him a lady asked him to wait and went inside to pick some food. As luck would have it the lady's husband walked in from the fields. Seeing her husband the lady started to take care of him (washing his legs, giving him food etc). For the next 1 hour the Sagely man was waiting impatiently for the lady to return...finally the lady come out and found him standing. She said "Oh, here I get your food" and returned with a bowl of food. The Sagely man was very upset and angry-he gave a strong angry look at her. She looked at him and casually told him" I am not a Crane to die". This surprised the man. He was pretty sure there was no one looking when the Crane died and even if someone was looking it was only a matter of 2 hours-so there is no way the lady knew about this. He asked " Madam, how do you know about the Crane? You seem to be a Yogi...accept me as your student." She laughed at said " I am not as great as you think. But there is someone in Kashi (about 1500 Kms from the place) named Vishnudatta. He may help you".
The man dropped everything the very moment and began his journey to Kashi. It was an ardous journey but nothing would stop him finding his Guru Vishnudatta. He reached Kashi after 3 years of travel and started looking for Vishnudatta in temples and other holy places. There was none by that name. Tired he was after 3 months but he did not give up. He asked every passer by if they knew anyone by name of Vishnudatta. Finally one young soldier who overheard him asking someone else said" Sir, are you asking for Vishnudatta". The man heaved a relief. "Yes, my son. I looking for this Yogi". The young man was puzzled. He said "I don't know any Yogi by this name. But I know someone else". The man was desperate. He thought" The lady we saw looked also ordinary. So let us meet this person". He said" Anyone by this name is fine." The soldier pointed towards the direction of the Slaughter house and said "The owner of the shop is named Vishnudatta...you can meet him if you go in. Or he comes out at noon".
The man was shocked. He was in double mind. To go into slaughter house is something he would never do. But having spent 3 years to meet this person he decided to wait another few hours.
At noon the Butcher closed his shop and started walking out. Our man slowly stood up and tried to walk towards him. The butcher saw him and started walking towards him and with folded arms said" So you are the man sent by Parvati Bhai from Markal. Welcome to Kashi. Come to our home for lunch". The man was shocked. How is this possible? Telepathy. Is this man really Godly. Controlling his excitement he calmy said" Then you should also know why I came to meet you?". Vishudatta replied "Yes. You are looking for a Guru and want me to be yours". The man cannot believe this. He thought" My Guru...a butcher. No way.". But he walked calmy behind him. Reaching home Vishnudatta fell on the feet of his parents. Fed them and took care of daily chores. He had lunch with our man and asked him to sleep. Getting up he said "Tell me when you are ready to accept me as Guru. I will start to teach". Our man was now convinced that he had something special. So he fell at his feet and said "Right now Guru".The butcher taught him the virtues of Karma Yoga...do your duty with full devotion-the essence of Gita. The man stood up calmly as he knew that Pride was the reason for switching from family life to supposedly yogic life, pride was behind his penance and pride was behind his search. But here he stood knowing before the butcher with pride cut into pieces. He could feel that his mind was lighter! First time in his life he smiled like a Child and felt the God in himself.

About Me

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Gothenburg, Sweden
Still finding introspecting to find who am I? Waiting for a Guru!