Remembering 9/11

We usually choose to remember only good things in life. But some bad memories do creep in at different times. And when they do, we despise them, we curse them. We try our every bit to screen such thoughts from our minds. No matter how hard we try, we might have experienced how bad memories are inexplicably difficult to drive away. One such memory that is common to millions of this world is that of 9/11. On the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of this epoch event, what do we do when this one memory comes to our mind regularly? What do the memories of this event hold in store for us?

One could feel pain and angst at such cowardly acts of mass-terrorism being perpetrated at the cost of innocent lives. Or one could feel an urgent need to understand our own nature in deeper way and try to address the problems that plague humanity of contemporary times.

One could ponder – why do people commit such gross acts of violence against people they do not even know? Why do people feel a need to avenge any form of perceived injustice without deeply evaluating the different factors that led to it? What is it about humans that causes them to fight tooth and nail over issues that on later evaluation appear to be double-edged swords? Many similar questions can arise by contemplating over the pain that spreads its gloom over the world during such bitter moments.

I would take these times to be an opportunity to reflect within. What am I doing to help those who are affected by such acts of violence? What are my plans to prevent such acts from happening in the future? What changes should I inculcate in myself that I do not fall prey to repugnant philosophies that cause, justify and then eulogize mass killing? What am I doing to get off my seat of complacency and self-assessed progress?

Sep 11, 2011 is the time to celebrate victory of peace over violence, of good over evil and of justice over transgression. More than that however, it is a time to introspect to check how much am I capable of empowering myself to change myself and help change others.

The Angel Within

One look at India today and one can feel the passion rising from within its hearts–to change the country for better. India is fighting against corruption. For anyone who has been to India in recent times, some things are quintessentially characteristic of the country–beggars, greenery, traffic, smiling people and corruption.

The times are changing though. At never-before speed. People are joining hands against social ills. Demonstrations throughout the country some time back almost brought the country to a halt. Politicians had to take  note of it; ignorance would have cost them their jobs. A relatively unknown old man from the past shot to fame crusading as a lone warrior against corruption. Many journalists again got their blood shooting in their veins; there was a lot to cover and report.

Modern times have been tough on human emotions. Love is scarce if not extinct. Friendship is seldom found. Relationships are on the wane. When I say all this, I mean – in the real world. Facebook is on the rise and online matrimony is catching up fast. Seems like more people are experimenting the virtual world than the real one. Maybe because it is a lot easier to be happy virtually. You can control hurricanes hitting your coast there. Maybe because Irene and Katrina do not have a say here. Maybe because it is easier to escape than to mature.

This also means that people are slowly getting out of touch with reality. What happens in the real world may not be relevant to them post their entry in cyberspace.

The good news is that this is not true. The current events are a small indication of this.

People still want honest governance. They still want their leaders to be accountable. They are still concerned about the future. They still have a warm heart within their bosoms.

The fire is still burning within albeit with a low flame. It is up to the intelligent and concerned to fan it and turn it into a blazing flame. Good, it seems never dies.

193 and still counting

Hope drives the whole world. In fact, it is the very basis of life. A hopeless man is a dead man.

Recently, hope has manifested amongst our midst in an interesting way. A new country was born on 9 July 2011. Indeed, before seeing the dawn of its life, South Sudan has been through a lot of hardships. Civil wars have ravaged it and poverty has beaten it. Yet, the very idea of becoming an independent nation is far too enticing to neglect.

And rightly so, the concept of a dependent nation is a compromise. Laws set by some stranger will never be able to appeal to the local citizens. Why should someone else rule me? Local money being siphoned off to meet the costs of some distant land will never be tolerated. Why should my money go  to pay bills of someone else? After all, everyone deserves to be living in a state where his rights are properly respected and there is a chance for everyone to flourish in an organic fashion. All this is possible only when we have our own people in power. An independent state seems to be the only solution to modern day social problems.

Countries have broken away from bigger ones. Within countries, states have broken away from bigger ones. How many problems have we solved this way?

Come to think of it. We do not want to or rather, not like to face reality. The reality is that this approach has not helped in the past and neither is it helping in the present. It presents itself only as an attractive bride promising a lot but only in the future.

Some time back, on December 25, 1991 a whole band of independent nations was born from the erstwhile USSR. Seen as the harbinger of prosperity and equality of wealth, many a people extolled the fall of communism in its own motherland. However the present speaks a different story. The rise of crime in Russia has seen unprecedented heights. This also includes white-collar crime. Other social factors also indicate a not-so-pleasant picture of the state of affairs there.

Yugoslavia broke up in 1992. Czechoslovakia broke up into two countries in 1993. Similar stories are reflected here too. We have not mentioned Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What went wrong? Maybe they discounted the simple fact that it was never people who ruled the country, it was always greed represented by the people. Maybe they forgot a simple saying—“Power corrupts.” When someone else rules you, power corrupts that person and when your own people rule you, the same power corrupts this person too. Is it really that difficult to get over powered by this base instinct?

When we want a change, why do we always aim for the superficial? Why do not we go deeper? What about instituting a program for the spiritual upliftment of those in power? Why is there no recognition of this simple fact that unless we purify ourselves we stand to be corrupted by power and all that follows it? Honestly, the kind of efforts that we spend in changing power from one set of hands to another could be used in much lesser proportions to purify those whom we expect to rule us.

Without this kind of a program, it all seems so much meaningless.

The total number of countries on this planet post-South Sudan is 193. I am ready with my counter.

Exploding our misconceptions

Around the world, terrorism is an increasing threat today. Manifesting in varied forms like abductions, bomb blasts, threats etc. the people involved in such heinous acts only aim to create a disturbance in the minds of the masses. Their goal is achieved if fear is generated en masse; if not then another act gets in the pipeline.

Mumbai was recently witness to a series of three bomb blasts in the most crowded parts at the most crowded hours of the day. What an animalistic way to achieve what you want!

Why do such activities succeed? Who is the blame? Who is the culprit? What do we do to stop these occurrences?

Let me begin by asking you a question.

How can someone take advantage of you?

How can someone get a thought about exploiting you?

Think about it.

 

Do not the answers to these questions point either in a direct or an indirect way to – others can exploit me only when I am weak? People can plan to cheat me only when I am vulnerable.

If I am strong, can someone cheat me? If I am alert, will someone even think of manipulating me? If I am focused, will someone even look in my direction as a prospective candidate for abuse?

Not at all.

Imagine – a thin, young boy with drooping shoulders is walking down the street looking down at the road. If some ruffian eyes such a prey, is he not a suitable candidate for exploiting? Now imagine a well-built, strong boy walking down the same road, shoulders stout and looking at the sky above with hope in his eyes. If the same ruffian looks at this boy, will he think of exploiting such a person?

Give me an honest answer.

You got it right. In the first case, cheating the boy is a high probability while in the second case, cheating the strong boy will most likely not happen.

While the world is trying to figure out what went wrong, and why things went wrong and who made things go wrong etc. I am suggesting something different.

It is only my weakness which is the root cause of my miseries.

The world today is churning out graduates and post-graduates who are very smart and intelligent and exactly know what is to be done to become successful in life etc. At least, they think they know.

The reality is a bit different though.

The world today does not face danger from the uncivilized but from the civilized. Today, is is not the illiterate that pose the greatest of problems; it is the most educated from the best institutes.

Quite in line with these facts, the primary investigations of terrorist activities today point in the direction of increasing sophistication instance after instance. Modern crimes are possible only because of latest technology.

The question is – how is it that educated engineers having stacks of certificates can be easily coaxed into utilizing their skills for such low, sub-human acts as designing and assembling weapons of mass destruction? Do they not think at all while using their skills for such acts? Does not it mean that all the education that they had was only an accumulation of facts and figures making them mere walking-talking encyclopedias. They were never taught morals and values during their education. Their lack of wisdom is so starkly reflected during such times.

When manipulative people with evil intentions wanting to wreak havoc on peaceful societies meet such intelligent but naive youth, what comes out is perfect recipe for disaster. The evil plans are planned and executed with precision to the great pleasure of the modern-day evil monsters.

But, how is this possible without the educated youth being gullible to these monsters’ evil words? If the youth passing out of today’s universities were strong enough, can they be misguided by evil-mongers? If the youth passing out of today’s universities were intelligent enough to separate the truth from untruth, can they be manipulated into organising and executing mass crimes targeted at people whom they don’t even know? Not at all.

So, how to make the educated strong in these matters of self-assessment? By accessing higher wisdom. We learn things from those who already know.

But the world today wants to reject anything spiritual–anything that has to do with God. In the absence of purity, what else do you expect but confusion and disorder?

Thus, it is we who are to become strong. Not externally but internally. It is we who are to become intelligent. When we are intelligent and strong, then people cannot eye us to use as guinea-pigs for their ill-intentioned experiments. When we are smart and alert, manipulative forces around the globe will have to be content with just plans in their own minds to cause discontent and fear in the hearts of people. There will simply be no one available to execute such evil plans.

To become strong, help is available. The word of God in the form of scriptures is available. The representatives of God in the form of His sincere devotees are available. The question is – are we taking advantage of this help?

Envy the lord! Who Me? Not at all!

The world today is a strange place. Believers seem like non-believers sometimes. Non-believers act like believers sometimes. Where do we draw the line? How do we know what is there in one’s heart?

It is definitely difficult. Also, to judge others is a risky business.

There are times however, when the Lord makes it easier for you.

Recently, the ancient Shri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple, Kerala, India had different visitors. These had come not to gaze at the beautiful form of the Lord in the form of a Deity. They had come to fix their gaze on the vast treasures that originally belong to the Deity. A seven member panel instituted by the Supreme Court of India tried to make an inventory of the different treasures that lay hidden in the temple’s vaults. After lot of hard work, the estimated value has reached a whopping US $22 billion. Speculation has it that there is more inside that belongs to the Lord.

How did all this wealth get here?

Well, a devout king Marthanda Varma would rule in the region and after all the victories and conquests, he decided to dedicate all that he had to the glory of the Supreme Lord. He gave all his wealth in the service of the main Deity here viz. Lord Vishnu. He called himself Padmanabha-das (the servant of Lord Padmanabha). Quite interesting that a glorious king who stands vindicated in front of his foes surrenders himself in front of his worshippable Lord. But it did not stop here. He dedicated his entire kingdom to the Deity and pledged that his entire dynasty for all time to come would serve in the capacity of Padmanabha-das; all his descendants to the present date consider themselves as the servants of the Lord. As he was departing, his last instructions to his successor were concerning the service to the Deity in the temple and maintenance of the set standards for worship.

Today, in a situation where we do not have anyone coming even remotely near such an ideal, it is difficult to think of a ruler like Marthanda Varma.

Who do we have today as our leaders? We have corrupt, money-hungry politicians who not only try to usurp power but also the money of those who elect them to these posts.

It is not surprising then that when the treasure-trove of a temple is opened, many eyes open wide. After all, who would not want a share of such a fortune?

Someone recently asked me – why do you think that humanity at large is envious of God? I am not envious of God. I have never blasphemed God. I have never passed indecent remarks about Him. I have just carried on with my life, trying to achieve success, trying to get wealthy etc. How does it reflect anything to do with envy?

Some of us might consider ourselves as devout believers. Most of us will be smug in this conception of our assumed glory. The test is when we read about the glories of the Supreme Lord. What emotions do we undergo? Do we feel happy that the Lord is omniscient, omnipotent and omni-benevolent? Or we feel threatened to hear about the opulence of such a powerful person?

In today’s context, what do we feel when we hear of such huge treasures being unearthed from temples of the Lord? Do we feel threatened that such wealth reserved for the Lord’s service by His devotee king is now being eyed upon by unscrupulous individuals? Or do we feel happy that all this wealth has been discovered and now can be put to good use by funding some state-run schemes for public benefit?

The critical answers to these questions will let us understand the grade of disease that we have. Our envy towards the Lord will not be reflected by some device etc. It will be reflected in our response to such incidents that are bound to only increase in today’s godless times.

Why does the media again and again present only the figures of estimated value of the uncovered treasure as their headlines? Why does it not also speak about the glories of the person to whom this whole wealth is pledged? If i just speak about the wealth of a rich person on and on, what do you expect? It will only increase envy in the hearts of many. But if I also speak about the glories of the person to whom this wealth belongs and who he is in actuality, then understanding the person’s greatness people will feel less threatened with someone else’s riches. When you eye someone else’s wealth, you are seen as a thief with mal-intentions. Today, the entirety of the human population could come under this definition. We have an eye on the Lord’s wealth.

But, what about the wealth that we already have? Are we using it properly? Are we putting it to judicious use? Are we sure that we are not squandering it in any way? Are we sure that there is nothing frivolous about the use of our wealth? If the answers to all these questions are positive then we can think of asking for more wealth for doing something good with it. If not, it only exposes our heart to ourselves. We are envious of the Lord.

In today’s times when we are exposed to increasing news of corrupt practices to the very core of political dealings, we understand that we are exploiting the resources already available, becoming bankrupt and then eyeing the wealth of the supreme Lord for our own devious means.

How mean! How lowly! How shameless!

Human society has a long way to go before it calls itself civilized.

The Fire That Threatens To Burn For Centuries

The Los Alamos laboratory in New Mexico is being threatened by a huge wildfire. The wildfire threat is not new but the danger is. This time, the fire threatens to burn down the facility that contributes to a major extent in American nuclear research. The fire which has already consumed 90,000 acres will be at its deadliest if it touches the Los Alamos laboratory. Historically, America’s first atomic bomb was produced here. Apart from the legacy, remnants from the past also are stocked up here. 30,000 drums of plutonium contaminated waste (supposedly from the cold-war era) lie in the area awaiting transportation. If the fire reaches this storage area, the resultant fire/ explosion could send radioactive radiation flying in the surrounding American air for thousands of years to come.

Just the thought of the huge disaster unnerves me. As the government and the disaster prevention agencies pacify the nation with their reports of safety and the “situation being under control,” thousands have been forcibly evacuated from the high-profile town.

How do events like this happen? Did they never anticipate any danger? Scientists are clever and intelligent. The age-old radioactive waste should have been disposed off decades back. But it was not. Now danger stalks them right in the face. How do we understand this?

It is mentioned that the demoniac engage in activities that seem to be very advanced but in reality, these activities only lead to the destruction of the world (Ref. Bhagavad Gita 16.9). Who are these demoniac people? Are they the ones with protruding canines from the sides of their mouths. No! Totally devoid of any such physical symptoms, these are the educated top-brass who are atheistic in nature. Not believing in the reality of this world, ever eager to defy the existence of God, these sophisticated vandals concoct their own version of truth. These demoniac people (looking very gentlemanly with their pin-striped suits) in attempts to control the world and enjoy it, actually wreak havoc in the lives of innocent people. What was seen as a tool to meet their own needs for world dominance at one point of time 50 years back is beckoning the country as a potential disaster that will impact lives for decades to come. The shock from the Fukushima disaster has not even subsided and a second threat already is indicating something similar. To top it all, both these disasters are taking place in the most advanced nations of the planet.

We can only hope that such horrible disasters serve to awaken the good sense in these educated but horrible pursuers of science. Even if they sit quietly and just do not use their brains for anything, will serve humanity tremendously-much more than anything else they have ever accomplished.

Preventing Decay

On 30 May 2011, Germany formally announced plans to abandon nuclear energy completely within the next 11 years. Some seven nuclear power plants closed for maintenance will stay so and nine more currently operational will be phased out in another 10-11 years. Coming in the wake of the recent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, Japan the reforms are not all welcome by neighboring nations. Some nations are skeptical about the increased consumption of coal to offset the gap in German power production. Some are wary of Germany’s proactive measures seeing it as mere politicizing. Germany itself is optimistic about being forced to research renewable energy resources as a result of this decision.

Nuclear power has always been the centre of controversy. Some are positive about it while the sanguine keep their fingers crossed. Dangers associated with nuclear power are so many that they offset more than the advantages proposed. Advocates argue on the single point of almost nil CO₂ emissions, which is a critical factor in modern times. But, also critical is public safety and environmental concerns about nuclear waste disposal. Worldwide, nations are struggling to handle nuclear waste. Some have even created underground geological depositories (huge mine-like hollow structures where the waste will be stored). When one begins to comprehend the huge shadows of danger lurking overhead, one’s false hopes of a green planet crash. Imagine a planet which is green and clean but permeated with nuclear radiation. What good would it be?

When will this shortsighted madness stop?

Can we not just stop demanding more and more electricity? Can we not just cool our heels and stop this mad lust for consumption? Seems next to impossible. So, what is the solution? Resign ourselves to the decisions of mindless short-sighted scientists who are comfortably confident about nuclear power being the answer for all our energy needs?

We have to think and re-think—how much is too much? How much should I consume? To my heart’s desire? To limits of my intelligence? To the thresholds of necessity? Where should I stop? One option is to mindlessly consume whatever is affordable. Another option is to afford only what is needed to be consumed. That will leave some free time to engage in introspection? Who am I? What am I doing here? Why don’t I get satisfaction when it is guaranteed with every product that I buy every month?

Maybe I need to open some books and check out some age-old wisdom. Current-age wisdom is so short-sighted. What is good today is bad tomorrow. Why am I delaying opening the Bhagavad-Gita? Why am I delaying understanding that here lies the truth open for everyone who is ready to read?

Then, even if danger strikes, I am prepared. Decay is already happening—but of my consciousness. Let me stop it. If I don’t, then radiocative decay will get it. Let me open the scriptures and meditate.