Are we deceiving ourselves? This was the question which I have been asking myself for the past couple of days. If for a moment we put away our ideas of soul, atman, karma and sin then what are we left with. We would just live each and every day in own merit.
So does karma or sin really make sense? A human being is nothing more than a slightly glorified version of an animal. We probably have a much more evolved sense of ourselves, have developed a language to communicate and would like to think that we have choice. As human beings we really pride ourselves with having the ability to be self-aware besides also having the freedom of choice.
This choice that we pride ourselves in is nothing more than a slightly evolved animal ability. I have seen a dog smell a piece of bread on occasions and quietly turn away. Is it not exercising choice then?
Then we delude ourselves into thinking that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This is really only true to human beings who are conscious of their acts. There are many people in the world who simply rationalize their acts and sleep with an easy conscience for the rest of their lives.
When a lion slaughters a deer and eats it does it acquire bad karma? No. However if subsequently a hunter comes and shoots it down would the animal world deceive itself that it was the lion’s karma to get killed?
This brings us to the Greek ethical question that plagued the Greek philosophers’ many thousand years ago. “Is it better to be strong or is it better to be good?” They concluded it is better to be strong.
That is reality. In many ways we live in a world of “matsya nyaya” or might is right. However there are sensible people in the world who do good to others simply because they believe “in doing unto others what they would like have done unto them”.
What are your thoughts on this?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Say hello - To yourself!
If there is anybody we spend the most time with it is ourselves. We are with ourselves, right from the time that we are born. We know of others only through occasional interactions or hearsay. We are in reality not really familiar even with our parents, brothers or sisters.
Despite spending a life time with ourselves we are hardly aware of our inner selves.
That is because our mind forms an effective shield to who we really are. Out mind deceives us so very artfully that we are hardly aware of it. Our pure inner self is covered by layers of clever deception wrought by our mind.
Who we think we are and who we really are completely different. In our minds we are the smartest, the kindest and the most sincere human being on earth. We are the “knight in shining armor” in our mind’s eye.
On the other hand, our mind will quickly pounce on all the faults and foibles of our near and dear. Our mind will tend to zero in on the negative traits of people and will try to position ourselves in a better light.
We never pause for a moment and try to reflect on who we really are. We never try to peel the layers of deceit which are mind wraps our understanding with and warps our view of reality. That is the real problem!
If we stop by to dig deeper into our inclinations, into our interests, into our likes and dislikes we may come up with things about ourselves that may not be too palatable. We may realize that we are in reality quite selfish, quite conceited and really unkind.
We may come up with the awful realization that we are not really doing anything worthwhile with our lives.
So I would suggest that you take a deep breath and say a “hello” to yourself.
Start by looking into your inner core. Try to peel of the layers of deceit that your mind had created all through these years. Try to go beyond the constant chatter of petty resentment, beyond the nagging of your mind and try to understand who you really are.
We should clear the dust, dirt and grime from our minds. Only then we may be able to see the mirror of our pure selves at our inner core.
Despite spending a life time with ourselves we are hardly aware of our inner selves.
That is because our mind forms an effective shield to who we really are. Out mind deceives us so very artfully that we are hardly aware of it. Our pure inner self is covered by layers of clever deception wrought by our mind.
Who we think we are and who we really are completely different. In our minds we are the smartest, the kindest and the most sincere human being on earth. We are the “knight in shining armor” in our mind’s eye.
On the other hand, our mind will quickly pounce on all the faults and foibles of our near and dear. Our mind will tend to zero in on the negative traits of people and will try to position ourselves in a better light.
We never pause for a moment and try to reflect on who we really are. We never try to peel the layers of deceit which are mind wraps our understanding with and warps our view of reality. That is the real problem!
If we stop by to dig deeper into our inclinations, into our interests, into our likes and dislikes we may come up with things about ourselves that may not be too palatable. We may realize that we are in reality quite selfish, quite conceited and really unkind.
We may come up with the awful realization that we are not really doing anything worthwhile with our lives.
So I would suggest that you take a deep breath and say a “hello” to yourself.
Start by looking into your inner core. Try to peel of the layers of deceit that your mind had created all through these years. Try to go beyond the constant chatter of petty resentment, beyond the nagging of your mind and try to understand who you really are.
We should clear the dust, dirt and grime from our minds. Only then we may be able to see the mirror of our pure selves at our inner core.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Manage your future …Now!
There are 3 types of people in this world. The first type generally drifts about in life. They go wherever life takes them. They have neither interest nor passion about anything. The second category of people are the highly stressed lot. They are usually tossed about from one crisis to another and they are highly strung and overwrought in life. The last category of people are those who have a purpose in life.
Life is all about having meaning and purpose. What is really important is that we sit down and take stock of our life. We have to actively manage our future and we have to do it now!
It is in our own self-interest that we take an active interest in how we manage our future and our life. To do this we have to ask these pointed questions to ourselves
Where am I now?
This is the first question you have to pose to yourself. Are you happy with life? Are you frustrated? Are you content? We have to look at our lives in all possible angles. Are we having a good family life? Are we spending quality time with our spouses, children, parents, brothers and sisters? Ask yourself, “Am I enjoying my job? Am I getting the salary I deserve or am I in the right place with the right designation? How is your standing in the social circle – you old school, college friend and you old colleagues. We have to ask these questions and we must try to answer them honestly.
The next question that we have to pose ourselves with is –
Where do I want to go?
Given a clear view of where you are currently where would you like to be in the next couple of years? We have to have a realistic view of what we want to do in life and what we want to achieve. Imagine your future. Are you looking for respect among peers, a larger social circle or a better position in a larger organization? Would you like to own a house, a car or send your child to study in a foreign university? While being realistic in your dreams make sure you sprinkle a lot of ambition. If you can dream it, you can surely achieve it.
And finally
What am I going to do about it…Now!
You have understood where you stand in life and you know where you want to go in your future. The next step is act. To put into motion things that will get you started on the path to achievement, to the path of your dreams and to your future. As they say “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Act now and act decisively. In management parlance it is all about “execution”. We must execute on the plans starting now to achieve what may seem impossible.
So, take control of your life and drive bravely to a brighter future.
Life is all about having meaning and purpose. What is really important is that we sit down and take stock of our life. We have to actively manage our future and we have to do it now!
It is in our own self-interest that we take an active interest in how we manage our future and our life. To do this we have to ask these pointed questions to ourselves
Where am I now?
This is the first question you have to pose to yourself. Are you happy with life? Are you frustrated? Are you content? We have to look at our lives in all possible angles. Are we having a good family life? Are we spending quality time with our spouses, children, parents, brothers and sisters? Ask yourself, “Am I enjoying my job? Am I getting the salary I deserve or am I in the right place with the right designation? How is your standing in the social circle – you old school, college friend and you old colleagues. We have to ask these questions and we must try to answer them honestly.
The next question that we have to pose ourselves with is –
Where do I want to go?
Given a clear view of where you are currently where would you like to be in the next couple of years? We have to have a realistic view of what we want to do in life and what we want to achieve. Imagine your future. Are you looking for respect among peers, a larger social circle or a better position in a larger organization? Would you like to own a house, a car or send your child to study in a foreign university? While being realistic in your dreams make sure you sprinkle a lot of ambition. If you can dream it, you can surely achieve it.
And finally
What am I going to do about it…Now!
You have understood where you stand in life and you know where you want to go in your future. The next step is act. To put into motion things that will get you started on the path to achievement, to the path of your dreams and to your future. As they say “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Act now and act decisively. In management parlance it is all about “execution”. We must execute on the plans starting now to achieve what may seem impossible.
So, take control of your life and drive bravely to a brighter future.
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