Monsoon rains have started in Hyd now. It's so good to see the rain after so long. There is something about this rain, that brings life back into your life. I don't know what, but I like to wake up hearing the sound the rain.
It's nostalgic, maybe because I don't have to go to school that day. Regardless, sometimes I like to soak up in rain and sometimes I just feel like reclining under the bed against the backdrop of the sound, knowing fully well that I am well protected. A deep sense of security overwhelms me.
Sometimes, I just like to peek outside the window with a cup of steaming coffee in my hand and watching those flowing waters and ripples all around it. Rain means so much to so many people and animal as well as plant life. I just can't really pinpoint why we all like rain but it is what it is. I don't care, I just wanna enjoy rain and go to sleep now.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Street Smarts
IF God asked me "if you wanted to have one thing, what that would be". I would say I wanted to be a street smart. Nothing less, nothing more. I need no money. I need no fame (good fame I mean), I need no, well that's pretty much it. With that and with others I already possess, I could easily survive. And get whatever I want. Because then it would have given me the ability to trust the right person. And most importantly the courage to stand up for the music instead of running away :)
I have observed street smartness in action in one of my friend. We landed in CBE from US with so many luggages and stuff. At the airport, we were approached by several auto and taxi wallahs. My friend avoided two of them who tried to lend their hands with our luggages. Those guys wanted the business badly or it maybe their way of snatching away. Many people would have just accepted their invitation and gave them what they wanted. But the problem with this, you lose the leverage. So my friend picked the one who is idle, now he had the leverage. He was able to negotiate a reasonable price. My dad uses the same technique. They are all street smarts.
I lack this completely. Psychologists say that there is a phase in child's growth where the child would assume it is the center of the world. ie all events external to it are revolving around it. Slowly, it realizes that this is not true and starts adapting itself with the world, realizing that it is part of the world. This phase develops when the child spends lot of time with other kids or meet newer people. Sometime for someone like me, transition from center of the world phase to this phase do not happen timely or completely. The main effect of this when the kid grows into an adult is that he or she feel isolated from the group most of the times. And during trying times, the person faces the problems all alone. The strength to survive comes from within than without.
I have observed street smartness in action in one of my friend. We landed in CBE from US with so many luggages and stuff. At the airport, we were approached by several auto and taxi wallahs. My friend avoided two of them who tried to lend their hands with our luggages. Those guys wanted the business badly or it maybe their way of snatching away. Many people would have just accepted their invitation and gave them what they wanted. But the problem with this, you lose the leverage. So my friend picked the one who is idle, now he had the leverage. He was able to negotiate a reasonable price. My dad uses the same technique. They are all street smarts.
I lack this completely. Psychologists say that there is a phase in child's growth where the child would assume it is the center of the world. ie all events external to it are revolving around it. Slowly, it realizes that this is not true and starts adapting itself with the world, realizing that it is part of the world. This phase develops when the child spends lot of time with other kids or meet newer people. Sometime for someone like me, transition from center of the world phase to this phase do not happen timely or completely. The main effect of this when the kid grows into an adult is that he or she feel isolated from the group most of the times. And during trying times, the person faces the problems all alone. The strength to survive comes from within than without.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Blaming God
It's easy for us to blame God for our miseries and sufferings. Especially when a particular event could not be reconciled into our existence and that stops us from moving forward.
It also depends on your relationship with God. He is a friend to me. So our dialogues are also such. Like when God says, I have never seen a human being like you, and I sayI have never seen a God like you. My mom used to say, no matter what happens, don't ever curse God. Her relationship is more like a devotion mixed with fear.
Very recently, a US senator sued God. His complaint was something like this:
To seek a permanent injunction against the Almighty for making terroristic threats, inspiring fear and causing "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."
And guess what, God responded with.
"I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you,"
After a traumatic event, there are two ways to look at it. If you wallow in your self pity, and say I don't deserve this and it could have been lot better, then you lose. On the contrary, say if you look at it as "thank God, it could have been worse", then you win. Easier said than done, this seems to be the correct mindset to have and the one that help us to move forward.
It also depends on your relationship with God. He is a friend to me. So our dialogues are also such. Like when God says, I have never seen a human being like you, and I sayI have never seen a God like you. My mom used to say, no matter what happens, don't ever curse God. Her relationship is more like a devotion mixed with fear.
Very recently, a US senator sued God. His complaint was something like this:
To seek a permanent injunction against the Almighty for making terroristic threats, inspiring fear and causing "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."
And guess what, God responded with.
"I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you,"
After a traumatic event, there are two ways to look at it. If you wallow in your self pity, and say I don't deserve this and it could have been lot better, then you lose. On the contrary, say if you look at it as "thank God, it could have been worse", then you win. Easier said than done, this seems to be the correct mindset to have and the one that help us to move forward.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Spiritual NeuroScience
Well, what can you say, when science starts questioning the existence of God. Not long ago it was a God gene and now it's a God helmet!
When something like belief in God is so universal, scientists start looking into the genetic composition for answers. What if there is a gene that predisposes you to believe in God? Hey, not a bad premise at all. After all, belief in God during adverse times does help the individual to cope and survive. What if that gene was selected in a fitness enhancing way?
Now, it seems they might have actually found some God spots in the brain. Not one, but many that all work together to give a mystical experience. Constantly meditating upon a thought or deity, does change the chemical/physiological makeup. Maybe irreversibly.
What is interesting in this latest finding is what UGK said about his vision after what he calls 'calamity' that happened to him, that changed his 'state' forever, to a 'state' that he refers as 'natural' state. He said he has lost his 3D vision. That he can only see in 2D. Lot of aspirants after the awakening has confirmed that have transcended beyond space and time.
Scientists report that during these highly serene states, the part of brain that they refer as parietal lobe that controls navigation and spatial awareness becomes inactive and the part of brain that they refer as right pre-frontal cortex that controls self control and concentration becomes hyper active.
However, this study does not conclude anything as far as beliefs are concerned. Non-believers would continue to take this as evidence that God does not exist. Believers would continue to take this as evidence that God exists and the human brain offers a way to realize him.
http://www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm?articleID=434D7C62-E7F2-99DF-37CC9814533B90D7
When something like belief in God is so universal, scientists start looking into the genetic composition for answers. What if there is a gene that predisposes you to believe in God? Hey, not a bad premise at all. After all, belief in God during adverse times does help the individual to cope and survive. What if that gene was selected in a fitness enhancing way?
Now, it seems they might have actually found some God spots in the brain. Not one, but many that all work together to give a mystical experience. Constantly meditating upon a thought or deity, does change the chemical/physiological makeup. Maybe irreversibly.
What is interesting in this latest finding is what UGK said about his vision after what he calls 'calamity' that happened to him, that changed his 'state' forever, to a 'state' that he refers as 'natural' state. He said he has lost his 3D vision. That he can only see in 2D. Lot of aspirants after the awakening has confirmed that have transcended beyond space and time.
Scientists report that during these highly serene states, the part of brain that they refer as parietal lobe that controls navigation and spatial awareness becomes inactive and the part of brain that they refer as right pre-frontal cortex that controls self control and concentration becomes hyper active.
However, this study does not conclude anything as far as beliefs are concerned. Non-believers would continue to take this as evidence that God does not exist. Believers would continue to take this as evidence that God exists and the human brain offers a way to realize him.
http://www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm?articleID=434D7C62-E7F2-99DF-37CC9814533B90D7
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