Category: General
21 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 3:30am
"If something can go wrong, it will" - Murphy's Law
It confounds me - why doesn't Murphy's law apply to itself? I don't pretend to know the answer, but I'll try to put down what I feel may have a vague relation with:
1.For anything, there is only one way to be right. Any way else is wrong. Naturally, the probability of things going wrong is much higher than that for going right.
2.According to the second law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of energy, ordered systems tend to disorder and disordered systems tend to stay that way. So, perhaps it is nature's very design that things go wrong rather than right. Disorder or chaos is all-pervading. Order is a star in the sky - it can be reached only by a soul with an elevated consciousness.
Ergo, Murphy's Law is infallible.
Current Music: none
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20 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 6:04am
This morning I saw, in The Hindu, a photograph of an elephant being 'repatriated' to Bangladesh after it was found to have crossed the 'border' and came to India.
Crossed the border! Crossed the border! Why am I focused on that? Because it makes me laugh. Isn't that ridiculous? As it is, this whole concept of borders, nations, states sounds unimpressive to me when applied as a differentiating label. To me, the good line of such divisive labels stops at identity in the form of passport. Anything beyond that looks cranky. Fine, I understand it's one of those million other things that man has invented to complicate his life, and for the simple fault of being a member of this esteemed species (is that elephant hearing this?) I've but little choice to do anything about the feeling of intolerance for the same. But think of it! To impose such divisions on animals as well - is there an adjective for this in the lexicon invented by man?
Not that the elephant would've cared. True, when your focus is on the right things and to the right extent, you won't ever have time for petty things. Eat, drink, bathe, play, mate, sleep, enjoy life as long as it lasts - the elephant would not think beyond these. Are we, with a million other 'important' things to think about, happier than them? Than any other species, for that matter? Ok, there may be a thousand sound reasons to prove that we are happier, but it still falls short - because the happiest person is the one with no concept of 'happiness-sorrow' and surely animals don't seem to have this, which means they are as happy as we are, if not more.
There could be no other species on any other planet in any other galaxy as 'civilized' as man; nor as advanced as to be able to exterminate his own and all other species as well in no time. Man, methinks, is the only animal to look at everything as if it were designed with the sole purpose of meeting his needs. He applies his criteria - stupid in themselves - to everything else.
Coming back to the elephant - no, it was not a baby elephant that was being sent back to join its mother. So, there's no place for justification. Elephant crossed the border! It still doesn't make sense to me. Obsession itself defies common-sense, and when obsession goes to extreme, what do you call that? Elephant is big enough to be spotted; what are they doing about those ants that are crossing the border every day??
On second thoughts, however, it was perhaps a good idea, considering the maintenance issues of the zoological parks. This just struck me, I'm not taking back my earlier words though. I've spent good enough time writing it. Besides, it's not entirely destitute of an element of truth.
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Yuva
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18 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 11:57pm
Questioner: "If one can have the privilege of becoming totally
aware, how can we then help those who are conditioned, who have a
deep resentment in them?"
JK: Why, if I may ask, do you use the word privilege? What is there
sacred or privileged about being aware? That's a natural thing,
isn't it, to be aware? If you are aware of your own conditioning, of
the turmoil, the dirt, the squalor, the war, the hatred, if you are
aware of all that, you will establish a relationship with another so
complete, that you are related to every other human being in the
world. You understand this? If I am related to somebody completely,
totally - not as an idea or an image - then I am related to every
human being in the world. Then I will see I will not hurt another -
they are hurting themselves. Then go, preach, talk about it - not
with the desire to help another, you understand? - that's the most
terrible thing to say, "I want to help another". Who are you to help
another? - including the speaker.
Sir, look, the beauty of the tree or the flower doesn't want to help
you, it is there; it is for you to look at the squalor or at the
beauty, and if you are incapable of looking at it, then find out why
you have become so indifferent, so callous, so shallow and empty. If
you find out that, then you are in a state where the waters of life
flow, you don't have to do anything."
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: ???
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18 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 2:14pm
'Day Writing Reverse World' is Today. reverse in everything write to attempting am I And. difficult increasingly becoming is it, more write I As. ?anybody to sense make this Will ?care I Should experimenting just am I. punctuation understand to is this with problem The. invented be should punctuation of system new a, So.
?funny that wasn't but, day such no there's ,Ok
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: ???
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18 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 12:40am
She came, she saw, and now she has conquered. Our fault, of course! But then the fact is she is there. Whether she'll be an able PM or not is to be seen; this should not be impatiently concluded by us simply by the label called nationality. We need an able PM, and if she can do that job properly, it's a good thing.
However, I was wondering... Is there any other country in this world, which has, as its PM, a person who cannot speak properly the official language of that country?
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Yuva
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16 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 8:30am
There's a peculiar habit among us - if a point cannot be justified with sound reasons, then shift the balance with meaningless words like 'responsibility', 'duty', etc. To not exercise one's franchise is akin to his not being a 'responsible citizen', many say!!
You have ten goons to choose from, and if you refuse to choose, is it intelligence or irresponsible gesture? People use such lofty, shallow words as 'patriotism' and send young chaps to war, to kill one another for petty reasons. If one refuses, he's termed unpatriotic and coward! Same goes with elections. These are all words seen through the glass of prejudice. Intelligence is to look at everything from a larger perspective. And refusing to do the 'normal' deed doesn't imply irresponsibility or inaction or complacence, but at times - and especially in case of such large-scale issues - it implies discontentment with the existing system and a belief that it can be made better.
When nations take to war, great, rational men don't give up their belief in peace, even if it means risking imprisonment or even being thrown out as refugees. It doesn't mean they are irresponsible. On the contrary. When all choices available are equally bad, it is absolutely sensible to stay away and remain focused on the possibility of a better choice.
So, if all the chaps contesting for the seats are goons it is 'demon'cracy. And it is downright immature to justify the deed of voting with the highly misinterpreted words like responsibility and duty. Sorry, we need democracy.
Rationalising something to feel good, I'm afraid, won't take us anywhere. If something's good, it's good; if something's bad, it's bad. No matter what it is. Dealing with facts is the first step to realise anything better. When something is not working, it's better to start anew than hypnotise ourselves to feel good about it and wait for the better moment. Complacency, in some cases, simply kills. Siddhartha would've chosen to remain in the confines of the palace and with all the relations, and yet discover the truth. He perhaps might have discovered too, but then he would never have become the Buddha.
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Ayitha Ezhuthu
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14 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 3:09pm
I was just wondering... Is man the only animal that celebrates mating?
In primitive communities, as they didn't have adequate knowledge, all the unexplained things were attached to miracles. Hence, superstitions and attaching mysterious significance to common-place events. Interestingly, this habit has survived through millennia, all the blah blah about 'becoming more civilized' notwithstanding.
Seriously, do we need to continue? Why are we so anthropocentric?
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Pithamagan
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13 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 6:12pm
It always confounds me that man, with all his intelligence, could not invent a better societal institution than marriage, and a better system of governance. Both of them have done more harm than good.
Does it prove the fact that man loves to be with the known, no matter howevermuch a mess it is, than to be free from the known? I suppose it does.
Reminds me JK's wonderful book - 'Freedom from the Known'.
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Enigma
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12 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 8:17pm
The mock race - that's what I refer democracy as. At least, as it exists in this f****ed-up-beyond-repair country. The process, as I understand, is this:
1.It's the avarice for power and not the desire to serve people that pulls so many idiots (no contradiction here, their looks also reflect this!) to ruthlessly compete for those seats
2.A good number of people know this, yet they are helples as to what to do about it, or how to stop this from happening. So, sincerely, they stay away from exercising their franchise. (ok, I appreciate all those too who want to vote but do not end up voting)
3.A majority of the multitude that vote (vicariously experiencing the illusion of power for that one moment) do not know the implications of their deed.
4.Then, we have this counting drama and a chap wins.
5.The chap takes the populace for a ride and the common man - the most voiceless creature in this world - suffers in silence.
6....and the race continues.
Come on, hasn't it happened for a long enough time for us to realise that the entire process has so many flaws? Why do we select the civil servants through such a rigorous procedure but care nought when we choose our leaders from a bunch of insane, selfish, ruthless, even uneducated (not that it is important by itself) brats with a bent for crime?
Media hypes politicians so much. Success and power are worshipped in this world. Where is the country going? Wouldn't it be better if the leaders are chosen from the civil servants? Isn't the probability, in this case, of having more number of better leaders more than it is now?
Why doesn't anyone with sanity and power (eg., civil servants, editors, etc) make this a big issue and try to arrive at a better solution?
I know all this is a helpless banter... Yet...
...into whatever heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake (apologies to Tagore, for paraphrasing). Because, any other heaven would be better than this existing hell!
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Yuva
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11 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 7:41pm
It's JK's b'day. (Well, some sources put it as May 12. No harm in distributing the b'day over two days, right?)
Just finished reading 'Star in the East' by Roland Vernon. Almost 300 pages and it took two days. This, in recent times, is certainly the fastest I touched on the 'book-reading speedometer'!
Not quite as revealing as Radha's book, it still portrays an objective image of K. Reading these two books has made me more determined to make a film of K's life. At this point of time, however, I don't have any idea of its feasibility. I'll wait for the idea to sink in...
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Anveshana
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9 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 12:21pm
A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.
"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
"I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.
"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Amitabh hits
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8 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 3:36am
I read that most beautiful quote again this morning. That very clearly sums up JK's approach to life and living. Here it is :
"It rained heavily last night, and now the skies are beginning to clear. It's a new fresh day. Let us begin that fresh day as if it were the only day, with all the remembrance of yesterday left behind. And begin to understand ourselves for the first time."
THAT, to my mind, is 'right living'.
This month always had been of a particular interest to me, specially because most of the great people I admire were born in this month. Buddha, Freud, JK, Tagore, Russell and Ray, for example. Mere coincidence? Or...?
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Alaipayuthey
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6 May 2004
Posted by Oblivion in
General
| 1:26pm
What do I think about today's India?
Before Independence, it was 300-odd millions ruled by the British. Today, it is 1000-odd millions ruled by 560-odd a******s.
Elections only reassure me that democracy is a farce.
Pessimistic? Yes, if 'calling a spade a spade' is.
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Nothing But Wind - Ilaiyaraja
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