We have only one home- Mother Earth

A mother was asking her son certain basic questions about the daily life activities,

1 Mother: Where do we get staple food from?
Son: From SUPER MARKET.

2 Mother: How is water coming to us?
Son: Mom, is it a difficult question? You seem to be joking about my ability. Obviously it comes from the TAP.

3 Mother : How do we build a house?
Son: The contractor will be able to tell you.

4 Mother: What is the best solution to avoid pollution?
Son: Just keep all the doors and windows closed.

5 Mother: Have you seen stars?
Son: Yes
Mother: Where?
Son: In the planetarium.

All answers seem correct to us. But did we ever feel the amount of angle of deviation we are making from the natural world.
Today, we are making our kids more detached from the realistic world and making them see things from a different perspective like animals live in Zoo, i play with video games not kids in school or neighbourhood, plants and trees have to be taken care by government .
Look at their life styles- Getting ready to School, take a commutation to school, study in the classroom and back home, doing home work , getting ready for the next day.
Do we realise , we are making them live in an artificial world away from- sunlight, mud, open greenery which are making them vulnerable to allergies, intolerance to natural odours.

Does anyone of them know the pleasure of first drops of water on the ground in a rainy day, The mix of water droplet in the dry earth and the beautiful shape the droplet takes once it touches the ground. The effervescent odour of mother earth bathing in the initial drops of water-pure from the sky.

They are not shown the natural way to live. Even one hour of power failure is playing havoc in the lives of every individual on Earth today.
We are making their vision narrow by attracting them to the world of glitter and money.
if this trend continues we will have Naturalists, Ornithologists, Star gazers, Animal lovers become a rare commodity on Earth and an extinct club.

We will be reading news headlines of this nature like "The bulk of sharks on the banks of The mammals have stranded themselves on King Island, in the Bass Strait between the mainland and the southern state of Tasmania , and one of the theories for this phenomena include disturbance of echo-location, possibly by interference from sound produced by human activities at sea ". ( BBC News , March 2, 2009).

So what are the right answers for the Mother's questions,

1 Where do we get staple food from?

From the fields, plantations, forests , where their is balance of nature-people efforts and by sheer dint of perseverence we produce them.

2 How is water coming to us?

The life blood of all living creation on Earth-The Water Cycle ( Sun-evaporation -cloud formation- cooling (because of plants, trees) -Rain ).

3 How do we build a house?

Shelter is for living comfortably and protect us from the vagaries of extreme weather conditions. It is not for display of wealth and make it a breeding place for heat emissions, wasteful use of energy, production unit of non bio degradable trash. It should be a serene place heated, cooled - with trees , plants and working in close harmony with nature. Even a plant of Bonsai is also a way of adding to the balance of pure air around .

4 What is the best solution to avoid pollution?

Lesser use of cold storage's, having a kitchen garden or at least cooking fresh food daily, Walking or using a bicycle for nearby works, voluntarily budgeting on using fossil fuels, planting more trees, using natural sun light more for rooms at homes and offices , buying things which can be recycled.

5 Have you seen stars?

Give space for the sky to peep into your courtyard or at least on the terrace. Where land is not a problem, expand horizontally than vertically. It takes too much energy and fear of vertigo's. Following a leader blindly is not the solution. We need leaders who think and act as per the natural resources and not copying other's conveniences which may be good for them but not for us. Enjoy nature more, be near to naturalness than the transient pleasures of Ac's, Cooler's, Heater's. Use them only when necessary and not because we have them.

Now how do we feel, when kid's give these kind of answers?

They are right because we are just custodians of their future. We need to give them more trees, more fresh water, more clean air rather than money which we are stacking for them.
What is in store for them tomorrow isa big question?
They may have money but not the resources which they should have had for free but are not able to afford even with the money you saved for them.

Remember, kids can earn more than us, if we give them a nice environment to live and air to breathe. Aren't our ancestors successful. Likewise our future kids will develop for themselves, but our greed is an impediment to them.

Think and plant trees and produce your own oxygen and secure your kid's future.
hey by the way , dont worry, it doesn't cost you much than the bill you are paring for your ki'ds hospital due to allergies and weak immune system.
Be liberal and don't build another castle around the big tree, so that your only kid can get all the oxygen from it.

THINK BIG AND ACT NOW. It is in our hands.

Living in a HUT in America

Once we had a life of nomads, than settled habitations and with increased technological advancement, we have become a flat world as opined by Thomas L. Friedman in his book " The World is Flat". All boundaries have vanished and we are heading for an ecstasy world. Oh, am i day dreaming!!! What about the wars, rebellions, mushrooming of crime, drug cartels , regional, religion , color, caste, creed feelings and now a new kind of threat of financial black holes created by the most educated people ,which is more grave than the direct war itself. It is creating financial ripples in every home in the world. With all these human creations , are we really heading for a peaceful, green and prosperous world. Now we are in the fifth generation of evolution - Knowledge Age.

Stone/Nomadic Age,

Agricultural Age,

Industrial Age,

Information Age,

Knowledge Age.

From the ancient scriptures , we had division as per " the work we do".

• Brahmins ( Education),
• Kshatriyas( protectors of the country),
• Vyshyas(Trade and Commerce)
• Sudras ( Serving the above three with varied jobs) .

In the Industrial Age we had-Blue collared and White collared division.

 In the Information Age-it was more of Software and Non-software division

 In the Knowledge Age -While the first four ages above, had a final product produced from a raw material, this age is significant for the production of the money with input as money. It is competitive , speculative and every person wanting a piece a cake. The tragedy is we were running after virtual reality, ignoring the facts before us.

 From the context of Indians, I restrict to the software family which has burgeoned into a strong force . They were the masters in the Information Age and everyone were in a boom. They created their own set of rules and procedures, standards and regulations . There progress was seen as an indicator of country's PPP( Purchasing Power Parity).

 Now we have a fifth varna/division called the "Software ". 

What are the eligibility criteria to join this group? 

 1 Degree in any discipline. 2 Training in a software institute. 3 English Language. 4 Negotiating Skills 5 No attachment to anyone or anything, called business acumen.

Job Prospects: 1 Join any one company as a launch pad . 2 Roll on , on and on 3 Overseas assignments 4 World of Opportunities. Landed in dream country America. Now adopting to life in a foreign land 1 Yield to peer pressure, 2 Buy a car, home, all accessories on loan. Next aim/s - Job that yields more money, always thinking of kids schooling, with parents back in India and thinking of investments, stock market . 

What happened suddenly to this class of people, 1 Single talent and no diversification even within an organization. 2 Stock market stumble. 3 Job insecurity 4 Loss of stronghold in a foreign nation. 5 Caught in the vicious circle of recession 6 Housing crisis, real estate collapse. 7 Corruption in higher levels and greed.

Why we are failing to rise our voice? 1 No collective effort in the software industry because everyone is a rival of another in business , so no common agenda to face the outside world beyond software. 2 We forgot the basic concept that , " If people around me are well, I will be good otherwise I cannot enjoy, when my neighbour is suffering". 3 Always running after " Your own earnings ". Individualistic thinking. 4 Sometimes ignoring job offer letter "terms and conditions". Focus on only paycheck column. 5 No attachment to any company, any organisation or any person. 6 Updating resumes to forward to another company, using the resources of the current employer. Isn't it immoral. 7 Where is the Unity at the time of crisis. Which organization will save in the hour of crisis? 8 Is there any difference between the software professional and the daily wage labourer who waits for somebody to give a job. Software professional today is, in a way refined "HIGH TECH LABOURER" with problems like credit on car and home and living a life of a labourer in America. No common voice, no security at work place, extraction of work , no clarity on guarantees and warranties . The professionals are on the verge of joining club of textile workers, cotton farmers of Andhra Pradesh, if everyone doesn't rise to the occasion and unite and represent before the concerned authorities. To live a happy life , we don't need millions of dollars when the existence itself is at stake.

 Now majority of professionals are facing the same problems like a person in hut in India,

 1 Search for work. 2 Yield to all conditions of the employer. 3 Spouses are working at different places 4 Making bill payments 5 Increase in cost of groceries, so rationing of purchases is becoming a norm. 6 Making a lot of adjustments. 7 Moving to new places . 8 Limiting every need and want. 9 Stress on children. Don't get afflicted with the "Sheep Flock Syndrome" and get dictated by unscrupulous market forces.

What to think and How to act, 1 Discuss this crisis at every forum, which is created by a few greedy people without concern for common good. 2 This needs more serious effort from Industries. 3 Learn to be self reliant. 4 Be more close to reality and the world around . 5 High talent should again be recognised in the world. 6 Set new frame of rules, guidelines which ensures stability. 7 Ultimately ensure safety, security and prosperity so that there is no disturbance your family life. Be frugal. There is a saying " DON'T PURCHASE SOMETHING IN ANTICIPATION OF FUTURE MONEY". 8 Secure the present for a happy and strong future. 9 Learn to live within means. 10 Be in touch with friends. 11 Talk to parents and family more often. 12 Above all, have faith in GOD and confidence in self. 

SARVE BHAVANTU SUKHINAH SARVE SANTHU NIRAMAYAH SARVE BHADRANI PASYANTHU MAA KASCHITH DUKHA BHAGBHAVETH (May all live happily , enjoy good health and see auspiciousness and none experience distress. May peace prevail everywhere). " SARVEJANA SUKHINA BHAVANTHU"( May all be Happy and Prosperous)

Mr President

A new dawn in the eastern shores of USA. On 20 January 2009 , is the most sought after morning the world around , for it has reemphasised the meaning of DEMOCRACY.

As one of the great Presidents of all times in his Gettysburg address said,

"A government of the people, by the people and for the people".


Never ever imagined an person with a humble beginnings with education from normal schools to the ivy club, to enter the Capitol Hill and rule the world's most powerful seat.

A day of joy, confidence and sense of pride from the centuries of deprivation, alienation, and division of humans on the basis of color.

It is the triumph of all the great souls who fought for bringing equality.

From the centuries -An act of suppression where humans were traded like commodities, suffering in the ghettos and serving the arrogant masters which questioned the very existance of human rights and a right to live with dignity.

Today, by dint of hardwork, determination and perseverance and winning enemies on the same side of the field and creating a sense of possibilities has been seen in the reaction all around the world with President Obama taking the office.


While winning a post is one side of the victory, tiding over the rough weather of economic tsunami and bringing back the pride of the nation , battered by lowest ebb of self pride and esteem is the greatest challenge in which every day counts on taking wise decisions benefitting the citizens is the real victory.

We wish the new President will take the nation in the new direction with complete confidence of the people and revive the economy, make the country safe and secure and advance the nation in scientific, technological, education , health and family fields and adopting good practices having concern to climatic changes and unlike the regular leaders, set a precedent for true leadership as shown by the great leaders who are our idols.


Mr. President , "YES, WE CAN".

ఒడిదుడుకుల వలయం నుంచి, మంచి ముత్యంలా,

చీకటి తిమిరాలని అధిగమించిన ఆశాకిరణం నీవు ,
వెల్లువలా వచ్చావు, వెలుగులు విరజిమ్మావు,
ఎందరి మదిలొనో ఉత్సాహన్ని ఉధ్వేగాన్ని నింపావు,
నవ శకానికి, నవ వసంతానికి నాంది పలికావు.

లక్షల మంది త్యాగఫలం, నీ ఈ విజయం,

మరిచిపోకు నేస్తమా-నీ ఆశయాలు,పెద్దల మాటలు,
నీ వైపే వున్నాయి అందరి చూపులు క్షిపణుల్లా,
ఎదిరించి, ముందుండి నడుపు దేశాన్ని,
అన్నింటిలో అగ్రగామిగా, ఆదర్శ నాయకునిలా,
ప్రపంచానికే మణిమకుటంలా, శాంతి కామకుడవై.

"If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress."-President Obama.

***********

OUR PLACE IN TIME

Everytime we call on somebody,the regular answer is "I am too busy".


Busy -at work ,office,home,road.
Busy-Standing,eating,talking.


Where has all the time vanished ? Into the blackhole ? Wonder what...


Every event in life is just passing by and we as bystanders. Did we anytime try to take time to understand ?


Probably we dont have time for this and seems to be a stupid question.
But think for a while.Are we using our time efficiently and effectively in our whole life span. Just we are lost in the mirages of the present,and not working for future-hey wait a minute, not monetarily but intellectual upgradation.


Today ,majority of the younger generation hardly have time to play, to talk (even to parents )save friends,read books ,research new things and improve intellectually. Their lifestyles revolve around-IMAX,Cartoons,Video games,and of course the tutions.


Its simple-school,college (aim for a professional course),MS in a foreign country and learn a computer language.Once this is outdated run for a new course. In this race, the poor one is again to square one"Rat race".So naturally in the struggle for existence all other things take a back seat.
Even years of hard work by seniors has fallen like twin towers with the financial crumble.Now we feel, what is permanent and what is worth living for? Monetary loss can be made up to some extent ,but what about all the years of hardwork and sacrifices. Whose time was it?
We thought we earned everything and now in the crisis ,we have not earned the mental strength to cope with the situation.


Whos fault is it anyway?Towards whom do we point our fingers-on our parents ,whom we left them at oldage homes who have given us this life ,our teachers,our friends,our relatives.
Now is the time to brood our past few years to make a life worth more than billions.


Yes,think---


When we were born we learned to laugh, cry,play,recognise our parents and had too sharp sensibilities.We could make a decision what is right or wrong.Our concious would not allow us to tell lies.Today we call it management.It helped only the CEOs of the so called fortune companies,alas,to the misfortune of whom we believed. We dont trust our shadow and our parents or family but we put trust on the numbergame who cornered us to the wall.Made us come on to the streets,speculating our future from nowhere.
We need our own intellect back intact.


-Listen to your inner voice. It never fails you.
-Trust and do good.

-Put others before self and treat them as you want them to be treated.
-Self realisation is our great virtue.



For this we dont need to be in an ivy league college or in a satsang.Our conscious mind directs us correctly. Catch the signal and transmit to aothers to make the world a better place to live.


What we give our children is not monetary inheritance but intellectual prowness.

What will the child who grows up to an adult ,do to all the money, when he doesnt have a peaceful,calm,serene,greenand amicable atmosphere to spend.

Does he have to suffer from insecurity and fear of looters who are hitech.


It is time for every human in this world to think about the entire world and make himself strong mentally and spiritually to face the hard facts of life with courage.


Do we have the necessary gadgets to make a strong person


1 Faith in self and abundant faith in god the invisible power.
2 Systematic thinking
3 Time management
4 Develop strong family ties
5 Earn true friends and treasure the ones we already have.
6 Help the needy
7 Associate with nature
8 Make time for small things in life
9 Laugh heartfully

Above all be true to yourself.

Aged aches

My short time in US has made me think about my ownself and a gripping and undescribable future came before me.
What will be my oldage like?When will that start?Is there any indication like the weather.

I felt ,apart from health conditions another major important factor to know you are aged is by the behavoiur of people around us. If we are strong it doesnt affect us but usually we have too much reliability on our near and dear ones. Once our expectations are not met we crumble and this has profound effect on health and energy drains.

We in India have aspirations and surrender ourselfs to children and beg them. .Thats the problem
Other aspect is being outside country our people learn escapist tendencies by throwing the blame on the new society,but dont learn from the faciltities this country is providing to the elderly - mobile vehicle to sit and move, parking lots for aged, facilities in public transportations, shopping malls,hospitals,Insurance,Banks and latest electronic gadgets to aid them to move, listen etc.

I observed that most people have good family bonding and old people are given good respect at any place they go. Help is available and grandparents are seen very nicely and one more thing is they take care of themselves. They have a strong willpower and do their own jobs. I was surprised to see 90 years old man learning tennis and 55 years old woman learning computer basics. They engage.

They bring LIFE TO LIVING AND NOT JUST LIVING A LIFE.

Thats the difference and essence of life.

Ultimately whether in India or America, we need to have affection on our people and concern ,sense of belongingness, than all these problems will be reduced. If we become selfish ,god will show the same path what we have shown to our parents. LOVE ,AFFECTION and COMPASSION will rule and money is secondary. Somehow this is losing track in our society and we are happy to the short term goals and monthly salary we get-enjoy in shopping, pubs .

Its not that everything is bad, but the ratio of such non considerate class is rising. We need to watch out for this class and its time we as a society should do more for the elderly. So far its been the job of voluntary organizations and NGOs to set up oldage homes. But now we need to tap this resource fully for nation building.

In developed countries, there is a new trend to recruit old people as they are experienced, more attached to the job (which leads to less attrition rates),no training costs for the company, demand for salaries is not much and commitment to job is more. From the side of elders, its spending valuable time, getting paid(a sense of security)and more so not thinking in the oblivion.

It’s a win-win situation for both. Some companies are providing them perks like-transportations, emergency calls, food, Doctor consultations, dental checkups for its aged employees.

In India, we need a special government cell for Gerontology (it may not be surprising if a demand for a separate ministry comes up in future as most of our ministers are in the elderly category).More services and priorities for elderly in public transportation, hospitals and at many other places would be a welcome sign.

The need of the hour is STRONG ELDERS with COMPASSIONATE YOUNG GENERATION.
The feeling that our children are our moral support and vice versa will fill the gap of insecurity and distances doesnt bother.

Duties of elders:

1 Be healthy
2 Engage in an activity they like
3 Financial security
4 Independendent living
5 Always thinking that they are young
6 Creating there own time schedule for daily duties
7 Associating with other elders
8 Contributing (ideas,time ) to the well being of the society
9 Learning new things
10 Adaptability to the new environs of modern world
11 Above all feeling wanted


Duties of children:
1 Be affectionate and loving
2 Provide all support unconditionally
3 Involving them in major decisions
4 Develop patience and sense of being human
5 Respect elders at public places
6 Spread the message of being responsible
7 Try to learn more things and pass on to the next generation
8 Use new technology to provide more comfort to the elders
9 Provide more centres like activity centres
10 Not to make them your kids caretakers but give them a place of dignity
11 Above all talk to them more often

All these doesnt cost much but the time we spend is worhwhile and it increases our energy levels and we tend to be more worthful,important and this goodness spreads to people around us and on the whole, the atmosphere would be pleasant .This sets an example to kids who will be more considerate towards the elderly.


Matru devobhava,pithru devobhava,acharya devabhava,athithi devobhava,
mari eppudu

vruddha sikhamani devobhava-----

Making others happy will give you more inner peace and makes you a better person .


* These are exclusively my owm personal thoughts and not intended towards anyone.

MAHARDASA

Om Sri Siddi Vinayakaya Namah

Prasannaga vunte Arogyam (Pleasantness is good for Health)

Chakkani dusthulu dharisthe Tejassu (Fine attire spreads radiance)

Okariki sahayapadithe Skhemam (Helping others is always good for self)

Navvutu vunte Divya soundaryam (Smiling enhances inner beauty which is divine)

Madhuramuga mataladithe Mangalkaram (Talking sweetly is always auspicious)

Suvarnabharanalu dharisthe Ayurvruddhi (Wearing jewels increases longevity)

Eppudu anandhamuga vunte Lakshmipradham (Always being cheerful is divine)

Mithanga bujjisthe Chakkani rupam (Well balanced diet gives good physique)

Thrupthi vunte Nityanandam (Control over wants/Satisfaction will lead to happiness)

Pattudalato krushi chesthe Sampoorna Vijayam (Working hard is the pathway for success and victory)

Chetana

I regularly go to religious places and everytime, i come across something new to learn. Learning is not only from books,but from people of all ages and experiences and incidents in life. Some change our thinking,some strengthen our beliefs,some add value and some pave the path for new thinking.

One such experience is the meaning of the word "PRADAKSHINA"

PRA-Samastha papala vinasananiki suchakam (Destroys all the sins)
DA - Korikalanni theradam (Fulfillmant of all that we ask for and pray god)
KSHI-Raboye janmalanu suchisthundi (Indicative of future births)
NA- Agnanam nunchi vimukthi prapthi (Realising from the bond of ignorance)


"Yani kanicha papani janmanthara kruthanicha,
Tahni thani pranasyanthi pradakshinam padhe padhe"

Cheerful Readiness

We have known from history and social text books that achieving independence was a great struggle. One aspect that goes into the reading of these gives a clear understanding of the readiness of people to come out and fight for our just cause.
Think for a while , if everyone were happy doing their jobs and counting on the money earned which they may not be able to spend on themselves .We would still be in the clutches of slavery and outside domination.
Now, where did they get all that energy to fight the mighty empire-All it needed was a strong will and conviction and undeterred path and focus on the welfare of people. The true leadership qualities. Names are many and some anonymous leaders who instilled the spirit of common good and sense of worthfulness.

Now the current era. We have no one to fight but for our inner self. How many of us are ready to atleast mark our unhappiness and show it through secret ballot. There is a reason for all this. We feel we are too weak to fight the mighty virus of corruption, redtapism and favouritism.
Everything is now rounded to the benefit of individual for personal benefit and to fill the coffers. Do these people realise there is something called humanity.

This blog is an attempt to atleast make our presence felt and we make an iota of difference in the reapective fields which needs only willpower. We need to work and show the change.

This alacrity has to be rekindled in everyone and should enlighten our innerself to show the world we can make our world a better place to live and give a safe and good future to the next generations.

EMPOWERMENT WITH KNOWLEGDE .