Monday, August 06, 2012

Gem of an interview by Sadhguru





For those who don't have the patience to watch the whole video..enjoy the jist below.....

On new leadership

leadership has to be on many tiers of society. .generally in Asia particularly in India ..if a good leader comes up instead of reinforcing his position they worship..
building leadership in all tiers of  society is a very important aspect if we really want to grab the economic possibility in front of us…
for me the economic possibility doesn’t mean soaring stock markets or limousines on the street..for me what it means is there are 400 million people that have not eaten well..yet..they will get to eat well, there will be food on their plate..

On Economy & Spiritual movements

i wouldnt use the word like greed..because once you've chosen market economy..
there is no such thing as greed..'cos thats the driving force..
its no more a dirty word..
as long as somebody is earning by legitimate means ..paying his taxes he drives a gold plated rolls royce
its not your business..that is the mode of economy we've chosen..is it right or wrong..this is not the time to ask the question..
'cos we've already made the choice..of market driven economy this is not the time to ask..
once you ask that question you are going into socialistic mode..which has not worked for some reason..for whatever reason..

On what Spiritual Movements do

to activate that natural, intrinsic need within a human being  to share..that is where the spiritual movements and other things come into place...
you cannot do it through the economic system..economic system is designed to drive and grow..
so for a human being to decide..see everybody wants to share..the Q is only what is his identity..
if he is identified only with his family..he shares only with his family..
if he is identified with his community he shares with community
if he is identified with the nation he shares with the nation..
if he is identified with the whole humanity he shares with the whole humanity..
so enlarging that identity in a human being is the work of the spiritual movements..
so if an individual person's identity is enlarged to the whole humanity and to all life in this planet naturally he will share...

On differences

so we are always looking at cultural differences with a certain apprehension..because there is a history of people identifying every difference as a discriminatory process..
yes that is the bane of democracy..you dont always get to do the wisest thing..
you tend to do what is popular..for which we always pay a price..

On individual responsibility

ultimately as human actions or human thought or human emotions come ..it is only individual responsibility..which can permeate into the social action...
the more important your position becomes in the world, now when you have the power to impact millions of people..now every thought you generate, every emotion you generate, every word you utter, every action you perform becomes of profound importance..
if you are an ant you can walk upon everyone..if you become an elephant then you have to walk carefully..so as you get into positions of power and responsibility your individual responsibility becomes of paramount importance..

On spiritual and religious process

in a spiritual process you refer to yourself as a seeker ..
you become a seeker as you realize you do not know..
when you identify yourself with a religious process you refer to yourself as a believer..whatever you do not know you believe..

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Bunking classes, Television, Theater, Muay Thai, childhood dreams, & wishlist

In about 7 weeks time, if everything goes well I am headed to Thailand for a 4 week Muay thai camp Yes its happening, finally.

Today I sat to recollect since when I got this fascination for Muay Thai...and this dream to go training amidst the 'sticks' in Thailand arise. May be over 10- 12 years. No its not the usual suspect - the movie Kickboxer, not even Ong Bak. Its pretty recent when compared to all my other wish list around martial arts. I fondly recollect 'threatening' my grandma that I would go off to China to one of those Shaolin monasteries and never return. Where exactly did it all start?  I remember its root too- watching  'Shaolin Temple'. I do remember watching it in theaters, one of the very few movies I had watched in a theater thanx to my uncle that came from Kerala to visit us. These are very old memories from my childhood, I was always this dreamy, lazy kid lost in my own world of thoughts and so I don't recollect too many of 'em. If my life was a movie, there was always a movie inside of that movie n  most time I hardly remember the plot - the every day events.

As for my first exposure to practicing a martial art, it was when I was in 8th grade - Tang Soo Do. Then growing up with  Dharam, Achal the still powerful, stocky knock out artists.. my inspirations at school helped. Then there was Prem, Raja the Shotokan kata expert n Kirish my jatti dost n Tang Soo  Do buddy in my village. As I write, we are in 4 different continents. Hmm. The gang went all the way to get their black belts, my martial art stint ended rather abruptly first year of my college post a tournament that left me with black eye, cut lips n swollen legs. Mom pulled the plug on it. 

Talking about theater and television both were out of our means growing up for most part. We had our first Solidaire black & white television until at least I was 9-10 years old. I do remember watching, please note just watching not listening TV sitting on our compound wall through our neighbor's window. I remember the excitement my sister & I  had when that big box arrived. Those were days!

As I grew up to be a teenager, watching movies got easier. I do remember bunking almost every other Friday (movies normally get released on a Friday) to go to Alankar(no more) n Shanti(dunno if its still functional) in Mount Road to watch that random Kung Fu movie that invariably starts with  the Indo Overseas Film production theme music. Most of 'em were that of Jet Li- My father is a hero, Hitter, Winner, Master, Iron fist, leg, little finger, twisted finger n what not n there were so many of 'em they ran out of any more creative names. Then there would be just I, II, II suffixed to a random name. There were other actors too whose names I don't remember. That bus drive from Tambaram to LIC! Priceless. My partner in crime was my 'Jatti dost' my 'Langoti yaar' my 'Bosom friend' Kir***(he is too shy a guy to be called out in blogs :-P ) who had zero interest in those movies. He just had to come with me!

 Mom I am sorry, chances are you will get to know about it via my sister but you already knew didn't you?

 Its been 12 years living outside of India, and have lived in 4 different countries and though very briefly I've exposed myself to other fighting systems - Shotokan, Kyokushin, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing & just a few classes of Muay Thai in Singapore. All the while I have been out of shape and poor cardio. I like MT for its no nonsense approach. No wonder its imbibed so well in MMA by all fighters  these days with very few exceptions like Machida.

As for my Muay Thai camp preparation, my cardio is poor, and I am overweight but still the intent is there. Will I get to fight there? Depends on how much progress I make.I am exited, focused and looking forward to it.

Here is a video of 'as is' situation and would like to keep log of the progress. Training is mostly through watching. One more here


Thanks to Youtube and my wife for her patience.

Wishlist-
 Kalari & Kushti in India
 Kyokushin in Japan,
 Shaolin, Boxing in Cuba

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Martial arts, Kalaripayattu and Katrina Yoga

I was looking for some lost literature I had read a while ago on an intense form of Kalaripayattu(Indian fighting system) called Kathina Yoga. My initial source of this info was kalariworld.com, which sadly doesn't exist anymore. A year ago I had communicated with the person in charge of the website, made some contacts through friends etc only to find the style Kathina Yoga isn't taught anymore by the Asan (Master) and he has taken up a job and moved. Now even the literature is gone, hopefully not lost. It pains me to see such rare, ancient art and  wisdom in India is vanishing off due to the lack of proper platforms and sustenance means. Many other Kalari Schools are sustaining by doing stage shows and demonstrations in cultural fests, limiting it to a visual art perception, a far cry from what it is in reality. When you have movies made about it or references made here and there of its 'history', you know the art is dying. Thankfully of late the awareness is spreading and some schools have adopted it as a part of extra curricular activity albeit in a hybrid form.

Though I've trained in a few styles of martial arts in and outside of India,  its always been my wish  to learn what the world perceives as the source of various Asian martial art styles -Kalaripayattu. The fact that the training in weapons are done with actual weapons and no fakes, portrays its intensity and the level of focus it calls for. The salutation as such is poetic expression of the fighter's humility and simultaneously his commitment to fulfill his call for duty.

A mature martial artist makes sure he never start a fight, he only makes sure he ends it- in his own terms. It really doesn't matter what style you pursue, the art in the hands of a good Master is a journey of self realization and awareness for the student. It takes you to a point where your insecurities in mind vanish and when insecurity is gone, need to start a fight is gone. Finding fault in others when observed will always, yes ALWAYS go around the world only to lead to our own shortcomings and make us realize we are just projecting it on others, the ego never likes to lose. If a kid is introduced to a balanced martial philosophy early on, will always lead to a well balanced, confident adulthood. Forgiveness has no meaning for the weak minded and weak bodied, a weak minded person's cloak of escapism is forgiveness, its bad for the kids to get it wrong from early on. A good martial life will teach them to step up to the opponent, get to equal terms and then forgive, let go. This dimension to forgiveness is one of many  invaluable lesson a martial life gives, Kalari's philosophy is built on compassion and forgiveness and gives clarity of thought when one is called for a warrior's duty.

Martial arts are not just jumping around, throwing kicks and punches, many so called dojos that produce 'complete rounded fighters' produce just that.... punching n kicking machines. There are skilled exponents and then there are skilled martial artists, there is a difference. I've met some extremely good masters and some shallow ones, for the benefit of those who might read this blog, I request to exercise caution and be as picky as you would be while selecting a school for education while picking a martial arts school. If the master is pompous remember 'nirai kudam talumbaadu'.

Martial art is not just self defense, it hones the attitude, mental alertness ,teaches us how to  deal with pain, deal with defeat and triumph and teaches us to remain equanimous in and outside of the ring. Its like any sport but the mind body relation and interaction is even more intense and its effect on our other aspects of life becomes apparent in due course of time.

Martial arts teaches you life skills the other benefits are just add ons. If one goes with that attitude and reveres his Asan there will be irreversible, irrevocable benefits for life. Once a fighter in the ring, always a fighter outside of it.

As for Kathina Yoga, one of the search prompt took me to below results. Call it dark humor or anything this is the reality of today's world. At least I am sure Katrina in the title of this blog entry will attract some attention which normally is sparse...


Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Dubai, working class, smiles, happiness quotient, facebook etc

It's been long due, given the time I've spent in the Middle East, finally it happened rather belatedly, a week long trip to Dubai.

With world's tallest building and the largest shopping mall to name a few the economic aspirations of the Emirate is obvious. With dwindling oil resources, their move to be a strategic hub between West, East and the Middle East for business and focus on tourism is a mixed bag of success stories. Awe inspiring accomplishments and failed dreams,  trying to bite more than one can chew scenarios, no its actually the opposite, there is too much to bite but a tad few to chew. Empty apartments, office spaces and stalled mega structures cannot be missed.

The collective ego of the society is attention seeking and mostly shallow, an amplified reverberation of self indulgence of the masses comprising of a high % of floating population from across the globe. Some are there to please and some are there to be pleased. Its all about the money, some are there to earn, some are there to burn. It is basically a 'I want' go to city. A place to indulge and just pamper yourself. For fear of sounding all too self righteous, please take note, I was there for the same. Like the nice doc we met put it 'Dubai is good but Saudi is better for family and saving, you can come anytime you want vacation'. I nodded in affirmation.

 The blue and pink collar working class people there in a way are so similar to what we see in Mumbai. If you are willing to work you can have a decent life. It doesn't have a rigid structure and one size 'must' fit all approach like in say Singapore with respect to cost of living. In Dubai  a blue or pink collar expat be it an Indian,a Pakistani, a Pinoy or a Sri Lankan is most likely to find a place to have a meal  at a cost that is affordable and well within their means. The comparison stops there, by no means is the pace in Dubai as hectic as Mumbai.

The Burj Khalifa-  what an epic effort! The very name and its history of how it it went from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa overnight is reflective of the Arab culture of looking out for each other, business built more on relations, trust and honor than just numbers. A project of such magnitude could not have been done without its fair share of pain, struggle and its start up history unfortunately being a part financial meltdown.

 The most intense moment I had at Burj Khalifa was not while at the top of the building looking down at the concrete jungle brightly lit, it was on my way to the exit.  The hordes of pictures of people involved in building right from fitters to engineers to project managers from various countries and from contrasting social strata. The pictures potentially had those whose single month salary might be equivalent to a few decades of savings of some workers that stood alongside them, both flashing a bright smile. No no I am not trying to chastise the society, it is what it is,  I just am sharing the mixed feeling I was left with at that moment.

As for the flashing smiles and greetings,again  there are smiles and smiles. There are these animated 'Hi how are yaa' that puts me off and triggers this 'get your guard up' response to these small gestures and unspoken words from strangers that makes you totally feel at home. And then there are situations when you totally feel at home when your ability to be 'aware' is challenged, like in a bar :-)

The happiness quotient in Dubai. Typical of a place that is focused on boosting tourism and exotic everything. For some happiness quotient tied to bling and the zoom, plastic, glamor and badge value. A.k.a attention seekers and  their happiness quotient directly proportional to their ability to seek attention. Then there is one segment whose phone bills form a major chunk of living expenses living as an expat. Not just Dubai in any country ask any of the expat taxi driver what the best international phone plans are  in that country and who the service provider is, they can tell. For some happiness is in listening to the sons and daughters and the loved ones narrate how their day was from far away. For them its more about paying attention to a smaller circle of near and dear than seeking attention from an ocean of strangers and plastic smiles.

Oh well, sharing is lovely when its for the sake of sharing, it gets dizzy when in name of 'staying connected' one gets into this madness of seeking other's affirmation on good and bad of one's life situations, partner, job, religion, breakfast, lunch, dinner, restroom break, coffee break, hangout spots to name just a few. Ask facebook.

This disease and the fanfare after its cycle of spike, hype and one's own learning cycle, cures by itself. And then what remains is just utter dissatisfaction.Look closer and we can see this unconscious act of seeking affirmation comes from basic insecurity in life. Where is scope for happiness when one is insecure?

 When we start comparing our lives with others, even the pristine aspects of life that are qualitative - contentment, caring and sharing gets polluted and made quantitative and even those noble virtues turns vice. When comparison creeps in  you want to  scale what you are content with, set boundaries on whom you care for and compare and contrast how much you share.

When these acts aren't spontaneous anymore and done for an audience in mind life becomes a business and just a deal with everyone including your so called near and dear.

The volition behind caring and sharing is more important than the act itself.

Well as we go through this life, we all slowly but steadily learn that the externality of life situations can do only as much to be truly happy. Things, achievements, and these fleeting moments in a tourist place can only tickle you at the surface level.

Inherent happiness is from my response to my life situation in full awareness, not from what others make or think of it.

'I' am aware now that this 'I' is seeking affirmation of 'I's understanding of life. So 'I' will stop.

To get back to where I started, like the one word Sun TV end note for new movie review, here is one for my trip.

Dubai to buy.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Vipassana, Isha and Eckhart Tolle

Been a while since my last post, had gone to Isha Yoga, Velliangiri Hills a few weeks ago  for Shoonya Meditation, thought its time for an update. Shoonya a simple tool to get into a state of no mind. While Shambavi Maha Mudra has already made a significant influence on me esp focus and energy level Shoonya will take perseverance and loads of patience to see whats in store with regular practice.

Why Vipassana and Isha in same post?  Both are great means to the same end but the approach is totally different. From what I understand one works on Prajna or awareness (e.g Vipassana) the other on Samadhi. One works to dissolve the 'I' and the other works to detach from the 'I'.

Whatever path one chooses one has to make a decision after a few trial and error and stick to one. As a householder one's well being and one's family's well being needs to be taken care of in tandem with our spiritual pursuits. 

As Sadhguru puts it those who lived in ancient India one's only purpose in life is the realize the Divine, God Almighty whatever one wants to call it. Realize the Divine within and the Divine in all. Every stage in one's life was a perfect balance of family life and spirituality intertwined so well that there was no this and that. Now unfortunately it is what it is.


So why Eckhart Tolle in this discussion? Well for the rationalist, and the ones on the other side of spiritual spectrum he will make a lot of sense. He gives us a lot of tools to maintain moment to moment awareness that everyone can benefit from. He also articulates vividly all the games the mind plays and teaches you to observe the observer. He highlights the biggest blooper of all times 'I think therefore I am'  and makes us realize 'thinking' and the mind is just one aspect of Being and 'I am' is what is. Simple elucidation to help us realize the collective madness - identification with the mind. In simple language he teaches us to bring more awareness and less mind identification.

 Intention of my post is to share the good news. We can switch off from the rattling mind as and when we want to.

How we do it is left to us to choose.