Business to the Buddha

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  • Paris attacks – Solution please!







    PeaceHow would the Buddha look at the scenario of Paris attack? Or any other terrorist attack? I was wondering with the same sadness and anger as any other person. I twitted also regarding the Paris attack. However, there came an afterthought, what would the Buddha do? How would the Buddha react to such incidents? Well, I cannot think as the Buddha may think. So I started thinking on the basic lessons of the Buddha. There are four noble truths –

    1. There is suffering,
    2. There is a cause of suffering,
    3. There is an end to suffering, and
    4. Sufferings can end if one follows eight fold path

    Everyone agrees, there is a problem of terrorism (suffering). What I think is – The Buddha will approach the problem of terrorism by analyzing it – what is the cause of this suffering. No doubt if there is suffering we can safely assuming there could be an end to it. In this case I believe the Buddha would try to analyze the problem and suggest a solution (as he suggested eight fold path).

    So, I tried searching for possible reasons for Syria issue (I am not touching the terrorist activities of Taliban and Pakistan sponsored terrorist activities for this blog). There were various impacts I tried analyzing such as – why ISIS came into existence? A first level answer to it was Iraq war. Is it really an issue of 2003 Iraq war? Then I read this – You Can’t Understand ISIS If You Don’t Know the History of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia so I started questioning on the very purpose of existence of ISIS? I started creating analogy of creation of Taliban (by USA) to fight former USSR and ISIS as one sub-section of Saudi Arabia. I may be completely wrong in the analogy however who gains if the ideology of ISIS gains more ground worldwide? Is it a problem of religious supremacy or political and power struggle? Perhaps it is both – I could not conclude on that with fair bit of confidence. I left the question aside for some time.

    The other side I heard of Syria crisis is power struggle of Shia and Sunni faith of Islam which is contesting of supremacy. Sunni Muslims of Saudi Vs Shia Muslims of Iran are fueling the fight in a third country Syria. So, it is getting more garbled within the religion itself.

    I moved to analyze the other thing – what is the impact of refugees fleeing to Europe? Does Europe need to show that much mercy to the fighting clans? Is Europe responsible for the mess and therefore it is moral responsibility of Europe to provide shelter to the refugees? Or it is economical requirement of Europe to have working hands for its economy? If these 500,000+ refugees are coming to Europe would it impact the religious balance of Europe? I think the growth rate of European Muslim population is already alarming. So, what is the impact? If the impact of this is intolerance and terrorist attack by fanatics, Europe may close the doors to refugees who knows?

    Many refugees are coming to save their lives and other for improved standard of living. The – currently unknown – leaders sitting in their offices / mansions are letting people die (whether a Christian, Jew, Hindu, Sikh or a Muslim) to have a last laugh. All these are “craving” in the opinion of the Buddha. Method for working on these craving can be same (eight fold path) however for each type of craving the approach may differ.

    The question is – would the leaders, refugees and the terrorists follow the path of the Buddha?

    1. Perfect Vision,
    2. Perfected Emotion,
    3. Right speech,
    4. Right action,
    5. Right livelihood,
    6. Right effort,
    7. Right mindfulness, and
    8. Right meditation

    If the answer is even a 1% “NO”, this is what an after thought could be –

    Related Terrorist meets The Buddha.

  • Instructions – Sleep






    1. Put your left hand in Chin mudraanuloma
    2. With your right hand thumb close right nostril
    3. Middle two fingers of right hand on forehead
    4. Ring finger of right hand on left nostril
    5. Close left nostril and open right nostril
    6. Breath in with right nostril
    7. Close right nostril
    8. Open left nostril
    9. Breath out with left nostril
    10. Breath in with left nostril
    11. Close left nostril
    12. Open right nostril
    13. Breath out with right nostril
    14. Breath in with right nostril and repeat the process

    When I heard these instruction while doing alternate nostril breathing (Anulom Vilom Pranayam) I was thinking these instructions sound so complicated and small but too many to follow. Yet when you practice this it is very simple.

    At times it is easier to DO than following instructions or even listening to them, isnt it?

    I read on a website that (Source) – “it (alternate nostril breathing) is a calming centring practice that will help you to unwind from your daily activities”. Another website which lists 12 benefits of this Pranayam states that it helps improve your quality of sleeping. (Source). The last sentence I want to reiterate is – at times “one must just do it”

    The topic of LBC Sleep (Generally, I change these topics a bit) suggested by Padmum for the weekly Friday Loose Bloggers Consortium where currently eight of us are supposed to write on the same topic every Friday (This time too I am bit late). The seven other bloggers who are expected to write regularly are, in alphabetical order, Ashok, gaelikaa, Lin, Maxi, Padmum, Rummuser and Shackman. Do drop in on their blogs and see what their take is on this week’s topic. Since some of them may post late, or not at all this week, do give some allowance for that too!

    Image source – http://www.indovacations.net/yoga/anuloma-viloma.htm

  • Beggar and a Celestial being







    One day, by the side of a beggar, a golden chariot with divine being descended from the sky. The beggar thought that he was lucky and would become rich. But to his surprise, the divine being asked him for alms. Cursing his stars and out of disgust, the beggar took out a small Piece of grain from his bag and offered it to the divine being.

    The whole day, the beggar was very unhappy that he had lost a grain. Before going to sleep, the beggar opened his bag to see what he had collected throughout the day. To his great surprise, he found a piece of gold in the form of a grain. He immediately realized it was in return for what he had given to the Celestial being. He cursed himself for not having given all that he had in his possession.’

    Learn to give. The more you give the more will you receive in return; if you hoard, it would only be for others.

    Related blogs – Interdependent coarising, Random act of kindness, Just do it… ok try it, Three Avocados

    Source – I read this story in a book of Swami Sukhbodhananda Oh Mind relax please.

  • Tolerance







    Recently I heard of Sahitya Akademi award controversy. The issue at hand is – many intellectuals are returning their awards conferred to them by the Govt. Sahitya Akademi is a National organization for literature, it is under the ministry of culture Govt of India.

    Since, I am not in India currently so the source for all this happening was internet. The spark for these events is – brutal murder of an author, rationalist and scholar Mr M M Kalburgi. By the way, I searched on Wikipedia – he was a Lingayat. No, I am not going to say that READ HERE again! Resignation

    So according to my knowledge – Mr Kalburgi was a Sahitya Akademi awardee of 2006. He – being a rationalist – opposed idol worshiping. In India it is fine to follow any religion and practice the rituals suggested in the religion. Idol worship is prominent in India. I too believe it is fine not to worship idol. At the same time, I am fine with people worshiping idols, it is their preference. However, killing Mr Kalburgi – who is against idol worship – is not acceptable.

    I came to know about the Sahitya Akademi award return (by many previous awardees) is influenced by another event in India – a cold blooded murder of a person. Mob killed a person because it was rumored that he has eaten beef! Eating beef is a norm in western world are we going to kill the foreigners too? I am a vegetarian and my belief is we should not kill to eat. Also, if selling/eating beef in India is not legal it does not mean mob can kill a person based on that rumor. Here is a video in which Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is sharing his opinion on why one should not eat beef (and other things)

    Another news I read recently is killing of 2 kids of Dalit family in Haryana. What are we doing? It is surprising.

    All these points boiled down to tolerance for me. We need to be accepting people’s opinion and not be selective.

    Out of curiosity I thought to check opinion on Ramana uncle (generally I call him to ask for his opinion, but currently it is expensive to do that). I searched on his site for tolerance and found this blog – Ramana Uncle on MF Hussein. This blog is on events happened around the kind of work M. F. Hussein has done.

    Even if we talk about tolerance, freedom of expression etc it does not mean one gets the right to evoke sentiments the way Mr Hussein did neither it gives authority to kill others.

    Image source – Twitter (unfortunately I dont have the link)

  • Family – Lingayats







    “Vasudhev Kutumbakam” is a concept in Indian (Hindu philosophy) culture. It means “one world family” that is – whole world irrespective of caste, color, creed or belief system is one family. I received this message recently on whatsapp –

    I crossed my street ?, they asked my caste
    Crossed my district/town???, they asked my city
    Crossed my state ???, they asked my native language
    And I became an Indian ?? only after I crossed my country ✈!

    These things sound different but are related. It may have been true with many, but I had another experience recently. Basaveshwara – poor fellow – died this time in similar sounding country – Canada – than the Kannada where he belonged 800 years back. I feel bad to write “poor fellow” to refer to the saint. I wrote that because of the community he created – Lingayats. I belong to the same and it has missed his thoughts completely.

    I am in Canada and went to attend an event recently. In that event, people generally asked me where are you from where do you work, where do your parents live (as I am from India and others are also Indians). It was all fine to me until one young lady (I will call her Ima) asked me the same questions. I made her name as Ima for Ila’s Mother. I was playing with this 4 year old baby for a while and to hide the identities of these people I have changed the names.

    I said I work in Mumbai, my parents live in MP. Ima said ‘so you are from MP?’ I said yes, I am born in MP but basically I am a Kannadiga.

    Ima probed – Ok where in Karnataka?

    I said our forefathers migrated long back we belonged to Gulbarga.Lingayatism Wiki

    Ima took little more interest this time and further asked – What community are you?

    “I am a Lingayat of Karnataka. Are you aware about the community?” I asked.

    Ima said – “Yes I am a lingayat too, do you worship the ling?”

    The worship she was referring to is a fundamental practice of Lingayats. I was told this by my father, and at times he did it, I said no to her question on the worship.

    “So what kind of lingayat are you?” Was a very blunt statement she made.

    I said except eating rice I am a North Indian.

    The next thing she said was – “You know in Lingayats there are various divisions?”

    This lady knows me as a Lingayat in last two sentences not more! The first question was about the ritual and second was about Caste! According to my knowledge When Basava formed Lingayatism he created it because he disagreed with the caste system. Check image.

    I told Ima – “You know what? Basveshwara formed or say resurrected Lingayatism on a concept of – all humans are born equal, and a person is known from his deeds and not his birth. This is what I have read on wikipedia.”

    Ima did not speak with me after that. Yes that is true, I was sitting there for next 5 minute, in fact I was playing with her 4 year old daughter Ila also. On the other side of the hemisphere Basvershwara died once again (after 800 years). Not in Kannada speaking place but a place which sounds similar – Canada. This is how the Families we have created in India. Are we becoming hypocrite? We talk about one world family and then we ask about caste perhaps the sub-caste!

    I feel very good when I connect with one of the Indian concept – “Vasudhev Kutumbakam”. Vasudhev Kutumbakam means one world family. Art of living foundation promotes the same, unfortunately I met Ima in an Art of Living event in Canada.

    Wish the statement of Whatsapp becomes a reality beyond the country point too – Vasudhev Kutumbakam.

    The topic of LBC Family (Generally, I change these topics a bit) suggested by Maria for the weekly Friday Loose Bloggers Consortium where currently eight of us are supposed to write on the same topic every Friday. The seven other bloggers who are expected to write regularly are, in alphabetical order, Ashok, gaelikaa, Lin, Maxi, Padmum, Rummuser and Shackman. Do drop in on their blogs and see what their take is on this week’s topic. Since some of them may post late, or not at all this week, do give some allowance for that too!

    Related Blog on Lingayatism.

  • Cheating, with whom?







    The air I breath you too breath the same so does the ex-CEO of VW Martin Winterkorn.

    Recently, there was a huge issue of VW vehicles cheating emission testing, it resulted in heads being rolled and stock price plummeting. VWWhat Volkswagen did was – it programmed its models starting 2009 till 2015 such that during US standards testing (NOx) were met only during laboratory testing. According to Wikipedia the NOx emissions during normal driving was ~35X higher.

    Similarly Toshiba had been involved with accounting fraud. Toshiba continued doing this under three different CEOs. Had it been under only one we would have thought that it was more on personal level and not on organizational level. There are many more such cheating by the way. ToshibaThese things affect not just one person, it affects everyone – irrespective of whether you drive VW car or you are a Deer (may be a lion) for that matter. I wonder if those sitting on the top wants to go where from there! These cheating made me think – who are these people cheating? It was a question during rainy seasons in Mumbai. Roads of Mumbai get terrible during rainy seasons. You can barely avoid seeing a pothole on road. This is a normal scene – generally – across India. I asked this once on Twitter –

    The point I am trying to make is – the constructors of Mumbai roads are driving their vehicle on the same road, the employees of VW are also breathing the same air which is polluted by their vehicle. Similarly, Toshiba employees must be holding shares of Toshiba! Who are they trying to cheat? And why?

    Wish these people who are involved in such activities realize that they are effectively cheating themselves too. If they do world would become little better.

    I am sure some or the other interest groups, political circles must be pickin’ and grinnin’ and enjoying those events – VW and Toshiba. Wonder if those pickin’ and grinnin’ now would help improve the overall system instead of being selective.

    The topic of LBC was pickin’ and grinnin’ (Generally, I change topic of LBC) suggested by Lin for the weekly Friday Loose Bloggers Consortium where currently eight of us are supposed to write on the same topic every Friday. The seven other bloggers who are expected to write regularly are, in alphabetical order, Ashok, gaelikaa, Lin, Maxi, Padmum, Rummuser and Shackman. Do drop in on their blogs and see what their take is on this week’s topic. Since some of them may post late, or not at all this week, do give some allowance for that too!

    Related blogs – Games Indians play.

  • Mumbai’s Vada pav







    This video I checked a couple of weeks back somewhere. If you do not understand Marathi, read the subtitles perhaps watch twice.

    Liked the video thought to share it here.

    Source – Pocket Films – Short Films Channel

  • Work is worship







    I was speaking with Fateh uncleji for more than 1/2 an hour. We were talking about many things from Indian politics to my work. When we were to conclude the talk after these long discussions, I told him I called you because I connect with you on spiritual level, I didn’t want to talk about Indian politics, corruption and my work.

    The voice from the other side said – “Work and spirituality live in the backyard of each other” The conviction in the voice was tremendous. I asked “seriously? Is that? It never happened to me.” (I was not sure if it had happened to me)

    When I blog on business to the Buddha – I see the relationship at a macro level. The daily struggles of activities does not make me realize if operationally it is happening.

    The conviction was tremendous. I was puzzled. It was already a long call so we concluded the call. But the resounding words were enough for me to lose my sleep. I felt is it really happening with people? I could not find the relationship at operational level. Am I missing something? Am I missing something in my daily execution? How do I achieve it? What do I do differently?

    As usual, I called Saxena Sir (Dr Anand Saxena, my Engineering college professor), in general and specially to discuss this one sentence – “Work and spirituality live in the backyard of each other”. I have always found that he adds a perspective on my questions; opinions that I never thought. He changes my paradigm of thinking, always.

    I called Saxena sir and told about my meeting with Fateh uncle and my telephonic conversation. When I said “Work and spirituality live in the backyard of each other”, and continued that it has never happened to me as such. He responded without a second’s delay – “Pravin, do you remember the logo of MITS?” [Madhav Institute of Technology and Science is my engineering college where I studied and Dr Saxena was HoD of my Department]

    MITSI responded – “yes of course.” I had the pictures in my mind, snakes and sun, water, it’s easy to remember pictures.

    He asked – “what is written on the logo?” I knew what is written on the logo. I got the drift, because until a second back I was thinking of the pictures on the logo but now I was thinking – “Work is worship.” I understand where he is going.

    It was a very small, straightforward and simple explanation. Saxena sir always surprises me. He makes things look easy, adds a perspective and takes me to a different plane.

    Perhaps, these discussions were very commonplace for you; however these two telephonic conversations made me unclutter myself a bit. There is still a lot of room to do that.

    Saxena sir and I concluded the call. And I questioned myself – am I making things complicated? Is it really too simple? Perhaps.

    That is where the real Business to the Buddha lies. Is not it look so simple? The Buddha also suggested that what he achieved could have been achieved without taking Sanyas. Perhaps that is why he proposed The Middle Path. What is your take?

    Did it occur to you – “Work and spirituality living in the backyard of each other?”

  • Clinging to wealth







    prayer of frogThere have been many Messiah, and many have learnt to have peaceful life because of them. There are many who have learnt violence, the lessons were given and listeners have learnt what “they wanted” to learn. It is up to you what you learn.

    The invention of this story is not to hurt any religious sentiments. Here goes the story.

    A wealthy farmer burst into his home one day and cried out in an anguished voice, “Rebecca, there is a terrible story in town—the Messiah is here!”

    “What’s so terrible in that?” asked his wife. “I think it’s great. What are you so upset about?”

    “What am I so upset about?” the man exclaimed. “After all these years of sweat and toil we have finally found prosperity. We have a thousand head of cattle; our barns are full of grain and our trees laden with fruit. Now we will have to give it all away and follow him.”

    “Calm down,” said his wife consolingly. “The Lord our God is good. He knows how much we Jews have always had to suffer. We had a Pharaoh, a Haman, a Hitler—always somebody. But our dear God found a way to deal with them all, didn’t He? Just have faith, my dear husband. He will find a way to deal with the Messiah too.”

    Source – Prayer of the Frog Vol I and Vol II by Father .

  • Think it over!







    This is a wonderful video. I just got it on Whatsapp thought to share it without any opinion, just watch and ponder, writing anything regarding the thoughts of speaker would make me wander in very many directions. So better just watch it.

    “Oh my god!” Have you ever thought about those things, speaker is speaking?

    This video made me literally say – Oh My God! the topic for LBC (Friday Loose Bloggers Consortium) blog. But I thought that those who can understand must think seriously on what the speaker says. So, I didn’t title this blog – Oh my god. Other bloggers who write regularly are, in alphabetical order – Ashok,  gaelikaa,  Lin,  Maxi, Padmum,  Ramana Uncleji,  Shackman and The Old Fossil. Do drop in on their blogs and see what their take is on this week’s topic. This time I was the one who posted very late, do visit blogs of others they must have posted their opinions too.