All Maayaaa!!!!!!!!!

Technology....the only thing that's constant in these days are smart phones, Ipads or Tabs & Laptops. I also feel these app's have taken over TV as even the serials are available in the youtube. My day starts with the alarm which comes out from my mobile. I have also seen many people who don't miss their children, if went missing, but definitely become more aware & lost when they loose their mobiles!!

Having said that, I always had an allergy towards computer languages. Dont get me wrong, I am not talking about that usual Excel, Word, Internet & the other day to day stuff. I am talking about those things behind those applications. Those codes. When I was taking training in those horrid stuff, which all college goer was crazed to do, during my college days, I used to wonder what are these "Virtual" stuff they are talking about?? How can an "address" be, when there are actually no houses??? Now, you understand what I mean????? 

Computer Language = Allergy. Similarly, spirituality = allergy. How can you ask me to believe in something I cannot see? God is also Virtual isnt it? So I somehow equated Computer Language = Spirituality. Interesting n'est pas? That's the reason, I have always tried to maintain a distance with both. These things were always beyond my understanding!! Bouncers really.

But when reality meets virtuality or in my words Technology/Spirituality meets reality....its really an interesting watch. This brings in the concept of "Maaya" the "Illusion" so clearly out, that you can never miss out the fun!! Take these instances....

One of those days scenarios, where people used to dance in a trance, listening to either slokas or bhajans being sung. They call it "Saami vandhuduthu". I used to run away from those people. I used to wonder how is this saami coming only to those people & pass on messages?? Something that I can still never understand.

These days scenarios.......How can we miss these???? These are even more comic than people dancing in Godly trance. I don't think anyone would have missed out seeing a person either shouting out "oh yeah!!" in a silent bus. After hearing a shriek, we suddenly wake from the sleep to realise this person has been in an mp3 player trance!! Or should I say most of us are those people in this trance???

This Maya situation is much more common with husbands. The minute the wife starts talking, they get so interested in the app in their hand. Either angry birds or that stupid chase game. But don't we wives take advantage of these situations? We get an Yes for all the usual No answers at that time ;) Its that simple....Maayaa Maaya!!!

One day I was eating breakfast & a colleague entered the office. I called his name & wished him "Good morning" Suddenly he says " Sure sure, I will join you shortly" I am flabbergasted!! Why is he joining me? I hardly have enough breakfast for me. Later, I was to find out, this colleague doesn't even remember saying these things to me!!! All FM radio trance!!

This world is definitely a very funny place to live in. Made more funny by these technologies & the Maaya it creates around us!!!! Long live Spirituality...I mean...Technology!!! All the same isn't it??

Spirituality

"SPIRITUALITY".......this word means so many different things to different people. For some, it means GOD. For some - religion. Yet for some people, the very word gives them pleasure.....as it is to do with SPIRITS (alcohol)!!! But for me, it used to mean....."Oldies Job" not my cup of tea. Really!!!! Life is for fun...what is the point in thinking about Spirituality!!!!

But of late, I have started wondering what Spirituality actually means. Oh no.....I am not That Old!! Nor have I got a complete answer to it. But I keep my search on. From my perspective, spirituality lies in self-growth and so connected with what these days' Corporate Gurus talk about.

Spirituality is definitely not about reading scriptures or having a great knowledge about our history. But it lies in how we interact with people. How loving we are. How we make another person smile. How well we treat another human being.

It does not mean you are not spiritual, if you dont say the day's prayer. It does not mean you are a bad person if you didnt follow your religion. It does not mean you are aspiritual if you have no knowledge about your scriptures & culture. But, when you follow a specific religion, and talk bad about another religion, Oh you are definitely not a spiritual person.

You may be well educated, following a great religious path. But when you cannot treat a person with the respect due to a human being, you fail in spirituality. That is the first lesson I have learnt. Being spiritual is treating others, other religion, with great respect.

Judging people (Paradigms) are the main cause for any day to day crisis and a root cause for Ego. How can you be a spiritual person when you carry on with this??????? And a person who fails to love him/herself?????? How loving can they be towards others??

I have come to understand the word spirituality is living a life filled with Love and smiles. When you spread Love & Smile.....you forget about being religious, forget having pre-judged notions. No one is superior & no one is inferior as well.

Spirituality starts with Love. More loving we are More spiritual we are too!!!

This is only my point of view and definitely not meant to demean any body's idea about spirituality.
I, now, love being called a spiritual person......I hope I attain a high level of spirituality. My search is on.........

Why me????

When all of us go through problems in life, the only question that we tend to ask is "Why me, Oh God!! Why ever me??" Seldom do we realise God is pestered with this question by all Living beings!! Who knows!!! seeing so many people asking this question, may be even God is thinking "Oh my! my! Why me???"

Even I have asked this question many times. Like all of us, I have been told the usual words "This too will pass!" "The tunnel always ends & there is light out of the tunnel" etc etc. Oh!! for my share, I have said these words a countless number of times. Even to my mom! Life's easiest job is to say these words, while others listen. But the only thing the hearer wants to say to this would be "Oh yeah!! You know everything isnt it?? You should be in my shoes, then I will see what you say!!"

Times may be bad, for very long time, but upon reflection on crossing that, we always feel PROUD of those days. Proud of what we did to cross that path. We may be good in the normal course of life. Maybe getting what we want, will make us proud. But wont that be a monotonous life? How much victory can we take at one time?  We may even end up getting frustrated with that victory. We need a Jhatka man!!! We need a thunder bolt to wake us up from our monotonous life!!!!

We may not be getting what we want. I am not saying the outcome after the dark age will be what you actually want, but, whatever we end up with, we definitely end up more matured, more wise, why! more grown up!! We enjoy life more. We understand the value of people around us. We understand the value of ourselves. We understand our capability. We understand what this life is all about and how worthy to be alive!

God gives us those Jhatkhas to make us realise our worth!! You have more trouble in life?? You are a very worthy person!! More capable than the person telling you this! Doesn't the teacher always scolds the person who gets 99% rather than the person getting 45%?? Why? the person getting 99% is more capable of getting the 100% than the one getting 45%. There'll be no point in ranting over the person getting 45%! When teachers can think this way, do you think God thinks different? More problems, God finds you more capable and thats why YOU!

We may never acheive what we want, but fighting the loss is always such a wonderful journey. Oh! I wouldnt want to miss it for anything!! And when someone else is being God's favourite, the only thing we can end up doing is, pray that they get the strength to face the realisation! Because, may be the path they are taking at the moment is a shit hole! But when they come out of it, they are the WINNERS! Oh! Nothing can be compared to joy that would bring in their life!

This is my sincere dedication to all those people having the life of being God's favourite! We are fighters and will always be the winners. Let us not ask "Why me?" But lets always say....."God...please...Why not me???"

The "Maamiar Syndrome" :)

I was spending some time with my lady friends recently and out came the most interesting topic of all women!!!! The "Monster-In-Law" a.k.a "Mother-In-Law". Yeah, every woman, will have something to say against their MIL, however wonderful they are. I have no right to say this, having a wonderful MIL, but this topic never ceases to interest me.

However lovely a mother is, when she becomes a Mother-in-Law, she ceases to be lovely but becomes a NIGHTMARE!!!! So, being as interested as I am, I put my over-imaginative mind to work and started thinking what would be the root cause of this problem and you know what I came up with???? You will never guess......Each one of us, with gender no bar, is a Mother-In-Law!!! yeah, go on, laugh, but I wont go back on this!! You want to know why???? The main reason the tiff starts between a MIL & DIL is "ADAPTING TO CHANGES".

Just think! Put your self in this position. You are the King/Queen of your place. Whatever you say becomes the Bible. Suddenly, in comes a new person, says something new, different from what you would have done, and people who were nodding heads to you, nod differently. How will you feel????????????????????? Don't say"Oh! I am very sensible. I will never say no to changes!" I would say, everyone has something that they are very dear to. And when a change comes in that, they become a Maamiyar (MIL)!!! Oh!! This does not exclude me at all!!! I am a VERY BIG MAAMIAR!!!!

Having established that we all are Maamiar's, let me share with you a few instances where some Maamiar syndromes gave me a laugh!

Maamiar # 1 : - ME!! Me!! me!!! I had some issues with my convention oven. Whenever I tried to use the grill function, as per the book, my oven was getting overheated and always went off to cooling within 3 minutes. It took me 1 hr to get something done, which actually required less than 15 minutes. I kept complaining and took my oven to the service center. This guy serviced it and said there is nothing wrong. Raja kept telling me that I didn't know to use the microwave and he will teach me how to do it!! And my reaction??? "Huh! As if he would know! This man, who doesn't enter the kitchen is sitting in the highstand and talking about cooking in a microwave???? What will he know!!! HUH!!! he has a bloody husband syndrome!!!! And me???? So great a cook!! (ok ok...this is my mind talking) I have to take his advice????? How hilarious!!!! Hmmmmmm" Then one day, I was frying french fries in the oven. it took me about 1 hr to get about 200 gms of french fries done. Then Raja relished it and asked me for some more!! And that too he wanted it immediately. I tried telling him it would take me another 1 hr to get it done. But he was in such a great hurry!! SO.............................I decided to take my chance. I said with a sweet smile "You said you will teach me no??? Why not now? Do some french fries on your own and then teach me??" I was very sure, he would come back in 5 minutes being disappointed and then!!!! I CAN GLOAT!!! WOW!!!!! What a feeling it would be right??? But...........he didn't return in 5 minutes. It took him 10 minutes!!! And he didn't come alone......he was accompanied by a plate of, golden, crispy french fries, very well done!!! AND that too in just 10 minutes!!!!! My heart took a deeeeeeeeeeeep dip!!!!! What a Maamiar I am!!!!!! :)

Maamair # 2 : - Raja, ofcourse!!! Why to spare him?? :D. Raja is very much interested in photography. And he always plans and gets some addition to his kit. He was planning to get a new lens. I am not a great enthusiast about these things and I usually just keep nodding my head at whatever he says. After a long wait, he came to know that there was a sale happening in the Citi-centers and he would be able to get this lens at a huge discount. So while we were going for a long drive, we were passing through Mall of Emirates and suddenly he remembered this discount offer and said, lets go here and get the lens! But I felt this offer was not valid in the MOE and I told him. He looked at me and said "Ranju!! I know!!" It was a the weekend, it was very difficult to get a parking. But, for a lens, at a lower price, why not take this small difficulty?? So within 45 minutes, we found a parking and went to the mall, and attacked shop after shop. After about another 45 minutes, Raja found the exact lens he was looking for!!! By that time, I was really bored and had started looking at what the food courts had to offer. I was just waiting for Raja to finish the deal so that I can take him across to the food court and make him get me some Baskin Robins ice cream. Raja finished checking the lens, got some accessories and he was very happy he found the right one. He went to the counter, and took his wallet calculating the discounted value of the lens. He was so happy & proud that he made a good deal. He kept giving me the "Achiever" smile. Then when he saw the bill, his face crumpled. He said "Why is the discount not applied?" the shop wala says innocently "What discount sir?" Raja had even brought the newspaper cutting where this discount was mentioned, he opened it and showed him, "this one!" Raja was thinking "What!! You think I am mad??" then the shop wala slyly showed Raja the cutting again "Sir! its mentioned here, "Except Mall of Emirates"" By then I was sure I was not going to get my Baskin Robins & so very boldly said "Pondatti sonna kettukanum!!! Purinchudha???" meaning....you should always listen to your wife, understand??? haahaahaa.....maamiar.....maamiar!!!

Maamiar # 3 : - My colleague. This person was supposed to deliver something in Fujairah and that needed to be done in a hurry. He was very unhappy with the timeline that was given to him. He kept grumbling about it to everyone in the office. So, someone came to tell him, "Why are you cribbing so much? there is a new route opened now and you can reach there in less than hour's time from Dubai". This person said "Are you joking? I am driving all over UAE & I know all the routes very well! And you are telling me that there is a new route?? And IF there is a new route, you think you will know about it before I know??? Huh! I will bet my month's salary that you are wrong." Thus the bet was finalized. Next day, this person went to deliver and within 1 hr, another person, who is not aware of this bet receives a call from him, where he says "Sirji, there is now a new route to Fujairah! It takes you only 45 mins to reach from Dubai, next time you go, you ask me for direction ok Sirji?" Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!! What a maamiar!!!!

Now tell me, haven't you all experienced such situation atleast once in your life? Moreover, haven't you been a maamiar in those situations????

Jokes apart, in this world, where change is the only constant, all of us go through this "Mamaaiar Syndrome" at some point or the other. But, realising this and adpating best to those changes that happen in our lives, makes us a better person to live with!

Happy Living!!

Lucky Buzz!

I was going through my old note books and came upon this. I had written this many years before, but when I looked at it now, thought how apt it is for life at all point. This may lack many things and look even childish but the point is really matured!! Sharing this with you....

WHO IS LUCKY!!!

Buzz buzz buzz buzz
Came the bee
"You are Lucky"
Said the bee..

"A Million dollars

You are to win

And thats the reason

For you to be lucky"

"Oh No!" I told the bee

"No one's lucky,

With the dollars pricky!

And I'll tell you -

Who is the most lucky!"

"There was a man

Who rose with the sun.

Day in and Day out -

He worked his breath out."

"Times were hard

For the price grew harsh.

But his happiness ne'er ceased;

And his life a blissful peace."

"The life was his -

Was 'round the girl of his.

Whom he rushed to see

Always when the work came to the sea"

"At the sight of her,

Came his thoughts, forever -

"Oh God!! Bless me always -

To be with this girl of pretty face!""

"Oh! Buzzy Bee -

Now, do you see?

For luck is not in dollars,

More than the love from the others!"

:) How true!!!!! On this joyous occassion of Diwali - the festival of Joy, lets spread the love and joy to all the others!!! Happy Diwali!!!

The fluctuating mind

I often wonder how one's mind can waver sooooooooooooooooooooooo much. Mine is behaving like an erratic pendulam as I write this. One minute its panicky...the next, joy....the next, anger....the next loathsomeness........The cause........What not???? But mainly the thought of "What do I do?" sickens me.

I hear about the global warming and I keep asking myself...."What do I do??"
Do I curse our previous generations for depleting our resources?
Do I conduct talk shows to discuss...."Is the world really going to end in 2012?"
Do I go around advising people to do things correctly????
WHAT DO I DO??????

I hear about the many revolutions that causes many loss. So..."What do I do?"
Do I go and negotiate between the two parties?
Do I write slogans advising what to do????
Do I go and join the blue cross????
WHAT DO I DO?????

I hear about some terrorist attacks at home...So now..."What do I do?"
Throw a panic tantrum and run mad trying and retrying to call all the near & dear ones??
Go to the attacked area and investigate "what went wrong" after the attack?
Cry around, blaming one politician after the other - the CM, the Home Minister, the PM
Oh I left out our most delightful neighbours!!!!
But WHAT DO I REALLY DO????

These atrocious things that are happening, is totally out of MY control......
I CANNOT change the world..........No...I am not defeated.......
I am no genius, who can be at the forefront to solve all the mysteries of the world.
And neither do I want to sit back and point fingers at others for their misgivings...........

I want to bring about a change in me..........
I am going to say NO......
No to bribery
No to tax avoidance
No to wastage of energy
No to anything illegal & Immoral
I am going to say YES
Yes to loving & spreading love
Yes to pray that none of my fellow humans go through brutality
Yes to empathise with people suffering from all the mishaps in the world
Yes to giving my ears to them whenever they want....For one always feels richer after letting out his heart

I cannot do anything else than the above....But I am going to do my bit.......I hope you would too...

JAI HIND!!! Long live this world!!! Long live humanity!!! Long live LOVE!!!!

Happy all the way!!!

If there is onething in this world that cannot be bought.....Its happiness!!! For me....Happiness is not getting a hike, or getting a new house or getting material things...It means a "world" of small things....But my most important things!!

The smile in my parents' photo, at the start of everyday, telling me the day is going to be great :)
A sleepy "Bye..Have a nice day!!" from my sweet heart when I leave the house everyday
"Love you chellam" from my anna everytime I speak to him
A smile of greeting from Raja when he comes to pick me up
"Genie maami makes nice food" from my sweet lil niece
Cooking a mundane lunch and getting "mmm...tasty!!" comments
"Nice to have you around" & "missed you" from my friends
The smell of sweat after a gruelling work out
The content after an early hour of dancing
A book to read after a looong work day
A strong cup of tea in the middle of a work day
The satisfaction of a job done after hours of stress
The few precious hours spent in the company of my loved ones..
And to top it all....the feeling of being LOVED!!!!!!
Happiness and bliss.....All the way!!

I dedicate this blog to a person who reciprocates these thoughts, as her b'day gift!!! A person who prayed for Raja & my happiness, when she was young to even pronounce her name properly. Love you Sweet heart!!! Hope you have a lovely life full of happiness!!!! Love you Saatvi!