Let the thoughts fly

Cool Ad

2009-05-08T18:22:00.006-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8Tsr1zmP9U

Buddism...Responding to AS's post...

2009-05-03T22:19:00.002-07:00

After reading John Hargen's article in Slate and Daniel Florien's pronouncement that Buddhism needs to be scrapped, I wonder if either of them struck to the literal translations of the teachings of Buddhism and tried to find solace in those. As is always the case with all the religions, the intent of the teacher is misunderstood by his disciples. Sure, they jot down his teachings studiously word by word - but what I have observed and read about many religious books - is that the intent is more important than the meaning of the literal word - because meaning of the word changes over time.

For example, the word "truth" itself had a problem in this introduction to tenets of Buddhism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths

Some may see "truths" as a mistranslation (one author cites "realities" as a possibly better choice: these are things, not statements, in the original grammar.[4]) However, the original Tibetan Lotsawas (Sanskrit: locchāwa; Tibetan: lo ts'a ba), who studied Sanskrit grammar thoroughly, did translate the term from Sanskrit into Tibetan as "bden pa" which has the full meaning of "truth".

But Buddhism is first and best rational attempt to date as an organized religion which takes "God" or "Personal God" out of equation as far as evidence of human history suggests. The foundation is in the philosophy and spritual teachings of Vedic Religion(Hinduism) but without the rituals and trappings of Hinduism. But ultimately it died in India w/o these support of the ritual and social structure. As Swami Vivekananda - a brilliant sage himself put it - the disciples overreached and forgot the intent of the teachings of Buddha.

While Buddhism declared that "desire" is cause of all suffering and wanted people to eschew this trait - it runs contrary to our current popular wisdom that "desire" is what is necessary in today's world. It is not the cause of suffering, but a route to finding happiness by fulfilling this desire. Many philosophers have since analyzed this desire, Schopenhauer being the most famous in the western hemisphere - Apparently he concluded that there is no "end" to this desire.

If John Hargen and Daniel Florien want to accomodate science with Buddhism, they are taking a wrong approach. Buddhism, never tried to explain science or never made an attempt to attribute the unexplainable things to God as other religions do. Apparently they also don't seem to understand "intent" of some of the words in easter religions like "Karma" or "Detachment" which are expoused and treatised by many scholars and philoshophers. But I can see their bafflement with "Reincarnation" - in this modern world it is difficult to understand the very existence of this concept. But 2500+ years ago, it is explained as a vehicle to do some good in this present life so as to achieve a better life in the next incarnation.

On the whole, for me, two lectures from that great Sage Vivekananda made me comfortable on what a religion means. Having grown up in pantheon of gods and goddess in India, along side with monotheistic and atheistic religions - it made me despair until I found what were suitable reasonings to me.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Complete_Works_of_Swami_Vivekananda/Volume_1/Lectures_And_Discourses/What_Is_Religion

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Complete_Works_of_Swami_Vivekananda/Volume_1/Lectures_And_Discourses/Reason_And_Religion

American Political System....

2009-05-02T23:10:00.001-07:00

Why is US such a stable and strong nation politically and socially compared to other nations? Throughout its history of just more than 200 years, it seems to me that it is one of the countries with least political and social turmoils especially when compare to most of the nations around the world.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that it has best of all the political philosophies in the world working in tandem. It seems unbelievable yet its true. This co-opting of different political,social and economic systems provide the foundation for the most vibrant society in the world. With the help of these systems, it has progressed to achieve most technological advances during 20th century directly leading to the highest standards of living for most of its population.

Think about it. It has a two party political system which is as close to a communist party political control as possible. It enforces order by forcing its citizens to choose alternatively between the two parties whenever one party overreaches and falls out of popularity. It makes sure that only two mainstream candidates are present most of the time in all political battles - rest of them are trounced in primaries or inconsequential independents - making sure that only best of each side can duke it out.

It has a market based economy(capitalism) which thrives on least path of resistance. Goods are manufactured and services are rendered as efficiently as possible. It drives innovation and growth in the different segments of the economy. The prices are controlled by the market, the procurement and distribution of the materials is done in transparent manner in the open market. Of course, where regulation fails, this philosophy fails. So regulation is the second 'party' to the capitalism. There is a third component to it called "creative destruction" - which makes it necessary to shed the bloated wasted that gathers over a time in the economy.

It has a broad social safety net (socialism). The citizens are guaranteed social security from the government after retirement. They have unemployment insurance to get through the bad times. There are vast programs of different subsidized medical services for older generation. There are food stamp program and federal low-income housing programs that give poor people - a subsidized subsistence.

It also has a strong streak of civil libertarianism through its constitution. It also has strong institutional support for civil liberties in terms of its executive, judiciary and legislative branches of government with enough checks and balances. (Noting Slavery and segregation, it is through this system that these civil liberties were fulfilled and those practices abolished).

Well, there are couple of other models that still exist in the world - monarchy and feudalism - which are definitely out of fashion since the fall of British Empire.

Last but not in any way the least, freedom of press - fourth estate. It is strong and getting stronger through various media. This has been a very strong institution in US and it helped keep its leaders and people in hooked to the realities of the world. It has championed peoples cause, informed them and checked excesses of the leaders.

All in all, it is a remarkable political and social system. It has survived very remarkably - without a figure head in its democracy because of these systems. These systems have been developed over a period of time, culminating in the sixties - launching itself into the modern times as strongest and idealistic nation for the humanity.

What is

2009-04-27T22:07:00.001-07:00

the most important and revolutionary book ever written, be it religions, sciences, philosophies, economics and arts?

Why Tolerance?

2009-04-24T21:48:00.006-07:00

Holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if any body dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and point out to him that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written, in spite of resistance : "Help and not Fight," "Assimilation and not Destruction," "Harmony and Peace and not Dissension."

-Swami Vivekananda,27th Sep,1893 at Chicago World Fair.

Lost Horizon

2008-07-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

"Lost Horizon" by James Hilton is a remarkable and intriguing novel. It seems as though the very place called "Shangri-La" has been invented in this novel before it has become synonymous with the ever-lasting relaxation the major luxury resort chain offers in various parts of the world. One would be very hard pressed not to try and think more about this wonderful place after reading this novel. Even though the setting of the novel is in the early 30's - the reading offers a narrative which compels the reader in any age to desire - to find a place of ever-lasting youth and long death-defying life.

Who wouldn't want to live in such a place? If indeed such a place exists is for user's imagination to comprehend or possibly try and set out to find such a place - which I think had been already done by thousand of people (I guess by the people after this novel is published) - the underlying narrative in the novel itself is very much a self contemplation of oneself.

After reading the novel, it would be probably hard for any one not to think vicariously. What does a place like Shangri-La means to you? Would you like to be in such a place at all? What is your personal Shangri-La? Are you willing to spend such a long time in your Shangri-La and be bound there and die there whenever the time comes?

Insight Bowl and New Year Party

2008-01-05T21:12:00.001-07:00

Hey,

Here are the pictures from Insight tailgate party, Insight Bowl and Insight Fiesta Block Party (New Year party) in Tempe.

Cactuses on SouthMountain - Phoenix.

2008-01-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

On a recent hike one of the SouthMoutain Trails, I had the pleasure to capture many of the different shapes that cactus can grow. By no means it is a complete list of shapes, nevertheless I am intrigued by it.

Economy Now and Tommorow

2007-12-29T01:17:00.000-07:00

What is the forecast for 2008 economy? What will make the economy tick in U.S, Europe,Asia and Latin America? Many pundits are foretelling what might/might not happen in next 12 months or so.

Once the feel goodi-ness of welcoming 2008 is over, the news will start pouring in. These are the predictions of very naivete person.

The real estate market will continue to fall in US mostly due to job losses and heavy restrictions on lending. If there is a gradual fall for the first 3 months, then this spells recession until the war is over and those funds can be moved into US domestic market. So this spells a certain doom for the dollar which means gold and oil prices will continue to rise until the war reaches a point where some conclusions can be drawn.

What will happen in Europe? I see Russia regaining its economic power and increase its influence. Unfortunately, I don't have the figures of Russian trade with Europe ( I guess its mainly energy resources and food). Due to the squabbling that is ever omni-present in European countries regarding economy, they also will have some negative effect though I should say weather permitting, tourism will guide them through this year.

Middle East has no economy, so there is nothing to talk of. (If you know what I mean).

Now to Asia and South Asia. Bulk of US and Europe's manufacturing is being done in this place. Essential manufacturing will continue, although there should be a drop in the production levels of some of the cheesy fat goods (non essential;middle class luxury items). The stock markets should probably keep at their steady levels, any changes offset by increase in domestic market demand and currency fluctuations. That would mean thin returns instead of negative return.

Unless there are major upheavals in this region (like China -Taiwan tensions or Indo-Pak tensions) the region should relatively return good returns on investment.

I would bet my money on real estate in China and manufacturing sector in India.

Now what should to happen to Latin America? Venezuela, Argentina and most of all Brazil are attractive destinations for investment. Brazil's amazon cutting would probably decrease because of lack of market in US but on the other hand the oil futures can begin to soar up in this country. With what 85% ethanol in their car tanks and new reserves of oil found, they are going to sit on their precious baskets and bask.

Venezuela is a taboo country for US investment and Argentina still needs to stand on its heels.It is probably the only country which had crisis when there were all kinds of fireworks everywhere (although of different kind in Iraq and Afghanistan).

If somebody is thinking of Africa, please call me after 2015.

Aussies and Kiwis just dont want to wet their fingers anywhere, so we shall leave them.

and the foremost enemy for Pakistan is a fool who allowed Benazir Bhutto's body to be buried without any postmortem. That is Pervez Musharraf.

This year

2007-12-24T20:52:00.001-07:00

Hiya,

This year has been like nothing any other. Time is again "fleeting". The job has become more than comfortable; came to knew some good people and said good-byes to some good people.

How does 2008 beckon you? What should I look forward to? Too many thoughts flying through the mind and still no clear answers. I have long given up making resolutions , still subconscious sets some goals by itself. The moment you think of not setting a goal, the mind rebels against and just forms a decision or goal; which again forgets 10 min later.

If I just try to remember what happened in the last year, the work and tasks you have done just fly by...3 months of flying to Chicago on work(mostly after summer); countless visits to LasVegas and GrandCanyon; India visit, colleagues moving onto new jobs, back to job again.

My car mileage still to reach 7000 after 14 months in operation,(WTF happened there???). Ah..ofcourse my visit to Nogales,Mexico for Visa. It feels good to cross borders of this country. I think most of the people feel that way, that is why tourism is such a sucker here.

I have grown a liking to fantasy novels during the last year. Almost a sucker to Harry Potter Series, I also completed Alison Croggon's Pellinor Series, Lord of the Rings Trilogy and His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.

What attracted me to these fantasy novels, is their quality in description of nature. Some times I miss this narration just by reading fleetingly through the chapters in the books. Arguably Harry Potter series is the least descriptive novel, but obviously much more popular due to the mostly no-nonsense story that might be/should be told in the novels.

Well, my fav BB team Suns again reached western conference finals. Their's still is most exciting game in NBA. I wish they would they would win championship this year.

With 2006 and 2007 being heady years, 2008 is already promising to be balanced year. Sub-prime mortgage crisis is looming over(precipitation is still unclear) and pay cuts seems to be along the way. Not good..not at all good with what all happened to the dollar too.

Well, I hope to remove my thoughts more frequently and pensieve them here. It's definitely feels refreshing to look back on some of the thoughts.

Well Bring it on 2008....!!!

Suns triumph over Spurs

2007-02-02T01:39:00.000-07:00

Suns run through Spurs...In what will be the most probable pre-match of the western conference finals, Amare Stoudemire showed what he is capable of. This is also first win against best western conference teams, Dallas Mavericks and SA Spurs. It is long decided that, whichever western conference team gets to the finals, is going to win the chanpionship. So, in the essence, Western conference finals is the finals.

Utah Jazz is also palying very tough this year, and you can never count out Kobe. But I will always bet on collective team power rather on one man. One man can only hit so much...and thats why Kobe is a legend. and next game will Jazz will also be an exciting contest, Suns should be able to steam full ahead.

Considerable amount of praise should be reserved for the coach of the suns teams, Mike D'Antoni. I think he is a major success story for his type of 'run & outrun' and 'shoot & outshoot' games. If Stoudemire holds the Suns defence together, I will laugh all the way out of the sports bar....

Phoenix Suns

2007-01-31T23:33:00.000-07:00

There is no beating them in excitement..there is no beating them at pace, skill, downtown shoots and team co-ordination. Never has an NBA team showed such domination in this decade, to win straight 15 games twice...most of them on road..absolutely amazing...

Living in phoenix for the past one year, there is not much to entertain here, you just have to cling to what you've got; the best, is of course, Phoenix Suns Basketball team. Each member of the team is as electrifying as other member, each has their own court space, they move with the precision of an armed assault on the rival team.

The co-ordination of the team, is hinged on one man, Steve Nash, with his amazing assists, makes his team mates score at their best records YoY...Flying "The Matrix" Shawn Marion..."The Arrow" ( this is my name) Leandro Barbosa... need more than two eyes to watch.

More on Suns.. to follow..

Padma Shri for Hampi

2007-01-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

This is truly happy news for Hampi and for all Indian chess fans. Her achievements well deserve this title. The sports ministry can be appreicated for (once) understanding the importance the recognizing and honouring the talented sports fraternity.

Meaning of a day

2007-01-23T01:01:00.000-07:00

How is a day like in your life?

Actions: Get up and freshen up, Drive to Office, Work ( includes conferences, meetings, telecons etc..), go to lunch, come back to work again, leave office, pick up groceries, come home to cook, cook, work out if you have some time, eat , watch television and go to sleep(blog/read if time permits).

Intertwining above actions are the thoughts in the mind, which appear faster than we think and disappear even before we ponder. What makes you think twice about the day? If you have perfectly good one ( i.e. unbelievable or life defining moment happens), or if you have a particularly crappy one.

When do we actually live the day to its fullest? I mean, "really" live the day. Once a year, probably twice a year. How do you live the day to its fullest? I do not know.

Signing off...

Indian Media's cricket coverage

2007-01-21T20:34:00.000-07:00

I was really surprised when I started watching the coverage of the 1st ODI between India and WI. The Indian media acted totally ignorant of the excellent chase by WI and only went gaga about Ganguly's comeback. Sure it was a good knock, along with Gambhir's and Dravid's; but it was totally shocking to see the partisan reporting, entirely ignoring to report about the Chanderpaul exciting knock of 149.

Its looks like they copy-catting american media. Just about everyone knows about the partial reporting of america, if not all, most of them. I didnt see one Indian channel telling about the knock of Chanderpaul. I mean, whats the point? Just everyone knew or saw, what a knock it was? There is no need for fucking propoganda here, is there?.

I mean, we can't win playing like this in WI. There is a need for some serious strategic re-thinking here. If I am right, they will again experiment with batting order again in the next two matches. There is less than 2 months to go to the worldcup, we can't get our batting order lined up.

I really hope, they will do some good thinking and get their priorities right. and better not play on pitches like Nagpur and call it a practice. I mean you "swing" your bat and you got practice!?
I call it a "false confidence", they better get out of it quickly.

One positive outcome of it is, I feel happy that India win. Does it seem like a contradiction? Well, it just makes you feel little happy, I dont think any fan of India would like to hear the defeat.

And so I sign off...

A new cold(like) war brews...

2007-01-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

The complications are enormous. Now satellites have to be fixed anti missile systems in addition to airplanes. This would directly lead to another type of cold war. Though they wont be a wall exactly, this would deteriorate China's relations with many countries. But there is just a sentence or two today about them in the news, not much brouhaha. I think its might just take a day or two, to estimate the effect.

It need not be missile, its just another object placed in the same orbit as a satellite, only much more effective. It directly targets the satellite. Now they will take it a bit further, trying to destroy multipe targets at once.

This scenario is not altogether sudden. War strategists in U.S always assume doomsday scenario's and write papers on them. One suggested having extra fuel on the satellite to avoid a missile just in time to avoid a missile by detecting it. Some shit huh!!!

Taiwan would be most affected by this bully move. US and Israeli defence corporations now have a chance to manufacture anti missile satellite defenses. Another cash cow for them, demand created thanks to china.

What about India? It only has weather and educational satellites and some high efficient cartographic camera's. Nothing to be afraid of... but definitely to think about.

Quote for the day

2006-11-17T01:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a genuine statement about a government from the first person who headed a modern government.

"Government is not reason, its not eloquence, it is a force; like a troubled servant and fearful master. Never for a moment, should it be left to irresponsible action."

Words From Harry Potter - I

2006-05-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

Pinafore.

My Phrases - I

2006-05-10T16:16:00.000-07:00

Procellous waters.

Fwd: My Phrases - I

2006-05-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

Aphotic depths.

Do Animals Dream

2005-12-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Do animals dream(exception of human being)? Then what do they dream...

What to do on weekends?

2005-09-26T17:19:00.000-07:00

This weekend passed by with a sense of boredom. After doing all the shopping at Costco, buying a Fridge (most of Apts in LA dont come with Fridge),laundry and buying bathtoom mats, grocery shopping..I fell down into a endless seep to wake up on Sunday 10 am by a phone call from India.

Rest of Sunday, I did not do anything. Not even bath. At the end of the day, I sweared, I would never again stop bathing everyday while I am in this land. Damn, that was so crazy..at the end of the it felt like..'life sucks'..

So deciding that I would not waste a weekend again, I started up looking for anything that we can do on a weekend, without a girl friend ( Because, i dont have one). X-(.

Chanced upon this site www.caldeventures.com . I hope, I wont waste a weekend again.

Again..another weekend..

2005-08-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

Hey, just another weekend passed by. Time is flying concords…now a days. My present roommate left for his new job in Sunnyvale and I am all alone in the house.

Went for a dinner to Indian restaurant in Pasadena on Colorado Blvd. That’s once busy street and by far the busiest downtown I have seen in US. Whats captivating was the rising moon on that full-moon day when we were driving to the restaurant.

I am also trying for a project in Bay-area. I hope this will go thru fine. Otherwise, I get stuck in this senseless project, for another… who knows how many months.

Another lesson learnt. Always take a map before you drive or atleast get a feel by seeing the map, if not taking printout.

Almost had an accident, if my colleague hasn’t shouted ‘STOP’ from the passengers seat. Careless driving…lousy thoughts waving in your mind…Always look both sides of car, damn’it.

Went for a short drive into Hollywood with my former colleague. It was a pleasant say for a Saturday on a weekend. Caught up on lot friends in the past two weeks. Everybody is doing just fine….I am very happy.

This is awesome

2005-08-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

You don’t have to open the blog site to post your blog..You simply mail it…Nice way of cheating from office.

So as I said, my friend got a neat 700 bucks off his purse for his unfortunate misdeed. Add to that, he has to fly from Long Island to Burbank, another 500. What a terrible week for the boy. Top of that, I didn’t yet give the payment for his car (I bought his car when he moved to east). I have to give it to him in a couple of days.

My manager is getting more and more authoritarian in the team,( I am fortunately shielded from it), poor Kalyan has to face the question “Why did u come at 5:20 am, you are supposed to come at 5”?...with a under tone saying ( I came before you at 5 am).

Kalyan is a type of guy who is very sub-dued…and believe me, the world does not respect sub-dued or low lying or low profile personalities. Although their work gets recognized, it will be too little too late. Just as in the case of India in the world order.; just as was in my case back in India.

Am I doing the same mistake again?...I just think so L. When my employer increased my pay, I immediately said its ok. Perhaps, I should have made a small bargain, just to up the ante. Otherwise, its like ‘He is too easy to manage’. Lets see, probably I would go back and talk to him…over the long weekend. After all, wont all the big deals get closed over the long weekends (Courtesy: Jack Welch’s Straight from the Gut).

Another day

2005-08-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

The traffic violations in US almost cost you a fortune. One stupid mistake, and a hole in your pocket. This is what my friend got for a traffic violation, forgetting license at home and not having insurance did not help him much.

Whatever...

2005-08-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

No work to do in the office today...All that is left to do is enjoy the free little time, I rarely get in the office. There is so much to write, but dont know where to begin with...

My daily routine is almost always the same for the past 4 months. Get up, get ready, go to office...no other thought except to concentrate on what you are doing till then...

Open the laptop (IBM T22), login, open the outlook. Synchronzie the mail, and there it is... the first daily dose of news...Headlines from NYTimes...

And then the list follows...

All the interesting news (from Quote of the day to 'Survery of Winery) from NYTimes..
Rediff
Times of India
CNN
and then round of with some nationalist ramblings from Rajeev ( Rajeev Srinivasan is a columnist from Rediff)...and subsequent interesting links if any..

And ahh..of course there is 'A Word A Day' from AWAD...

and you dont know how the first 60 minutes are spent...

Then comes the real work... Except for the 30 min or so lunch break, there is no interesting thing that happens...

By 6 pm, its a wrap up!!!. Go home , cook some food, get onto the net again... check any mail...
and then go to a sound sleep..

Independence day...

2005-08-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

Today is India's 58th Independence day. Hmm.. I searched for Indian flags near my home in many of the places..but could not find them... Could not travel 40 miles to Artesia to get them..How I loved the Indian flag fluttering on the hood of my car....:(

Thought for Today..

2005-08-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

A nice quote by Adi Godrej...

If at 20, you are not a socialist, you are heartless. But at 40, if you are a socialist, you are headless. I agree with Winston Churchill's famous remarks that socialism is nothing but equal distribution of poverty.

Is it worth to ponder on the Nehruvian Socialism..?

Another Weekend

2005-07-08T22:03:00.000-07:00

Its feels nice to start a blog. At last!!!!