This is Cool. and Sweet.

"Nobody is not-good-looking. They just haven't found a haircut that suits them yet."

It's All About Perspective

I was heading to a cafe last night to meet some friends. On my way there I saw an interesting sight: A security guard outside and ATM was eating his dinner (I presume) facing the wall and covered by chairs on both sides. Perhaps so that nobody would see him eat and who likes to be stared at while eating in public? Just then a Mercedes passed by which probably cost more than 200 times this guys monthly salary. and I'm being optimistic.


My first reaction was to feel sad for him. But then I thought about it, and there was no reason for me to feel bad. Life is unfair. People are born with diseases they did nothing to deserve. People are born in poverty for no apparent reason. People are born with silver spoons, heck even gold spoons, just because. and I wasn't so lucky as a child but I am now.


Everything I need is right with me, and because my father worked hard. (Thanks to him of course). But I could still have more. I'm not greedy, not planning on being decadent. It's simple: The Watchman has Rupee 1. I have Rupees 100. Someone else has Rupees 1000. Why feel bad? If you want it work for it, and believe that you can have it. If you're lucky (and I dont mean in the lucky sense that destiny and all - if you have the presence of mind to take an opportunity and turn it into something real kind of luck) you will get it.


But it is our first instinct to feel bad for people worse off, but when things are in perspective - we are always worse off, or better off - in one way or another (emotionally, physically, mentally, or financially). That is an exceedingly negative stance to take and yes it's very pessimistic. We are of course better off counting our blessings and when we do get that opportunity, make the best of it and become better - emotionally, financially, or whatever.


Why be negative? Or perhaps it's not negative at all - It creates ambition and ambition makes you better. or maybe it doesnt. It's all about perspective.


Ps. How confusing was this? Writing a short post is so much harder than writing a long post. But let me know if this was too confusing I could write... a longer one?

We Are God

There is no scientific evidence that God - as a person - exists. With my Hinduish upbringing, and a lasting interest in other religious scriptures, I have come to understand one thing: Human Beings are not comfortable with the unknown. What we are uncertain about makes us uncomfortable. To mitigate this, since our consciousness has existed – Man has created stories, which turned into scriptures – and then Holy books that are lived by. Another thing I have come to understand in the 20 odd years or so of my life is that God is just a means to achieve happiness and understanding and unity with the world. We are a part of this world. What makes me so confident and contented in the thought that our ultimate goal is to achieve happiness is in line with the Buddhist school of thought: Our consciousness creates everything.

I'm not saying that physical things do not exist: what we can feel certainly exists. What I am standing for is that God is man's creation: A means to mitigate the level of discomfort with the unknown. Many of us will find this unbelievable, intolerable, bold or unnerving. But for me, it seems like the plain, simple, truth. When we see all the unfairness in this world – a child born in poverty or disease and at the same moment someone born with a silver platter ready to be served – it is clear in my mind that our consciousness combined is the greatest form of consciousness. No God would like this kind of a unjust world. It is his world after all.

Then there is the concept of karma – what you did in the last life affects you now. That is partially fair, but it is also just as unfair. Why would I have to deal with that I don't even know I did? I find that hard to digest too. What I believe, simply is that, this world is the way it is. It was designed because it was deemed to be the most efficient this way. Man will kill, man will realize that he can live in peace. Man will create, man will destroy. Man will live, man will die.

I am not an Atheist. I believe in God. The kind of God that resides in our consciousness – Heck, it is our consciousness. That is a reason why since the beginning of time, we have been asked to be mindful of what we are doing. Every action we take, every thought we think should be carefully understood and orchestrated. It is easy to say it and harder and harder to implement. The mindfulness is even harder considering the amount of distractions our generations our world is being exposed to. My mind is home to a lot of these distractions, I wouldn't want to be a phony – I love, and really, love – technology and all that it can enable. But that's the point – it is good only as long as it can enable – not when it becomes a disturbance. The key is of course to find the balance between the distraction and the mindfulness.

At age 22, I understand life better than most of my peers – and Im not being modest here – there's no reason to be. I'm being honest, simple and truthful. I am confident that you will like why I say so. We are creators. We are enablers, we are people who make life simpler for both, human beings and other members the food chain (Generally speaking; when we are not fighting against each other in the name of religion). We may not have wings, but we can fly. We may not have ESP (some of us do), but we can communicate miles and miles away (through the use of a telephone, internet and the list goes on). The use of certain materials to create complex flying and communicating objects are nothing short of a miracle.

Technology enables us to do that. People say that it would be possible to even transfer our conscience into a machine – which would be a form of immortality. Not for our physical body of course, but our thoughts will exist – and as debatable as this is – what are we if not a series of thoughts? (If I think like you, I could be you. If I think like my neighbor, I could be my neighbor. I think like me, that's why I'm me.)

We created the technology that helps us create other things. We created technology that helps us destroy. We created technology that helps us transform things. We can transform anything by use of other things. For example at a factor, plastic and metals are molded to become toys, cars and a million other products we use everyday. Isn't this a form of alchemy? Aren't we then, Gods? Heck – scientists are even able to create matter from nothingness.

We are so perplexed by all these mysteries because we don't take the simple miracles seriously. Man is prone to being bad – and I mean evil. Jack the Ripper is an example, Hitler, another. I won't go into that, because that could take a few thousand pages, but there is an explanation why. Firstly. We don't believe human beings are great (as in having the ability to do something miraculous like the Gods), and secondly, because of that notion, we think that there has to be a higher power that governs us all.

I do not explain this in order to create a new world order. And neither is it to explain why religion is bad – it is not. It is not as long as it is kept to oneself and not used to propagate violence and hatred. But human beings find it hard to keep religion or ideals to themselves. We want everyone to believe what we believe. The fact is, all the religions do believe in almost identical things – gods, truthful, honesty etc., but we want others to believe in the same thing as long as you also call it the same.

One other thing I believe is that we are both Good and Evil. Think about it. We create and we destroy. We are the balance of this world. Without hatred, there would not be the "understanding" of love. Without war, there would be no "value" of peace. We have to be both. We have to be ourselves. I do inherently believe that Human Beings are great, compassionate, understanding creatures – but what we don't understand is that in our history – so much war, so much hatred has already been propagated through religion, and other propagandas that we have come to understand the value of the good things.

We should practice whatever we like, think of human beings (as a whole) as the God and the devil. And be open to all. Agree to disagree. It is high-time for that, and there is no better time like now. And on top of it all, know that while there is no proof that human beings are the greatest form of consciousness there is – they are the greatest form of consciousness we know. There is greatness in us. Maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe, I'm not.

The current state of things, The past state, The Future state.

yesterday as I was walking back home from work, I saw an unimaginable sight. It was touching, and at the same time it made me despise the current state of injustice with the world – but that’s the way it is, and that’s the way it has always been.

Im going to try to explain what I saw, but I may do it no justice: It was a poverty stricken handicapped man – with no legs, getting down from the local train, a torn shirt, torn trousers. Resting on his shoulder was a small boy’s palm, walking slowly with him. No clothes on, it almost seemed as if this little boy, of 3 or 4 perhaps, was more of a grown up that most of us.

But that’s just how it has always been. I cannot comment on whether it is going to be like this in the future, but I can hope that it won’t. Seeing them walk together made me stop for a minute and survey everything I have, everything I am. As they went up the stairs, and me right behind them, I couldn't help but stare – as embarrassing as it is for the other person.

The strange thing is, that life has always been like this. Unjust from one person’s point of view, but normal from another’s. A blind man from birth doesn’t know what he’s missing, and therefore that’s normal for him. But sighted individuals feel bad for them – are we right to do so?

I don’t have a definite answer to this, but I do know that through our difficulties and disappointments, we succeed – Much like the butterfly that emerges through all the hardships during its time in a cocoon, so shall we, as human beings, blossom through times like this.

War, for example, has made humankind better. I’m not in favor of those wars that took the lives out of thousands of millions of people, but the future generations learn from it, and we can only hope to not repeat those mistakes. We have become better people.

And yet, a person’s miseries stay with him. Only he who goes through certain difficulties understands the gravity of those difficulties.

I can only wish you saw that sight for yourself, or perhaps I wish you never have to. But I’m too shocked, almost 12 hours later to even type this post with any logical clarity.

For everything we have, this is a toast.

Peace & Love,
Tarun

When I met you

I'd been talking about the weather,
I talked about sports,
But when I met you,
We talked about what I would rather be.

We talked about my dreams.
We talked about why I am.
We talked about where Im going.
But then I met you.

A Poem for First Loves

I was unable to sleep last night and I had an exam this morning. So it was imperative that I sleep. It’s times like those when a wave of inspiration hits you like a splash of cold water (weird analogy, I know, but think about it).

I know a girl who
could read between the lines
She could see right
through my warm untelling eyes

At one point in time
I’d proudly call her mine
But sadly like with everything
We had to say our goodbyes

I left for a land far far away
for better prospects to me
and a better life perhaps
but it was mostly to her dismay

She said she would wait
I told her I loved her
and this was fate
she said this was forever

I could feel her tears
In her letters and maps
and through all her fears,
I realized she’s forever mine

and I am too.

I don’t know how I feel about this: It’s both good and bad, happy and sad. But I cherish how it used to be and I cherish how it is. I wonder if this isn’t just only me.

Peace & Love,
Tarun

Beautiful Quotation

I came across this in the Song “Indian Touch” from the Album Nirvana Lounge:

jab din ke saahil dhalte hai
aur shaam bechari aati hai,
dil chupke chupke rota hai,
jab yaad tumhari aati hai

The translation is as follows:

As the day slowly fades out of sight,
and as it brings the sorry evening light,
My heart cries in quiet melancholy,
as I remember you

It is a truly beautiful writing that only a heart with true love could conceive.

I hope it was as enchanting to you as it was to me,

Peace & Love,
Tarun

Quote of the day

“We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it” -Abraham Lincoln

10 Rules for being human

I got this from Bluinc. It is awesome.

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.

2.You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."

4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.

6. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."

7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.

8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

10. You will forget all this.

Rule No. 436

“436. Hold your heroes to a higher standard.” - 1001 Rules for my unborn son

I went back home after 3 years last December. It was mostly a pleasant and nostalgic (not a bad thing) affair. Missing everybody you’ve not seen in so long, and yet, everything seemed to have just paused for those 3 years. It felt like I hadn’t ever left. Talking to friends seemed just as comfortable, more renewing, and less trivial. Who wouldn’t want friends like that?

I’m writing about last December now, however, because one thing has stuck with me for the 4 months since I’ve been back – My mentors. As a high school student, I aspired to reach great heights in life; I wanted to do things that would change the world (I still do). And naturally, I looked up to the organization leaders that I was a part of. We all do. They didn’t know this.

They’re the heroes that we think will change the world. The heroes that give you confidence that nobody else can. They have charisma and the conviction that’s apparent in even the way they look at you. And I held them to a higher standard. Thus I held myself to a higher standard. I wanted to do the things they did, the way they did them.

I learnt a lot from them, and in turn, I hope I have taught some others a hope for conviction and change for the better. When me and my friend were talking this time, we were talking about “those” days. And I was told that one of my mentors, took up a job with a big firm racing for the top of the corporate ladder. He wanted to start his own company, He wanted to do things differently. He wanted to be the change the world would look up to, and not so that they would look up to him.

When I learnt this, I was upset. I don’t believe that a corporate job is bad at all. I want to work in corporate for the first few years of my life. It’s just when the heroes  you have looked up to as a teen do just about exactly what everyone has done, it comes with a negative feeling. That doesn’t mean they won’t change the world. A life of normalcy is just not what I expected.

They were the ones that took chances, made up reasons to get things done. Came up with more reasons than were necessary to be excellent. And now, they’re running for the gold with everybody else, when the gold isn’t there?

From this moment, I’m taking my chances. I’m running against the wind and I’ll be my own hero. At least if I’m disappointed then, I’ll know it’s something I could have controlled. Here’s for conviction that I won’t be disappointed.

Peace & Love,
Tarun

PS. 1001 rules for my unborn son is an awesome blog. Very interesting tips for men.

The end of college life, and an epiphany

Well, I'm almost done with college. But this one thing seems so true, as if I knew it all along but just stayed in denial:

It’s the idea that you wait 4 or 5 years to graduate and get to the real world, so you want to “make the best” of college life and decide you’ll just deal with the real life later – Looking back I realize that real life started the day I moved into college. There is no other real life than this one. Everything I do, Every decision I make impacts this real life.

Peace & Love,
Tarun

Everytime - Song

I just wrote this earlier today for the PAAC open mic night tomorrow. Should be loads of fun. Im performing at the AAC tomorrow (along with loads of other talented people!) so come by if you want to chill :)

It’s a short song and very chill. I wish I could post a recording here. I dont have a nice recording device yet. Very soon though.

So here goes:

Everytime I see you smile
Everytime I see you cry
All I wanna do is hold you tight
And tell you that I’ll love you right

It’s so simple can’t you see
When I’m with you, you’re with me
I wonder if you’d tell me when
You think you’re in love with me

We’ll go on a walk by the lake
I’ll pick a flower, put on your hair
Tell you that you’re beautiful like
The big, bright sun in the sky

It’s so simple can’t you see
When I’m with you, you’re with me
I wonder if you’d think of me 
If you see something so funny

And when you tell me you love me
I’d wonder if you’d tell me why
Would you ever tell me why?
I’d wonder if you’d tell me why?

It’s very poetic and romantic. Thoughts, Comments and Suggestions are welcome :)

Peace & Love
Tarun

I am ironman

I had a whole pointless conversation by myself earlier today. Just thought it would be nice to share.

I am Ironman. (not me personally, Im just quoting the movie. Yeah, it's a great movie. I wish I was Ironman though. I would like fly, and go crazy, and like fight crime and be all cool at the bars be like "sweety, you know who I am?". Ok maybe not be sweet like that, that might be creepy. but yeah, I am not Ironman. The thing is, my personality is enough, I dont need an Ironman costume. woooah, yeah.)

I hope you are as amused by this as I was.

Peace & Love
Tarun

Tum Milo – Lyrics + Translation

I wrote this song a few weeks back for UTSAV’s annual culture show “Nataraj 2010”. I was surprised at how it turned out, I think it’s catchy and has a lot of meaning associated to it. It’s about friendships and those relationships that truly matter in our life. So here goes.

Verse:
Jo milo tum kisi se,
Haske kehdo kuch unhi se,
Muskura ke tum jo karlo dosti,

(When you meet someone,
Say something nice and laugh,
Smile and make a friend)

Doston ne yeh kahaa hai,
Dosti mein hi mazaa hai,
Dosti bin kahaa hai zindagi

(Friends have told us that,
In friendship is a world of content
and without it, where is that world?)

Chorus:
Zindagi mein, aur kuch nahi hai,
Aur kuch nahi

(There’s not much else in life
if you cant share it with friends)

Interlude:
Tu itna gumsum kyon khada hai?
In rishton se ab kya bada hai?
To muskurale jo tu zara,
Hoon main tera, Yeh din tera hai.

(Why do you look so sad and down?
What’s bigger than the love for friends
So smile now and know,
I am yours, and this day is yours.)

Verse:
Zindagi mein jab kabhi bhi,
Gham churaale jo khushi bhi,
Yaad karna tum hamari dosti

(If ever in life,
Your sorrows take over your happiness
Just remember this friendship)

Jo milo tum kisi se,
Haske kehdo kuch unhi se,
Muskura ke tum jo karlo dosti,

(When you meet someone,
Say something nice and laugh,
Smile and make a friend)

Chorus:
Zindagi mein, aur kuch nahi hai,
Aur kuch nahi

(There’s not much else in life
if you cant share it with friends)

What do you think? Comments, suggestions are always welcome :)

Peace & Love,
Tarun

An explanation for love… not that it needs one

I was reading a Japanese Zen Koan earlier today and it went something like this:

If a tree falls, and nobody is around, does it still make a noise?

I thought it would be interesting to relate it to love, since so many people don’t believe in it.

Two things need to be known here:

1. When a man is around, the noise can be heard by him.
2. When nobody is around, to know whether it makes a sound or not is impossible.

Common Sense however would indicate that whether a man is there or not, the tree makes a sound. A man needs to be around to experience that sound. When nobody is there, the sound doesnt serve a purpose (in context to human hearing and conception of this particular Koan)

Don’t try to rationalize it, Koans are not meant to be rationalized. They exists simply as reminders that not everything NEEDS to be rationalized. Same with the Koan above.

It’s the same with love. It exists. One needs to just simple be there to understand and feel and reciprocate it. If one is not simply “there” to experience it, it serves no purpose (in context to the human being who wants to know whether love exists or not).

I hope this makes at least one person believe that love exists.

Peace & Love
Tarun

How to deal with most things in life

This is obviously in no way a guide to lead your life, but I was talking to a friend earlier about a problem and realized that the solution to her problem could work so well with anything in life:

• Be okay with whatever it is, now, and in this moment
• Don’t want it or expect it to be anything more
• And when it becomes something more, or something less, be okay with that too.

This way, the idea, problem, or whatever it is, will manifest itself exactly how it is supposed to.

I myself try hard to keep up with this sort of a thought process, but If it helps somebody, I’m glad.

For now, I’m going to try to incorporate this.

Peace and Love.

An awesome story I came across

Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth,
“You owe me”.
Look what happens with a love like that-
It lights the whole sky.

 

Isn’t that beautiful?

Or Maybe You Will

So you're sitting two seats in front of me,
and I can see your pretty face,
I can feel the blood rush through my head
like the wind through your hair

I think I caught a stare or two,
so I have to come and talk to you, right?
I feel I'm not sure if I can,
maybe you'll brush me off and pretend to not care.

So then I wait and see if you would
stare again and catch my eyes,
You don't, so I guess it's my turn now
so I get up and walk over

I think I have the perfect gameplan,
I'll introduce myself, and then you will too
we'll talk about that I love NY sweatshirt
that hugs your beautiful body so closely

Halfway through our talks
about your wardrobe and your rocks,
I'll be thinking about what to say next
so you won't think of me as bland

we'll look at each other like we know
and I won't listen to everything you say,
but I hear every word that comes
out of those angelic lips of yours

Just the elegant sound of your voice
is enough to take me to a world
I didnt know existed but in movies
and the dreams of hopeless romantics

We get to know each other more
than I wouldve thought I could
and you know me better
than i know myself

You won't like things about me
and I'll change everything I can
Because I think you'd know what
I should and shouldn't do better than I

One day you'll leave like you came
in a flash and I'd be heart-broken
and with half a heart I'll move on
with a hope that you'll come back some day

and may be you won't and I'll forget
about everything that meant so much
but I'll remember you every now and then
for the man you made me

but maybe you would never leave
so I walk up to you and say
"hi, my name is myself, and I thought I'd introduce hi"
to which you laugh and say "hi, hi"

and I think to myself your voice
is just how I imagined it would be
and I realized you talk a lot,
but you know, I hear everything you say.