A trip to Tibet

Today marks the beginning of my journey to Tibet, Kailash and Mansarovar. These are seen as deeply spiritual places - as any mountain or ocean is.

My goals are
1) to be inward, as inward as possible, and minimize longing for the gratification of my senses.
2) to speak as little as is needed
3) to not respond to criticism, corrections or taunts, if there may be any.

For an analogy from a Buddhist book: I want my mind to be as calm as an ocean in which, even when a rock is thrown, there are no ripples.

I will write everything in my diary as I walk up Mt. Kailash and on towards Tibet and reach almost 6000 meters (I may be mistaken here).

Until I write again, Hope you all keep safe.

TRB
@trbetala

On slurping

Can one go anywhere without someone slurping his tea or coffee? I don't think so. Its just an indian custom. The taste of the tea or coffee doesn't change, but those who slurp say they do it because if they don't, it just doesn't taste right.

I know I say very often that one must be as true and honest as possible - but for the sake of others, when you are in a public place, be aware that slurping is nothing short of a public crime.

This message brought to you in public interest.

Peace and Love, even for those of you who slurp - yes you are a different set of Human Beings.

TRB
@trbetala

On being alone

I'm a big believer in doing things by myself. Very rarely do I feel like I need people around all the time – and in fact, I prefer it many times to doing things with people. That is not to say I don't like people. Of course I do. I am a very social person too, but there is something about doing things alone – a walk, a movie, dinner – that creates quality time with yourself. I understand what I really like without thinking of what another person likes.

I'm true to my likes and dislikes and they aren't clouded by my perception of another's.

Even so, I do not believe that we must never be emotionally attached to anybody. The only thing that separates us from both [most] animals and robots is that we can connect emotionally and intellectually on a level that nobody can.

Believing that everything can be done by yourself is silly, think about the minute you are born: If you are not nurtured properly by the society, chances are you wouldn't be around to read this. It's true.

On the other hand, it is also true that we come alone and we die alone – and it is inevitable that some people will be only be part of our memories rather than our present.

So, as for most things in life, a balance would do far better – a balance between alone-time and social time, a balance between knowing that people are a part of your life, just as you are; and a balance between being emotionally attached to not being at all.

There is no better feeling than the feeling of being wanted, and a life wanted shouldn't be sent to waste.

On taking credit

Earlier today I came across an interesting thought process behind taking credit.

We are all always eager to take credit for something good that has happened – obviously – it makes us feel great, and gives our ego a boost.

But something to think about, while taking such credit, is also whether we would take the blame if something had gone not so greatly.

This does two things: It tells us whether what we are taking credit for really was done by us – that is, if we were to be blamed, in our own minds, it would mean that we really were responsible for the act itself. Not the outcome, whether it turned out greatly or not so much.

One more thing it helps us to do is to learn to be true to ourselves. It is true that we need to fake a lot about ourselves, because that's just how our minds our trained.

But of all people we lie to or are unreal to, we must stay true to ourselves. No matter what.