Power of Post Mortems....

Prelude ::

Have you enjoyed the difference between the words "truth" and "fact" ? Facts exist in our mind while truths relate to our hearts. Sadhguru gives a classic example in his mesmerizing voice which rings in my ears even now "the fact is that we are sitting here either as a male or female - but the truth is that we have the elements of both our mother and father"....!!

In another aspect, I feel truth is more subjective and person-specific than a fact. How easy spiritual processes could become if people who claim to have realized the ultimate truth can pass on their realization to others just like that ??!!

TO give another example, truth to a lay man will be that sun rises in the east....but the fact is completely different which is about earth's rotation around itself and the direction of its rotation.

Why this bragging ?? lemme come back to this at the end of the posting....Here you go...

Dear All

Having been an extempore writer with fingers capable of dancing at the key board, I took upon myself a very tough goal while starting AGANDAM - to re-read the posting thoroughly and eliminate the typo / grammar mistakes before publishing. How much of dilution this goal has undergone in the course of past two years ?

It was so painful for me to see the couple of spelling mistakes in my latest poem "The destiny". I also observed that the the last para could have been completely re-drafted which would have been more effective and to the point....!! Alas...the post was already published.

My cousin who made a profound statement while giving feedback to this poem - "we become wiser only by hindsight".... which made me think a lot.

This is not a stand alone example but I observe it is happening day in and day out on so many things that we do....!! YES, if only God gives us a boon - a choice between having a wonderful future from this point OR an opportunity to re-live the life completely right from our child hood, I am sure to join the second group (or AM I a loner in that choice ?? not sure !!).

To get freedom from the haunting memories and missed opportunities seems to be a perfect decision to me than to live a wonderful life from now on which is bit "un-deserved". Why to have an accidental success to our life when we can craft a better future for us by not repeating the same mistakes (perhaps, we might end up doing newer mistakes...that's a different point altogether)

Well, its not about the poem with spelling mistakes, but its also about life I am getting amused here .... Now, let me pose a serious question - Does self introspection carry any value at all WHEN we do not have such a boon ? Will it not be better to forget the past ?

I feel otherwise. Perhaps we might forgive us & the past but we should never forget ! Post mortem analysis help us to become more aware and definitely support us to avoid the mistakes at least in future. It could become a tool for shaping up our sub conscious mind.

The spelling mistakes in a poem, wrong words spoken ...and things NOT done perfectly could be the facts about the past, but the truth is that they can tremendously help in creating a better future for us and to the world around us.

.......And so, let me not waste my time to re-post the poem once again - instead, its better to allow these mistakes to remain as a manure for the future poems without any blemishes.

With Love // Suren

Welcome Rain........!!

Dear All

I notice with some concern on the recent trend of TN Government's education policy - to declare leave to educational institutions when ever there is a rain forecast. It used to be quite rare earlier but with a school going daughter & wife at home (no mistake in writing.....!! Wife happens to be a teacher !!), I can see they get jubilant whenever there is a cloud formation....NOT out of their love for nature....!!

I do empathise the pathetic state of many Government schools and the poor state of our public infrastructure, but really unsure if "declaring leave" is any way a great decision without focussing to do some thing about improving the whole situation. Is it too difficult to administer such leave declaration leaving the discretion / decision making authority to the local IAS officers who can assess the local realities and sanction the leave to selective institutions ? Sorry, again I just tried to be bit impractical once again....out of sheer helpless-ness.

Rain by itself is a great boon for children. I dont consider childgood getting completed fully without a solid drenching in rain (and having fever, if any on the next day !!). The stamina and disease resistance keeps receding in modern generation mainly because we are becoming too finicky about the most ordinary things of life...which are profoundly beautiful. {I read that in Isha Home school, Sadhguru has insisted the Teaching folk to allow the children in rain AT LEAST for a day in the year to experience nature !! I craved to put my daughter in that school...Hmmm....}.

As I was watching many of the people getting drenched completely on a monday morning - on the way to their offices in bikes....and in buses, I understand the reason for the modern generation to curse the rain. If we do not take enough precautions to safeguard ourselves on important times like this (going to office, for eg), whose fault is this ?

Few years back, I read an interesting article abusing the famous poems that the children keep memorizing without paying much attention to the significance of the words "rain rain go away; little tommy wants to play".....!! YES, playing in rain once a while gives an unforgettable experience which the outdoor games in the summer and the indoor games for all times - will never teach us....!! {I am getting reminded of the beautiful song in the Film "kalloory" with hero and heroin stand in their college play ground..with eyes closed and arms outstretched; I at once started loving Thamannah....which is yet to recede, you know !!}

Well, in a cloudy morning with an and off sun light, I can't help but getting reminded about Rain and Vaan Sirappu of Thirukkural....!! Wish humanity re-starts worshipping the charming source of one of our Pancha Pootham.....!!

Love // Suren

ps:- planning to go a long ride in ECR today; First time in FIGO, you know !! Its too late after having the car for little more than 3 months, but then....."better late than never"

Destiny.....The Absolute

Prelude : Conscious of my resolution some time back on NOT POSTING a prelude for any poem, I desisted from bragging about my latest child - I mean, poem - Oozh (The destiny); However, not able to contain myself when the subject offers enormous scope for another independent posting.....!! You are destined for this posting - here you go...

Dear All

To be candid, I am not sure to which category of God Belief I belong to !! Though I spill out lavishly Gods' names (Shiva and Krishnaa) in my musings, they are essentially out of habit and to some extend because I wanted to be reminded of the supreme power that governs all of us. Essentially I think and feel real more about Destiny than any other deity form.

I had not prayed much in front of Gods - a void blank engulfs me as I look into the eyes of the Deities - which ever temple I visit and what ever God it represents. Perhaps, I could fit myself very well with Isha Yoga when Sadhguru made a mockery of so called God Belief as it is practised.....{How can one forget his nice way of putting what a prayer is = "atha kuduppa itha kuduppa...kaapathuppa !! He says, 98 % of prayers are in this wave length only - which I felt very true}

Neither I carry a fancy about so called Naasthigam. I have a strong doubt if my Cine icon Kamal really utters his "pearls of his 6th sense wisdom" mainly to appease the Tamil Mass.......AND to avoid him getting identified with his (forward) caste. It is bit obscene to even empathise with these Paguththarivu Vaathi-Gal whose life seems to be dry and devoid any humility or respect for unexplored things. Perhaps, I carry a strong doubt if these guys should have at least accepted "destiny" INSTEAD of the personified Gods of Hinduism; They seem to shut their eyes on unanswerable questions and justify the nature with its random-ness. Well, I do understand why do not want to get into Destiny factor - as it will lead to acceptance of "rebirth" dictum of Hinduism which can put them into discomfort.

With my very little experience with the world until now, I am fortunate enough to have been reminded quite often about DESTINY not just in times of mental turmoil but also when I am in jubilant mood. The factor of impermanence of any thing and every thing has got etched into me quite deeply.....that I don't have any thing but reverence and gratitude for the supreme power.

Having said that, off late - I am observing with lot of interest on the paradox AND inter-woven-nature of Free Will against Destiny. Perhaps, if I become 100 % synchronized with destiny and its deeds, I will get more clearer on the scope of Free Will.....!! Until then, its just an on and off game.......and I just have to get grateful about this glimpses of reminders of destiny - like what is happening right today.

In the recent Isha weekly magazine (Kaatup poo), Sadhguru had given a brilliant response to a question posed.....

Q : When people pray you and seek your blessings on this and that...How do you react / bless them ?

Sadhguru : I bless them to provided what ever is good for their life energies.

Think about this man...and his level of consistency though he is bit weird and dangerously outspoken on many subjects which spiritual men avoid speaking.

Krishnaarpanam....as always.

Suren

ஊழ்

கண் சிமிட்டி எட்டிப் பார்க்கும் - சில நேரம்
கண் கலங்க எட்டி உதைக்கும்
எட்டி நிற்பவரை ஏங்க வைக்கும் - க்ஷண நேரத்தில்
சிக்க வைத்து சீரழிக்கும்.......

தெளிந்ததெல்லாம் குழம்பிப் போகும் - மானுடர்
குணத்தை யெல்லாம் புரட்டிப் போடும்....
உயிருக்கு வேராய் நிற்கும் - எப்போதும் நம்மை
வெறும் நிழலாய் தொடர்ந்து வரும்........

கையற்ற நிலையில் வெளிச்சப் பொட்டாய் மலர்ந்து
நாத்திகர் சிலரை ஆத்திகராக்கும்
போலிப் பணிவையும் வீண் செருக்கையும் அழித்தொழித்து
ஆத்திகர் பலரை வெளிறச் செய்யும்

ஆக்ரோஷமாய் எனினும் நளினம் கெடாமல்
வீர்யமாய் இருந்தும் பேரன்பு அதிர்வு மிகாமல்
தீவிர நடனம் புரியும் ஊழரசிக்கு
வேறு வழியற்று நம் தலை வணங்கும் !!

5S - The Sixth sense......

Dear All

Today is quite an important day for me as I completed a long pending 5S work @ home. By itself, doing some thing that we wanted to do for a long time gives a great relief to mind - particularly more so when it is about 5S which is one of my pet subjects.

My fond feelings on 5S started at least eight years back when I heard some thing lofty about 5S from an External Consultant who visited the office that I was employed then.... It was a French manufacturing company and Qualitative things like 5S were not a real priority during the early days of production....As teething problems on the basic organization got settled, things like 5S started to seep into the Production departments. The company used to hire an external consultant for this area who visits the company periodically to assess the status / recognition of the new initiative.

When the HR suggested me on this, I took upon 5S in Finance team quite naturally and got the entire team involved quite easily - not that I am bragging on my leading abilities - but more with my relationship with people and spontaneity. When the whole finance team succumbed to my initiatives and started off making a presence in 5S area, the external consultant visited our department just out of curiosity though there was no plan to implement 5S into Administrative teams.

Quite impressed with the presence of 5S in Finance team, he shared few words of appreciation with me....and as he parted, he made a profound statement about 5S which made a deep impact on me....."5S is not about what you do outside....Once we get involved into this initiative it cleanses our minds so much ... that we will start shuddering inside when an impurity enters within"....!! I still remember the emotion and shrill in the voice when this old man spoke this sentence straight from his heart.....

Well, I had been focusing on 5S initiatives quite consistently at work place since then - when ever there is an opportunity....really liking it from team engagement perspective more than the philosophical value. Particularly get delighted when the team that I work in gets more scores in 5S with few conscious initiatives and close monitoring of the people involved in this (normally) thank less initiative. In the context of 5S, I have observed repeatedly the power of motivated minds capable of achieving spectacular results...... You don't really have to any great miracles but few simple and sincere recognitions make miracles to happen !!

For few 5S is way of life. They take it too much to their heart and unconsciously become perfectionists leading to mental unrest not just to themselves but also to people around (my Better Half being one such hapless soul).....!! I had always preferred it to be a tool for people engagement and proof of motivation levels - nothing more and nothing less.

Coming to the special accomplishment of today at home, its just that I did a major operation of scanning thru' all my dress wares and segregated / standardized the formal wear against the casual wears - which was the need of the hour...!! Having worn uniform for close to 13 years, now I am in a different platform of needing "un" uniform for all the work days - and this was an important task as my shelves were burgeoning beyond its limits - and me totally unsure of how much I need......!! Having lost any craze for dressing completely with my "uniforming", it was more a need - sort of a scientific 5S activity that I carried out - and not so confusing !!

As my wife was staring in disbelief at the heap of dresses that I handed over to her that I might not be needing any more, I was mentally free from the sense of guilt about the abundance and under-utilisation of one of the basic needs.

Yes, unwanted and not needed things sit heavily on the heads more than where they clog up....!! Its better to get relieved, Huh ???

With lot of relief...and of course love // Suren

Musings on Paradoxes ....continued

Prelude : - During the course of last year, I had made a posting on the subject of Paradoxes when I felt it so real in my heart....creating a huge urge to share.

After quite some time, I have the same longing once again - Bear with me...!!


Dear All


Rajan touched upon a paradox about learning process in today's morning lecture - vertical expertise with a horizontal exposure. The practical examples that he gave on the exposure given at corporate world for their management trainees reminded me those days I spent at HLL as an industrial trainee looking UP at the Management Trainees - who bore better soft skills and higher confidence levels.


Well, its not the horizontal exposure by itself is capable of making future leaders - the people exposed to must be alerted enough that they are undergoing this grind with a future plan. Most of the times, people get too engrossed with details and get succumbed to non essentials without this awareness.

May be in rare cases (like Rajan in his own description about his early days), one may raise his bar thru' powerful self belief - but for vast majority, miracles are still miracles because of lack of mental readiness. I am also getting reminded some thing that I read long time back - Hitler used to give his powerful orations to a bunch of unemployed youth in car parking basements at Germany on his plans to capture the whole world.....!!
Rajans and Hitlers.....these are rare souls to happen......though technically possible for all of us.


Today's generation faces a peculiar problem that has come tragically with a label as "blessing" - its the "problem of plenty" !! Abundant exposure and information is available ONLINE on any subject that a simple volition to go deeper into some thing by itself is a challenge.


I am particularly intrigued to see the expression less faces of the youth with their IPODs / Cell phone ear phones "enjoying" music (I guess so !!) and keep wondering if they have missed out the bliss of "Vividha Barathi" those days in the only available Radio station....!! Its the basic tenet of economics on "thoery of marginal utility" in vigorous play.

Unless we commit ourselves to go as much vertical as we can in every thing that we look at, we might miss the whole point. When we listen to a lecture from some one who is more evolved than us, its not just the spoken words that alone reaches us. I am particularly attracted to Rajan's discourse these days not because he tells too many lofty things but with the sincerity with which he hugs every one with his eyes closed at the end of his lectures. There is a great charisma in just looking at Beings who live what they say AND who say what they live.


Though we keep indulging in too many horizontal things offered by technology, we will keep discovering the similar vertical things which gets perfectly integrated with what we are craving for.....!! Unless, we are clear on what our verticals are, we only become part of a herd which keeps grazing aimlessly....from Orkuts to Facebooks......from Earth to Mars.

The greatest paradox for most of us is that we never discover our verticals till the end of lives......getting satiated by merely listening to voices of love AROUND US instead of within us.

With Love // Suren

Thagappan Saami

Dear All



Many times I feel that learning happens only after we complete the formal education. Numerous instances in our day to day life gives us practical lessons which goes inside us much more deeper than those lessons we mugged up tirelessly for exams those days !!



One such beautiful learning happened to me during last week thru' my daughter.



My God !! what was more wonderful was the manner she imparted me one of a basic lesson !! To put it bit clearly, how she master minded the learning process was more touching than what she taught me.....What I learnt was of course mind boggling....Here you go....!!



There was a situation when I lost my balance - blood rushing up to the head - spitting venom on my wife on some petty thing. It was a case of sheer impatience getting shaped as anger as an unconscious consequence....and little Madhoo tried her best to tame me at that moment and pacify my wife as much as she could. It was just out of the empathy I had for her, I came back to senses on that day and she did not open her mouth very consciously.

After couple of days, on a wonderful evening, she came to me and told me that she got reminded of one of her Poetry (Tamil CheyyuL) seeing me and my anger couple of days back....AND she recited the same.



Always getting intrigued with language and literature, I was humble enough to borrow her book and read thru' the poem which was really sensational....It was a simple 4 lined verse in Nanneri written by a poet called Siva Prakasa Swamigal.

A rough translation of the poem that I read thru' - "One must be earnest enough to control one's anger; Is it easier to take precautions to avoid situation leading to anger OR try to hold on the feeling of anger when it is gushing through unconsciously .....??".



I liked the wonderful analogy to the given situation .... and did not feel much ashamed with the new learning. Double sure to get triggered of this poem in the next possible situation when I am going to go wild.....!!


Well, on my daughter, there had been lot of moments she had thrilled me with her ability to know "the moment"...... I mean, the moment to speak, to keep quiet, to cajole, to behave properly and also when she looses herself a bit and irritate her ever disciplining mother. She is a wonderful learner, grasps things very fast.....and to my pride, connects the newly learnt things with the things that she knows already - which is some thing I feel its important when we become adults........



For that matter, most of the children of current generation are quite shrewd and extremely competent in what ever they do....and I am just being grateful to Almighty for making me one of the proud parent.



What makes me even more grateful about this girl is her ability to connect with outside world and the number of people whom she had made as her well wishers - by her own strength of personality. To me, she had always been intriguing - most of the times behaving as a wonderful child, some times as a teacher - like this instance....and few times, simply divine.....!!

Love // Suren