Another beauty of a forward sent by a wiseman that I'm sharing with you:
Two Choices
What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway.. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection..
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do..
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball..
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'
So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Stress:The Silent Assassin
Ever heard of the term "Supari"?Well it means "Areca Nut" in the Hindi language,used in betel leaves for chewing,but it also means giving a contract to a hired Killer for bumping someone off.The term is used a lot in Hindi movies.I hate to refer to it as Bollywood,sounds like a cheap version of Hollywood.Anyway,what I'm coming to is that,when we ignore tell tale signs that our body gives us about the stress we may be going through,it's like giving a supari(contract) for our own death.Didn't understand?I will explain in lucid words.
When I was a kid,which was a while ago,the word stress never existed. The word "Tension" was the in thing in those days,and everyone had tension.But Kids were not supposed to have any tension,as they were kids.Simply do homework,play,eat,do well in school and be "Bindaas"(cool).So, even if I had any stress,oops..tension,then I couldn't say so.Only adults had tensions as they were grown up and had more tensions than kids,along with the tension of putting up with kids.I had a very forward and maverick Principal in school who's name was Joseph Purayidam.He was different from most Principals.He was a darker version of Rajiv Gandhi(baldness heightened resemblance),was about 6' tall with a booming voice that would send Amitabh Bachchan gargling.The only thing uncool about him was that even in the 80's he still wore bell-bottoms.Anyway,maybe his tailor died and couldn't find a better one,I don't know.But he was a Principal who could play basket ball and base ball with the students.He also spoke about stress and the need to destress.There were no computers connected to Internets to run to those days,to check out what stress meant.I didn't have the guts to approach him with a query as me and him were always locking horns,as I always challenged every rule he made.Whether it was about not speaking in any other language other than English or smaller kids being given preference to sit in school buses.I even had the audacity to lecture him on safety of older students being equally important.Anyway,the point is that he was the first one who I remember having used the word stress and I'm sure I gave him his share of STRESS.
Now Stress aka Tension can wreak havoc in our lives and it can lead to many a life threatening conditions like cardiac arrests and even cancer.Hard to believe eh,but believe me it has been proven that stress can be a killer.It doesn't have to be this way as Stress can well be controlled.It's all in our hands.After all we are God's supreme creation and we are highest in terms of intelligence.He won't be happy the way humans have turned out but we can definitely try and live a healthy one.
What is Stress? Stress is a feeling that's created when you react to certain events,or the way you react to a situation. It's our body's way of preparing to face an event and preparing to meet a tough situation,the best it can.Stress becomes a problem when we become over-stressed and it affects how we cope with day to day stuff.The human body responds to events that provoke stress (stressors) by activating the nervous system and specific hormones.The hormones speed up heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. The physical changes prepare you to react quickly and effectively to handle the pressure of the moment.
This natural reaction is known as the stress response. If done properly,the body's stress response improves our ability to perform well under pressure.
Stress can be caused for different reasons.Stress can be caused due to under performing at school,peer pressure,friction with boss/colleagues at work,unsatisfactory marital/sex life,or any other issue.We all have our stress points and our own breaking points.No other person should judge what is and what isn't stressful for you.The stupidest thing I've heard when I was growing up was that 'young kids don't have stress'.Most misleading bull shit.Pardon my language but I couldn't find a better word.A lot of kids end up into mental cases because no one took them seriously.Recently there was a movie guest Starring yester-years movie actor Mithun Chakraborthy,in which he pleads the cases of students who are driven to point of committing suicide due to parental pressure for peak performances.In that he gives an example of individual strength by asking a court clerk to try bending a foot ruler made of plastic and of steel.The steel ruler bends but the plastic one breaks.So,the point is that we all have different levels of bearing stress.
These are some of the symptoms of being stressed:feeling irritable,feeling anxious,avoiding other people,crying,moodiness,feeling frustrated,low self-esteem,depression.On physical level one can feel headaches,tummy upsets followed by constipation as a cycle,fever,eating too much and beginning to smoke and drink.
To help manage the stress, it may be helpful to talk to someone about what is upsetting you. Talking to someone you trust may help you to work out why you are stressed out and what you can do about it.Maybe you can't get rid of the stress from your life, however managing your stress could help you get things going.
Some ways of dealing with stress:
Talking with someone might help get it off your chest,doing some exercise,Yoga/meditation,counselling,hanging out with friends,archery/sport.Different things work for different people,so we need to figure out what works best for us to de-stress.Worrying about it definitely doesn't help.
I get stressed out a lot and have tried out many things.Deep breathing definitely helps de-stress and so does doing some hatha yoga.The stretching and the postures definitely help.If we can control our breathing,we can control our mind and our body.
Of course auto suggestion,which my dad mentioned a long time back does help.
The key is to identify the enemy,and stress is something we can befriend and turn into our own advantage.Like someone aptly put it,a little bit of stress is a positive thing as it keeps us alert and keep us from being complacent.
So,try and keep stress positive and life will become better.Jai Ho
When I was a kid,which was a while ago,the word stress never existed. The word "Tension" was the in thing in those days,and everyone had tension.But Kids were not supposed to have any tension,as they were kids.Simply do homework,play,eat,do well in school and be "Bindaas"(cool).So, even if I had any stress,oops..tension,then I couldn't say so.Only adults had tensions as they were grown up and had more tensions than kids,along with the tension of putting up with kids.I had a very forward and maverick Principal in school who's name was Joseph Purayidam.He was different from most Principals.He was a darker version of Rajiv Gandhi(baldness heightened resemblance),was about 6' tall with a booming voice that would send Amitabh Bachchan gargling.The only thing uncool about him was that even in the 80's he still wore bell-bottoms.Anyway,maybe his tailor died and couldn't find a better one,I don't know.But he was a Principal who could play basket ball and base ball with the students.He also spoke about stress and the need to destress.There were no computers connected to Internets to run to those days,to check out what stress meant.I didn't have the guts to approach him with a query as me and him were always locking horns,as I always challenged every rule he made.Whether it was about not speaking in any other language other than English or smaller kids being given preference to sit in school buses.I even had the audacity to lecture him on safety of older students being equally important.Anyway,the point is that he was the first one who I remember having used the word stress and I'm sure I gave him his share of STRESS.
Now Stress aka Tension can wreak havoc in our lives and it can lead to many a life threatening conditions like cardiac arrests and even cancer.Hard to believe eh,but believe me it has been proven that stress can be a killer.It doesn't have to be this way as Stress can well be controlled.It's all in our hands.After all we are God's supreme creation and we are highest in terms of intelligence.He won't be happy the way humans have turned out but we can definitely try and live a healthy one.
What is Stress? Stress is a feeling that's created when you react to certain events,or the way you react to a situation. It's our body's way of preparing to face an event and preparing to meet a tough situation,the best it can.Stress becomes a problem when we become over-stressed and it affects how we cope with day to day stuff.The human body responds to events that provoke stress (stressors) by activating the nervous system and specific hormones.The hormones speed up heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. The physical changes prepare you to react quickly and effectively to handle the pressure of the moment.
This natural reaction is known as the stress response. If done properly,the body's stress response improves our ability to perform well under pressure.
Stress can be caused for different reasons.Stress can be caused due to under performing at school,peer pressure,friction with boss/colleagues at work,unsatisfactory marital/sex life,or any other issue.We all have our stress points and our own breaking points.No other person should judge what is and what isn't stressful for you.The stupidest thing I've heard when I was growing up was that 'young kids don't have stress'.Most misleading bull shit.Pardon my language but I couldn't find a better word.A lot of kids end up into mental cases because no one took them seriously.Recently there was a movie guest Starring yester-years movie actor Mithun Chakraborthy,in which he pleads the cases of students who are driven to point of committing suicide due to parental pressure for peak performances.In that he gives an example of individual strength by asking a court clerk to try bending a foot ruler made of plastic and of steel.The steel ruler bends but the plastic one breaks.So,the point is that we all have different levels of bearing stress.
These are some of the symptoms of being stressed:feeling irritable,feeling anxious,avoiding other people,crying,moodiness,feeling frustrated,low self-esteem,depression.On physical level one can feel headaches,tummy upsets followed by constipation as a cycle,fever,eating too much and beginning to smoke and drink.
To help manage the stress, it may be helpful to talk to someone about what is upsetting you. Talking to someone you trust may help you to work out why you are stressed out and what you can do about it.Maybe you can't get rid of the stress from your life, however managing your stress could help you get things going.
Some ways of dealing with stress:
Talking with someone might help get it off your chest,doing some exercise,Yoga/meditation,counselling,hanging out with friends,archery/sport.Different things work for different people,so we need to figure out what works best for us to de-stress.Worrying about it definitely doesn't help.
I get stressed out a lot and have tried out many things.Deep breathing definitely helps de-stress and so does doing some hatha yoga.The stretching and the postures definitely help.If we can control our breathing,we can control our mind and our body.
Of course auto suggestion,which my dad mentioned a long time back does help.
The key is to identify the enemy,and stress is something we can befriend and turn into our own advantage.Like someone aptly put it,a little bit of stress is a positive thing as it keeps us alert and keep us from being complacent.
So,try and keep stress positive and life will become better.Jai Ho
Friday, August 21, 2009
Pearls Of Wisdom From a Rose
A friend sent a priceless forward.WIsh every forward's were so priceless.Thanks my friend.Now for the Pearls:
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.
She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "! We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.
There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!
There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.
Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.
The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets"
She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."
She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.. < I> We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.
She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "! We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.
There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!
There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.
Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.
The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets"
She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."
She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.. < I> We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
What's All The Fuss About Scientology
I must admit I was never an admirer of Tom Cruise.Never understood what the big fuss was about him and his acting.Never liked either of them.My wife is a big fan of his....each to his own.But,it was with his name that I first heard of Scientology.I never bothered to read more about it as anything associated with Tom Cruise by default,earned my total disinterest.The only thing associated with him that I ever read about was Nicole Kidman.But that was when she looked like a woman.Now she looks very androgenous.Don't know if that's a desired effect or something else.Now coming back to Scientology,I thought it must be some science club.What else could you decipher of a name like Scientology? Then I was more perturbed by the reference "Church Of Scientology".A science church?I never gave it another thought.That was a couple of years back,but now I decided to enlighten myself on this news making entity,when I heard John Travolta was planning to exit Scientology,and how they were going to make it tough on him.Now,John Travolta I like.He's a natural actor,flies his own plane and is married to one of the most gorgeous women in Hollywood----Kelly Preston.It was very unfortunate what happened with his son.What a tragedy it is to loose your teenage son like that!
Now from what i understand,this whole Scientology thing was started by a science fiction writer Ron Hubbard.He wrote some beliefs and in his own words describes it as the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others, and all of life. One purpose of Scientology, as stated by the Church of Scientology, is to become certain of one's spiritual existence and one's relationship to God. One belief of Scientology is that a human is an immortal alien spiritual being, termed a thetan, that is trapped on planet Earth in a physical body.
It's believed that an individual should discover for himself that Scientology works by personally applying its principles and observing or experiencing desirable results. Also that a series of events, or incidents, occurred before life on earth, and also believe that humans have hidden abilities which can be unlocked.
In Scientology, the cosmic source or life force is represented by the Greek letter theta (Θ). Theta is meant to represent life or the life source, it is not part of the physical universe but it can control the universe. The individual expression of theta is called the thetan.
According to Scientologist mythology, thetans brought the material world into being largely for their own pleasure.Thetans are believed to have occupied innumerable bodies over time. This aspect of Scientology theology bears similarities to the Masonry, Hindu and Buddhist concept of reincarnation. Reincarnation in Scientology happens through a process called 'assumption'. The Scientology emphasis on the importance of present, consequence of past actions also resembles the concept of karma.
The Bridge to Total Freedom is the means by which Scientologists undertake personal spiritual development. The bridge has two sides: 'training' + 'processing'. Training is education in the religious principles of 'auditing'. Processing is the actual practice of 'auditing'.
It goes on and on about dynamics and practices and so on and so forth.I won't get into the details of all that.
Scientology has a rigid doctrine which discourages secondary interpretation of its writings.Emphasis is placed on keeping the writings in context.They believe in gradual learning of their doctrines.One central practice of Scientology is an activity known as auditing/listening which seeks to elevate a follower to a State of Clear, one of freedom from the influences of the reactive mind.
In his Chart of Human Evaluation Hubbard said that a man high in the chart has a strong interest in sex and the rearing of children. Hubbard described the sex emotion as a strong attention unit similar to a strong applause.I didn't quite understand that but then I'm not surprised.
The Church of Scientology has a requirement in order that every member sign a legal waiver document which covers their relationship with the Church of before engaging in Scientology services.Individual breakaway groups have been prosecuted and harassed,that have practiced Scientology outside the official Church without authorization.It's very autocratic and authoritarian.Then why crib about communism in China or Korea,when you have these organisations in a free country?
Now,I'm not sure as to why John Travolta may want to quit this cult like religion or sect or whatever you may please to call it.We,all know to some extent the kind of pressure and stress these Hollywood actors have to go through and how they all resort to some sort of addiction at some point or the other.From,what's been written in the tabloids,there are a lot of murky details in John's life which he'd rather not be made public.To the uninitiated,John's son was autistic and it's rumoured that the church of Scientology didn't believe he was and John just ignored them and did his own thing.There were rumours of him being gay and that his partner was the kid's nanny and blah blah blah.Now I would take all this with a pinch of salt,but it brings to the forefront,how powerful the cult religion has become.John Travolta is one of the biggest benefactor and one of the oldest.I believe he's been a member from as back as 1975.All I can say is that as a believer of God and him being the creator of the universe,it's really hard to believe that people can follow something that's man made.My prayers are with John,he's had a really hard time,and hope that he can make the right decision and be happy about it.In the absence of faith,people are easily misled into joining all kinds of groups offering them the path to salvation.Sometimes it's difficult to get out.Will John be able to get out?
Now from what i understand,this whole Scientology thing was started by a science fiction writer Ron Hubbard.He wrote some beliefs and in his own words describes it as the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others, and all of life. One purpose of Scientology, as stated by the Church of Scientology, is to become certain of one's spiritual existence and one's relationship to God. One belief of Scientology is that a human is an immortal alien spiritual being, termed a thetan, that is trapped on planet Earth in a physical body.
It's believed that an individual should discover for himself that Scientology works by personally applying its principles and observing or experiencing desirable results. Also that a series of events, or incidents, occurred before life on earth, and also believe that humans have hidden abilities which can be unlocked.
In Scientology, the cosmic source or life force is represented by the Greek letter theta (Θ). Theta is meant to represent life or the life source, it is not part of the physical universe but it can control the universe. The individual expression of theta is called the thetan.
According to Scientologist mythology, thetans brought the material world into being largely for their own pleasure.Thetans are believed to have occupied innumerable bodies over time. This aspect of Scientology theology bears similarities to the Masonry, Hindu and Buddhist concept of reincarnation. Reincarnation in Scientology happens through a process called 'assumption'. The Scientology emphasis on the importance of present, consequence of past actions also resembles the concept of karma.
The Bridge to Total Freedom is the means by which Scientologists undertake personal spiritual development. The bridge has two sides: 'training' + 'processing'. Training is education in the religious principles of 'auditing'. Processing is the actual practice of 'auditing'.
It goes on and on about dynamics and practices and so on and so forth.I won't get into the details of all that.
Scientology has a rigid doctrine which discourages secondary interpretation of its writings.Emphasis is placed on keeping the writings in context.They believe in gradual learning of their doctrines.One central practice of Scientology is an activity known as auditing/listening which seeks to elevate a follower to a State of Clear, one of freedom from the influences of the reactive mind.
In his Chart of Human Evaluation Hubbard said that a man high in the chart has a strong interest in sex and the rearing of children. Hubbard described the sex emotion as a strong attention unit similar to a strong applause.I didn't quite understand that but then I'm not surprised.
The Church of Scientology has a requirement in order that every member sign a legal waiver document which covers their relationship with the Church of before engaging in Scientology services.Individual breakaway groups have been prosecuted and harassed,that have practiced Scientology outside the official Church without authorization.It's very autocratic and authoritarian.Then why crib about communism in China or Korea,when you have these organisations in a free country?
Now,I'm not sure as to why John Travolta may want to quit this cult like religion or sect or whatever you may please to call it.We,all know to some extent the kind of pressure and stress these Hollywood actors have to go through and how they all resort to some sort of addiction at some point or the other.From,what's been written in the tabloids,there are a lot of murky details in John's life which he'd rather not be made public.To the uninitiated,John's son was autistic and it's rumoured that the church of Scientology didn't believe he was and John just ignored them and did his own thing.There were rumours of him being gay and that his partner was the kid's nanny and blah blah blah.Now I would take all this with a pinch of salt,but it brings to the forefront,how powerful the cult religion has become.John Travolta is one of the biggest benefactor and one of the oldest.I believe he's been a member from as back as 1975.All I can say is that as a believer of God and him being the creator of the universe,it's really hard to believe that people can follow something that's man made.My prayers are with John,he's had a really hard time,and hope that he can make the right decision and be happy about it.In the absence of faith,people are easily misled into joining all kinds of groups offering them the path to salvation.Sometimes it's difficult to get out.Will John be able to get out?
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Should India Be Concerned About a Paranoid Neighbour
Unfortunately for India,it has many paranoid neighbours and the Indian leadership never taking them as a threat seriously,has led to the few wars and skirmishes on our borders.No,I'm not talking about Pakistan or China,or Nepal.Yes even they are in the running for India's enemy no.1 title.This time I'm writing about a country which most Indians have forgotten or don't think of it as a threat.Well,think again.After reading what I write,you will think again.
I'm talking about Myanmar.No,no its not the 'Myan' in Urdu meaning the sheath in which swords are kept,but Myanmar or erstwhile Burma.We will refer to it as Burma for the sake of convenience.On and off I've been hearing of Burma growing as a military and a nuclear power.Out of sheer ignorance I scoffed at it and said "Burma what"?When I read a few articles about Burma in the local newspapers,I was shocked.
Burma is the largest country in terms of geographical area in mainland South-east Asia and also the 40th largest country in the world.Shocked?This is just the beginning.It's predominantly Buddhist and is a military governed country since 1962.
That was a blast into the past.In today's age,Burma is a growing nuclear power with upto 5 nuclear reactors and equal number of plants.It seems that for years Burmese men have been sent to Russia to study nuclear weaponry and how a nuclear bomb is made etc.They have been arming themselves to the teeth and its all done very secretively.Russia has been selling nuclear plants,reactors and all equipments related to Burma.It is possible that all the logistics are facilitated from N.Korea through some secrets tunnels.That is a big concern for India as N.Korea is a protege of sorts for China and we all know China's expansionist dreams and its resentment towards India's growth since the mid 90's.I wont be surprised if they and some other anti-India nations were behind all the mishaps happening with the commonwealth preparations.Truth is heart of heart many nations don't want to see it take off.A successful commonwealth games will mean more growth for India in terms of investments and projects.Australia and China both had a boost in growth after the Olympics were hosted by them.I won't be surprised if all these mishaps were planned.It won't be far fetched.So,the thought that China is indirectly trying to arm one of our neighbours with nuclear capacity to counter India is a possibility that India cannot disregard.We have to learn from our previous mistakes which were very grave.Do we ever learn? It looks like we could,at least that's what another article on India's military might said.A few facts on the Indian Army:
Army:1.3 million
Reserve:1.16 million
Tanks: 4500
Aircraft's:600
Helicopters:530
Naval vessels:145
Nuclear weapons:60-70
All figures are an approximate but formidable.India is the largest importer of military hardware in 3rd world nations and is purchasing more and more weapons.A home made nuclear sub was launched recently without much fanfare.India's military spending has doubled in ten years.We need to get aggressive with aggressors on the borders and bargain and lobby for more support on the Kashmir issue from Big daddy without giving in too much.Not being on the security council has always gone against India,which makes China very happy.Every one wants to please China as they all have to gain from India.Offense is the best defense can be a ploy that may work to ward off aggression.We have to get rid off this pacifist label stamped on our foreheads by the British.Non-violence won't work in such situations.
India is poised to become the 3rd mightiest military in the world and without supremacy over the Indian ocean,that can't be achieved.It seems that the annual spending on Navy is only 15% and 60% for the Army.That ratio has to tilt towards the Navy's favour as the seas are important.China has a very formidable Navy too and the recent Mumbai attacks that came via the sea,shows how lacking we are in that Area.
India is surrounded by enemies from all sides;only superior technology and superior planning can keep us afloat.Jai Ho
I'm talking about Myanmar.No,no its not the 'Myan' in Urdu meaning the sheath in which swords are kept,but Myanmar or erstwhile Burma.We will refer to it as Burma for the sake of convenience.On and off I've been hearing of Burma growing as a military and a nuclear power.Out of sheer ignorance I scoffed at it and said "Burma what"?When I read a few articles about Burma in the local newspapers,I was shocked.
Burma is the largest country in terms of geographical area in mainland South-east Asia and also the 40th largest country in the world.Shocked?This is just the beginning.It's predominantly Buddhist and is a military governed country since 1962.
That was a blast into the past.In today's age,Burma is a growing nuclear power with upto 5 nuclear reactors and equal number of plants.It seems that for years Burmese men have been sent to Russia to study nuclear weaponry and how a nuclear bomb is made etc.They have been arming themselves to the teeth and its all done very secretively.Russia has been selling nuclear plants,reactors and all equipments related to Burma.It is possible that all the logistics are facilitated from N.Korea through some secrets tunnels.That is a big concern for India as N.Korea is a protege of sorts for China and we all know China's expansionist dreams and its resentment towards India's growth since the mid 90's.I wont be surprised if they and some other anti-India nations were behind all the mishaps happening with the commonwealth preparations.Truth is heart of heart many nations don't want to see it take off.A successful commonwealth games will mean more growth for India in terms of investments and projects.Australia and China both had a boost in growth after the Olympics were hosted by them.I won't be surprised if all these mishaps were planned.It won't be far fetched.So,the thought that China is indirectly trying to arm one of our neighbours with nuclear capacity to counter India is a possibility that India cannot disregard.We have to learn from our previous mistakes which were very grave.Do we ever learn? It looks like we could,at least that's what another article on India's military might said.A few facts on the Indian Army:
Army:1.3 million
Reserve:1.16 million
Tanks: 4500
Aircraft's:600
Helicopters:530
Naval vessels:145
Nuclear weapons:60-70
All figures are an approximate but formidable.India is the largest importer of military hardware in 3rd world nations and is purchasing more and more weapons.A home made nuclear sub was launched recently without much fanfare.India's military spending has doubled in ten years.We need to get aggressive with aggressors on the borders and bargain and lobby for more support on the Kashmir issue from Big daddy without giving in too much.Not being on the security council has always gone against India,which makes China very happy.Every one wants to please China as they all have to gain from India.Offense is the best defense can be a ploy that may work to ward off aggression.We have to get rid off this pacifist label stamped on our foreheads by the British.Non-violence won't work in such situations.
India is poised to become the 3rd mightiest military in the world and without supremacy over the Indian ocean,that can't be achieved.It seems that the annual spending on Navy is only 15% and 60% for the Army.That ratio has to tilt towards the Navy's favour as the seas are important.China has a very formidable Navy too and the recent Mumbai attacks that came via the sea,shows how lacking we are in that Area.
India is surrounded by enemies from all sides;only superior technology and superior planning can keep us afloat.Jai Ho
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Who Is Peter Varghese
It sounds just like another mallu name doesn't it,but it's not.The Peter Noozhumuri Varghese I'm referring to is a key person;both for India and Australia.
A few facts about Peter:
He was born in Africa(Kenya) in 1956
B.A(Hons)from Queensland University
Joined service in Dept.of foreign Affairs in 1979
Since then has held key positions including International Adviser to the PM in 2003
Married to Margaret O'Sullivan and has one Son
What makes him special are two facts,namely: he being the first Indian to be deputed from Australia as High Commissioner to India,and India currently on an economic boom.
The thing that immediately comes to mind is the attacks on the Indian students a few months ago and more recently the Indian students being left high and dry after many colleges close down courses.And not to forget the issues with Uranium being refused,on what grounds everyone knows.
Economic Pundits have been proclaiming India as the inevitable economic giant for years now,but the way it is positioned in another 10years,India may finally arrive.
Now that half of the world seems disillusioned with China's games at helping only themselves,their doubt able stance on Tibet,supporting Pakistan to spread terror in India and their own military enhancements;powers like the US are looking at redefining their relationship with India.Lets be honest,its all about vested interest.There is no free lunch and Hillary's visit to India was a multi-purpose one;some of it we can only guess,but some were obvious.China may well be the Frankenstein the US wants to ignore,and India the pacifist democracy with a booming economy.We have a lot to gain and so does the US,from the alliance.You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.But a line needs to be drawn.Now,Australia also wants a share of this giant pizza( I prefer that to pie).No harm in it,its business after all and we all have something to gain.
Now,what can Peter do for India and Australia is the big question.He has a tight rope walk ahead of him.He will be doubted as an Australian ally in India and maybe the same in Australia.Only time will tell as he will be hit as soon as he assumes office,by the attacks' issue as that is fresh in memory and will take predominance.He will need to be very tactful,as this has become a very sensitive issue for Indians.It will be safe to assume that his deputation is a wise move by Kevin Rudd to try and appease India.Whether it pays off or not remains to be seen.
Its going to be one of the toughest deputations for Peter and more so because of the high hopes pinned on him from both sides.Lets wait and watch if his shoulders are strong enough to carry this responsibly and smoothly,or he will crumble under pressure.I read that he has a very sharp mind,hope that comes in handy.I will sign off by wishing Peter all the very best and that God gift him the strength,wisdom,courage and vision to see him through.Jai Ho
A few facts about Peter:
He was born in Africa(Kenya) in 1956
B.A(Hons)from Queensland University
Joined service in Dept.of foreign Affairs in 1979
Since then has held key positions including International Adviser to the PM in 2003
Married to Margaret O'Sullivan and has one Son
What makes him special are two facts,namely: he being the first Indian to be deputed from Australia as High Commissioner to India,and India currently on an economic boom.
The thing that immediately comes to mind is the attacks on the Indian students a few months ago and more recently the Indian students being left high and dry after many colleges close down courses.And not to forget the issues with Uranium being refused,on what grounds everyone knows.
Economic Pundits have been proclaiming India as the inevitable economic giant for years now,but the way it is positioned in another 10years,India may finally arrive.
Now that half of the world seems disillusioned with China's games at helping only themselves,their doubt able stance on Tibet,supporting Pakistan to spread terror in India and their own military enhancements;powers like the US are looking at redefining their relationship with India.Lets be honest,its all about vested interest.There is no free lunch and Hillary's visit to India was a multi-purpose one;some of it we can only guess,but some were obvious.China may well be the Frankenstein the US wants to ignore,and India the pacifist democracy with a booming economy.We have a lot to gain and so does the US,from the alliance.You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.But a line needs to be drawn.Now,Australia also wants a share of this giant pizza( I prefer that to pie).No harm in it,its business after all and we all have something to gain.
Now,what can Peter do for India and Australia is the big question.He has a tight rope walk ahead of him.He will be doubted as an Australian ally in India and maybe the same in Australia.Only time will tell as he will be hit as soon as he assumes office,by the attacks' issue as that is fresh in memory and will take predominance.He will need to be very tactful,as this has become a very sensitive issue for Indians.It will be safe to assume that his deputation is a wise move by Kevin Rudd to try and appease India.Whether it pays off or not remains to be seen.
Its going to be one of the toughest deputations for Peter and more so because of the high hopes pinned on him from both sides.Lets wait and watch if his shoulders are strong enough to carry this responsibly and smoothly,or he will crumble under pressure.I read that he has a very sharp mind,hope that comes in handy.I will sign off by wishing Peter all the very best and that God gift him the strength,wisdom,courage and vision to see him through.Jai Ho
Thursday, July 23, 2009
You Could Drop Dead
I'm not trying to scare you,but that was the essence of what an article in last weekend's Good weekend magazine was trying to convey.Now Good Weekend magazine is an insert into the weekend edition of Sydney Morning Herald and me and the wife have this tradition of reading the Saturday paper over breakfast.....either at home or in a Cafe'.Due to space restrictions in a Cafe', we end up reading the paper mostly at home.
Now this article caught my attention.It said about perfectly normal and healthy young adults who dropped dead.It said about a young athletic bloke who came out of the shower,towel wrapped around himself and was found on the dead bed.Also there was a young guy was jogging and dropped dead and many others who seemingly had no health conditions,but just died....suddenly.All of them had a common cause of death and post-mortem revealed it as Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM).It is a silent and quick killer.From what I understood,all these people had a hereditary condition due to which their heart muscles thickened and at some stage caused a cardiac arrest.
One school teacher also had a similar attack but she survived as her co-teacher and two other students had all been trained in CPR(resuscitation),I think it stands for cardio pulmonary resuscitation.Anyway,she was lucky that they revived her till the paramedics got there.She still goes about her life normally,with a defibrillator installed inside here.In future if she ever had a cardiac arrest,this device would give her multiple electric shocks.The experience has been described as feeling 'like being kicked in the face by a horse'.Fortunately this lady didn't have an attack after that.Defibrillation must begin immediately. Your chances for survival decline by 10% for every minute that passes without your heart receiving an electrical shock. After 10 minutes your chances for survival are less than 1%. The national average response time from the time you call a paramedic to the time the paramedics arrive is 10 minutes.So,a person who's just suffered an attack cannot wait for ambulance to arrive and defibrillation must have begun.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes excessively thick. Hypertrophic means "excessive growth" and cardiomyopathy means, "heart muscle disease." The thickening affects the walls of the two main pumping chambers of the heart, called the ventricles. The right ventricle pumps blood from the body to the lungs, and the left ventricle pumps blood from the lungs to the body. The heart muscle thickening may occur in the ventricular septum, the muscular wall that separates the left and right ventricles. It can also occur in areas other than the septum, such as the apex (tip) of the ventricles, the right ventricle, or the entire left ventricular wall. In general, the effects of HCM are much more prominent in the left ventricle than the right.
For various reasons, HCM causes the heart's blood-pumping function to become less effective. Left untreated, this can lead to congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, resulting in shortness of breath, fluid buildup in the legs, fatigue, and other symptoms.
Now,what was scary was that anyone could have this condition and not know about it.So to be on the safe side,it's suggested to have a cardiac check up where it can be determined if you have the condition or not.God forbid if you do,then the next best step can be suggested by the specialist. It was said that genes do have an important role,so you might consider looking into that as well.Cheers
Now this article caught my attention.It said about perfectly normal and healthy young adults who dropped dead.It said about a young athletic bloke who came out of the shower,towel wrapped around himself and was found on the dead bed.Also there was a young guy was jogging and dropped dead and many others who seemingly had no health conditions,but just died....suddenly.All of them had a common cause of death and post-mortem revealed it as Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM).It is a silent and quick killer.From what I understood,all these people had a hereditary condition due to which their heart muscles thickened and at some stage caused a cardiac arrest.
One school teacher also had a similar attack but she survived as her co-teacher and two other students had all been trained in CPR(resuscitation),I think it stands for cardio pulmonary resuscitation.Anyway,she was lucky that they revived her till the paramedics got there.She still goes about her life normally,with a defibrillator installed inside here.In future if she ever had a cardiac arrest,this device would give her multiple electric shocks.The experience has been described as feeling 'like being kicked in the face by a horse'.Fortunately this lady didn't have an attack after that.Defibrillation must begin immediately. Your chances for survival decline by 10% for every minute that passes without your heart receiving an electrical shock. After 10 minutes your chances for survival are less than 1%. The national average response time from the time you call a paramedic to the time the paramedics arrive is 10 minutes.So,a person who's just suffered an attack cannot wait for ambulance to arrive and defibrillation must have begun.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes excessively thick. Hypertrophic means "excessive growth" and cardiomyopathy means, "heart muscle disease." The thickening affects the walls of the two main pumping chambers of the heart, called the ventricles. The right ventricle pumps blood from the body to the lungs, and the left ventricle pumps blood from the lungs to the body. The heart muscle thickening may occur in the ventricular septum, the muscular wall that separates the left and right ventricles. It can also occur in areas other than the septum, such as the apex (tip) of the ventricles, the right ventricle, or the entire left ventricular wall. In general, the effects of HCM are much more prominent in the left ventricle than the right.
For various reasons, HCM causes the heart's blood-pumping function to become less effective. Left untreated, this can lead to congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, resulting in shortness of breath, fluid buildup in the legs, fatigue, and other symptoms.
Now,what was scary was that anyone could have this condition and not know about it.So to be on the safe side,it's suggested to have a cardiac check up where it can be determined if you have the condition or not.God forbid if you do,then the next best step can be suggested by the specialist. It was said that genes do have an important role,so you might consider looking into that as well.Cheers
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