hey...
wats happening guys? I must say that my recent posts have evoked quite a response from people i know personally. while the reverts on the blog are still to come, i have received quite some calls on my handphone!
Did i hear someone asking me why suddenly did this spurt of holiness came from??? Well, let me bare my soul here.
You guys already know my background. Having been closely associated with some holy people in my life, and that too, in close proximity has generated in me, a sensitivity for religion and the fact that it is sadly and slowly fading away. While God will never ever recede from the mind of mankind, the mythology and the literature that is borne of Him is slowly taking a backseat. I read a lot and listen to a lot discourses. I might add, that at the beginning they did seem to be total timepass, but believe me, i slowly found myself getting caught in the philosophy and depth of the game of faith. Slowly, i began realising that the stuff that the faith stories and fundas that used to seem superstition really do hold water. That there is seriously a power that rules this world and its inhabitants, and yes, he does listen to what you say!
Cant believe all this, can you? Thats ok. Rome was not built in a day. My goal here is to make aware of those small hidden myths and philosophies that make life wat it is. We dont know them coz we have not read them yet. And you cant read it all by yourself. Thats where my Guru comes to picture. I would like to use this medium to bring to you all that i learn from him. Guruji is a very learned sage, and he is widely celebrated in the country. His tradition and his teachings have reached far and wide - from neighbours like Nepal to shores of Australia. It would be my small gift to Him if I could travel far and wide via this blog with his message and knowledge.
Pls do write back with your thoughts... and no, it would not be only God, God and God. This is life, and am here only to make living it worthwhile.
Do tune in... Vrinda
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
A bit about adi Shankaracharya
hey...
A continuation of my previous blog.. wherein I started talking about Gurus. I had introduced my guru as the Shankaracharya of 2 maths... this is just a background to how the Shankaracharya tradition came to being. I know this would seem uninteresting to quite a few reading this... but it makes good awareness and a wonderful followup is ensured!
About Adi Shankaracharya:
Childhood of Adi ShankaracharyaAdi Shankaracharya was born as Shankara in around 788 AD in a Brahmin family in Kaladi village of Kerala. He was born to Sivaguru and Aryamba a number of years after their marriage. It is said that Aryamba had a vision of Lord Shiva, in which he promised her that He would incarnate Himself in the form of her first-born child. The life history of Adi Shankracharya tells us that he showed great intelligence right from his childhood. He mastered all the Vedas and the Vedanta in gurukul itself and could recite the epics and Puranas by heart.Adopting Sanyasa (Monastic Life)Adi Shankaracharya was attracted towards sanyasa right from his childhood. One day, while bathing in the Purna River, Shankaracharya was attacked by a crocodile. Seeing his mother's incapability to rescue him, he asked her to give him the permission to renounce the world. Left with no other option, she agreed to it. Shankaracharya recited the mantras of renunciation and immediately, the crocodile left him. Thus started the life of Shankara as an ascetic. He left Kerala and moved towards South India in search of a Guru.
Adi Sankaracharya Teachings:
The philosophy and teachings of Adi Sankaracharya were based on the Advaita Vedanta. He preached 'Non-Dualism'. It means that each and every person has a divine existence, which can be identified with the Supreme God. The mere thought that human being is finite with a name and form subject to earthly changes, is to be discarded. The bodies are diverse, but the soul of all the separate bodies is the same, the Divine One.
The Four Adi Shankaracharya Peethas:
Vedanta Jnana Peetha, Sringeri (South India)
Govardhana Peetha in Jagannath Puri (East India)
Kalika Peetha, Dwaraka (West India)
Jyotih Peetha, Badarikashrama (North India
Someone in the world has to lay the paths that people would travel. Those lucky to realise that this search in the world is the only search thats got any worth to it. Sages such as Shankaracharya showcase a focus point for devotees to center their energies on. In return, they also provide the force and zest with which to carry on their teachings and propogate the faith which sustains 80% of the people living on the planet. Believe me when I say that the rest 20% of them are omitted, not because they dont believe in God or are not inclined to sprituality, but stats say its because they have not had the pleasure or the blessing to have an illuminating presence in their life that steers them to acheiving the real goals of life.
Back again!
hey there...
How you guys doing? Sorry have been absconding for some time now... just caught up with work at the office and then, neverending at home. I've never told u guys abt what I do, have I? Well, am working as a Strategy & Development senior manager at one of the premier NBFC's in India today. Its an out and out analytical devising job - something I love doing. has taught me a lot too - planning and execution are fine words but a lot of hard work too! And that a good job done is appreciated everywhere! So have just been a bit busy that side of life...
What else...? I have a married sister in law (my husband's sister) who is visiting us right now. Its good to have her home after quite a time now... she is one of those very vibrant and energetic people who love to have fun wherever they are... so that kind of rubs onto everyone when she is at home!!
I have also been visiting my Guru. The Shankaracharya of Dwarka and Joshimath. Am not sure how many people reading this would be familiar with this tradition but the Hindu religion is largely dominated by the influence of Adi Shankaracharya and his teachings. Not to mention the four religious hubs (we call them Maths) that he established in the four corners of India... Badrinath in North (Lord of the Math - Lord Badrinath, a Vishnu emdodiment), Dwarka in the west (ruled by Lord Krishna), Shringeri in the South (abode of the goddess of Learning) and Puri in the East ( ruled by Lord Jagannath, another Vishnu embodiment). All of these have quite some histories... and its a blessing to have the legal and supreme authority of 2 of these maths to be my Guru.
I know a lot of people are very skeptical about this Guru - disciple relation or concept. A lot are cynical as well. I should be knowing - I meet people like these everyday! especially when they come to know that I prescribe to the concept! With all due respect to them. Everyone is entitled and allowed to have their own thoughts and sentiments. But just think for a minute... whats in it that makes you so cynical? We all have some people who we put above all else in the world. Each of us have one such presence in our lives, who we hold as sacred - who has the power to influence our mind, mould our heart and change our outlook. Every one of us look up at one such person that makes us want to give up all the allures of the worldly life and spend our entire lifetime doing nothing but waking up to the more important facets of existence - reaching within our own spiritual self to learn more about God, more about the meaning of being human, more about acheiving something unparalleled in the world. That person is your Guru! Give it some thought, guys... What is a Guru....? A Guru is this Guy who makes you reach your inner self to make you realise that U R U!!!!
He may be God, he may be your Teacher at school, he may be one of your parents. By the vedas, these are called the natural Gurus. And the moment you get ordained by another person, he / she becomes your cultured Guru. The difference lies in the name and the reactions they evoke in other people. To me, my Guru is someone who teaches me to love God and appreciate life. He assures me that its very much my duty to fulfil my spiritual quotient despite living in a material world such as ours. Makes me aware of the fact that I may have worldly duties to fulfil, and that doing so is also service to the Lord. To me, my Guru makes me experience happiness and peace by just giving me the golden opportunity to be in his presence. And i can swear by all the holy books of all religions in the world, that the times spent by His side, are to my mind the most relaxed and worryless times I have spent in my life.
Jai Gurudev!
How you guys doing? Sorry have been absconding for some time now... just caught up with work at the office and then, neverending at home. I've never told u guys abt what I do, have I? Well, am working as a Strategy & Development senior manager at one of the premier NBFC's in India today. Its an out and out analytical devising job - something I love doing. has taught me a lot too - planning and execution are fine words but a lot of hard work too! And that a good job done is appreciated everywhere! So have just been a bit busy that side of life...
What else...? I have a married sister in law (my husband's sister) who is visiting us right now. Its good to have her home after quite a time now... she is one of those very vibrant and energetic people who love to have fun wherever they are... so that kind of rubs onto everyone when she is at home!!
I have also been visiting my Guru. The Shankaracharya of Dwarka and Joshimath. Am not sure how many people reading this would be familiar with this tradition but the Hindu religion is largely dominated by the influence of Adi Shankaracharya and his teachings. Not to mention the four religious hubs (we call them Maths) that he established in the four corners of India... Badrinath in North (Lord of the Math - Lord Badrinath, a Vishnu emdodiment), Dwarka in the west (ruled by Lord Krishna), Shringeri in the South (abode of the goddess of Learning) and Puri in the East ( ruled by Lord Jagannath, another Vishnu embodiment). All of these have quite some histories... and its a blessing to have the legal and supreme authority of 2 of these maths to be my Guru.
I know a lot of people are very skeptical about this Guru - disciple relation or concept. A lot are cynical as well. I should be knowing - I meet people like these everyday! especially when they come to know that I prescribe to the concept! With all due respect to them. Everyone is entitled and allowed to have their own thoughts and sentiments. But just think for a minute... whats in it that makes you so cynical? We all have some people who we put above all else in the world. Each of us have one such presence in our lives, who we hold as sacred - who has the power to influence our mind, mould our heart and change our outlook. Every one of us look up at one such person that makes us want to give up all the allures of the worldly life and spend our entire lifetime doing nothing but waking up to the more important facets of existence - reaching within our own spiritual self to learn more about God, more about the meaning of being human, more about acheiving something unparalleled in the world. That person is your Guru! Give it some thought, guys... What is a Guru....? A Guru is this Guy who makes you reach your inner self to make you realise that U R U!!!!
He may be God, he may be your Teacher at school, he may be one of your parents. By the vedas, these are called the natural Gurus. And the moment you get ordained by another person, he / she becomes your cultured Guru. The difference lies in the name and the reactions they evoke in other people. To me, my Guru is someone who teaches me to love God and appreciate life. He assures me that its very much my duty to fulfil my spiritual quotient despite living in a material world such as ours. Makes me aware of the fact that I may have worldly duties to fulfil, and that doing so is also service to the Lord. To me, my Guru makes me experience happiness and peace by just giving me the golden opportunity to be in his presence. And i can swear by all the holy books of all religions in the world, that the times spent by His side, are to my mind the most relaxed and worryless times I have spent in my life.
Jai Gurudev!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A trip down Memory Lane
Hey..
Its taken me quite some time to write this post... u know what i have been upto last couple of days! Well, had left work a bit early on Monday and thats when i ended up sorting some stuff back home. So wat do i come across ??? I unearthed some albums, journals and some books of yester years! Flipping through them, i was tranported back to times that have been etched in my memory but ofcourse, due to more recent turns of life, remain dormant. Here I was, remembering myself all of 10 years and 12 years back, then six or eight years back, then to college times, MBA times and even the days of my first job, when i used to be in Gurgaon!
what wonderful days! What is the secret of the pleasure that one derives when one travels down memory lane? Visits bygones and suddenly, there is huge yearning to be that same person again - even for just one day! Spend time with those treasured friends, in those favourite places that used to be, enjoying both the leisure and luxury of having time for yourself, and even sharing the worries of life - exams, chipped nails and no time to watch the next movie!!! WHAT WONDERFUL WORRIES!
Was reading some entries on the journals i used to keep.. I promise, i would post some here for u guys to read as well! Trust me, they were no less than a Hindi movie unfolding in front of me - just the same amount of drama, the same amount of mystery... was life seriously such at that time! I rather think, it was the budding writer in me that overtook the actual and magnified it just a zillion :)
This is wat i compiled from at all i read and recollected... If i was to make a list of the days and times that i remember most and recollect with a fond heart and lots of love... this is how it goes:-
Its taken me quite some time to write this post... u know what i have been upto last couple of days! Well, had left work a bit early on Monday and thats when i ended up sorting some stuff back home. So wat do i come across ??? I unearthed some albums, journals and some books of yester years! Flipping through them, i was tranported back to times that have been etched in my memory but ofcourse, due to more recent turns of life, remain dormant. Here I was, remembering myself all of 10 years and 12 years back, then six or eight years back, then to college times, MBA times and even the days of my first job, when i used to be in Gurgaon!
what wonderful days! What is the secret of the pleasure that one derives when one travels down memory lane? Visits bygones and suddenly, there is huge yearning to be that same person again - even for just one day! Spend time with those treasured friends, in those favourite places that used to be, enjoying both the leisure and luxury of having time for yourself, and even sharing the worries of life - exams, chipped nails and no time to watch the next movie!!! WHAT WONDERFUL WORRIES!
Was reading some entries on the journals i used to keep.. I promise, i would post some here for u guys to read as well! Trust me, they were no less than a Hindi movie unfolding in front of me - just the same amount of drama, the same amount of mystery... was life seriously such at that time! I rather think, it was the budding writer in me that overtook the actual and magnified it just a zillion :)
This is wat i compiled from at all i read and recollected... If i was to make a list of the days and times that i remember most and recollect with a fond heart and lots of love... this is how it goes:-
- My 16th Birthday
- The Class XII interschool Fest - Maitraiyee
- The school trip to gujarat and rajasthan
- Dancing in the rain
- Joining college
- Lounging in a book store
- The day i got my second ear piercing done
- Choosing a career - joining MBA entrance tutorials
- My first trip abroad
- the day i turned 21
- cookout session with friends
- my first trek trip - Tiger Hills
- Leaving home for the first time
- Hostel life!
- my first kiss
- Pantaloon sales with Vritika and Swati!
- Visting the Taj Mahal, and Dwarka
- the first day of my first job
- my first all alone trip - Rameshwaram
- the day i watched three movies in a theater - back to back!
- Sitting among flowers and sunshine - Joshimath and Flowers Valley
- Suicide Shot - Genting islands
- the day i met Pandit Jasraj
- the day i said yes to marriage
i never even remembered half of all this... so much comes back to mind the minute you step into the time machine. Once this flow started, i realised that it does not stop at all.. even after some days today, am thinking and remembering stuff.... amazing how much the heart holds and that too, on quick recall!
A quick ode to some people having touched my life:
- Babaji - wherever u are, I miss you
- Kaka - wish u were here
- Guruji - this life is all yours
- my first boss
- Some old friends - Sanjeev, Parul, Arvind
- Deepak bhaiya, Binu Bhaiya, US, Basant Bhaiya - u guys have taught me to be a better person!
- Some teachers at school / MBA - Mrs Alexander, Mrs Basu, Dr Pai, Dr Nargundkar, Sandeep Kayastha and that dishy International Finance professor!
- Swati, Priyanka, Vritika - Friends Forever!
- Abhishek, Vivek, Naveen - better halves of the Freinds Forever respectively.. still getting to know u guys!
- Namita, Nimesh, Roshan, Chandan, Bharat, Saurabh, Dheeraj, Jimmy, Vinita, Vijay, Sandhya, Meghna, Jaya - MBA days were fun, largely coz of u guys!
Nice time i had... just remembering. i suddenly am smiling a lot and i guess, quite widely as i write this. If any of you guys are reading this, hey!
Cheers!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
All of us land up here!
Hey again!
Part of my work is research... and that gets me reading a lot of stuff on the net. If u were looking for someone, who never ceases to amaze at Google and its power, ur looking at her!!
well, back here.. i found this stuff on one such google search. A phrase we use so often and even find ourselves caught in.. here is where it started.... i can actually think of anecdotes to share too when i got caught in Catch 22... how abt u all... got anything to share??????
Meaning
A paradox in which the attempt to escape makes escape impossible.
Part of my work is research... and that gets me reading a lot of stuff on the net. If u were looking for someone, who never ceases to amaze at Google and its power, ur looking at her!!
well, back here.. i found this stuff on one such google search. A phrase we use so often and even find ourselves caught in.. here is where it started.... i can actually think of anecdotes to share too when i got caught in Catch 22... how abt u all... got anything to share??????
Meaning
A paradox in which the attempt to escape makes escape impossible.
- Origin
The title of Joseph Heller's novel, written in 1953 and published in 1961, (properly titled 'Catch-22' - with a hyphen). The first chapter was also published in a magazine in 1955, under the title 'Catch-18'.
The paradox is presented as the trap that confined members of the US Air Force. In logical terms the 'catch' was that, by applying for exemption from highly dangerous bombing missions on the grounds of insanity, the applicant proved himself to be sane (after all, that's what any sane person would do). If anyone applied to fly they would be considered insane. Either way; sane or insane, they were sent on the missions. This might be described logically as, 'damned if you do and damned if you don't', 'the vicious circle', 'a chicken and egg situation', or 'heads I win, tails you lose'.
In the book, this is explained thus:
Yossarian looked at him soberly and tried another approach. "Is Orr crazy?"" - He sure is," Doc Daneeka said.
- "Can you ground him?""I sure can. But first he has to ask me to. That's part of the rule."
- "Then why doesn't he ask you to?"
- "Because he's crazy," Doc Daneeka said. "He has to be crazy to keep flying combat missions after all the close calls he's had. Sure, I can ground Orr. But first he has to ask me to."
- "That's all he has to do to be grounded?"
- "That's all. Let him ask me.""And then you can ground him?" Yossarian asked.
- "No. Then I can't ground him."
- "You mean there's a catch?""Sure there's a catch," Doc Daneeka replied. "Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn't really crazy."There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.
- "That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.
- "It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.
Ever got caught in such a situation???
Awaiting ur reverts!
Hie there!
A break from regular posting so early in the day seems a bit not too good... but have been busy during the entire weekend! Friday was an additional bonus holiday from work, thanks to the "bandh" culture in Kolkata. Its actually a paradox - sometimes a blessing, sometimes an unwanted intrusion to an already set routine and agenda.
What all did i do...? Everything and nothing. Daily household chores, using that extra time to make some sense of the disorder that prevails in my room and cupboards, read some books that have been waiting for me all of the week, spending time to catch up with friends and family across the length and breadth of the country....
This weekend was also a bit different. I got many friends introduced to my blog! What did i get in return... a mixed bag of reactions!!!! A small part of me had really hoped that the blog would have people gushing over it.. and they would turn their world upside down in trying to get to a computer to log in and add to the same... Alas! maybe it would take some more time... some friends were of the opinion that it needs to be more "young", some were trying to tell me politely that they hadn't a clue what am trying to say or portray, some were happy with the effort and all supportive, while some i suspect are still to access the same!
But am going to keep going on. Lets see where we end up. I enjoy the medium. definitely need more know how in how to remain up to date with blogging but hey! Rome was definitely built in a day!
What have u all been upto? Do write back...
Cheers!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Hey again!
Here I am - making an effort to introduce myself. The who and where have I been may not be that important but none the less, would endeavour to put in words so as to enable you to build an image of myself, one that backs the idealogy and purpose of creating a blog here.
My name is Vrinda, i hail from the City of Joy. Kolkata to some would mean noise, slush and a horde of people who get their kicks out of creating trouble. To me, it means home, hustle and bustle of lives being well lived, honest to goodness people who genuinely do care what happens to the people around them, faith in abundance and God residing in some pockets of the city. To me, it means a lot more progress to be achieved, a long way to go.
I come from a nuclear family of industrialists, well endowed in society yetfully ingrained with the things that matter. Its very nice to have social ties with the who's who of the world, but my life is really made by the family I have, the education I am blessed with, my religious and emotional quotient and friends who stay close for a lifetime. I smile when i recall my childhood and growing up years, fondly remember my now widely spread cousins and siblings that have enriched me and given me memories that would turn a few, green with envy. I rejoice on the good fortune of having been blessed by the sublime presence of a Guru who I consider to be my own personal renedition of divinity. In future blogs, you are sure to read more about all of the above and I, truly look forward to sharing some wonderful experiences and learnings with you.
I am lucky to have been married to a wonderful person who, while he mirrors my thoughts and fortunes, also keeps me on my toes in continuously questioning my thoughts, striving to make me upgrade myself everyday - both as a person and as a professional. He makes me doubt myself and also take pride in being me, he makes me reach the clouds and then again start again from below the earth to emerge better and stronger. We do fight, we do disagree but amidst a lot of love and friendship.
Life has been good so far. But i have a feeling, that its just about to get better!
Do write back - lets get the ball rolling!
Jai Gurudev!
Here I am - making an effort to introduce myself. The who and where have I been may not be that important but none the less, would endeavour to put in words so as to enable you to build an image of myself, one that backs the idealogy and purpose of creating a blog here.
My name is Vrinda, i hail from the City of Joy. Kolkata to some would mean noise, slush and a horde of people who get their kicks out of creating trouble. To me, it means home, hustle and bustle of lives being well lived, honest to goodness people who genuinely do care what happens to the people around them, faith in abundance and God residing in some pockets of the city. To me, it means a lot more progress to be achieved, a long way to go.
I come from a nuclear family of industrialists, well endowed in society yetfully ingrained with the things that matter. Its very nice to have social ties with the who's who of the world, but my life is really made by the family I have, the education I am blessed with, my religious and emotional quotient and friends who stay close for a lifetime. I smile when i recall my childhood and growing up years, fondly remember my now widely spread cousins and siblings that have enriched me and given me memories that would turn a few, green with envy. I rejoice on the good fortune of having been blessed by the sublime presence of a Guru who I consider to be my own personal renedition of divinity. In future blogs, you are sure to read more about all of the above and I, truly look forward to sharing some wonderful experiences and learnings with you.
I am lucky to have been married to a wonderful person who, while he mirrors my thoughts and fortunes, also keeps me on my toes in continuously questioning my thoughts, striving to make me upgrade myself everyday - both as a person and as a professional. He makes me doubt myself and also take pride in being me, he makes me reach the clouds and then again start again from below the earth to emerge better and stronger. We do fight, we do disagree but amidst a lot of love and friendship.
Life has been good so far. But i have a feeling, that its just about to get better!
Do write back - lets get the ball rolling!
Jai Gurudev!
Hi!
Welcome to Spiritually Yours!
As the name suggests and you might have also read the blog description - its a forum whereinI wish to share my thoughts on anything that may take my mind's fancy and in the process, also meet other like minded people. I find, till now, the scarcity of a medium where we can actually voice our thoughts and have the joy of people responding with queries, concerns, affirmations as well as negations and sometimes, even rebukes! Like they say: "all types make the world". So here I am, embarking to meet the world, straight from my living room!
Welcome to Spiritually Yours!
As the name suggests and you might have also read the blog description - its a forum whereinI wish to share my thoughts on anything that may take my mind's fancy and in the process, also meet other like minded people. I find, till now, the scarcity of a medium where we can actually voice our thoughts and have the joy of people responding with queries, concerns, affirmations as well as negations and sometimes, even rebukes! Like they say: "all types make the world". So here I am, embarking to meet the world, straight from my living room!
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