What will you do?

As the Election Day draws closer, I can’t help but think what lies ahead for this great country that is America. I am a foreign national and I respect America. This country has given me a lot. I am indebted to America for the education, job, good living it has provided me. I have learnt a lot from people in America. Honesty, hard work, integrity, fighting for the right thing amongst many other traits I have observed and learned from everyday people here. I have been inspired by many, many people here. They are everyday Joe, but they have inspired me. The foremost attribute, if I was asked to pick one about America, would be Individualism. The spirit of independent thinking in America amazes me. And it is this point I want to stress home today. To vote for the candidate based on your individual research and analysis. Election day is not very far from us. It is our chance to make history. Too often we tend to think "What can I do? I am but one person." "I am too small to make a change." Well this is your chance to make a change. Regardless of which party you think you belong to, Democrat or Republican or The Green Party, I would like to request you to keep your party aside for a sec. Let’s keep our defenses out and come on table for a dialogue. Let’s really open up and check the facts. What have the candidates in their past voted for? What bills/laws they have voted against? What’s their political history? Not how rich they were born or how poor. No. Instead let’s find what they stand for through their governing history. If I may, I would like to urge you to keep your religion aside for a sec and evaluate the values that the person stands for, by observing their behavior, their conduct, and their policies. The thing about religion is that most people feel their religion is the correct religion. Almost exuding a sort of self-righteousness, a sort of high ground, as if being part of a religion automatically makes one great. No. It’s what you do, what you stand for that makes you great. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, they both belonged to different religions, but were each remarkable men. And the other thing is, if merely being part of a religion would make one great, there would be no religion based war, no priests abusing kids. Not for a second am I against a religion or religion in general. If a philosophy/religion brings you peace and makes you a better person, I am all for it. But do realize that there is another philosophy, another religion that brings peace to another. So there should be a clear distinction between State and Religion. So if I may suggest, don’t vote based on who is more religious or follows your religion. Also, look for who has new trustworthy ideas. Did you know there is a Green Party? Check out their ideas. See what their focus is. In this so called democracy, mainstream media is only feeding us what will drive their viewership up. How many articles have you read about the Green Party? Please don’t think that this party will never win so you would be wasting your vote. If everybody thinks like that, there is no chance for a new party to win and change things. The math is simple. If enough people vote for an independent party then that party will win. Mind you, I am not urging you to vote for one party or the other. I am urging, requesting you to keep your options open and vote based on factual information rather than popular sentiment around you. In summary, regardless whom you vote for I would like to encourage you to: 1. Study your facts. 2. Learn, read “left”, “right” and independent stuff. 3. Base your vote off of your own convictions rather than what your family, your religious thinkers, your friends have voted for. 4. And lastly, please, please vote. If you don’t vote, then in my opinion, you lose all rights to criticize current state of affairs. If you have done nothing for the nation, then don't be an arm chair critique. Please don’t shirk your responsibility. Here’s your chance to create history. America needs you. What will you do?

Disconnection between human beings

So I have been thinking about the recent killings in New York and prior to that in Aurora, Colorado. What is at the root of the problem? Why has it become a pattern in our society? In spite of all the affluence in people’s life, what’s causing this suffering?

To me what’s apparent is that the people who caused these immense sufferings were themselves suffering immensely. It’s very easy to espouse hate towards the killers and it is a natural response. But that does not help anybody. A Chinese proverb says: “It’s better to light a candle then curse the darkness.” My personal opinion on the subject is in our society people are getting more and more disconnected. We have our headphones on too much. Walking from one place to another, we are on our phones texting. Or are liking away on Facebook! :-) I am not denouncing texting or facebook, not by far. They are a form of connecting with each other and have made this world a smaller place! Therefore are definitely adding value. It’s when we rely on online/text communication more than personal communication that we start distancing ourselves from each other. It’s when we are walking through our life, not looking around us, mired in our own life, is when we start distancing ourselves from others.

We each have our own role to play to make this society a better place! For me, I want to open up and say hello to people more, strike up conversation with someone looking sad, stop to ask how are they doing, be there for people in my immediate environment more. We never know how we might be affecting an individual’s life, who at that moment might be struggling. When we stop to say hello, smile and ask how they are doing, we are showing that we care. That their life is valuable. This might just be the highlight of their day.

After all isn’t that what we all are looking for: love and connection? Please feel free to leave a comment/feedback/question. I am curious about what you think about this subject! Thank you for your kind attention!

Oh mother

On the auspicious occasion of Mother's day here's a small poem dedicated to all of the mothers! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Oh mother"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oh mother, how do I even sing a praise in your glory,
Am I even worthy enough, You are the reason I am alive, You are the source of my life, Through my growing years you have given me your all, When I have come home hungry, you have fed me, You have listened to my forever school stories with absolute enthusiasm, You have consoled my heart when I have been heart broken, You have rejoiced with me in my joys, And suffered with me through my sorrows, You have danced with me the goofy dance, You have cared for me when I have asked you to care no more, You have given me your bite of food so I don't sleep hungry, While you yourself have gone empty stomach to bed, You have protected me with all your might and with your life, You have given to me when there was nothing to give and then given me some more, And stood with me with courage, sacrificing yourself so I can have, You embody infinite compassion, infinite love, infinite craziness, infinite sunshine. I am but a passing piece of history, While your glory shines forever, Oh mother, Oh mother, Oh mother, I bow to you, There's no equal of you, Oh mother, Oh mother, Oh mother, How do I even sing a praise in your glory, Am I even worthy enough, Oh mother, Oh mother, Oh mother....

Messengers of Peace

We the SGI,
We the messengers of peace,
We create the land of tranquil light wherever we go,
We create comfort and joy with our actions,
Regard each religion, each philosophy, not with tolerance but with respect,
We live the Bodhisattva way!

We are the jewels of the Treasure Tower,
We form the Eagle Peak,
We are the Land of Tranquil Light!

We make others challenges our own,
We have the fervent prayer of transforming suffering into joy,

Above all we have the noblest mission,
The mission of the Bodhisattva.

Let us define our victory,
Let us win our victory,
For victory is already ours,
For we are the Bodhisattvas!

Let's win...

In this year of 2012,
Lets define our victory,
Lets fight towards it,
Lets carve out our life to our convictions,
Lets play the wonderful drama of life,
Lets challenge ourselves,
Lets become comfortable being uncomfortable,
And while we are at it,
Lets dance, lets laugh, lets feel the fresh air,
Lets hear the birds sing, lets soak in the sun,
Let the waves of the ocean wet our feet, lets feel the soft grass,
Lets win my people, lets live out our wonderful lives!

How wonderful...

Have you ever stopped
to think, to ponder,
how wonderful a creation
you are

How majestic!!

If you haven't,
stop right now,
find a quiet place
Pray, meditate or chant or
do whatever you do to connect
with yourself.

If you do you will realize
You are a child of god,
You are a wonder of the universe,
an amazing creation.
No matter what your religion,
what your belief,
You are wonderful, you are beautiful!

Have you ever seen a child playing,
a child praying,
how beautiful,
how wondrous,
That's who you are,
a wonderful child!

With all your faults,
With all your nooks,
With all your crevices,
With all your strength,
With all your courage,
With all your passion

You are WONDERFUL!
You are BEAUTIFUL!
You are MAGNIFICENT!
You are MAGICAL!
You are a WONDER!

Revealing your highest potential...

So while chanting today, I had a chain of realizations. About revealing our highest potential. I write this post mostly for myself. But also for who may benefit from reading it. I hope I can inspire/help at least one person with this post. So here we go...

First: Victory or defeat is directly related to the causes we make in this life.

This one is pretty straightforward. If we want to be a great baseball player, we got to make the cause of practicing earnestly. If we want to excel in school, we need to put the hours in to studying sincerely. If we do not put the hard yards in, we won't get the result. Plain and simple, right?

Second: The causes you make in this life are directly related to the commitment you make to a particular direction.

Lets use the example of becoming a great baseball player. How much are we committed to becoming a great baseball player? The answer to this question is directly related to how badly do we want to be a phenomenal baseball player. This "how badly do we want it" question directly drives our commitment. We may want something, and yet be okay without it. For example: we may want that Mercedes SLR McLaren Sportster, yet be cool with a Nissan Sentra. This leads to the general subconscious attitude of "It's great 'if' I get it." May surprise you, but this is the general modus operandi of a lot of people. Including me. You with me here?

Third: The strength of your commitment is directly related to how bad do you want it, but (and here's the kicker) is also subconsciously related to your own conviction in your own life.

In other words in your confidence in yourself. Say you are about to perform a high jump. The way you jump will be totally related to how confident you feel of making it. Yes, you can make it even after not being confident of succeeding, but your chances of success go much higher if you are confident about making it. Your body language, the way it flows is greatly influenced by how confident you feel. Ever had experience of being in the zone, when you can do no wrong. Now think back to that time...did you have any hesitation, any fear in not being able to make it? OR did everything flow including your confidence?

And therefore victory or defeat in whatever you do in life, is directly related or at least greatly influenced by your confidence in yourself.

Your greatest potential, your greatest victories are hidden behind your fear of your own self, your lack of confidence in your own self. Develop total conviction in your own self and reveal your highest potential!