My learnings in life

1. Time is the only resource humans have that can not be replenished 
2. Health is the ONLY true wealth that we have. Without health all else is useless/meaningless 
3. Having secure feeling allows one to flourish 
4. Courage is the true weapon for winning life’s struggles 
5. Ambition/Love allows one to do what she ordinarily is unable to do
6. Surrender is one of the most powerful ways to achieve wonders

Snow on April 17, 2020 in Chicago area

This is the weather today, April 17, 2020, in Chicago area (Naperville) at our home. Really amazing show of nature.

Some Observations on Indian Diversity

Today I am sharing some observations on Indian diversity and how its Free for all Democracatic system allows the diversity to flourish:

Below observations are from 1996-1999 in Bengaluru

1. A security guard of our Apartment complex knocked on our door in 1997 and asked for 'Gift' I asked him 'for what' and then he said in his broken Hindi/Urdu that since it was our Eid. I was totally flabbergasted as we are not Muslims and so never celebrate Eid. Then he said it is the Biggest Eid of Hindus - then it dawned on me that he was referring to Diwali - A common festival of most Indians - Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists etc. This man was living in Karnataka for all his life of about 50 odd years yet was completely unaware of the word Diwali. No one forced him to know and he didn't care; yet he was as Indian as any.

2. Again this happened some time 1997; we had a tight deadline to publish an Ad in Times of India Bangalore and the agency called me to approve the draft on a Sunday. So I went, after the approval process I asked owner of the agency if he worked on a Sunday too. His response was "Yes, we work all through the year, except Easter and Christmas days." Again I was totally surprised that this man so confidently and comfortably declared this living in a Hindu Majority country and closing his office only on the two Christian holidays, in fact not even National (Republic) holidays like Indian Independence Day, Republic day and Mahatma Gandhi day - which are compulsory holidays as per the laws of the country.

3. My good friend and a Nationalist Indian Muslim who is PhD in 2017 told me as a matter of fact that all Muslims in India are from Arabia and none of them were converted. They are just immigrants, who came many centuries ago and settled in India. This is so contradictory to even popular (not factual) history which teaches that there were many conversions that took due to invasions of Islamic hordes from West and Central Asia. Such is the diversity and unconnected reality of India is.

4. A former colleague in 2018 declared that Indian Muslims language is Arabic, neither Local languages nor even Urdu, but Arabic. Again this young lady is highly learned Engineer working in IT and Management fields.

5. I have an old friend whom I have know from 1985-88 and then 1997-1998, on whom I need to write a different blog with all the anecdotes which made me realize his unique family. In short he spoke with his parents Kannada, with his brother Gujarati, communicated in writing with his wife in Hindi, spoke to his children in Sanketi and obviously worked in English. He also knew Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
  
The above simply prove that India a great diverse country with unique tradition of 'Unity in Diversity' and never forces people to adopt to any standardization or uniformity. Like everything this is also Good as well as Bad for the nation and its people; yet it's the way it is and is wonderfully beautiful the way it is.      

Blog of Pictures Autumn 2019

Various facets of The Fall colors at Tallgrass Subdivision of Naperville IL USA on Oct 27, 2019

 

Few observations and learning of Jan-Feb '18 Trip to Korea, Japan and India

In this post I share some observations and learning that I got during an intense 5 weeks (Jan 22 to Feb 26, 2018) trip to South Korea (1), Japan (2) and India (2). During this time I traveled to the following cities (not repeating the names):

1. Seoul
2. Daejong
3. Tokyo
4. Nagoya
5. Hiroshima
6. Fuchu (Fukuyama)
7. Kyoto
8. Osaka
9. Gurgaon/Delhi
10. Hansi
11. Hisar
12. Jabalpur
13. Sagar
14. Khurai
15. Nagpur
16. Vivra (Akola)
17. Sirpur (Jain)
18. Bengaluru
19. Hasan
20. Shravanbelagola  

These observations and learning are not in any particular order or importance.

South Korea: 

• South Korea (SK) is highly developed, very competitive and a proud society. 
• SK is more advanced than most European countries
•  A sizable population is educated in US universities and generally most top people in business are comfortable conversing in English. Yet the common folks do not know any English or other language.  

Japan: 

• Japan still an Advanced country on all possible parameters, yet seems to have lost the competitive spirit and become contented to manage its non-participating role in the world. 
• The Bullet Train system is just amazing and the Train network truly connects its people across the land. 
• Even the top people of industry and business find it difficult to express themselves in English or any other language than Japanese. 
•  Many more women have 'arrived' in the society; yet their level compared to most other societies is still lower than men. 
• It's a very religious society that denies itself to be so and seems proud of the denial. 

India: 

• The rate of change in Indian Society is most rapid since I have been observing (last 35-40 years). I already feel, as if I belong to 'old school' than today's society, including my generation in India. 
• Women have truly 'arrived' in all possible fields in the country and society; be it Business, Industry, Soldiers, Pilots, Petrol Pump attendants, Security officers (police and others) or for that matter any field. Yet, the general attitude towards females has marginally changed.
• There are many Indias existing at the same time and progressing at a very different pace, all co-existing with each other peacefully. 
• My DEL-JLR flight by SpiceJet had Women Pilots and Men Crew; something not experienced by me in any other flight. 
• Young people are getting in to and aspiring many new professions, such as - Architects in movies, Business women, Sound Engineer in Bands, etc. 
• Almost all middle class daughters aspire to be working outside home and are getting educated on those lines. Most importantly their families are also encouraging this trend, unlike the past.
• Most young people from Middle Classes are marrying people of their choices irrespective of their caste, region or religion compatibility. And surprisingly families are accepting this, some even encouraging.
• 'Freedom of Expression' have been taken to really extreme levels without any limits or scruples. 
• The media has become cut throat for TRP and hence are using every tactic to sell their news, shows or whatever, at any cost.
• Most people seem to believe in main stream and social media fake news without bothering to check facts or verifying it. 
• Air travel has truly become common men mode of travel. One encounters so many 'first time' travelers or 'unsophisticated air travelers' these days. 
• Religiosity, Orthodoxy and old ways are still thriving despite the society modernizing at the fastest pace ever.  

स्वात्मरममयी साधनपथ

१. आत्म भावना
२. आत्म नियंत्रण
३. आत्म शुद्धि
४. आत्म सन्तुष्टि

पूज्यश्री प्रमाणसागरजी महाराज की जय।।।

बाह्य से आत्म की ओर, क्षणभंगुरता से शाश्वति तक।।

बाह्य से आत्म की ओर, क्षणभंगुरता से शाश्वति तक।। 

फैलाव की चाहत का फल है बिखराव,

फिर समेटने के प्रयास से आता है सिमटाव।

ऐ मानव दे अपनी महत्वाकांक्षाओं को लगाम,

आत्मकेंद्रित ध्यान से पा ले सिद्धधाम।।

वही है शाश्वत सुखदाता पूर्ण विराम।।।

मनुष्य अपनी महत्वाकांक्षाओं के वशीभूत सम्पूर्ण जगत को जीत लेना चाहता है. उसका ध्यान बाहरी वस्तुओं और भोगोप्भोगों के क्षणिक सुखों में ही रमता है. यह सब इन्द्रियों की लोलुपता का परिणाम है. अंततः सद्दर्शन प्राप्त कर सद्ज्ञान द्वारा ध्यान के उपकरण से सच्चारित्र कर मानव का मोक्ष के शाश्वत सुख की ओर अग्रसर होना ही सार्थक है.