Skip to main content

Posts

Seriously, Modelling is NOT My Thing!

September 2, 2014 As Arundhati and I waited to pick our son up from tabla class, we suddenly saw a cluster of photographers chase a fashionably dressed lady in front of a trendy restaurant in Singapore. For the next several minutes, the young lady tossed her head hither and thither and struck a multitude of poses as the photographers clicked away on their fancy DSLR cameras. Given the lack of frenzy that is said to surround celebrities and the paparazzi who stalk them (did you just ask, "how do I know?"), Arundhati and I concluded that this was a group of student photographers who were practicing their craft on a live model outdoors. Within 10 minutes, I had come to the earth shattering conclusion that I was not cut out to be a supermodel. How could any rational person want to preen on demand so that a photographer caught the perfect image? And on why on earth did it require so many shots? Imagine if it was the old days of film photography? These guys would be bankrupt expos
Recent posts

RIP Robin! Krishna's Got Your Back, Now!

August 17, 2014 Only yesterday, I read the 1992 Playboy interview of Robin Williams . There is a wonderful quote there by Robin: “If you take the chance, sometimes you’ll find something so magnificent that it was worth dying for, and sometimes you’ll find nothing and have a horrible night. To go deeper with it, that’s the most interesting challenge.” I flashed back today to the news of Robin Williams passing during our Geeta study class. We were reading verse 1-32, 33. In these verses, Arjuna laments his existential crisis. "Why must I fight, O Kṛṣṇa?", he asks. "With the death of my loved ones, what is the point of winning a kingdom and gaining pleasure? Indeed, what is the point of living this life?" (Note: This is free translation, full verse and translation below). Robin Williams undoubtedly loved and was loved by his daughter, Zelda and wife, Susan and millions of fans. His accomplishments as a comedian and actor are legendary. Through the non-profit Comic R

Why Smart People Should Love The Geeta's Most Famous Verse?

August 10, 2014 I was recently reading an HBR blog entry titled  "Why Smart People Struggle With Strategy"  by  Roger Martin . Maybe I am weird, but I could not help thinking of Bhagavad Geeta verse 2-47,(probably the Geeta's most famous verse; see below for the full text of verse 2-47). The post opens thus: Strategy is often seen as something really smart people do — those head-of-the-class folks with top-notch academic credentials. But just because these are the folks attracted to strategy doesn't mean they will naturally excel at it. The problem with smart people is that they are used to seeking and finding "the right answer"; unfortunately, in strategy there is no single right answer to find. Strategy requires making choices about an uncertain future. It is not possible, no matter how much of the ocean you boil, to discover the one right answer. There isn't one. In fact, even after the fact, there is no way to determine that one's strategy choice

Lift Yourself By Yourself!

March 25, 2014 Pujya Swami Swatmanandaji is a dynamic teacher of the Chinmaya Mission, based in Mumbai. His post on verse 6-5 is a wonderful elaboration of a pivotal verse in the Geeta. Śrī Kṛṣṇa says, "Let a man lift himself by his own Self alone, and let him not lower himself" . Among the gems in this post: Toys to Truth Vanity to Vairagya Doership to Divinity Dreamer to waker Theory to Practice Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

Six Absolute Guarantees Made By Krishna To All In the Bhagavad Geeta

I, YADAVENDRA KRISHNA PARAMATMA,   do hereby unconditionally guarantee that: If you should study, understand and apply even a little teaching of the Bhagavad Geeta, I SHALL PROTECT YOU FROM GREAT FEAR. 2.40 I SHALL CARRY YOU ACROSS this endless cycle of birth and death, on the “boat” of aatmavidya, otherwise known as self-knowledge, even if you consider yourself to be a sinner of the worst kind.  4-36 The gains of your SPRITUAL PRACTICE SHALL NEVER EVER GO TO WASTE in this world or any world. 6-40 I SHALL FOREVER ENSURE THE GROWTH & PROTECTION THE YOUR WEALTH should you ceaselessly chant and reflect on my name to the exclusion of all other worldly distractions. 9-26 Despite being a sinner, if you unwaveringly & constantly worship me, YOU SHALL BECOME RIGHTEOUS AND AS MY DEVOTEE, YOU SHALL NEVER PERISH. 9-30, 31 When you renounce all that is dear to you, physical, emotional and intellectual, and you finally surrender unto Me as your only refuge, I SHALL FREE FROM ALL SIN

Study The Bhagavad Geeta

March 15, 2014 From our facebook friends in The Bhagavad Gita - Your Companion for Life Learn in childhood, the verses of the Gita; in teenage years, its word meaning; in youth, its meaning and in adulthood abide in its knowledge - through satsang, study, reflection and practice. We need to learn, practice and perfect the art of right living from an early age, not just as we are about to die For a systematic study of the Gita at home, click here. For my previous posts and todbits on the Gita course, click here. . Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

Glory of the Bhagavad Gita

March 11, 2014 From our facebook friends in Chinmaya Mission, Delhi comes this gem. The Gita is a unique dialogue between man and God. The Gita provides us with the knowledge, attitude, vision and values needed to build a successful and fulfilled life even as we face situations gracefully and joyfully. For a systematic study of the Gita at home, click here. For my previous posts and todbits on the Gita course, click here. . Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post