Everyday Geeta

July 22, 2011 Just before we left for our recent trip to Lahaul Spiti, I heard a BBC interview in which Jamie Carragher talked about the reasons for the English football team's poor performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup championship held in South Africa. The English Premier League is arguably the most competitive football league anywhere in the world. Yet, the English football team has not won the World Cup since 1966. In 1990, they placed 4th. For the football crazy English, this has been a sore point for years. The headline on the BBC website makes it clear "Fear of failure undermines England, says Jamie Carragher." He goes onto blame the hotel where the team stayed as boring. In the same documentary, the Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp argues that "many Premier League footballers now prioritise club football over representing their country." Unfortunately, the full Radio 5 show is no longer available as a podcast or on iPlayer. This brought to mind Ar...

July 19, 2011 When in New Delhi recently, we visited "Myths & Legends", an exhibition of paintings by Sabya Sachi Ghosh at the India Habitat Centre. I was particularly struck by one painting relevant to this blog. His painting depicting Airaavat, Lord Indra's elephant brought to mind, chapter 10-27 where Śrī Kṛṣṇa says, ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां "Among elephants, I am Airaavat." I like some of Sabya Sachi's surrealistic representations of images and stories from the Purānas (I hate calling them myths or legends). Besides the Airaavat above, I particularly liked one of the Dashāvatāra. Didn't take a picture unfortunately. I will update this post when I find his business card with a link to his website. If you get to see his exhibition, please do visit. Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

July 17, 2011 Travelling in the Himalayas, one must have a healthy understanding of the risks of altitude sickness and the means to prevent it or reduce its impact on the body. At heights below 2400 metres (8000 feet), our body is used to a certain level of oxygen in the air. Whether it be a pilgrimage to Kailas Mansarovar or just mountaineering as a hobby, doctors recommend that we spend the right period of time getting acclimated to the levels of oxygen in the air. The best approach to this is paraphrased in shloka 18-30 of the Bhagavad Geeta. Śrī Kṛṣṇa refers to right understanding as being cognizant of: कार्याकार्ये भयाभये kaaryaakaarye bhayaabhaye "what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, (appropriate sense of) fear and fearlessness." At high altitudes, it is wise to get acclimated, to drink plenty of fluids, consume high carb nutritious foods to ensure that energy is available to the body to cope with the added work that must be performed by the respirator...

July 16, 2011 Just returned from a road trip and trek to LaHaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. Terrific trip. Unimaginably beautiful vistas of the Himalayas for 10 days. Wildflowers set amidst the Himalayas in the village of Sagnam in Lahaul View of the Himalayas from the Grand Shangrila in Kalpa in the Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh - a superb hotel with a very hospitable, knowledgeable host. These are just two photos I clicked on my iPhone4. I understand why Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the 10th chapter says: स्थावराणां हिमालयः ||१०-२५|| sthaavaraaNaa.n himaalayaH ..10-25.. Among immovable things, I am the Himalayas. Will post more soon, need to catch up on a lot before I do. Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post