All the random thoughts

The cafeteria was noisy as ever. There was a sea of people - some waiting for the masala tea and samosa they had ordered, some waiting to order and even some more waiting to wait. There were young people with curious faces, middleaged ones with impervious faces and a small number of old people with serious faces. The time was almost 330 PM and yet no one seemed in a hurry to get back to work. If not for the air conditioned cafeteria and neatly dressed people serving tea and samosa, one could easily mistake the place to be any Government office in India.  The man serving tea and samosa had an ever smiling expression unlike his customers. He was the only one working in that crowd and the only one who seemed to be content and clear about his work. He wore the mandatory head gear and a branded uniform provided by the catering company he worked for which, for some reason, lent an aura of peace and grace to him.  It was a pleasant setting all in all.  Th...

It is difficult sometimes to look at the world and be impressed by it. I always believed that the mind has two realms to spend its time on - the world and the S elf . The world with all its stories, glories, glitter, options and challenges normally is the more attractive one. There are way too many things in it for the mind to indulge itself without getting bored. The Self, on the other hand, is quite abstract. It has no variety. That aside what's in it itself is a moot point. There is a promised utopia in the Self that most religions want us to believe, but the road to utopia just doesn't seem to exist in this one vast expanse of a desert. There are no maps, no routes and no fun in the Self. So the mind chooses the world. It is drawn to the pleasures and grits through the pains in anticipation of happiness. The mind engages with every aspect of the world - natural and human made. Food and drinks, friends and relatives, men and women, love and hate, wife and children, bro...

It was only 630 AM on a Sunday morning. "Is it still this early?" I wondered. I had my first tea of the morning already, browsed through the newspaper and was done with my morning ablutions. All my ritual for the morning was complete yet it was only 630 AM. I attempted a second browsing of the newspaper in hope of finding something interesting that would make me pass some more time before the kids and wife woke up. The news was usual. Corruption all over, yet a host of advertisements beseeching you to buy something that its makers promise they have built with complete integrity and sense of service. Commerce with them is the anti-dote to corruption they seem to be saying.  "But why would I trust you enough to buy something over a phone call - even if you are offering 90% discount keeping in view my well being - when every other real news item is screaming of the corruption that seems to have woven itself into the fabric of our society?" I c...

"Yogah Karma Sukaushalam" said Krishna. Skillful execution of the job at hand in itself is (Karma)Yoga. Divinity is that simple. At the market in Secunderabad, there is this Pineapple vendor. If you are coming through the main market entrance, he is positioned right at the front. He greets every one who approaches him with a respectful 'Salaam Alaikum" and waits for the customer to either choose a fruit or ask him to choose one. He grudges neither option. He'd then ask if the customer would rather have the fruit cleaned and sliced. Invariably people answer in affirmative. What follows is usually a master piece of art. The man would put on a glove (which he washes every once in a while) and pick one of the two knives placed in a small bucket of water. He would then proceed to peel off the thorny skin and once done, wipe off any remnants. He would clean the knife, place it back in the bucket of water and pick up another one. In a demonstration of true skill, he ...

As I reached the far end of the Parade Grounds, a Pig ran on to the walkers track. It probably was waiting behind the trees. I was scared for a moment but then found it harmlessly running next to me. "So why are you running?" the Swine asked. "So I do not become like you". I had to be smarter than the Pig, the world says so. "Hmmmm. That's good. But did you ever wonder why you were putting on that weight?" "Oh... you wouldn't understand our world. We have so many options to eat, drink and make merry. We have such a convenient life style with automation for transportation. And of course, to enjoy all that we need to work hard and that causes us anxiety and affects our health. You wouldn't understand all this because you are a beast. You are not smart", I thought I sounded silly but I was sure the Pig would never figure. "Yes, I am not" the Pig said. "I only eat when I am hungry; drink water when I am thirsty and sl...

Once upon a time there lived a sheep, it also had a lamb. The mommy sheep was very good it always taught the lamb everything. One day the mommy sheep went into the forest for eating, by mistake the sheep lost its way. Then, she saw and shouted "Where am I?" She came front, front and front. She saw the road and she was happy that she found her way."Suddenly" a lion saw the sheep and it told that today my food is this "Aha". Then the sheep told to the lion to wait. I have a small lamb it doesn't know anything. Give me 20 minutes I will teach it everything and come back it said. No you are telling lies to me that you want to go away. No the sheep said. I will come back. If not you and your lamb would be eaten, the lion said. OK it said. It taught the lamb and came back to the lion. The lion said that how good you are. I won't eat you because you are good. Moral: do not eat anyone Written by Samhita

“There. Listen to the sounds of the train passing. Some compartments are full, some are half empty and even some more are empty. This train will be gone and will take all its passengers to wherever they need to go. A new train shall pass by here tomorrow. Some of the passengers could be the same ones who have traveled today. There will be some new ones” “Will the train ever stop here?” “It does but only briefly. And then you will see some old faces and some new. Treat the old ones ever so gently. Give them respect. Speak softly. They are the ones who will yell at you about yesterday. They might even shower praise and affection. Do not get swayed by any of those emotions. Just be aware that them being emotional only means that you matter in their lives. So be gentle with your words to them” “What about the new faces? Do I matter in their lives too?” “Not yet. You matter only to their minds when they are new. They will assess and analyze you. Be yourself. Do not put a show for them. ...