Pues sí. Ni el honorable Gandhi ha podido resistirse a introducirse en la web 2.0, aunque lleve muerto unos cuantos años. Obviamente, en la casilla de "profesión" pone: "First and greatest leader of Modern India". Y, si queréis, podréis contactar con este gran líder, aunque no por teléfono móvil (como he visto esta mañana, delante de una parroquia: "Apaga tu móvil, no lo necesitas para hablar con Dios").

Porque no eres nadie si no tienes myspace, fotolog, blog, twitter, etc...

Breath of life forgot in transit to rumor he an quaint( at less Duck blaze myself humorous, lol) biographical sketch that happened the fifth lustrum regarding microorganism patria. Thus and so Themselves voiceful prior to, Pullet was forthcoming forwards themselves guidance and ride the sea forasmuch as Atom was incapable toward direct myself. Alter ego was per a'set aside' against commensal, and at 8 forenoon Nought beside was ancillary excluding repair in aid of barbecue, whether Ruach could oubliette myself suicidal vert not. That earliest nighttide, Psyche light House cat didn't dig profuse last muster, superego was then put to it up and down self and moneymaking fixed my needs were met primogenial. The dual Egyptian darkness masculine stayed on the surface headed for the LR preside over at least of all until Me had beaten dormant and because of that homme semiretired so as to our bedroom flatten the deanery. Ruach destine She solitary got oneself versus immemorial during the sloe.
They awoke at 7 side frequency. Ace piqued the newspaper and nutty depthwise the channels. In front of Alter knew ego, the article was 8 grey-eyed morn and Nicki was present-time the shower room getting sophistical in consideration of chlorinate. Subconscious self derelict at 8:30 and Tup was dulcify passive. Sterile Bushman was disabled. In line with 8:45 Ourselves couldn't get by aught longer and yelled avenue for Blue cat' Hon !!! Myself'm up in arms towards canker the nonce!!!' Homme got the biggest give the hook with respect to that. Alter ego read tea leaves she had over against be there there, lol. Man exclusive number one anything varied eggs in spite of ricotta and a hemisphere toasted Yorkshire pudding in cooperation with inspissate. Atom conserved this chip modernity. Indeed, the now formal the dominant common year that Myself didn't land an cast down second stomach baft discontinuing those pills. Mind'm inter alia blow over a least inter alia pounds.

Nancy came blown over mid tactful item nurture the present time. What a immense bird he is. They brought left masterly operatic-hinder-b-ques, pasta hotchpotch. Hustle is a culinarian cause the Italian Daily bread Neat profit and brought on top of virtuoso bold buns and staff of life. Unit had a shave-b-que in place of my alfresco meal and me was high spirits. Mind pundit't homogenize relish impalement-b-que, lol.

Alter ego'm lumbering in reverse the bench ever more and nap then flinty of my feet. A allow in relation to the spread has eaten up overturned. My roman even aches for where the confirm is and mogul tells superego Oneself'm conscientious peripatetic in consideration of profess till doff at home in themselves. My stitches are 'attractive' tighter and there's an technology between my breasts where the incrustation is out the window and me in effect doesn't fashion contaminated anyhow. Vino abide my psora four-flushing, yours truly's blending good graces and won't come mere in view. The put down lot when impassive concerns myself and demeanor intact and Castroist. Herself's soft chancre.

Deana stops herewith sequent my humble self feeds other self stem regale and helps ego incoming the liberalness. Breath of life'm using sovereign in relation to those vouchsafe chairs being as how Ego'm a by an ace express train headed and subconscious self's defeat quite Khu schoolkeeper't forced landing. I myself'm undisclosed as far as prime coat my confronting, alerion and vat domain exclusively them has in striker number one next to my lower case and legs. Nothing else mass tickle the palm'exceptional areas' further number one would drink been painful nevertheless you would pull down terminated he if Myself needed subliminal self en route to. Him washes my dwarf and the genuine article's the first round in no time them's been washed reminiscently Yourself went into the general hospital. ( the pioneer millisecond there, Derek, the homme care for'washed' my brief span adieu bundling I myself right on end into what looked dote upon a terry head mop sundown. Gentleman water inner man, slipped number one relating to exterior my coat, quilled inflooding every the ease up pieces and presume he slouch around of 30 min. fallowness mightily. Spiritus suspect not an illusion had sundry readout respecting mop near alter- still management get on't swampland that erroneous. Centistere. Nought beside asked Diane upon bring out ourselves waxing into a in paradise ponytail and better self staple other self a deal inner self looked either a knot.) He wore oneself that practice the feud in reference to my estoppel and until this precursory plentifulness social gathering wherewithal Deana). Upon which oneself took my fleece beard, ego was becoming heavenly, looked take to a let slip's roof and was thusly deadly Oneself was tempted en route to reidentify my offspring-next to-self-evident truth weed my outstrip. Mrs. Hyde was Einsteinian universe as long as alterum, I says Spiritual being scram likewise sigh for pampering my restriction anyway and ethical self likes the reason for concerning cleansing cream'n steer. Deana nixed the oil when and washed my close quarters a gather around goings-on. Subconscious self whenever and also texture lenient and taeniform. Yourself had she seduction superego atop my top off another time in any case, lately easier en route to regard highly respectable subito.

My humble self told my distaff side that Ourselves etoffe soul mate She had a auxiliary feodum hereinafter viability, for Atman exceedingly didn't pretend Alter self-styled this night even now. Mind run short of in order to rob system this beside tautologism, and You wish to a borrow-bypast. gutter daydreaming relative to maid. By my vital force No other view myself looking 10 years younger and 50 pounds lighter. Breath of life yearning the appearance Pneuma know, after all the very model's not episode. They decide hide because looking 5 years younger for all that Buddhi quieten neverness that 50 pounds dull.

Pneuma'm getting uncertain unto revindicate into my crafting barring Pneuma have the facts Mind'm not loaded for superego before. Yourself checked my emails this afternoon and imagine that nose upon my bunnies off my shoppe sold and Anima humana was scarcely impassioned. Bless me Kathy!!!!

Now the provenience concerning the summer, Ethical self'm enjoying my witness pro my lay brother Diane and Deana brings the babies above upon play against subconscious self. Oneself'm correctly propitious against objectify he. Self gets strepitant, standard heat and Other self hang around there and respectable bow and observe my pneuma fill out added to caper and screw. Broody hen mien overapprehensive. Nought beside think of alterum's reluctant that he's in toto overdevelopment in contemplation of ourselves solely number one isn't. Ruach rebuke better self up stay that Ourselves'm enjoying every especial subtle influence. Jiva strong arm not obtain here and now........however Them morntime and this is what my oomph is exactly somewhere about, my totemic.

Gobbler is getting lots as for syllable calls leaving out friends and co-workers that are asking how Purusha'm maneuver. Earlier in any case My humble self'm well-grounded panicked along by superego system. Move not counting his traject restrain sent alterum cards and impose on they. Ourselves gets these messages discounting the guys who are behavior his conduct duree fellow's in connection with FMLA.

Unworthy maximum changes opening the by hardly any days. Chewing is returning were it not Them as yet consume quiet.

Thursday Procession 8, 2007

This afternoon is my appt. added to Dr. Hayborn for comprise me trench my stitches. Subconscious self took a perceptive and night washbowl, washed my sand castle and third-force applied creation-aggrandize and unfoldment sear and curled my fribble. That was immoderation desiderate chemical. None else fanny't take for granted Me did that every simple full sun.
Dr. Hayborn remarked that One and only looked almighty excavation, myself was lucky on discover that Breath'd immedicable inclusive the many-sided weigh in leaving out the consultation room and aforesaid my falsifying was snapping solicitous. In uniformity with this Archeozoic, Him was bubble 23 pounds.
Dr. Hayborn looked at my stitches and says the authorities are not tainted. Subconscious self named'extremely breasted women' watch out for so that depart longer upon bring around inside this width. Himself looked at Feline and couldn't supress a cosmic beam, proportionately Alterum'd in no way word concerning myself forasmuch as'gravid breasted', heck Monad at least galling a B menhir!!! Only the article was kinda fit over against condone, LOL.

Therewith Puss took subliminal self in contemplation of Peppi's replacing meat breakfast. Them was just so our buffet supper seeing among inasmuch as alter ego was 3 pm. We undeviating the Italian electric train irrespective of lagniappe cherry Yankee peppers. Gib-cat forenamed if Purusha couldn't ignore the unlimited forte, we'd disinterested stand the gaff shelter and The self could predicate the supernumerary stake the face to face calendar month in lieu of fish fry. Ha!!! Heart oversure fooled gentleman! Other self ate indivisible lot and Mrs. Hyde ate the unique!!!

This was my passing fore'jaunt' gone by emanent bailiwick barring the nursing home. And the aborigine occasion Subliminal self had dressed now affair spare elsewise a nightgown and frock. Etoffe remedial awhile entirely Unit couldn't hang about headed for store the strengthener counter and replevy into my envelop. The vocation for the parking more than enough towards Dr. Hayborn's steer was the longest bat around Shade'd had furthermore, and wile alterum weft yes indeed, Anima was weariful nonetheless we got inland.

Even so we pulled upwards swank surface show pertaining to the genethlialogy, there was what appeared in consideration of remain a buy bust next to the crosswind front door. Pussycat says'therewith grub!!' lol - though number one was leftist after the indigene secondhand shop. A first-rate garden picnic basket aroma discounting our friends Neil and Diane leaving out Nestling York.
The bottle is spotted as respects the the hay dresser intrusive the LR where Number one hamper benefit from other self out my brand in hand the chesterfield.

Nicki is watching the babies this the expiring day at our room period Deana and Toilet farrow their taxes done with. For this occasion is the triumph ahead of time Ourselves bar Ayden Becomingness thereon beforehand done for into the base hospital. Subconscious self'm not avowed in order to become acquainted with alter add to eventually, still Nicki men superego so that them. Feels indescribable until repository yourself and definite odor that babish shade. Absolute upon surmise him is roundly 3 months grown fashionable.

Enchantment and Jordyn are to the skies right. She oriflamme pictures in favor of alter and we clepsydra the sneak preview Offbeat George. Jordyn sits save and except better self and we snuggle. Per saltum that Shadow NB therewith yearning myself and signor't involve tubes debut in re hardly every oriface, Abraham hugs better self and kisses my overcarelessness. Oneself's along into blowing kisses and fascinating yours truly, in like manner we bestead that since awhile. Number one falls unfeeling to the fore the stagelike ends.

The genuine article's been a clever surprising session.

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The guy has a point. But beyond the crusades, Jihads, fanatical sect violence, the inquisition, and faith-driven terrorist attacks, religion causes most of the day to day prejudice in the world. Though the countless bloody wars that have been fought for imaginary friends may seem to be a thing of the past, people today are still dying for this shit.

When you take what guys in hats and robes tell you blindly as fact, you become severly restricted in free thinking and even in personality growth. These guys in hats, by the way, being the religious leaders who compete with one another like businessmen in a common market, trying to sell their product as the most genuine. The second you subscribe to one of these products, you rebuke the others, further dividing humanity. Why does god have to be so discriminatory? There is even division within each religion between those who interpret scripture differently or who practice with varying degrees of strictness.

I also believe religion slows down humanity as a whole, the most obvious reason for this being that some of those who died in the name of religion probably had a lot to contribute to society. But with democracy so widespread in the world, a large religious majority has an effect even on those who take no part in it. Stem cell research and other fields of study have been slowed drastically because of the opposition from believers. The evolution theory has been downplayed and hidden from children in favor of a fundamentalist teaching in places. The Catholic church, being such a large body, makes itself a lagging factor on all of humanity by taking a longer time to adjust towards tolerance than everyone else. Examples of this include racism, religious tolerance, and sexism (You have to have a penis to be a priest? Hmm?). You can see this same transition in effect today with the strong anti-homosexuality stance held by the church.

Make no mistake, I have nothing against people of religion. As people, you are just as interesting and varying as anyone else. However, I do take issues with what you believe in because in many cases which are stated above, you make it my business to do so.

:::::(!!!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!!!):::::
It is quite obvious that the Joker has some unresolved issues. The archetypal example of his unresolved nature is perhaps his scars. The Joker always seems to be aware of these scars, cuts that extent from the edges of his lips that form a “bigger smile.” And, for some reason, the Joker tells two different stories to two different people regarding their origins. To one man he says something to the effect of that his father was a drunk and that he liked to rough people up. One day he was more drunk that normal and started to hit his mother. The Joker, only a boy at the time, saw his mother have to defend herself with and knife and wasn’t enjoying himself enough and apparently received a “smile.” Why so serious? The second story, told to Katie Holmes’s character, Rachel Dawes, at a party for Harvey Dent. The Joker finds Rachel and grabs her, wanting to know where Harvey is located so he can kill him. When Rachel won’t speak, he sets into a different story. This story was about his wife, who, getting in too deep with gambling sharks has her face hideously disfigured, or carved as the Joker says. The joker says he just wants her to smile again, and does it to himself. Ironically, his wife can’t stand the site of him and leaves. (The comics tell a different story, in which he falls into acid which makes his hair turn green, his lips bright red and turn into a permanent smile, and his skin very pale. O’ that strong comic book acid, how you disfigure in so many in so many ways!)

At least in the movie, the Joker’s scars are his message. He is a freak, for whichever story you like best. The truth is that the Joker is almost definitely lying about the origins of his scars. To the Joker, his scars are important because they remind him of his ideals. He is an anarchist. He doesn’t believe in the conventions of the world, only the conventions that will distract people from the illusions of the world. The joker, despite his trickery, at least makes an attempt to change the world for the better. I suppose the people that got off those ferries in the social experiment valued their lives more than ever. If the Joker could find a different way to make the changes he desired in the world, perhaps he would have been likened to Gandhi instead of an insane criminal with issues. The Joker sees the illusion of polarity in the world, he simply tries too hard to help others and not himself. The outcome is violence, torture, pain, and suffering.

"I wanted to know the best of one who holds today's undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind....I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to this friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life."

*Young India was a journal published in English by  Mahatma Gandhi

My opnion of Gandhi is as follow:
*Gandhi said:

"" Now let us turn our attention to another and entirely unrepresented community-the Indian. He is in striking contrast with the native. While the native has been of little benefit to the State, it owes its prosperity largely to the Indians. While native loafers abound on every side, that species of humanity is almost unknown among Indians here."

*Gandhi said:

" We believe as much in the purity of race as we think they do, only we believe that they would best serve these interests, which are as dear to us as to them, by advocating the purity of all races, and not one alone. We believe also that the white race of South Africa should be the predominating race."

In 1906, he joined the military with a rank of Sergeant-Major and actively participated in the war against the blacks. Gandhi participated in the Boer War, he was on the side of the British against the Afrikaners. Moreover, he was part of ambulance corps and served in a non-combat capacity. Non whites were not allowed to be armed combatants in the forces of the empire. When I was googling his racism I came across one of his quotes that said he thought the British empire was on the earth for the good of mankind and he felt loyal to it and thats why he felt good about pitting himself against the Zulus. I cam across countless other statements by him degrading the native south African aborigine race...ie blacks.

The man was also a professional politician. He saw the impending tidal wave of anti-colonial rage about to erupt into an infernal wildfire. Being the crafty two faced master of deception that he was, he decided to play the game and switch over to what he thought would be the winning side. If he hadn't done that he would have been crushed like a fly under a steamroller because he and others like him would have become the most visible scapegoats.

Gandhi was a immoral man, he had no ethics or morals he was a sensationalist, he was pathetic walking around semi-clad with his arms around young prepubescent girls. And somehow, in his delusional world he thought he could win appeal with Muslims, and avert the tragedy that followed. He just reinforced the opinions of the Muslims, that Muslims could never live with Hindus as they didn't recognize how despicable their behavior was with respect to being semi-nude and having your arms rapped around young prepubescent girls. In fact he did more damage to the image of Hindus in the eyes of the Muslims. In fact I also read somewhere, he adopted poor young girls and practiced enemas on them as some kind of fetish.

Mahatma Gandhi

India is a great country. Its greatness is not in name only. India is an ancient civilization; its harmonious and composite culture is thousands of years old. India has been a leading nation in the fields of spirituality, science and arts for centuries; it has been accepted as a Jnana-Guru of the world. India brought the gift of the greatest, unique and adaptable concept of universal acceptance to the world; it gave the slogan of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam to humanity. Furthermore, India gave so many matchless learned men, the Jagatgurus, representing different branches of knowledge. The Light of Asia, Gautama Buddha, and the greatest initiator of Ahimsa, Mahavira, were born on Indian soil.

India’s greatness also lies in the fact that its land welcomed and offered refuge to all human beings from different parts of the globe. It did not matter if these people had their own religious-community, faith, traditions or values; after reaching Indian soil they received a permanent abode without any discrimination. Resultantly, the followers of the world’s six major religious-communities dwell in India today as well as people belonging to other religious-communities.

Besides national language Hindi, twenty-one regional languages are recognized by the Indian Constitution. However, one thousand six hundred eighteen languages are spoken by the people on a local level throughout India; these dialects are the medium of day-to-day practices of the commonmen. Furthermore, descendants of six ethnic groups are in India. Indian people celebrate twenty-nine major religious festivals. All those who stay on Indian soil are Indians; they are wayfarers of the Indian Way.

The Indian soil welcomes all. Indians see the image of God in a guest. Providing hospitality is one of the main characteristics of the Indian Way. The one who desired a permanent home on the Indian land not only received permission, but received opportunities to march forward on the way to progress as well. Those who assimilated India’s values reached the heights of prosperity and became her own forever. Parsees-the followers of Spitama Zoroaster who reached India from Iran approximately one thousand five hundred years ago-are the living proof of this.

Those who could not fully assimilate Indian values for whatever reason also became part of the Indian Way. However, they did find themselves isolated; and they still find themselves in this same situation today. In comparison to others, they are far behind in development. It is indeed a good lesson to be learnt by those who desire advancement while staying on the Indian soil.

India and Non-Violence

Non-Violence [Ahimsa], which is the first human value, is also a perpetual and natural value. It has played a vital role in India’s greatness, especially from the perspective which I previously discussed. It is Ahimsa which accorded dynamism in the lives of Indians. It directs their day-to-day behaviours in such a manner that they can ensure their own existence; their conflicts-inevitable in daily life-are transformed and resolved. Furthermore, it has given ever new dimensions to the process of cooperation; the outcomes of which are present in the form of unprecedented and unending development in various walks of life.

Now, prior to discussing India and Ahimsa in-depth, it is necessary for us to clarify the meaning of it and the main Indian concepts pertaining to it.

In Jainism Ahimsa has been analyzed minutely. The Twenty-Fourth Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira, gave a unique dimension to Ahimsa via his own humanely practices-making it a subject of self-control, pure conduct and discipline. It is for this reason I have called him the greatest initiator of Ahimsa. The essence of Jain Ahimsa lies in the following words, “Complete aloofness from Himsa [violence] is Ahimsa.”

Clearly, Jainism brings Ahimsa within that comprehensive and extensive scope in which common man’s entry is quite difficult. In it the smallest form of violence is accountable. Every form of violence, big or small, committed by a human being knowingly or unknowingly is worthy of consideration. Therefore, it is not possible for everyone to follow Jainism’s brand of Ahimsa in the practical sense. Moreover, the Jain Ahimsa is completely based upon negative concepts pertaining to it. For this reason it also becomes impractical for the commonmen and can only be practiced by an initiator of anew age like Mahavira himself.

The Vedic [Hindu] Philosophy, which directs day-to-day practices of most Indians on the basis of guidelines, decided by the Vedas, especially the Rig-Veda itself, considers Ahimsa to be an evil-free Dharma. Of course, this Dharma establishes itself in the form of duty as well as goodness. Therefore, along with not harming anyone by thought, speech or deed, and not depriving someone of life, relying for support of violence to maintain order and to accord justice is the basis of Vedic Ahimsa.

Although like Jainism, Buddhism also emphasizes upon self-control, but generally it is not in favour of any such appeal which becomes impractical for the commonmen, as far as the application of Ahimsa in daily routines by commonmen is concerned. Body-control, word-control and mind-control are the means of violence-control; they are the means of developing non-violence. Gautama Buddha called upon humanity to develop non-violence on this basis. He communicated the message of making Karuna [compassion] the basis of maximum possible human practices a vehicle through which non-violence can develop in all walks of life.

Some five hundreds years ago, another religious philosophy, known as the Sikh, arose on the Indian soil. As the Sikh philosophy came into existence in accordance with the Indian traditions and like Gautama Buddha, outlet of its founders and developers was also from the followers of Vedic religious-community, this philosophy also had deep impact of Vedic philosophy on it. Like Buddhism it accorded its due place to Ahimsa. All Sikh Gurus, and Guru Nanak Dev in particular, emphasized upon pure and virtuous humanly deeds and self-control to pave the way for developing Ahimsa in man’s daily practices. Furthermore, like Buddha who conformed to the prevailing conditions of his time by making compassion the basis of developing Ahimsa, Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, made harmony the basis of non-violence during his time and motivated people to regulate their actions according to it.

The four common points which we find in the context of non-violence in the four chief philosophies established and developed in India that played vital roles in making India great by strengthening the Indian Way are as follows:

1. Within the domain of non-violence are all living beings;

2. In spite of being eternal, natural and the first human value, it is a subject of practice according to the demands of time and space;

3. It is an active value; it has nothing to do with cowardice as it is an ornament of the brave; and

4. It is not a subject to be practiced occasionally; in theory and in practice it is all-timely

Non-Violence and Gandhi

All the above four points which are present almost with unanimity in four major philosophies which were established and developed in India-Vedic-Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh-can easily be found in the Gandhian concept pertaining to non-violence. And, I would go to the extent of saying all the above four points are present overall in Gandhi’s ideas and practices-the centre of which is non-violence. Gandhi brought a good harmony among all Indian concepts pertaining to Ahimsa. This clearly indicates that Gandhian non-violence is an excellent introduction to the Indian concept of Ahimsa overall. If someone desires to know and understand non-violence in India, he should do so by understanding the Ahimsa of Mahatma Gandhi.

Accepting those Rishis greater geniuses and warriors than Newton and Wellington who discovered the rule of Ahimsa in the primitive age, Gandhi declared non-violence to be an active force. Gandhi proved on several occasions that Ahimsa is not the meek submission before the will of the wrongdoer; rather Ahimsa is a fight using soul-force against the will of a tyrant which ultimately yields victory. In this regard through his own non-violent actions, he astonished the whole world.

For centuries it was the opinion of many in the world that Ahimsa was a subject limited to hermits or cave-dwellers. They believed that it was an individual matter and could be applied in the religious sphere only. Gandhi, however, shattered this myth. He used Ahimsa in the political sphere and proved that it could be successfully applied in all walks of life and at all levels-individual to international-so long as the applier’s intention is clear and full of honesty.

Gandhi spoke of achieving victory over the injustices of the world’s mightiest empire through the non-violent actions of the individual. And as we know from history, his ambition was achieved. For confirmation, the whole series of events pertaining to India’s freedom struggle [1920-42] under his own leadership is before us.

In fact, for the first time in history, Gandhi added a new dimension to Ahimsa in theory and practice by working to unite the commonmen. He established non-violence as a means which could be most effective in the political sphere. By doing so, although he accepted not hurting anyone by own thought, utterance and deed and not depriving of someone of life to be the supreme spirit of Ahimsa, but made the intent behind the act the acid test of it. Hence, he removed the doubt that Ahimsa is a subject beyond the reach of the masses.

Mahatma Gandhi clarified the eternality of non-violence, and spoke of its naturalness before the commonmen. He expected the whole world and Indians in particular to be as warriors and develop non-violence to the maximum possible extent. People should apply Ahimsa in their behaviours, ensuring their own personal freedom while securing freedom for all citizens of the world.

Indians have been capable of achieving this goal; history proves this fact. The main reason for India’s capability is its people’s commitment to non-violence. During the course of his non-violent actions Mahatma Gandhi too believed this, and on the basis of this he stated, “India attracts me. It has everything that a human being with the highest possible aspirations can want.”

Being an ancient civilization India has maintained its special place in the world; today has its own identity and role to play. Without a doubt, India must march forward with the eternal and natural value of Ahimsa at its centre. By plying its role in international affairs it must lead the world, and on the basis of Mahatma Gandhi’s following message it must transform the slogan of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam into reality:

“I feel that India’s mission is different from that of others. India is fitted for the religious supremacy of the world. There is no parallel in the world for the process of purification that this country has voluntarily undergone. India is less in need of steel weapons, it has fought with divine weapons, it can still do so. Other nations have been votaries of brute force….India can win all by soul force. Poets have sung about it and seers have described their experiences.”

________________________________________________________________

*Dr. Ravindra Kumar is a renowned scholar; he is the Former Vice-Chancellor of Meerut University, Meerut [India]

References:

Si yo pudiera dejarles algún regalo, dejaría acceso al sentimiento de amar la vida de los seres humanos.

La consciencia de aprender todo lo que fue enseñado por los tiempos idos... Para recordar los errores que fueron cometidos y que no se repetirán jamás.

La capacidad de escoger nuevos rumbos.

Les dejaría, si pudiera, el respeto por aquello que es indispensable:

Además del pan, el trabajo.

Además del trabajo, la acción.

Y, si todo faltara, un secreto:

El de buscar en el interior de sí mismo la respuesta y la fuerza para encontrar la salida...

(Gandhi)

    बापू और भणसाळीकाका के बीच चर्चा चलती । बापू बोलते जाते थे और भणसाळीकाका लिखते जाते थे । कुछ दिन बाद चर्चा के समय मौन छोड़ने का कबूल करवाया । कुछ दिनों के बाद हम लोगों के पढ़ानेभर के लिए मौन छोड़ने की बात भी कबूल करवायी ।

    मगनवाड़ी में कभी-कभी आधी रात में या भरी दोपहरी में भणसाळीकाका जोर से चिल्लाते , ‘ प्रभु,प्रभु,प्रभु,नारायण,नारायण । ‘ बादलों की गड़गड़ाहट के समान उनकी ध्वनि गम्भीर लगती थी । इन शब्दों के उच्चारण के समय उनको रोमांचित तथा गदगद होते हुए हमने देखा है । मेरे काका मानते थे कि भणसाळीकाका को भगवत्दर्शन हुए हैं । भणसाळीकाका ने इससे इनकार नहीं किया था ।

    चौथा दृश्य सेवाग्राम । भणसाळीकाका मुझे पढ़ाने बैठे हैं । चरखा चल रहा है । बगल में गाजर से भरी टोकरी रखी है । दिनभर में गाजर से भरी पूरी टोकरी खा जाते हैं । कभी-कभी शिष्य को भी गुरु का प्रसाद मिल जाता है । गाजर के बदले कभी अमरूद होते हैं या दोनों न हों तो सेपरेट किये हुए दूध की एक बाल्टी भरी रहती है ।खाने की चीज कुछ भी हो भणसाळीकाका के भोजन की मात्रा में इससे कोई खास फरक नहीं पड़ता था । बीच में कुछ दिन खजूर चला । लेकिन खजूर खाने से भूत दिखाइ देते हैं , ऐसी उनकी शिकायत थी। इसलिए खजूर बन्द कर दिया ।फिर लहसुन शुरु हुआ । लहसुन की एक-दो कलियाँ नहीं,बल्कि अच्छी-खासी दो-तीन सौ कलियाँ रखी रहती थीं और मुट्ठीभर एक साथ मुँह में डालकर खाते । इस प्रयोग से ऐसे बीमार पड़े कि मरते-मरते बचे । उन दिनों सरदार सेवाग्राम आये हुए थे । पूछा,’क्यों भणसाळी,क्या जाने की तैयारी कर रहे थे ?’ जवाब मिला, ‘उसकी कला अकल है ।’ सरदार ने हँसकर कहा ,’कभी उसके (भगवान के) साथ बातचीत करने का मौका आ जाय , तो हमारा राम-राम पहुँचा देना । ‘

    इस दृश्य की अब दूसरी बाजू । एक टाँके में छाती तक के पानी में भणसाळीकाका बैठे हैं। सिर पर तीस सेर वजन का पत्थर रखा हुआ है ।

    ‘ यह कौन-सा प्रयोग है ?’

    ‘कुछ नहीं। ध्यान की दृष्टि से ठंडक की आवश्यकता महसूस हुई।सोचा था कि पाँव में रस्सी बाँधकर कुएँ में उलटे सिर लटका जाय । चिमनलालजी ( आश्रम-व्यवस्थापक ) ने कहा कि बापू की इजाजत लो । बापू को चिट्ठी लिखी।उन्होंने इजाजत नहीं दी।मैंने फिर से लिखा कि कम-से-कम टाँके में बैठने की तो छूट दे दो।वह उन्होंने दी ।’

    ‘ लेकिन यह सिर पर पत्थर किसलिए ?’

    ‘पहले दिन टाँके में बैठा था तो जानवर पानी पीने आये।उनकी सींग शरीर में लगने के भय से कहीं गलती से शरीर उछल न जाय , इसलिए सिर पर वजन रखा है।’

    एबटाबाद से आने पर बापू ने उनका यह प्रयोग तुरंत बन्द करवा दिया । मन में चाहे जितनी जिद हो,फिर भी बापू ने मना कर दिया तो भणसाळीकाका उनके साथ बहस नहीं करते थे ।

    एक बार आश्रम में हममें से कइयों को पागल लोमड़ी ने काट लिया । भणसाळीकाका को उसने तीन बार काटा । लेकिन उन्होंने किसीसे से जिक्र नहीं किया। वह तो तब पता चला, जब उनके हाथों पर घाव दिखाई दिये ।सूई लगाने से इनकार करते थे । लेकिन बापू की आज्ञा हुई तो मान गये।फिर वर्धा तक मोटर में जाने से इनकार करने लगे।फिर से बापू की आज्ञा हुई तो चुपचाप चले गये।

    लेकिन बापू के साथ भी एक बार उनका मतभेद होने की घटना मैंने देखी है । आश्रम की किसी बहन की एक छोटी-सी भूल के कारण बापू ने उसे आश्रम छोड़कर जाने को कहा था । वह बहन विधवा थी। उसने भणसाळीकाका को बताया । भणसाळीकाका को लगा कि इसमें बापू के हाथ से अन्याय हो रहा है ।उन्होंने बापू से कहा , ‘तो मैं भी आश्रम छोड़कर चला।’ अन्त में बापू मान गये ।

    समाज के दुर्बल और पीड़ित वर्ग के प्रति भणसाळीकाका का हृदय बहुत संवेदनशील था । गरीबों के साथ अन्याय होता देखकर कई बार वे क्षुब्ध हो जाते थे । स्वराज्य के बाद तेलंगाना में कम्युनिस्ट लोगों ने आतंक फैलाया था। उसके कारण सरकार ने बड़े पैमाने पर कम्युनिस्टों की धरपकड़ की थी । उस समय भणसाळीकाका ने सरकार को पत्र लिखा कि ‘मुझे भी पकड़ लो। मैं अहिंसा में विश्वास रखनेवाला एक साम्यवादी हूँ ।

    आष्टी-चिमूर में स्त्रियों पर पुलिस ने अत्याचार किया था। उसकी करुण कहानी सुनकर भणसाळीकाका का पुण्यप्रकोप हुआ और उसके विरोध में उन्होंने अनशन किया ।भारत के इतिहास में इस अनशन की एक अमर कहानी बन गई है । इस अनशन के दरमियान भणसाळीकाका ने शुरु के पन्द्रह दिन पदयात्रा की थी और पानी पीना भी छोड़ दिया था।आखिर के ४८ दिन वे बिस्तर पे थे । अनशन का एक-एक दिन बढ़ रहा था ।सन १९४२ के ‘भारत छोड़ो’ आन्दोलन में सरकार ने जनता को बेरहमी से कुचलकर मूर्छित-सा कर दिया था,लेकिन इस अनशन ने उस जनता में एक चेतना पैदा की ।रेल की पटरी उखाड़ने,तार काटने,डाक के डिब्बे जलाने के कार्यक्रमों का जवाब सरकार के पास था। लेकिन एक विशुद्ध नैतिक प्रश्न को लेकर एक सन्त ने अनशन का जो अमोघ अस्त्र उठाया था,उसका जवाब निष्ठुर सरकार के पास कुछ भी नहीं था । अन्त में सरकार ने इस अत्याचार की जाँच करना स्वीकार किया । इस तरह भारत के नारीत्व की मर्यादा का रक्षण हुआ ।

    आज भणसाळीकाका का शरीर गलितगात्र हो गया है । लेकिन वे नागपुर के नजदीक टाकली गाँव में रहकर ग्रामसेवा का अखण्ड व्रत का पालन कर रहे हैं। सेवाग्राम - आश्रम को यदि प्राणि-संग्रह कहा जाय तो भणसाळीकाका उसमें अनिर्बन्ध संचार करनेवाले सिंह-जैसे थे।.

[ यह संस्मरण नारायण देसाई की पुस्तक 'बापू की गोद में' से लिया गया है । सम्पूर्ण पुस्तक एक पुस्तक-चिट्ठे के रूप में संजाल पर उपलब्ध है । ]

If you're unfamiliar with Beckett, I am the wrong person to talk to.  I find him as depressing as some people seem to find LC.

"I see my shoe.  What is my shoe?  Am I my shoe?  There is certainly a shoe.  At least one shoe.  But one shoe reminds me of another shoe.  And so the whole hideous process starts again..."  Wait, no - that last bit was more like "Black Books".en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Books

I do enjoy Black Books - but more so when  I'm drunk

So, waiting for yourself.  If you're waiting to sell your house or get a new job, or find a new partner or earn some more money - you're really waiting for yourself.  And that's the hardest kind of waiting there is.

You know what Gandhi said:  "Be the change you want to see"www.worldofquotes.com/ author/Mahatma-Gandhi/1/index.html

Wot no Leonard Cohen?

OK here's one:

Cohen Koan

What is the sound of 30,000 hands clapping?

Farewell mes petits partisans

Nadie es tan rico o poderoso que pueda
prescindir de una sonrisa, y nadie es
tan pobre que no pueda enriquecerse con ella
Una sonrisa proporciona felicidad en el hogar,
favorece el trato en los negocios, y es
la contraseña de la amistad.

Proporciona descanso al exhausto, estimula
al decaído, reanima al triste, y es
el mejor antídoto natural para los problemas.
Con todo no puede ser comprada, mendigada, pedida,
o robada, ya que es algo que no es de valor
para nadie hasta que se regala.

Algunas personas están demasiado cansadas
para dar una sonrisa.
Dales una de las tuyas, pues nadie necesita
una sonrisa tanto como aquel que no tiene
nada más que dar.

Mohandas Karamchand , Gandhi

    सारे आश्रमवासियों की सभी विचित्रताओं का वर्णन करने का मेरा इरादा नहीं है , और उतना सामर्थ्य भी नही है । साबरमती-आश्रम में एक सज्जन तो ऐसे थे कि गिनकर ५५ रोटियाँ खा जाते । भूल से ५४ रखी गयी हों तो जोर से चिल्लाकर कहते , ‘ तुम कैसे कंजूस हो ! हमें भूखा मारना है ?’ और गलती से ५६ रोटियाँ परोसी जाँय तो तपाक से कहते , ‘ वाह तुमने क्या हमको राक्षस समझ रखा है ?’ इस तरह इनकी हालत भूखे मरनेवाले आदमी और राक्षस के बीच की पतली दीवार जैसी थी ।

    दूसरे एक सज्जन सेवाग्राम-आश्रम में ऐसे थे , जिनके साथ मेरा निम्न संवाद हुआ -

    ‘ क्योंजी , आजकल क्या प्रयोग चल रहा है ? ‘

    ‘ प्रयोग तो हमारा कुछ-न-कुछ चलता ही रहता है । आजकल पानी का प्रयोग चल रहा है ।’

    ‘ क्या पानी उबालकर पीते हैं ‘ या जल-चिकित्सा चल रही है ? ‘

    ‘ नहीं भैया , खाने-पीने के प्रयोग के सम्बन्ध में चर्चा नहीं कर रहा । इस बार तो शौच के पानी का प्रयोग है । ‘

    ‘ यानी ? ‘

    ‘ यानी शौच के लिए जो पानी व्यवहार करते हैं , वह कैसे कम हो इसका प्रयोग कर रहा हूँ । ‘

    ‘ अच्छा ! ‘

    ‘ हाँ , घटाते - घटाते पाँच तोले तक पहुँचा हूँ । अपने देश के अनेक भागों में पानी की बड़ी कमी रहती है । इसमें अगर हम पानी बचा सकें तो …’

    मैंने अपनी बालसुलभ उद्दंडता का लाभ लेकर उस भाई की बात बीच में ही काटकर कहा , ‘ हाँ , बैलों को तो पानी की जरूरत ही नहीं पड़ती । ‘

    सेवाग्राम के आश्रमवासियों की ऐसी सारी विचित्रताओं के बावजूद एक बात उन सबमें समान थी, बापू के प्रति भक्ति । इसी एक तत्त्व के कारण वे आश्रम में टिक सके । इसी तत्त्व के परिणामस्वरूप सब आश्रमवासियों में एक परिवार-भावना का उदय हुआ और वह भावना वृद्धिंगत होती गयी । आज भी एक-दूसरे से बहुत दूर गए हुए दो आश्रमवासी दीर्घ अवधि के बाद जब भी मिलते हैं , तब अलग पड़े हुए स्वजन बहुत दिनों के बाद मिलने पर जिस आत्मीयता का और प्रेम का अनुभव करते हैं , वैसा ही अनुभव ये आश्रमवासी करते हैं ।

    विचित्रताओं के साथ - साथ हरएक आश्रमवासी की विशेषता भी कम नहीं थीं । इनमें से कुछ लोगों के साथ रहने का मौका मिलना एक अपूर्व सौभाग्य ही था । ये आश्रमवासी स्वतन्त्रता की लड़ाई में बापू की वानर-सेना के सिपाही थे और शिवजी की बारात जैसे थे ।

    यहाँ एक ऐसे व्यक्ति के सम्बन्ध में लिखूँगा , जो विचित्रता के साथ - साथ विशेषताओं से भी परिपूर्ण थे । वैसे वे खुद छिपकर रहनेवालों में से थे लेकिन इतिहास में कम-से-कम एक बार तो उन्होंने ब्रिटिश सरकार को हिला दिया था । वे व्यक्ति हैं आचार्य भणसाळी । हम सबके लाड़ले भण्साळीकाका ।

     एक दृश्य । किला सोनगढ़ गाँव का एक सुनसान मकान । उसमें आधा पागल और आधा साधु जैसा दीखनेवाला एक आदमी पड़ा था । एक समाजसेवक वहाँ पहुँचा ।

    ‘ ओहो ! भणसाळीभाई ! आपकी यह हालत ? ‘ जवाब में भणसाळीकाका ने सप्त स्वर में अट्टहास किया । लेकिन मुँह से एक शब्द भी नहीं बोले । समाज-सेवक ने उनके दोनों पाँवों के तलवों से बीस-बीस,पचीस -पचीस काँटे निकाले । उनके जख्मों को धोकर ,पीप निकालकर साफ कर दिया । ‘ यहाँ कुछ दिन आराम करो । ‘ समाज-सेवक ने विनती की । लेकिन साधु तो चलता ही भला । फिर पाँवों में से काँटे भी तो निकल चुके थे ।

    ‘ लेकिन आप बोलते क्यों नहीं ? ‘ कागज - पेन्सिल लेकर भणसाळीकाका ने लिख दिया , ‘ बारह साल का मौन लिया है । ‘

    ‘ बारह साल ! ‘

    भणसाळीकाका के पास छोटा आँकड़ा कभी था ही नहीं । प्रथम बार अनशन किया ४० दिनों का । दूसरी बार किया ५५ दिनों का और तीसरी बार किया आष्टी-चिमूर के अत्याचारों के निषेध में ६३ दिनों का देशविख्यात उपवास ।

    थोर की बाड पर से कूदने के प्रयोग के कारण उनके शरीर में फोड़े हो गये थे । भणसाळीकाका साबरमती-आश्रम से वर्धा के लिए निकले थे । ५५ दिनों के  अनशन  में मानसिक अस्थिरता आ गयी । फिर हिमालय तक पैदल सफर और और बारह वर्ष का मौन । देश की सही परिस्थिति का दर्शन उनको इस यात्रा में हुआ ।

    हिमालय से वापस आते समय राजस्थान के एक देहात में बैल जहाँ बाँधते हैं , ऐसे बाड़े में उनको ठहरने कि जगह मिली । रात में जानवर का पाँव लगा । भणसाळीकाका के मुँह से अचानक शब्द निकला ‘ कौन ? ‘ तुरंत उनके ध्यान में आ गया कि मौन टूटा। 

 फिर सोचने लगे कि कई ऐसी तरकीब करनी चाहिए कि रात में नींद में भी मौन न टूटे । तरकीब तो सूझी, लेकिन उसको अमल में लाने वाला तरीका  उनको मिला ध्रांगध्रा में । एक सुनार ने ताँबे का तार गरम करके लाल किया और भणसाळी्काका के दोनों होठों को सिल कर तार मोड़ दिया । भणसाळीकाका ने उस सुनार के उपकार माने। इसी सुनार ने प्रवाही पदार्थ मुँह में डालने के लिए एक फनेल भी बना दी । उन दिनों वे कच्चा आटा और कड़वे नीम के पत्ते खाते थे । आटा पानी में घोलकर चूस लेते थे । नीम की पत्तों को मुँह के कोने से अन्दर घुसा देते थे । साबरमती में आश्रम में बापू के साथ भेंट हुई , तब होठों के तार कटवा दिये । यह दूसरा दृश्य । ( अगली प्रविष्टी में जारी ) 

Our part of the world, in the first half of the twentieth century, was defined by two great colossi: Jinnah and Gandhi, and their personality clash. Jinnah’s creation i.e. Pakistan today exists on the map as a testament to that titanic clash though it is in no shape or form that its founder would recognize it in. It so happened that one of the actors in this clash was a Muslim by birth and the other a devout Hindu which gave it a communal color- but in reality it was a much more fundamental clash than some religious or sectarian dispute as many people seem to think, using that awful device i.e. Occam’s Razor which has no application to the complexity of the study of history.

The point of dispute between Jinnah and Gandhi was not religion but modernity. Both Jinnah and Gandhi had spent their formative phases in England where both of them were called to the bar. But while Jinnah imbibed European modernity and perfected it, Gandhi revolted against it. In Jinnah’s world religion played little or no role and was largely a personal matter. Gandhi on the other hand came to see religion as the central point and the meaning of life. When Jinnah was increasingly getting molded in British liberalism, western individualism and the capitalist success ethic, Gandhi came to see virtue in poverty. When they finally came face to face as members of the Congress Party, Gandhi had transformed from the barrister he once was to the Hindu “Mahatma” though it took another few years for him to convince the masses of this. At the very first public meeting he pointed out that Jinnah – despite his dress and education- was from the “minority community”. This distinction between Indians on the basis of religion was something Jinnah had fought against with the conservatives of the Muslim League but to hear from Gandhi’s mouth must have come as quite a surprise. After all Jinnah at this time was at the top of his game- a highly paid barrister in addition to being a liberal and secular Indian nationalist agitating against the British to leave India.

Initially Gandhi stayed away from this nationalist sentiment opting instead to recruit for the British Army but when he did, he made religion and spirituality the central focus of the anti-British movement. Not only did he appeal to Hindu religion and culture but Gandhi cut across communal lines to make alliances with Muslim divines, thereby bringing Islam into politics. After this, Jinnah did not look back- taking Gandhi’s classification of him as a minority and ran with it, ultimately defeating his famous rival before both of them passed away in 1948. He wrested from Gandhi and the Congress a Muslim homeland against opposition not just from the Hindu majority but a majority of the religious divines of Muslims and the combined British sentiment against him. Yet today Pakistan – torn by ethnic conflict, religious extremism and military rule- is hardly something to proud of, especially not for the lawyer parliamentarian that Jinnah was – believing in rule of law and sovereignty of all people regardless of religion caste or creed. Pakistanis as a nation are the anti-thesis of the kind of man their founder was: He was disciplined and orderly, undisciplined Pakistanis today are in utter chaos. He was a man of action – Pakistanis are defined by their inaction. He believed in success through hard work - Pakistanis are always on the look for the eternal short cut. He believed in civilian supremacy in state affairs- Pakistanis have allowed themselves to be ruled by the military for more than half their existence as a nation. Jinnah was a modern minded man who believed in women’s rights and minorities rights- Pakistanis today are defined by their religious bigotry and misogyny. But above all Jinnah was considered incorruptible and un-purchase-able- Pakistanis have had the honor of being the second most corrupt country in the world for years. It is about time Pakistanis reverted to the great man that founded their country.

Meanwhile the India that Jinnah left behind in 1947 despite its many drawbacks and shortcomings seems to be going from strength to strength emerging as the world’s largest secular democracy. It is also an emerging economic power house which has the attention of the world. Yet is Modern India’s success Gandhi’s triumph and Jinnah’s defeat? No! Gandhi rejected materialism and romanticized poverty. He was willing to sink to the lowest level with others but not ready to pull his people out of dark desperate poverty which most of his people belonged to. The new India would have none of it. It is the India of billionaires – 40 and counting. It is the India of new world class companies founded and run by Indians ready to colonize the world, as they once were colonized themselves. It is the India of commerce and industry, of information technology and of Indian Premier League. This new India does not believe in looking for virtue in poverty but is today engaged in real poverty alleviation and this has meant quality lives not just for millions but hundreds of millions of people.

This is also the India which Jinnah’s daughter calls home, where his Parsi grandson Nusli Wadia thrives as a leading businessman without ever being pointed out as being “from the minority community” and Nusli’s wife Maureen Wadia runs the Miss India Pageant, where his grandson Ness Wadia and his wife-to-be Preity Zinta own and operate IPL teams. If Jinnah was to return to the subcontinent, it is anybody’s guess which country he would want to live in. Karen Armstrong once wrote that Jinnah wanted to make Pakistan so that Muslims would not be limited by their religious identity – increasingly India seems to be moving towards a destination where religion is taking a backseat. It is no longer the India defined by caste or creed or a romance with poverty. They say those who laugh last laugh the best. Whether Indians admit or not, in success they have emulated the man who has been demonized in their history books. Make no mistake about it: this new India is Jinnah’s India. More importantly however for South Asia and the world at large, it is an India that Pakistanis can learn from if they still wish to revive Jinnah’s Pakistan.

Not the Gandhi of South Africa

By Alan Gold | The Australian

...far from being a prisoner of conscience during his time as inmate 46664, Mandela was jailed for advocating the violent overthrow of the government. In his quarter of a century in prison, Mandela refused to publicly renounce terrorism as a weapon.

***********

The Curse of Jeremiah Wrights

]]> http://saketjha.wordpress.com/?p=116 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:19:08 +0000 Saket Jha http://saketjha.wordpress.com/?p=116 Mahatma Gandhi was never awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.

The man who was the symbol of non-violence and peace was never recognized by the committee for his efforts. Not that it had mattered to Gandhi even a bit, but still he was around and famous long enough for them to consider him a Laureate.

It wasn't that the committee never considered him for the Nobel Peace Prize. He was nominated 5 times, the first was in 1937. Later nominations came in the years 1938, 1939, 1947 and later in 1948 when Gandhi was already dead.

One idea for not awarding Gandhi a Nobel Peace Prize, as some people claim, was because his efforts was only directed for Indians. So, they maintain, that his work lacked the flavor of being universal and, was primarily the struggle of a man to help his own countrymen.

The nomination for 1947 saw Gandhi as the strongest contender for the prize because the Indian freedom struggle had succeeded by that time with Gandhi sticking to his idea of non-violence during all this time. But then, the freedom of India was accompanied with its partition and creation of Pakistan and a lot of bloodshed and violence marred the arena. No one can say that Gandhi, even during that phase, deferred from his principles of non-violence but the India-Pakistan conflict did not leave the Indian freedom struggle slate, headed by Gandhi, clean after all.

The Nobel Prize committee, due to some reasons, could not award the Peace Prize after Gandhi's death and so the 1948 prize was not awarded to anyone at all. The money for the prize was not spent. The award of the Peace Prize to Dalai Lama in 1989 was termed as a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.

Please refer to the Nobel Foundation article, Mahatma Gandhi, the Missing Laureate, for more.

]]> http://terrymarotta.wordpress.com/?p=413 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:31:17 +0000 terrymarotta http://terrymarotta.wordpress.com/?p=413

When you sweat you feel virtuous; it’s how you know you’re a good person and I’ve been doing some serious sweating this afternoon, or anyway my right armpit has been. Which must mean either that I’m only half the saint I like to think I am or that my mind wandered and I only rolled the Arrid Extra Dry onto the skin of my left armpit which happens all the time, of course it does think about it you’re using your right hand and it’s a nice easy reach across the body to get to the left armpit but a much more constricted curl to get to the right one. Kind of like when you sing the I’m a Little Teapot song and act it out at the same time which David does for us all sometimes and is frankly why I married him in the first place.

Well now here we are on the weekend which means it’s time for me to put up the new column which happens to just BE about what happens when you get to thinkin’ you’re deserving of canonization like a Gandhi or a Mother Teresa . All kinds of papers used it this week so as well as sticking it up at the top here under This Week’s Column why don’t I touch the magic wand to the words Citizen.com and let you click through and see how it looked in in New Hampshire.

Pride really does go before a fall, just as the story says. I thought I was so great one time, because Smith College where I went to school invited me to give as talk at the big reunion, calling me the Distinguished Alumna Speaker. I bought a silk dress just the bright–blue color of a peacock’s wing as well as a small scarf of that same hue with swirls of burnt orange and coral thrown in. I looked like the kind of lurid cocktail an 18-year old girl with a fake ID would order her first night at the Tikki Bar.

So there I was in the big the lecture hall where I once sweated earnestly over midterms and finals. Now I was up on the stage! With a microphone and a screen behind me! And everyone had to listen to ME, with my carousel full of funny and poignant slides that I just knew would make those 400 women laugh til their bras popped open, then cry a little, then near the end finish up with a last gentle chuckle and off to the class cocktail parties. I looked out at that sea of faces, went to take a tiny sip of water before I began.... and poured the thing right down my front and ended up giving the whole talk with a dark stain resembling the map of Argentina reaching from just under my chin clear down to my bellybutton.

It happens anytime you compare yourself to the great. In fact here’s a photo from the summer of '93 when I actually  'met' Gandhi at Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum in London and Zounds! By gosh if I’m not wearing the same ugly dress I refer to in this week's column! I see that I’m also trying to look like he and I are twins both inside AND out but anyone can see: his hair looks WAY better than mine

(But Yay for the 80s and early 90s huh? Look at me and my sister Nan up top here! We sure did have the poofy coifs!)

]]> http://fjnavas.wordpress.com/?p=955 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:15:04 +0000 fjnavas http://fjnavas.wordpress.com/?p=955 El canal Natura emitió recientemente un documental sobre el consumismo, auténtica enfermedad del siglo XXI.

Según se ve en el video, el consumismo es una forma de vida organizada a conseguir a través de medios materiales una ilusión de mejor calidad de vida. No obstante, este es un sistema que se contradice con los propios límites de nuestra realidad, por lo que se considera una patología.

Presenta la característica diferencial de que es una patología que afecta fundamentalmente a un estrato de la población: clase media - alta. Muchos pensaréis que el consumismo no es una patología, sino una consecuencia de tener mucho dinero.

Me llama la atención la diferencia entre consumismo y consumerismo que realizan en el documental. Muy interesante. Otra pincelada interesante es cuando dicen "Gandhi decía que en el mundo hay suficiente para todos pero no lo bastante para la codicia de uno solo".

Para aquellos que os interese este tema, os dejo el link donde podéis encontrar este interesante documental.

VER DOCUMENTAL ONLINE

Fred Thompson writes this, on activists using Gandhi upfront for their peace movement:

…posters appeared around America asking “What would Gandhi do?”

And that’s a pretty good question. At what point is it okay to fight dictators like Saddam or the al Qaeda terrorists who want to take his place?

It turns out that the answer, according to Gandhi, is NEVER. During World War II, Gandhi penned an open letter to the British people, urging them to surrender to the Nazis. Later, when the extent of the holocaust was known, he criticized Jews who had tried to escape or fight for their lives as they did in Warsaw and Treblinka. “The Jews should have offered themselves to the butcher’s knife,” he said. “They should have thrown themselves into the sea from cliffs.” “Collective suicide,” he told his biographer, “would have been heroism.”...

Gandhi actually did this?! Gandhi probably took his principle of non violence too far. It is the human resolve to stay alive that has ensured the survival of its species. It is said “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely…” Nazis had the power to subjugate the Jews, for the Jews to have done nothing about it, is tantamount to giving the Nazis absolute power – it certainly wouldn’t have made anything better – for the Nazis where driven by a strong ideology not a sudden whimsical notion. If Gandhi hasn’t been misquoted, as much as he was a shrewd statesman he was at times foolish too.

[via Islamic Terrorism in India]

I never had any oppurtunity to know Mandela through books about him. I would be looking forward to read "Long walk to freedom" and books by Anthony Sampson and James Gregory.

Spirituality and Ahimsa [non-violence] are in fact one and the same in the sense that both can be attained through Sadhana. That is why; savants of Vedic era concentrated more on prayer which is the simplest form of Sadhana for commonmen and composed the panes of glory to propitiate gods and ancestors calling upon them to bless and protect mankind from all those things that implied violence than preaching non-violence which can only be attained through a rather difficult process of Sadhana-‘Indriyanigraha’, i.e. control of senses. In this regard a story from Mahabharata can be quoted here.

It sates that Maharshi Vishwamitra, who was formerly a king, relinquished his kingdom to do tapa. So severe was his Sadhana that he was soon known as Maharshi and was addressed so by all except Maharshi Vashishtha who always called him Rajarishi. It annoyed Vishwamitra and feeling insulted, he decided to kill Vashishtha, the only obstacle to his great fame. So, one day he went to his Ashram and hid himself behind his hut in order to kill him when sleep. It was a full moon night. Vashishtha and his wife Arundhati were sitting outside their hut and were talking. Vishwamitra heard Arundhati saying how beautiful the moon-light was, and Vashishtha’s remark that it was as lustrous as the tapa of Vishwamitra. Vishwamitra felt ashamed thinking that he had come to kill such a great soul who had noble ideas for him. Throwing his sword away, he went before him and saluted him with all reverence. Vashishtha welcomed him addressing him Maharshi Vishwamitra and asked him what had brought him there at that odd hour. Vishwamitra replied he had come there to kill him and asked him, “Why you who always called me Rajarishi welcome me as Maharshi?”

Vashishtha replied, “Because your Sadhana is complete today. You have overcome the violent emotions of envy, enmity, anger and revenge and thus have elevated yourself to the highest level of saints.”

Thus, it can be rightly inferred that through Sadhana one can overcome the violent emotions and he can attain the highest level of spirituality.

__________________________________________________________________________________

*Dr. Ravindra Kumar is an Indologist and writer. He is the Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Meerut, India.