Makes you think...

Often things you read make you question the world, yourself and your beliefs. This little write-up is one of those. Click here to read it. Enjoy!

A Peaceful Sunday Evening

It was a beautiful Sunday, this last weekend that went by. I spent some time on my own. Went to a football game at Cooperage alone. So much fun, so much passion! Nothing like the kick of watching a live game. No amount of analysis and TV replays can replace that. Anyway, the game ended in a draw but it was end-to-end action.

That done. I ran along to a friend's house at Cuffe Parade and sat around shooting the breeze until they decided to watch Southpark episodes. Now I like a lot of American TV shows but Southpark is just too ridiculous (at times) for me. I'm not saying it's a bad show, I'm saying I don't like it. So while they watched Southpark, I sat near the balcony watching the shimmering lights lining the Arabian Sea. It was great. Just silence interspersed with the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks. And there were no thoughts running through my head. None that I was conscious of atleast. I sat there for a loonggg time, just taking it all in, the silence, the sound of the waves, the beautiful Mumbai skyline...

The simple joys of life! :)

My Morning Mantra

I've been listening to this mantra for a while now. It's the first thing I listen to on my way to the football field in the early morning. It's from the Rang De Basanti soundtrack and its called 'Ik Onkar'. Listening to it sets the tone for my day. It has such peaceful, soothing vibes. It's indescribable!

So the other day I googled it for the meaning and found out it's part of the Japuji Sahib (A mantra chanted by Sikhs). It was when I read its meaning that I understood why it gives so much solace.

This is how it reads...

Ik Onkar, Sat Naam, Karta Purakh, Nirbhau, Nirvair, Akal Murat, Ajuni Saibhang, Gurprasad

Translation
There is only one God. His name is Truth. He is the creator. Sans fear. Sans enmity. Eternal. Unborn. Self-effulgent. Realized by His divine grace.

Listening to it keeps me humble and grateful. Pranaam to that unknown Divine power.

One of those (good) days

It's one of those days when I'm over the top with joy!

We've recently developed an educational program for young adults on Vedic philosophy. Today was the first day of the second one we're conducting and it went off really well. We've got an amazing bunch of young people attending the program.

Unlike our other sessions on the subject where all age groups are allowed (and attended by a lot of older people), this young bunch just has a whole new level of energy! It's great to see young people learning about our own Indian philosophy and appreciating it.

We've put in our best efforts, let's hope they enjoy it as much we enjoy taking the philosophy to them :)

Nothing to Lose

One of the best things that have happened in the last year is that I've starting taking a lot more risks.

I quit my job sometime ago. I didn't want to look back at my life at age 50 and say 'Damn, I should've done that.' It was a big decision. The monthly paycheck is an addictive thing. And I bailed before I was hooked. I really don't know if my ideas will ever become a reality. There are days when I feel like going back to the confines of that "safe, secure" job. But deep down, I think I'd be cheating myself if I did. While I did enjoy being with fun people and the work, there was always a part of me that wasn't completely with it. Because I knew it wasn't what I really wanted to do.

So I've thrown it all up to chase my dream. Sometimes it feels like a distant reality. But there are days when I can see it materialising, I can smell the air, I can see the people, I can see it all happening. I don't know if I'll get there. But I can definitely say 'I'm trying'. And no one can take away the one thing I'm scared to lose, my dream. Nobody.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
- Andre Gide

What if...

... money didn't exist?

... people ended up marrying the first person they fell in love with?

... we drank more coconut water than Pepsi and Coke?

... healthy food was tasty? or junk food tasted, welllll, like JUNK!?!?

... we were tempted to do things that were actually "good" for us?

... we went to the movies on Monday morning?

... work was fun for everyone?

... we worked only on weekends?

... we were attracted to people who didn't look "good"?

Just some of the random questions that go through my head every now and then. Maybe I just think too much.

One of my favourite songs...

This is one of my favourite songs. I can appreciate it when I'm happy, learn from it when I'm down and enjoy it in pretty much any mood.

You Gotta Be - Des'ree
Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
Stand up and be counted
Don't be ashamed to cry

You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

Herald what your mother said
Readin' the books your father read
Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time
Some may have more cash than you
Others take a different view
my oh my heh, hey

Don't ask no questions, it goes on without you
Leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace
The world keeps on spinning
You can't stop it, if you try to
This time it's danger staring you in the face

You gotta be strong, there ain't no other way.

Sport

I'm just back home after watching the Davis Cup matches being hosted nearby. It was awesome to see my tennis heroes, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi playing the best live doubles tennis I have seen in my life. That too 30 feet from where I was sitting!

I don't know what it is about sport that sends me into raptures. It's like my entire life is played in front of my eyes in those few hours in the sports arena. The highs. The lows. The frustrations. The losses. And those moments we all live for, the ecstasy of winning. That audacious shot that worked. Or the assist you made to help your team-mate score the match-winning goal. Ah! Sheer bliss!

Watching the best in the business perform, like I did today, is awe-inspiring. Leander Paes has recovered from a life-threatening brain tumor to come back to the heights of Grand Slam glory. In 17 years, the man has won 78 out of 108 singles matches for India in the Davis Cup. An amazing feat. But what I admire most about guys like him and the great Lance Armstrong is that they overcame more than the external challenges of the game. At some level, they overcame their inner challenges.

We all face them. And for me, it is people like Leander and Lance that I draw inspiration from. I know I sound like a schoolkid writing his 'I want to be this when I grow up...' essay but I hope I am able to excel and be amongst the best at what I do. I know it is difficult. But not impossible.

Banal

I've written a lot of posts about life, its meaning, love and other things that meant something to me. This is not one of them. So if you're looking for some philosophical insight or want to read something 'nice', leave now. Here's your chance...
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No really, it's fine if you do. And this IS your last chance.
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A persistent one eh? :) Don't say I didn't warn you!

I've been trying for years now. But I simply cannot put food onto my plate from the serving bowl without dropping stuff on the table and dirtying the tablecloth! It is pissing me off no end. When it used to happen years ago as a child, I thought 'Screw this. I'm a kid. I'm expected to do stupid things and be clumsy.' But when I do it now, I'm just thinking 'F$%*ing spastic!'

The nightmare begins at the edge of the serving bowl. I'm assuaging my self-doubt saying 'OK Ajeya, we're going to do it this time'. And before I know it, I'm stuck in the middle. No place to run. Nowhere to hide. Just the serving spoon, me and the spotless tablecloth. It feels like getting off a boat at Apollo Bunder with one leg one the stony steps while the other is still on the boat moving away with both sides too far apart to jump onto. Anyway, the journey to the safe shores of my plate is agonisingly close to its end when 'PLOP', a little drop of the lovely maroon beetroot salad neatly sits at its rightful place at the centre of the newly-laundered white table cloth. ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHH! I swear, if that salad was a person...

You get the drift. I am slowly, after years of data collection, coming to the conclusion that I am a table spastic. To date, in the recent rememberable past, there has been no meal where I have NOT dropped stuff on the table.

How am I dealing with this? An Art of Living course I once attended (Incidentally I was kicked out midway after not being able to attend due to official reasons) spoke of 'accepting people the way they are'. I'm trying to put it into practice with myself. I will always be a table spastic.

*sigh*

Back to scoring!

Much as I wish it was with girls, it isn't. I'm talking about goals on the football (soccer for my international audience.. hmph vain :) ) pitch. I'm back to my exercise routine now and feeling much much better. Went for the usual Marine Drive run this morning. It was great. Very relaxing.

I can't think of too much to say today. Oh yeah, how could I forget?!?! I went to a date with this really pretty girl on Sunday. She seemed a bit uptight initially. Maybe overly conscious of herself for some reason. I'm not sure. But it was peaceful. We lunched at a nice place, hung out at the local bookstore and drove to a lake nearby. I enjoyed myself and she messaged me later to tell me she had a great time too. It was a nice casual date.

Meanwhile, a storm has hit Indiana and Midwest USA - where my ex-girlfriend studies - so I mailed her to find out if she's doing ok. Hope everything's alright.

And since I speak about Marine Drive so much, I figured you might as well see it for yourself. Here you go...



Better get back to work

Bummer

Last week has been such a bummer. Work has been alright, not too much pressure. It's just that I've gone into a shell, the past few days. Been feeling crappy. Waking up late & lazy. No exercise for three days. Signs of a bad week in Ajeya's world.

I think I get too involved in my own little issues and obsessed with myself every now and then. Spend too much time courting my fears, thinking about the future and doing nothing constructive. I'm snapping out of it now. (which explains my return to the blogosphere after a week - the longest break in a while)

I want to simplify my life now. Stop wasting my time and effort on stuff I really don't want to do. Put my head down and focus on my work, research, exercise, family, friends and football (not necessarily in that order). I've been spending my time doing things that aren't important to me while ignoring stuff that is. And that's what really pisses me off! It's happened sooo many times in the past but I think I've had enough now. Enough of my own stupidity.

It's time to ring in the some changes.

"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler" - Henry David Thoreau