Musings
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Ancient Religiosity and Modern Atheism
Environment has an effect on every living organism in varying degrees. Yet the study of human social evolution has demonstrated conclusively that human beings have always been relatively free from the effect of their environment as compared to other creations. This is as true for ancient times as it is for today. This is important because many people think that the ancient reverence came out of fear of what could impact lives and even end them. Modern anthropologists have increasingly come to the belief that ancient humans were keen observers of nature and natural phenomenon. It was not that they only perceived nature mystically, entangled with it, challenged by it,…
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Do you know everything?
You may reach either of the two conclusions after reading or studying a particular book or an article or just random stuff. 1. You know so little. 2. You know so much. If your conclusion is “1” you probably know more. If your conclusion is “2” you probably know nothing! नमन्ति फलानि वृक्षा नमन्ति गुणिनो जनाः शुष्क काष्ठ्श्च मूर्खश्च न नमन्ति कदाचन . Namanti phalaani brukshaa namanti gunino janaah. Shushka kaashthasch moorkhshch na namanti kadachan. i.e. Trees laden with fruits bow with the weight of the fruits, and so also knowledgeable and learned persons with their knowledge (are always polite in their behavior towards others). On the other hand dried…
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Asi kati lagan pata – Sources of Knowledge
Writing in TATA sumo, traveling from Srinagar to Khanabal. Thinking about issues that bother me. I have been wondering for a while what thought I subscribe to, where do I place myself, rationalist, empiricist, idealist, or whatever. I have been called a post-modernist, conservative, both in the same breath and other things, too. I might be a skeptic, who knows! I presented my writings to an expert who categorized them as post-modern and existentialist, na chi mye huii pata kya govv, na huii. Reminds me of Alamdar’s (ra) “be kuss rishi, mye kya naav” (I have no clue who I am). Traveling gives me ample time to think. For some,…
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The Idealist Knows
Socho ke jheelon ka shehar hoLehron pe apna ek ghar ho Hum jo dekhein sapne pyareSach hon saare bas aur kya Farsh ho pyaar ka, khushbuon ki deewareinHum jahan baith ke prem se din guzaarein Palkein uthein, palkein jhukeinDekhe tujhe bas yeh nazar Barf hi barf ho sardiyon ka ho mausamAag ke saamne hath senkte hon humBaithi rahoon aagosh meinRakh ke tere kandhe pe sar – Sameer The liberty to think novel, think big, think idealist is given to poets freely. We the ones who cannot “poet” open our mouth and hell breaks loose. All day, all night, the modern man sings songs, but put it in prose and all…
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Man’s Tragic Failure
I am struggling to find the most appropriate title and a good opening paragraph to the story I wish to share with you today. There lived around my home a bitch who delivered four puppies one fine evening. It is a wonderful sight to see a birth and the humility that encompasses the act. The face of the animal as if lights up for having brought forward new life- a tough task and a job well done. – she as if lets go off a huge burden. Birth is a miracle that takes place again and again in front of all of us. The cute little pups, one of them…