Just a Human Being

The many layers which cover us
which hide us, hide our reality...
also hide from us, the truth about others...

we are well read but flawed..
put to sleep by the great civilizations we take much pride in..
bulldozing our beautiful landscape...
the bare land.. our humanity

live we do not.. as men among men...
but as rich, as poor...
as the educated, and the ill read...
with little sympathy.. or acknowledgement of our common humanity...

the poor man.. he is...
dirty and ugly...
with his skin burnt by the glaring sun..
as he toils night and day...
and makes our life more comfortable...
but we respect him little.. care little for his family

the womb which brought him to the world..
not very different from the one which bore you..

his emotions, hopes and feelings...
not very different from yours...

the land he stands on.. is same space you share..
and yet you see..
nothing common between you and he..

limiting our hearts to our closed quarters..
to people we like... to those who look and speak like us...
as we work hard and grow...
our wealth but not our spirit...

There is no salvation...
no inner upliftment...
until the day we see ourselves in people like him...
until the day we see the simple truth.. our own bare humanity..

we think we are harmless...
everybody is sure they are harmless..

but our morphed views..
created this world...
created you and me...

how else can you explain...
soldiers laughing as they shoot down innocents...
how else can you explain..
the anger against people just on
religion, race and nationality..
how else can you explain..
the sacredness of one human and the untouchability of another...

those who amass wealth for their kids...
looting food from the starving..
how else can you explain?

But there is hope... there is always hope...
you are not a drop in a ocean...
rather you are an unlit lamp in the darkness
surrounded by millions of other unlit lamps...

I have something to ask off you before you leave..
if you can...
have the heart to care for that man down the street..

You love me

When I am about to leave..I notice a slight strain in your eyes...
that's enough for me to know... you love me

Busy with life, we meet after some time...and there's concern in you voice...
and I know once again... you love me

when I am worrying and down...I feel the warmth of your arms
cajoling my bossom and
in joy my heart knows... you love me

while you're troubled and sad...and still put up a smile..
not to dampen mine..
I have a choke in my throat
and know for sure... you love me

All these times I've written
you love me... you love me...

but my heart really screams out
I love you... I love you...

Every moment I live
I feel more than I am
your sweet frangrance a part of me...
and the sound of your name surrounds me...

I am at your feet.. at every whim or wish...
care for me... or brush me aside..
heal my wounds... or scar me for life...

But, as a mere mortal, I must admit,
my love for you dear, is glad to hear...

you love me... you love me... you love me...

Ted Turner Interviews Carl Sagan

Amazing interview of Carl Sagan, a must watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2zMa3unSN8&feature=related

BBC - Everything and Nothing - Nothing

An amazing must watch bbc documentary, What is Nothing exactly? Why is "Nothing" so important?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ15kFvUyJg

Interesting blogpost on consciousness

A lot of religions refer to a soul which controls the body. A lot of Indic religions like Hinduism and Buddhism make a big deal about consciousness. This is a counter argument against consciousness as something very mystical

http://eddiecurrent.blogspot.com/2011/04/consciousness-is-not-mystical.html

NEHRU’S SCIENTIFIC TEMPER RECALLED by Union Minister Jairam Ramesh

Download the whole amazing speech from http://www.thehindu.com/news/resources/article2054408.ece

The phenomenon of Sathya Sai Baba

Sai Baba aka Sathyanarayana Raju is really an intriguing figure; he was someone whom millions of people considered their living “god”, while many claimed that he was a cheat and conman. I believe there are very strong reasons for Sathya Sai Baba’s popularity among a lot of people. Here was a man who claimed he was “God”, a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi and claimed to spread spirituality rather than any particular religion. For many of us who are taught about god(s) who we cannot see, smell, hear or touch, he was right there in front of everybody and speaking a language everybody could grasp. Just look at his teachings, very simple and straightforward, “Love all, Serve all”, “Help Ever, Hurt Never” and that “Service is the highest spiritual discipline”, He also talked about the unity of all religions,; “oh baba, dear baba, you make so much sense” the mind would cry. Can’t you see a fatherly figure in his whole persona? His broad hair giving him a unique, larger than life touch, his self assured confident manner, his orange flowing robes, and mostly seated on a high pedestal. Do you still doubt his godhood? Wait till you hear about the good he’s done, his charity is immaculate, bringing water to a million people, a world class hospital which does treatment for free and wonderful education institutes. “oh baba, in this selfish and unkind world you are such a saviour dear baba” the mind would cry. Still not convinced Sai Baba is God? wait till you hear about the popularity of baba, he has millions of followers and people who revere him in more than 32 different countries, including big Indian celebrities like Sachin tendulkar, Abdul Kalam, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, etc etc the list is indeed very huge. Just believe in baba and in return you can have a life filled with so much more meaning and with an alive and talking God to turn to in all your insecurities and fear. He will even enchant you with immaculate magic tricks producing Lingas, rings, chains, watches and what not. To a person who has not seen David Copperfield, some of his tricks may appear quite impossible to be simple magic tricks. Obviously he has to have some power to be able to materialize a ring in bare palm, with his palm inches from your face. I am not making this ring trick up, this was the very trick which allured my Iranian friend’s uncle, who then went on to buy a house in Puttaparthi!

All of the jokes aside, I really believe that Sai Baba with all his magic tricks and trickery is an insult and a crime on the intellect of the people, especially on the intellect of the Indian people who form the vast majority of his followers. How can chains, lingas or rings made of some inorganic material and which usually require manual labour come out of carbon based biological tissue? This kind of blind belief is sure to have a negative effect on the scientific and technological progress of our country. Sai Baba’s larger than life image is the reason why some really credible child molestation cases and money laundering cases were never pursued. Why did a god die such a death before the age at which the god said he would pass away? Why did god choose India to be born in, following Shirdi Sai Baba to the same land? Don’t you think the simple teaching of Sai Baba can be taught by anybody, why does he have to be a God? People like Newton and Einstein came up with more ingenious “truths” which shook the whole world, what has Sai Baba the god achieved in contrast to these mere mortal human beings? These are the questions all Sai Baba Devotees should ask themselves. All of the jokes aside, I really believe that Sai Baba with all his magic tricks and trickery is an insult and a crime on the intellect of the people, especially on the intellect of the Indian people who form the vast majority of his followers. How can chains, lingas or rings made of some inorganic material and which usually require manual labour come out of carbon based biological tissue? This kind of blind belief is sure to have a negative effect on the scientific and technological progress of our country. Sai Baba’s larger than life image is the reason why the child molestation cases and money laundering cases were never pursued. Why did a god die such a death before the age at which the god said he would pass away? Why did god choose India to be born in, following Shirdi Sai Baba to the same land? Don’t you think the simple teaching of Sai Baba can be taught by anybody, why does he have to be a God? There are greater people like Newton and Einstein who came up with more ingenious “truths” which shook the whole world, what has Sai Baba the god achieved in contrast to these mortal human beings? These are the questions all Sai Baba Devotees should ask themselves.

Lastly, I would like to remind people, "Its freaking 21st Century!!!!!!!".