Purpose of religion

Religion existed to control society, to monitor those without the capacity to think things through for themselves, to provide promises and shimmering images in the sky, so that the urges of the masses could be calmed and regulated. - The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri.

It may be true that this was the original purpose of religion. But, what is happening now is just the opposite. Religion is making even those with the capacity to think, lose their intellect. It is making them lose their hope. It is creating waves of urges in the masses which, instead of calming them, is igniting them to frenzy. It is making them believe in the fake - look at the scene at Nityananda Ashram on Guru Poornima day. What is causing such madness? It is a disgrace to religion. Whatever Kundalini power may have meant, it surely was not that.

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Caterpillar or butterfly?

'Caught in a strange land in a net with other butterflies, I'm a caterpillar yet undecided to remain a caterpillar and perish or turn into a beautiful butterfly and live a life full of joy.' Readers don't laugh. But I came up with this one night recently when I was travelling in a train. I tossed and turned, not being able to sleep, upset over unexplainable things and frustrated over events not in my control. Then it occurred to me that our life and its usefulness depends on our decisions -- whether to remain a crawling caterpillar whose existence otherwise is either ignored by all and sundry or who is cursed for just being there and thrown out with a stick, or to develop wings of life and metamorphose into a beautiful butterfly whom everybody adores for its beauty and colour, for its flitting liveliness, for its service to the flower's pollination... I thought that I should be a butterfly, of service to others, but then again I thought, anyway, who really cares?

A listener

I have always been a listener. And we can listen only when we are silent. Since childhood, silence was my way of life. It is the only way one can understand the psyche of others. I also listened to myself. It encouraged me to think. And when I began thinking, this world began to reveal itself. And when I started understanding people, I also realised the only way forward is to again remain silent. Silence in either way keeps me calm, peaceful. I feel like a detached onlooker.

Surpassing waves

Last week I spent an evening with my hubby on the serene Maravanthe beach near Kundapura watching the aeonian waves splash on the sand and drag away some reluctant sand away. Watching the waves compete with each other, I felt that they were trying, just like humans, to surpass their predecessors on their path to success. Aren't we too engrossed in continually outdoing others in our professional or personal life? This is what compels us to achieve. If there was no competition, there would be idle people all around, with zero achievements and a complete lack of enthusiasm to work and live. And in this regard, I think jealousy can be a positive emotion.

Idyllic Thoughts

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