Om Mani Padme Hum is most famous mantra in Buddhism, the six syllabled mantra of the bodhisattva of compassion.
The first, Om is composed of three letters, A, U, and M, symbolize the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha.
Mani, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factors of method-the altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love.
Padme, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom.
Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable Hum, which indicates indivisibility.
Om Mani Padme Hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha.
*You are going to like it as you follow this link to listen to an YouTube audio/video of Om Mani Padme Hum recitation today! CLICK HERE FOR OM MANI PADME HUM)
*Would you also like to concentrate your mind under the sound of rain and thunder? You will like this: RAIN AND THUNDER FALLING ON RIVER
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Yes, I do ride a RX100
The Yamaha RX 100 was a motorcycle produced by Yamaha, and is no longer in production. It was a 2 stroke motorcycle, with a 4 speed gearbox and a top speed of 100 kmph. Fuel efficiency is low at 30-35 kilometres/litre.
Prior to the release of the RX100 in India, there were only three bike manufacturers - Escorts, Royal Enfield as well as the Jawa (later renamed to Yezdi). During the 1980s the government decided to allow foreign manufacturers to sell bikes in India, partnering with existing Indian companies. Honda partnered with Kinetic as well as Hero cycles to release Kinetic Honda and Hero Honda respectively. Kawasaki partnered with auto manufacturer Bajaj. And Yamaha partnered with Escorts to release the Yamaha RX100 2-stroke bike with 11bhp. The pickup and top speed were the best during that time in all the bikes manufactured in India. This bike was embraced by the youth of that time. Whether it was the original with its energetic looks or modifications, Indian youth at all times (including now) respect this vehicle.
Competitors
While the mileage of an RX100 (also known as RX, colloquially) was never a USP, its only competition was in pickup and speed. The Kawasaki KB100 RTZ was the only bike of its class that could claim to beat it in a drag - though a lot depended on the individual riders. Suzuki released the Shogun, an 110cc vehicle that beat the RX in all departments of the same game where RX was the leader, but it was too little too late.
The Decline
Stricter emission norms by the Government of India lead to the ban on several 2-stroke vehicles. The RX, the Kawasaki 100, the Suzuki 2-stroke bikes were all banned by the mid-1990s. Yamaha's response was to bring out the 135cc RXG. Though it retained the classic looks of the RX, it never really clicked with the public, and Yamaha lost terribly. They brought out a better bike called the RXZ which was shaped a lot better but it never lived to see the new millennium. The 135cc 5-speed RX135 met with the same fate. Yamaha released its last 2-stroke vehicle in India - the 4-speed RX135 that could be bought legally first-hand till August 2005 in select cities.
Legacy
Even today in India, most of the young working employees have awe for this vehicle, and would prefer a 10 yr old 2-stroke Yamaha to the fashionable bikes available on the road. This is despite the fact that the original version did not come out with modern enhancements like fuel indicators and side box. The headlamp has also not been good enough to ride at night. But the engine is one that lasts long. People who bought this bike in the 80's and 90's would get approximately the same fuel efficiency they got when the bike was brand new. The engine quality was such that it could be re-bored the maximum in all the bikes manufactured in India. Owners of this vehicle flaunt it as a status symbol of their youth.
Competitors
While the mileage of an RX100 (also known as RX, colloquially) was never a USP, its only competition was in pickup and speed. The Kawasaki KB100 RTZ was the only bike of its class that could claim to beat it in a drag - though a lot depended on the individual riders. Suzuki released the Shogun, an 110cc vehicle that beat the RX in all departments of the same game where RX was the leader, but it was too little too late.
The Decline
Stricter emission norms by the Government of India lead to the ban on several 2-stroke vehicles. The RX, the Kawasaki 100, the Suzuki 2-stroke bikes were all banned by the mid-1990s. Yamaha's response was to bring out the 135cc RXG. Though it retained the classic looks of the RX, it never really clicked with the public, and Yamaha lost terribly. They brought out a better bike called the RXZ which was shaped a lot better but it never lived to see the new millennium. The 135cc 5-speed RX135 met with the same fate. Yamaha released its last 2-stroke vehicle in India - the 4-speed RX135 that could be bought legally first-hand till August 2005 in select cities.
Legacy
Even today in India, most of the young working employees have awe for this vehicle, and would prefer a 10 yr old 2-stroke Yamaha to the fashionable bikes available on the road. This is despite the fact that the original version did not come out with modern enhancements like fuel indicators and side box. The headlamp has also not been good enough to ride at night. But the engine is one that lasts long. People who bought this bike in the 80's and 90's would get approximately the same fuel efficiency they got when the bike was brand new. The engine quality was such that it could be re-bored the maximum in all the bikes manufactured in India. Owners of this vehicle flaunt it as a status symbol of their youth.
Disclaimer: i may possess a bike of this model, however, not in possession of the factual information shared here. these facts were collected from an external online source and belongs to an unknown person/individual.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta - The turning of the Dhamma Wheel on this human realm
The Dhammapada is a very important work and perhaps the best known in Theraveda Buddhist literature. It contains 423 Pali verses uttered by the Buddha on various occasions to a wide range of audience. The following is a verse selected from this great work. It is in simple wordings to facilitate comprehension, the essential purport, however, remains intact. The sweet smell of flowers does not blow against the wind. But the fragrance of virtue does. Truly, the virtuous man pervades all directions with their fragrance of his virtues.
In this lifetime, I will search for positives in the surrounding world. I will try to direct my person towards positive actions. I will try as much not to get caught up with negative stuffs - negative discussions, situations, places, company, people. To stay away from negatives, I will constantly remind myself how I must keep conscious and pose a simple question: is it any conducive to associate in this discussion or situation or place or people?
There is a good person in the neighborhood whom I meet and like to connect with. I was offered a bowl of instant-noodles for breakfast at his place last weekend. We munched the noodles. And we munched on a few good topics related to Buddhism. There were many good questions. With my poor responses, I doubt if I helped him with his questions at all. It's true I have been keeping Buddhist texts close to my heart for a while now. Many people will know this. Also, I have been publicly planning about ordaining into the Sangha for a while now. Many including my neighbor will know this as well. It's probably why he thought it proper to pose a few questions to me. Well, so much I read or follow Buddhism, I am a mere dirt. I am not skillful yet, I consider myself as a coarse rock that requires lots of polishing, washing and re-polishing and re-washing. Hopefully, I will be a polished stone over time. I will keep up my interest and efforts in Buddhism and if not in the near future, I will try to become one in the far future so that I can take good questions similar to those posed last weekend :-))
LOOKING long way back at the past, I believe that all the good work up to the point of remarkable enlightenment were personal achievements of a young person more than 2500 years ago on this planet. The young man was named Siddhartha, a prince, who let forgo royal pleasures to launch himself to an wandering, ascetic lifestyle searching for the Answer, Truth, Dhamma. After long, enduring six years of ascetic practice, the Bodhisattva attained enlightenment. The Dhamma he realized is very profound. It can not be easily understood else we would all be enlightenment by now today, else Siddhartha wouldn't have taken six years also. Prior to attaining enlightenment, Siddhartha had to spend twelve hours in a row without moving from his seat after already experimenting for six years with wrong methods.
According to my understanding, the teachings of The Tathagatha took the form of a religion known as Buddhism only after The Tathagatha reached out the message of the Dhamma to others, that was to be followed, practiced and propagated and kept secured and preserved by a spiritual order referred as the Sangha. The Buddha was alone after his enlightenment. The Buddha was at first reluctant to teach the Dhamma that he had realized. He considered, "This Dhamma is profound and goes against the flow of sensual desire; most people are strongly attached to and immersed in sensual pleasures." However, he reasoned that some were not too strongly attached, and were already searching for truth. They would be able to understand it. So he decided to teach the Dhamma first to the five ascetics who accompanied him while he was practicing self-mortification during his earlier years. The group of five lived at Isipatana then, where The Buddha found them and preached the Dhamma. The Wheel of The Dhamma was set in motion and the event is recounted in the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta.
The Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta begins as:
"Evam me suttam — Ekam samayam Bhagavā Bārānasiyam viharati Isipatane Migadāye. Tatra kho Bhagavā pañcavaggiye bhikkhū āmantesi"
"Thus have I heard — At one time the Blessed One was staying at the deer park in the Sage's Grove. Then the Blessed One addressed the group of five ascetics"
"Dveme, bhikkhave, antā pabbajitena na sevitabbā. Katame dve? Yo cāyam kāmesu kāmasukhallikānuyogo hīno gammo pothujjaniko anariyo anatthasamhito, yo cāyam attakilamathānuyogo dukkho anariyo anatthasamhito. Ete kho, bhikkhave, ubho ante anupagamma majjhimā patipadā Tathāgatena abhisambuddhā cakkhukarani ñānakarani upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya samvattati."
"These two extremes, monks, should not be followed by one gone forth. Which two? Sensual indulgence, which is low, vulgar, worldly, ignoble, and unprofitable; and self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble, and unprofitable. Avoiding these two extremes, monks, the Tathāgata has discovered the Middle Path that produces vision and knowledge, and leads to tranquility, higher knowledge, enlightenment, and nibbāna."
*I bow 3 times before Bhikkhu Pesala and Phra Bhasakorn for allowing me to use some of their material on this blog.
*My good neighbor in New Delhi is Paritosh Chakma, freelance writer, professional human rights activist associated with ACHR.
In this lifetime, I will search for positives in the surrounding world. I will try to direct my person towards positive actions. I will try as much not to get caught up with negative stuffs - negative discussions, situations, places, company, people. To stay away from negatives, I will constantly remind myself how I must keep conscious and pose a simple question: is it any conducive to associate in this discussion or situation or place or people?
There is a good person in the neighborhood whom I meet and like to connect with. I was offered a bowl of instant-noodles for breakfast at his place last weekend. We munched the noodles. And we munched on a few good topics related to Buddhism. There were many good questions. With my poor responses, I doubt if I helped him with his questions at all. It's true I have been keeping Buddhist texts close to my heart for a while now. Many people will know this. Also, I have been publicly planning about ordaining into the Sangha for a while now. Many including my neighbor will know this as well. It's probably why he thought it proper to pose a few questions to me. Well, so much I read or follow Buddhism, I am a mere dirt. I am not skillful yet, I consider myself as a coarse rock that requires lots of polishing, washing and re-polishing and re-washing. Hopefully, I will be a polished stone over time. I will keep up my interest and efforts in Buddhism and if not in the near future, I will try to become one in the far future so that I can take good questions similar to those posed last weekend :-))
LOOKING long way back at the past, I believe that all the good work up to the point of remarkable enlightenment were personal achievements of a young person more than 2500 years ago on this planet. The young man was named Siddhartha, a prince, who let forgo royal pleasures to launch himself to an wandering, ascetic lifestyle searching for the Answer, Truth, Dhamma. After long, enduring six years of ascetic practice, the Bodhisattva attained enlightenment. The Dhamma he realized is very profound. It can not be easily understood else we would all be enlightenment by now today, else Siddhartha wouldn't have taken six years also. Prior to attaining enlightenment, Siddhartha had to spend twelve hours in a row without moving from his seat after already experimenting for six years with wrong methods.
According to my understanding, the teachings of The Tathagatha took the form of a religion known as Buddhism only after The Tathagatha reached out the message of the Dhamma to others, that was to be followed, practiced and propagated and kept secured and preserved by a spiritual order referred as the Sangha. The Buddha was alone after his enlightenment. The Buddha was at first reluctant to teach the Dhamma that he had realized. He considered, "This Dhamma is profound and goes against the flow of sensual desire; most people are strongly attached to and immersed in sensual pleasures." However, he reasoned that some were not too strongly attached, and were already searching for truth. They would be able to understand it. So he decided to teach the Dhamma first to the five ascetics who accompanied him while he was practicing self-mortification during his earlier years. The group of five lived at Isipatana then, where The Buddha found them and preached the Dhamma. The Wheel of The Dhamma was set in motion and the event is recounted in the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta.
The Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta begins as:
"Evam me suttam — Ekam samayam Bhagavā Bārānasiyam viharati Isipatane Migadāye. Tatra kho Bhagavā pañcavaggiye bhikkhū āmantesi"
"Thus have I heard — At one time the Blessed One was staying at the deer park in the Sage's Grove. Then the Blessed One addressed the group of five ascetics"
"Dveme, bhikkhave, antā pabbajitena na sevitabbā. Katame dve? Yo cāyam kāmesu kāmasukhallikānuyogo hīno gammo pothujjaniko anariyo anatthasamhito, yo cāyam attakilamathānuyogo dukkho anariyo anatthasamhito. Ete kho, bhikkhave, ubho ante anupagamma majjhimā patipadā Tathāgatena abhisambuddhā cakkhukarani ñānakarani upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya samvattati."
"These two extremes, monks, should not be followed by one gone forth. Which two? Sensual indulgence, which is low, vulgar, worldly, ignoble, and unprofitable; and self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble, and unprofitable. Avoiding these two extremes, monks, the Tathāgata has discovered the Middle Path that produces vision and knowledge, and leads to tranquility, higher knowledge, enlightenment, and nibbāna."
*I bow 3 times before Bhikkhu Pesala and Phra Bhasakorn for allowing me to use some of their material on this blog.
*My good neighbor in New Delhi is Paritosh Chakma, freelance writer, professional human rights activist associated with ACHR.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
SKS/Bodhicariya Students Re-union
A re-union event is going to take place for the first time ever. Like every body, I am so hopeful and looking forward to it. I am sure it is going to work out good. As a school, Bodhicariya is poised to celebrate its 20th foundation day this year 15th November. What could be an opportune time more than this to have a reunion event!!
There's reason more than one why we need to have a gathering like this. Most of us that have been following information about the institution and Ven Bimal Bhante are aware that a certain idea has been toying in many minds on the subject of hosting an event like a reunion. The idea is appreciated and liked by all but always slipped down the to-do list in the last couple of years. But now guys are acting animatedly how to present the idea on the real ground. Not very far from now, in just a matter of 3 months, we will meet on a venue for a two-day gather. A working committee has formed and we have final draft of a letter of invitation. Do I really look like a level headed bloke? I am pleasantly surprised that guys out there do! They felt that I am a level headed bloke who can be a part of the committee and now I am direct part of the commitee with a position as the Secretary of Information and Publication. I am not alone as I have the best partner in Mr Dilip from National Law School, Bangalore. I trust that the committee will create the best event we have had in a long time. It will be a memorable one. For alumni from everywhere making available to the re-union will be like returning to the roots, like a walk down the memory lane. A chance to start bridging the widening gap between SKS and its alumini. A time to rekindle old friendships. I am sure the sight of the Bodhicariya hostels and to live in its environs for 2 days will arouse enormous joy. So many old school days memories will trickle and flood one's mind - memories of the playful times, the classroom experience, the childhood spent in the airy dormitories of Ametie, Karuna, Metta, Chetana and Paramita Bhavan....
There are hundred things that I am interested to do during the stay at Bodhicariya. I am curious to find out the boy that occupies the same hostel bed that I had. I want to go to the spot where I planted a sapling and see how leafy it has grown. I would like to stand in the central park under full moon and while away time enjoying the night breeze. I would like to have a seat in the middle row, third seat from the front that was my favorite desk in the classroom. I would like to go up the terrace in the chill of the night, porch on top of a pillar at the roof the hostel and gaze at the stars. I would get up early and walk into the morning mist, pluck fresh flowers to prepare a nice decoration and offer on the Buddha pedestal. When the community sits down to observe quitetude and practice anapanasatti and I want to be a part of the session. Assuming that I have learned a handsome deal since I left school 15 years ago, next I could plan volunteering in the school when the classes are in progress. I am sure our teachers would appreciate and encourgage me. i am sure focussing on lower class topics that I learned long ago, interacting with young minds will make one of the most productive experience of the trip.
Hey try think alike and more like the way that I am now. What are your wishes? What will be your interests as you reach Bodhicariya in mid November? Please open up and start shareing.....!
I truly hope to be present there and see you in person. Take good care of yourself wherever you are!
There's reason more than one why we need to have a gathering like this. Most of us that have been following information about the institution and Ven Bimal Bhante are aware that a certain idea has been toying in many minds on the subject of hosting an event like a reunion. The idea is appreciated and liked by all but always slipped down the to-do list in the last couple of years. But now guys are acting animatedly how to present the idea on the real ground. Not very far from now, in just a matter of 3 months, we will meet on a venue for a two-day gather. A working committee has formed and we have final draft of a letter of invitation. Do I really look like a level headed bloke? I am pleasantly surprised that guys out there do! They felt that I am a level headed bloke who can be a part of the committee and now I am direct part of the commitee with a position as the Secretary of Information and Publication. I am not alone as I have the best partner in Mr Dilip from National Law School, Bangalore. I trust that the committee will create the best event we have had in a long time. It will be a memorable one. For alumni from everywhere making available to the re-union will be like returning to the roots, like a walk down the memory lane. A chance to start bridging the widening gap between SKS and its alumini. A time to rekindle old friendships. I am sure the sight of the Bodhicariya hostels and to live in its environs for 2 days will arouse enormous joy. So many old school days memories will trickle and flood one's mind - memories of the playful times, the classroom experience, the childhood spent in the airy dormitories of Ametie, Karuna, Metta, Chetana and Paramita Bhavan....
There are hundred things that I am interested to do during the stay at Bodhicariya. I am curious to find out the boy that occupies the same hostel bed that I had. I want to go to the spot where I planted a sapling and see how leafy it has grown. I would like to stand in the central park under full moon and while away time enjoying the night breeze. I would like to have a seat in the middle row, third seat from the front that was my favorite desk in the classroom. I would like to go up the terrace in the chill of the night, porch on top of a pillar at the roof the hostel and gaze at the stars. I would get up early and walk into the morning mist, pluck fresh flowers to prepare a nice decoration and offer on the Buddha pedestal. When the community sits down to observe quitetude and practice anapanasatti and I want to be a part of the session. Assuming that I have learned a handsome deal since I left school 15 years ago, next I could plan volunteering in the school when the classes are in progress. I am sure our teachers would appreciate and encourgage me. i am sure focussing on lower class topics that I learned long ago, interacting with young minds will make one of the most productive experience of the trip.
Hey try think alike and more like the way that I am now. What are your wishes? What will be your interests as you reach Bodhicariya in mid November? Please open up and start shareing.....!
I truly hope to be present there and see you in person. Take good care of yourself wherever you are!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Thinking about travelling beyond this country to meet far away dhamma friends
When the Indian monsoon is over, I will have prepared myself with a decent travel-budget ready to board the first international flight of my life. Out of New Delhi over to Vienna or Bucharest. At least this is a something I've targeted in this year....
Many honorable, dhamma friends live in Austria, Romania and Hungary. They said their invitations still exist. Where did I befriend all these East Europeans? Well, the holy place of Bodhgaya fetched me all these dhamma friends!!
I love to frequent the holy place of Bodhgaya to serve monastics monks and service the monasteries. I am thankful that monasteries like WatPa, Vien Giac, Wat Nilanjana, Wat Magadh etc extend a place to seat, dine and sleep during my brief stays. Making all of my time and positive energy available towards the monastaries aside I like to travel the surroundings of Bodhgaya, climb the Dungeshwari hill, visit the premises of Vishnupad temple, watch the rituals at the burning ghats of Gaya, etc. In this way, I have met some of the finest human beings in the form of buddhist monks, siladharas, anagarikas, upasaks and upasikas and even children and every assortment of spiritual travellers. Bodhgaya has sacred power to draw people of all walks of life from all corners of the globe.
Every minute in Bodhgaya is a fortunate minute. I faithfully believe so because I've always received precious lessons and gifts of life during every visits I made, a deeper insight into meaning of life, the dhamma, the natural order of world and world beings, the 'suchness' of all things around me. Alongwith all kinds of balms for the mind, I will not forget the good, honorable, dhamma friends that I've crossed path. When I look back to each of my trips to Bodhgaya in the past, I see faces of the dhamma friends - smiley faces, happy faces, gentle and compassionate, active and conscious, soft and simple. If I get my way, I would like to sneak out of my work cubicle and go the direction of Bodhgaya again at the peak of this current Vassa season where serious practice is on at this moment of time. There are serious solitary pracitioners as well as group practitioners, training their mind, revisiting the Tripitaka texts and mindfully observing the Vinaya rules with greater emphasis.
One of the closest that I have known is Mr Zoltan Kovacs from Hungary. The evening rush of diners at Om restaurant next to Tathagat hotel led me to the seat where Mr Zoltan was seated, enjoying a herbal, ginger tea to cool away the evening. I got my orders of green mixed-salad and steam rice with small potion of different vegetables in front of him. I introduced myself and thanked him for sharing table-space with me, Zoltan smilingly responded that it was not a problem. I am young but he is quite aged. I offered a plate of green salad with all my heart and he accepted after sometime.
We had a nice conversation over a nice dinner peppered with a silent prayer as I fed myself spoonfuls.
Wisely reflecting on this plate of food,I use it not to distract my mind,
Nor to make my form impressive,
Or to make it beautiful,
Simply to be sustained and nourished,
And to maintain what health I have,
To help fulfill the Holy life,
With this attitude in mind,
I will allay hunger without overeating,
So that I may continue to live blamelessly and at ease.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(This english translation is a very clear one. It comes from Ajahn Sumedho, Amravati Buddhist Monastery, outside the village of Great Graddesden near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, England)
Saturday, April 25, 2009
War of the pen and gun
We invented pen and gun. Both very mighty, earth-shaping or you could say earth-breaking inventions! During the early era, the gun might have been a better tool initially than pen because it could be directly used to guard and defend human lives from beasts that roamed in the jungles. Not very long before I was born, one night my grandfather fired a shot in the highlands of Bangladesh to save his family and villagers from a rampaging wild elephant.
In our modern times without fear of attacks from beasts any longer, we have trained the guns at each other. There are so much guns in the world that there is one trained at everybody's back!
There is a big tussle between two powerful forces to conquer the domain of human conscience. I am referring to the pen and gun - the good and the evil force. Which force do you pay faith or heed to? What force plays in the big, airy dormitory inside your head?
Go to bed, have dreams as you sleep; or wake up and have dreams while awake; next you go chasing your colorful dreams. Hey stop, lemme ask you: how have you equipped yourself for the chase – with a pen or gun?
Turn on the TV to the news channels. Flip the pages of the morning newspaper. Or, browse the internet looking for news. Folks, can we realize how much the gun gained over our head and thought-process?! There's now so much guns out there we've one trained at everybody's back.
We have endless problems in our world started all by the gun. We have fielded our best man out there to control and mop away the problem, and guess how and what are the tools as he tries for a solution, it is none other than the gun. Guns booming against guns, ceaselessly, however, who is dying?? The guns are lifeless, they have nothing to lose, eventually we lose as we human die. Relate to the news that you just received thru the TV news, newspaper headlines and internet updates that you checked, we are dying. We are dying because of the guns.
One is saluted by the load of his guns. A person salutes and heeds the street cop than his professor. A country respects another by the enormity of the gun against his. There are more people in the globe that reports to duty with a gun than pen. There is more production of guns and ammunition than pen and chalks around the globe. A gun can go off any time. A gunshot could pierce the night sending down a chill down your wife's spine and make your sleeping baby cry. Compare the chalk. A chalk does not produces a mad noise. If it is squealing in the morning across millions of classrooms all over the globe, its disturbance is actually good for all those sloppy and dreamy kids in the class rapping them up from their inattention and drowsiness. That's your dreamy kid that goes to high school that the squealing just helped!
How are you equipping your child as a family ...... with a gun or a pen??
If family members are not supporting schooling for the children, restricting getting social with friends or entering playgrounds and family elders are failing to set example of fairness and good conduct; their child will grow up to chase the dreams with the gun, not with the pen. The child will show a less tolerant attitude, not nurture a compassionate heart, wants to have what does not belongs to him, not accept the truth and always deny the truth, and, ever ready to use force at every turn of his life for the meekest reason. The child that the family breeds will have abused all the energy of his lifetime, diverted all of it towards unproductive activities without any positive contribution to the family and unto himself. Economically, that's no more than a pest to the family and the state. In the traditional Indian interpretation, a person of such nature will have to take birth again and again to unlearn bad habits (bad karma) and learn good habits (good karma) and then how to hold the pen with the fingers instead of the gun-trigger. In the Buddhist language, circle the samsara cycle without end.
To nation-heads across all 6 continents, I ask you to sit down and ponder over your lost days sitting as a child in the classroom. Come out of your thought, a deep breath and pose yourself the question: how am I equipping my citizens ..... with the pen or gun?
Next order your troops to withdraw, de-alert them all, and reconsider all those policies that your government has backed or backing up where the gun is the means to the end.
In our modern times without fear of attacks from beasts any longer, we have trained the guns at each other. There are so much guns in the world that there is one trained at everybody's back!
There is a big tussle between two powerful forces to conquer the domain of human conscience. I am referring to the pen and gun - the good and the evil force. Which force do you pay faith or heed to? What force plays in the big, airy dormitory inside your head?
Go to bed, have dreams as you sleep; or wake up and have dreams while awake; next you go chasing your colorful dreams. Hey stop, lemme ask you: how have you equipped yourself for the chase – with a pen or gun?
Turn on the TV to the news channels. Flip the pages of the morning newspaper. Or, browse the internet looking for news. Folks, can we realize how much the gun gained over our head and thought-process?! There's now so much guns out there we've one trained at everybody's back.
We have endless problems in our world started all by the gun. We have fielded our best man out there to control and mop away the problem, and guess how and what are the tools as he tries for a solution, it is none other than the gun. Guns booming against guns, ceaselessly, however, who is dying?? The guns are lifeless, they have nothing to lose, eventually we lose as we human die. Relate to the news that you just received thru the TV news, newspaper headlines and internet updates that you checked, we are dying. We are dying because of the guns.
One is saluted by the load of his guns. A person salutes and heeds the street cop than his professor. A country respects another by the enormity of the gun against his. There are more people in the globe that reports to duty with a gun than pen. There is more production of guns and ammunition than pen and chalks around the globe. A gun can go off any time. A gunshot could pierce the night sending down a chill down your wife's spine and make your sleeping baby cry. Compare the chalk. A chalk does not produces a mad noise. If it is squealing in the morning across millions of classrooms all over the globe, its disturbance is actually good for all those sloppy and dreamy kids in the class rapping them up from their inattention and drowsiness. That's your dreamy kid that goes to high school that the squealing just helped!
How are you equipping your child as a family ...... with a gun or a pen??
If family members are not supporting schooling for the children, restricting getting social with friends or entering playgrounds and family elders are failing to set example of fairness and good conduct; their child will grow up to chase the dreams with the gun, not with the pen. The child will show a less tolerant attitude, not nurture a compassionate heart, wants to have what does not belongs to him, not accept the truth and always deny the truth, and, ever ready to use force at every turn of his life for the meekest reason. The child that the family breeds will have abused all the energy of his lifetime, diverted all of it towards unproductive activities without any positive contribution to the family and unto himself. Economically, that's no more than a pest to the family and the state. In the traditional Indian interpretation, a person of such nature will have to take birth again and again to unlearn bad habits (bad karma) and learn good habits (good karma) and then how to hold the pen with the fingers instead of the gun-trigger. In the Buddhist language, circle the samsara cycle without end.
To nation-heads across all 6 continents, I ask you to sit down and ponder over your lost days sitting as a child in the classroom. Come out of your thought, a deep breath and pose yourself the question: how am I equipping my citizens ..... with the pen or gun?
Next order your troops to withdraw, de-alert them all, and reconsider all those policies that your government has backed or backing up where the gun is the means to the end.
Friday, April 3, 2009
To all our brethrens especially Karbi Anglong's
Question on God, can God be unkind to us? Not long ago in South-East Asia, the God just spreaded the Chakmas like butter outside their permanent domicile!!! In this way, our Chakmas are spreaded over the farthest eastern frontier of India known as the North-East India! A substantial Chakma population is found as half-foreigner and half-citizen along the belt of Himalayan foothills and tropical forested areas of the Brahmaputra valley in Arunachal Pradesh. Their main source of livelihood is subsistence farming. Their lands are known to be exquisitely fertile and cultiviable, yielding rich paddy crop and mustard seeds year after year. While the paddy stock meets their two squares of meal daily, the mustard seeds harvested during winter earns cash. In India, the cash or currency is called 'rupee'. In addition, families are bound to own a pair of trained bulls for the purpose of tilling their lands. In case not, you've just discovered the poorest family in a Chakma village! Their annual economy essentially banks on a plot of tillable land, a good summer followed with a good winter and a pair of trained bulls.
An equal chunk or higher live in Mizoram, admist the Christain Mizos, are well settled with full citizenship status, and better positioned by far than any Chakma family from Arunachal or Tripura though trailing far behind their Mizo neighbors in sectors more than one. Thinking of our Mizoram brethrens, the foremost object that comes to the mind is that they live in the only town in India which is built for the Chakmas by the Chakmas. There is abundance of business and trade both domestic and cross-border trade handled by Chakma business family and traders. What is less attractive about them is that, sometimes, they have this image that they do not push their children hard into pursuance of higher studies at university level. The tend to find comfort in mediocrity. Their region has, otherwise, got the right ground and economic strength to launch their wards to the finest university campuses available throughout the nation and produce brilliant gems who could lead their local community forward plus extend helpful assistance to brethrens beyond Mizoram borders. There is the splendid gift in their hands - an autonomous district council - bestowed by the Gandhis and Congress.
The situation of our brethrens in Tripura is plainly alike to Arunachal or Mizoram. There is nothing significant except that they may have gained some extent of powers in the field of active politics and civil service division of the state govenment of Tripura. This is a very direct statement though I don't mean to be impolite, however, their unfortunate aspect is that they may have absorbed too much culture, fashion and language of their Bengali neighbors. This is sad. The best deal though is at their hands, geographically, they live closest to the ancestral CHT. If they wish anytime, they can plan and wrap up a CHT trip with a flick of a finger, which is a real blessing judging from the envious eye of an Arunachalese Chakma. It's requires a good measure of budget preparation, lenghty road travels and above all a strong conviction for the man from Arunachal to make a make a trip to CHT to meet the relatives who still live there, the brave one who defied communal flares, hostile governance and ruthless military operations throughout decades to retain their original spot on earth. Coming back to the main point, there is something that I really admire that will not go unhighlighted: I am continously impressed with their fondness of traditional music and folklores, initiatives, experimentation and producing commendable arts! They keep aside the time to practice and create music for our ears! We look forward to each year for a nice piece of art work release. There's quite many out there awaiting some form of art work release around this Bizu! Lastly, those of you not belonging to Tripura may protest, but the most romantic youths in our whole tribe are to be found in Tripura only.
Looking beyond the Indian border, my deepest respect to our brethrens in CHT who did not falter and braved the worst of times to protect and retain the traditional homes, villages, culture and heritage. When dusk befalls and the body is willing to surrender, they can breathe their last on their own soil with dignity, honor and peace of inner mind. There is one thing for which it is worth a man's life, that is for the defend of one's birth place. Had we a rosy past, had we a nation to call our own, something unlikely to ever have, you could get these sentimental feelings. As a Chakma, there are many things that we will never understand in our life, like fighting for the nation, sacrificing for the nation, winning for the nation. I will carry a deep regret to my grave that I have never lived in a nation of my own....
Coming back to the main topic, the modern generation of Chakma women in CHT has a prized place in my heart. First of all, they deserve three-big-cheers for re-inventing the 'khadi'. I heartily appreciate the women society for transferring the new weaving skill to their sisters living far across the other side of the international border. (I've seen a new khadi from Tripura and Mizoram, but not sure having seen one from Arunachal, hope some girl out there did that, probably I just need to sniff out who ;-) Secondly, my metta specially goes out for the women again for helping nurture a Dhamma bent of mind among their family members - be it a son or daughter, brother or sister, husband and parents and old grandparents. (In every dhamma publications released from CHT, I am impressed to see the sheer number of women Buddhist devotees, their respect for the Triple Gems, heartfelt reverance for the living dhamma gurus, and participation in dhamma activities in support of their local viharas.)
One more para dealing with Karbi Anglong brethrens would do very good in the blog, unfortunately, can't produce any about them from me. Last evening I attended a phone call from Bodhgaya. I spoke Phra Ratna, who told me that our brethrens in Assam are suffering being left stranded from all of us - all of us includes the Chakmas residing in Arunachal, Tripura, Mizoram, Delhi and CHT. Our brother and sisters living in Karbi Anglong do not seem to be progressing at all! They are stalled. Their livelihood could be very toiling and harder than anything we meet daily. If you are a student or an officer in any metropolitan city in India, please ask a question to yourself: Do you know of a Chakma brethren belonging to Karbi Anglong living in your city for studies or job? Phra Ratna's answer is blank! So is mine! What is your answer?
Somebody who's been to and mixed with the brethrens in Karbi Anglong could fill the left over space in the blog by making a comment. Interested? Please forward a short one to me at your convenient time. I will have a little trip to Northeast, not sure if I can squeeze a quick visit to Karbi Anglong. If that can be, it would be great.
Wishing HaPpY BIZU GREeTiNg to all Chakma bhei-bhon lock!
Have a colorful time!
Lots of Metta!
*living under the indian democratic instituion as an half-baked citizen, but riding on the liberty to full speech and expression, these are liberal opinions of an individual. if readers disagree and/or words or comments may have hurt sentiments, which is not in the intention, my sincere and advance apologies. if you believe that author may have overshot in his opinion, please comment and freely feed updates to the author. i welcome it.
An equal chunk or higher live in Mizoram, admist the Christain Mizos, are well settled with full citizenship status, and better positioned by far than any Chakma family from Arunachal or Tripura though trailing far behind their Mizo neighbors in sectors more than one. Thinking of our Mizoram brethrens, the foremost object that comes to the mind is that they live in the only town in India which is built for the Chakmas by the Chakmas. There is abundance of business and trade both domestic and cross-border trade handled by Chakma business family and traders. What is less attractive about them is that, sometimes, they have this image that they do not push their children hard into pursuance of higher studies at university level. The tend to find comfort in mediocrity. Their region has, otherwise, got the right ground and economic strength to launch their wards to the finest university campuses available throughout the nation and produce brilliant gems who could lead their local community forward plus extend helpful assistance to brethrens beyond Mizoram borders. There is the splendid gift in their hands - an autonomous district council - bestowed by the Gandhis and Congress.
The situation of our brethrens in Tripura is plainly alike to Arunachal or Mizoram. There is nothing significant except that they may have gained some extent of powers in the field of active politics and civil service division of the state govenment of Tripura. This is a very direct statement though I don't mean to be impolite, however, their unfortunate aspect is that they may have absorbed too much culture, fashion and language of their Bengali neighbors. This is sad. The best deal though is at their hands, geographically, they live closest to the ancestral CHT. If they wish anytime, they can plan and wrap up a CHT trip with a flick of a finger, which is a real blessing judging from the envious eye of an Arunachalese Chakma. It's requires a good measure of budget preparation, lenghty road travels and above all a strong conviction for the man from Arunachal to make a make a trip to CHT to meet the relatives who still live there, the brave one who defied communal flares, hostile governance and ruthless military operations throughout decades to retain their original spot on earth. Coming back to the main point, there is something that I really admire that will not go unhighlighted: I am continously impressed with their fondness of traditional music and folklores, initiatives, experimentation and producing commendable arts! They keep aside the time to practice and create music for our ears! We look forward to each year for a nice piece of art work release. There's quite many out there awaiting some form of art work release around this Bizu! Lastly, those of you not belonging to Tripura may protest, but the most romantic youths in our whole tribe are to be found in Tripura only.
Looking beyond the Indian border, my deepest respect to our brethrens in CHT who did not falter and braved the worst of times to protect and retain the traditional homes, villages, culture and heritage. When dusk befalls and the body is willing to surrender, they can breathe their last on their own soil with dignity, honor and peace of inner mind. There is one thing for which it is worth a man's life, that is for the defend of one's birth place. Had we a rosy past, had we a nation to call our own, something unlikely to ever have, you could get these sentimental feelings. As a Chakma, there are many things that we will never understand in our life, like fighting for the nation, sacrificing for the nation, winning for the nation. I will carry a deep regret to my grave that I have never lived in a nation of my own....
Coming back to the main topic, the modern generation of Chakma women in CHT has a prized place in my heart. First of all, they deserve three-big-cheers for re-inventing the 'khadi'. I heartily appreciate the women society for transferring the new weaving skill to their sisters living far across the other side of the international border. (I've seen a new khadi from Tripura and Mizoram, but not sure having seen one from Arunachal, hope some girl out there did that, probably I just need to sniff out who ;-) Secondly, my metta specially goes out for the women again for helping nurture a Dhamma bent of mind among their family members - be it a son or daughter, brother or sister, husband and parents and old grandparents. (In every dhamma publications released from CHT, I am impressed to see the sheer number of women Buddhist devotees, their respect for the Triple Gems, heartfelt reverance for the living dhamma gurus, and participation in dhamma activities in support of their local viharas.)
One more para dealing with Karbi Anglong brethrens would do very good in the blog, unfortunately, can't produce any about them from me. Last evening I attended a phone call from Bodhgaya. I spoke Phra Ratna, who told me that our brethrens in Assam are suffering being left stranded from all of us - all of us includes the Chakmas residing in Arunachal, Tripura, Mizoram, Delhi and CHT. Our brother and sisters living in Karbi Anglong do not seem to be progressing at all! They are stalled. Their livelihood could be very toiling and harder than anything we meet daily. If you are a student or an officer in any metropolitan city in India, please ask a question to yourself: Do you know of a Chakma brethren belonging to Karbi Anglong living in your city for studies or job? Phra Ratna's answer is blank! So is mine! What is your answer?
Somebody who's been to and mixed with the brethrens in Karbi Anglong could fill the left over space in the blog by making a comment. Interested? Please forward a short one to me at your convenient time. I will have a little trip to Northeast, not sure if I can squeeze a quick visit to Karbi Anglong. If that can be, it would be great.
Wishing HaPpY BIZU GREeTiNg to all Chakma bhei-bhon lock!
Have a colorful time!
Lots of Metta!
*living under the indian democratic instituion as an half-baked citizen, but riding on the liberty to full speech and expression, these are liberal opinions of an individual. if readers disagree and/or words or comments may have hurt sentiments, which is not in the intention, my sincere and advance apologies. if you believe that author may have overshot in his opinion, please comment and freely feed updates to the author. i welcome it.
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