Thought Shots

I saw a post on Facebook a few days ago. It was that of one of my Facebook friends posing next to Shiv Khera. The post said, "bumped into Shiv Khera for the second time. As you can see, he was quite happy to see me." Mr. Khera, for those who don't already know, has been the bestselling author of books like 'You Can Win' and 'Freedom is not Free'. He is one of my favourite authors. His 'You Can Win' came out in 1998. I remember reading this book as a teenager. Its stories inspired me immensely. Seeing the Facebook post about Mr. Khera brought back old memories. But something that surprised me painfully is how much Mr. Khera has aged. I googled his age and found that he is about 54 but he looked as old as 70 in the picture. I guess he works too hard and age is taking a toll on him. I do wish that such a potion existed that could prevent the effects of ageing. Or better still, that could stop ageing itself. And we could all be Peter Pans in our Never...

I have been an SRK fan for long now. Even when he has churned out not so decent films, I've always admired the man behind the work. His film, 'Fan' is not one of his not so decent films. It is, in fact, one of the best films to have come out in recent times. It touches upon a topic that anyone who has ever admired someone can relate with. I certainly could. There are many whom I admire from various fields of endeavour, be it in  art, literature, films or politics. And whether it's Shakespeare or Scorsese; Michelangelo or Gandhi, I have felt at one with them through their work even though I haven't met them or talked to them. It's almost like having many soulmates. It's just that they connect with you through their work. They may not know us but they talk with us nevertheless through their work. Doesn't matter whether the work was made 5 weeks ago or 500 years ago.  Like the character of Gaurav in this film, 'Fan', I often wonder what it would b...

Sometimes, I wonder whether any of us are aware of the entire history. One, of course, is the history of this world. Imagine how much more glorious would be the history of the entire universe. The world where we live is but nothing compared to the infinite number of phenomenons existent in outer space. The Sun itself, without whose help no life could sustain itself on the planet, is capable of including millions of earths like ours. We are part of a galaxy known as the Milky Way, which consists of billions of planets. And there are trillions of galaxies within this universe. Some now believe that there are actually seven universes.  The meta-physicists or the Mystics say that the universe is an illusion. While the physicists believe that it's infinite. So either there is none or there is infinity. Come to think of it. What are the chances of our being alone in such a vast universe as this. Within our own Galaxy, there could be an uncountable number of planets with the right env...

So finally I've begun writing about the greatest story ever told: the Human History. And I don't intend to begin by talking dryly about Harappans or Mesopotamians here. I want to start by using the three words found at the start of the world's most read text: "In the beginning". And I want to start by talking about History's greatest hero and most revered being: God (and He's still going strong, by the way). So, in the beginning, we had God who created everything around us. Or so the Holy books say. Throughout history, if there's anyone who has most impacted our lives without actually having ever been seen, it is God. From our very birth onwards, what we eat, what we wear, how we see the world around us is dictated by our religions. And all this is done to ensure that our guy in the sky doesn't get mad on us. He is in everyone, in everything and he is all-knowing. He is perfect, the purest and without his wish, not even a leaf can move. But you...

My favourite book is Mr. Nehru's 'Glimpses of World History'. Even now when I stumble upon this book, I am transported back into the time when I first read it. When I was very young, only thirteen. And though the letters written by Mr. Nehru were meant for his daughter, they were pieces of writing that any child could have related completely with, even if that child in question was I. Friday morning, when you wake up and realise that your office is later today than usual, and you chance to see a book that you haven't gone back to for ages. You begin reading it and it were as if you were sitting right next to the author. Seeing him tell his story. And you suddenly move back a hundred years in time. Well, about 86 years to be exact. 26 of the last 86 years in which I myself have walked this earth. Still finding my way. Not 'there' yet. But when you compare that quarter of a century to the time that has passed in human history, you are reminded of the smallness o...

Question: What is the saddest truth in life? Answer: I have been meaning to write you my answer for a few days now, but I was caught up with some silly exam papers. Nevertheless, and here we go... On the surface, your question seems like a sad question but it is not. In fact, it is a question that can open the doors of happiness for us. Only when we become aware of the sources of our grief can we begin to avoid them. So, what is the saddest truth in life? The saddest truth in life is that we hope where there is no hope. We want what is not achievable. We are after what cannot be chased. We want and go on wanting.  Buddha spent years meditating and when it all ended, he postulated his teachings and concluded the sum of it all, which was that desire is the source of all suffering. And the conclusion was relevant then and it is relevant now. That is the beauty of the Buddha. The things he taught are still as applicable as they were when he walked this earth. A lot of other tea...

Question: What are some of the best ideas told by OSHO Rajneesh? Ans: Osho is an ocean. And within this ocean, you have so many invaluable gems that it will be difficult to make a count. But you have asked what are some of the best ideas told by OSHO Rajneesh? I can understand the intention behind your question. You want a quick-fix. You want an instant band-aid that you can wrap around whatever it is that your life needs at the moment. And you are not to be blamed for it. This is the kind of age we live in. We tweet instead of talk. We google instead of read. And so on and so on. And not that there is anything wrong with it. It is just that the quest has to be taken to the next level. It is one that will require you to experience it.  Buddha always asked his disciples to believe in experience instead of faith. He said, "Do not believe anything I say unless you yourself have experienced it." He was against blind faith. Which is why he never even mentioned the word ...