On one hand, at times I really wonder why should we be celebrating a Christian new year. Don't we have one of our own? Then again, in this globalisation, I do understand the seamless assimilation of traditions and cultures.

But celebrating is one thing and going a bit overboard is a completely different thing. Last year and this year too, molestation of women in public on New Years eve was a shameful event. Particularly given the matter of fact that it happened in Mumbai, apparently the safest city for women in India.

There were many other men around there. What happened to their pride? Were they not ashamed of such disgusting act was carried out right in front of their eyes? Or they too were enjoying the 'free show'?

As if molesting our own women folks was not enough, perverted jerks in Orissa, gave Indian a bad name when they harassed a touring family. Such incidents always will taint India's name bad. No matter what growth rate we achieve. No matte how much of economic advancements we make. No matter how many international take overs we do. Till such shameful, disgusting events keep happening, India and Indians will never get respect. On face and in polished media, you may find some nice words of praise but in common man's life, there won't be any respect.

There will be strong worded reporting and editorials for a few days. There will be intellectual discussion and debate in media and amongst the so called elites of the society. It will all die out in a week or two and till next such indecent act takes place, all will be forgotten. Aren't we missing something? Or have we become too lazy to even bother? Is it that we have accepted this and will continue with it? Is it that we are not affected by such 'petty' little incidents?

Sometimes, I do feel like supporting the right wing nationalists in banning all such 'foreign' festivals and things. Then when you analyse the situation, it their supporters who are the perpetrators in events of public molestation and other such shameful acts.

When will we really take up such matters and sort them out? Do we really need a revolution to wake us up? If we do, when will we start such revolution? Or are we too lazy for that too?

India Shining. Don't feel like it any more.

Following is FunkyGuru's (that's me, for those who don't know) interpretation of three monkeys in real world in modern times.

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In my younger days, I was taught the lessons learnt from the famous 'three monkeys'. I always wondered, how come we have to learn from monkeys? Aren't we supposed to be more intelligent than them?

Well never challenged the authority and still I don't. I have realised that it's better to find your own simpler ways of understanding life rather then conforming or confronting the established belief system.

In modern times I see people suffering from something that always took me long to explain. By the time the explanation was over, listeners and readers would loose interest.

Last night, I had inspiration that gave me the following interpretation of the three monkeys in modern times. Rather then they representing wisdom, they represent the lack of it. They still remain the wise monkeys but by mocking what we are doing, these monkeys are reflecting our mistakes and the pain that we suffer from that. So here is the new interpretation:

Original :

The monkey with mouth covered: Speak no Evil

The monkey with ears covered: Hear no Evil

The monkey with eyes covered: See no Evil

My Version:

First of all I call it as the "Three Monkey Syndrome". All those who are suffering can be labelled as suffering this three monkey syndrome:

The monkey with mouth covered: I won't express my true feelings

The monkey with ears covered: I won't listen to the message from Universe

The monkey with eyes covered: I won't see the reality

Well this inspiration is pretty new and I guess I will need to refine it further more. Till then, hope you enjoy this different interpretation of three monkeys and maybe contribute towards refining it and making it more contemporary.

Most of the people confuse the role of 'heart' and 'mind'. Since ancient times, heart was associated with life, emotions and feelings. Where as mind was always associated with intelligence, rational and reasoning.

Confusion in the role of heart and mind leads to conflict and conflicts create tension in life. Going back to earlier articles and reasoning presented, life is simple, let's keep that way. One exercise that will help keep it simple is to keep the heart and mind constrained to their role.

First of all, let's understand what does it mean to 'live with your heart and think with your mind'.

Do you remember, one day, when you were walking down the street, or travelling by bus/train or you were in supermarket or mall, in other words you were in some public place. You catch a glimpse of person. You have never seen that person, you will never see that person again. Still for some reason, you feel very attracted to that person. That person does not even resemble anyone from you past. That person is not even attractive or looking something extraordinarily different. That person is just another ordinary human being. Could be a man, a woman, an old man, a little kid, a street vendor, a taxi driver ... just anybody.

On the other hand, you see someone, in similar situation and this time instead, you feel like going and slapping that person or simply you just don't like that person. For no reason at all. 

Dear Friend,

Let the party continue,

 Well there is a secret behind it that's why did I not start the topic with the name like 'Every dog has it's day'. No, I am not talking in scenario of my very good friend Adeel Masood, who recently (almost 2 months back a new profile at a very popular social network with the name of 'Lone Dog' after getting pissed off with one or some great real time Geek/s.

I am not even talking about the puppy of popular Hutch ad, which is now searching for that person who changed his home from Hutch to Vodafone.Why Red, why not Pink? Might be he was happy with his old master. But who cares of a dog's feeling. A dog is dog at end of day.

Ladies and Gentleman, I was talking about Blog. So leave the Dogs. BLOGGISM™ did a recent study and found that everyone must start blogging. Sooner or later your blog (or say you) will be recognized by the masses. And who knows when you will be nominated for the next Nobel for your services to Literature, or Booker (for your service to Great English Language through your Blog).

Even you don't get any award, you did not loose anything. You did your Karma you wrote Blog. Like as Gita says "You are only liable to do your Karma, not in the result of that". So Don't worry if people just Blog away!

The queue of snuff of candles in the Corridors of Heart,

Fear and sick from the light of sun,

Blurry image of the beauty of the loved one.

Embrace and intertwine their own Darkness.

Extreme pain and affliction,

Same use-less curiosity, same use-less questions,

Fatigued from the Color-less period of Today

Sad from the Past, Tired from the Dictator,

Thirsty thoughts, that never gets full-filled,

Burnt tears, that never comes into eyes,

A Stiff Pain that never shaped into Beautiful Song,

Song that never came out from the dark shadows of Heart,

In Search of Un-solved imaginary remedy,

The lust of being slaved, Search of affliction.

(Faiz Ahmed Faiz – Naqsh-e-Faryadi)

Lately I have been facing a lot of questions pertaining what is reality. Not that I am any expert on that subject but as I like to, I tried to put my mind to at least understand the question.

I have always said, before trying to find an answer, see if you understand the question in the first place.

So on reality, I was pondering for few days. Is it what we believe is reality or what we refuse to believe is reality? I cut my self while preparing some meal. It hurts. That is reality? Or because I believe, since I am cut, it hurts, that is reality?

No I don't mean to say that if I start believing it won't hurt even if I am cut, will become reality.

I realized that there is a very fine yet distinct line between what is reality and what is perception. this distinction is that unchangeable border that stops our progress and evolution.

Some examples to be considered.

There are people, and many of them, who lead a miserable life. If you enquire with them, they always someone or something else to blame their misery to. Seldom they take the responsibility of their own affairs. Their reality, is their perception that life is not going to improve for them. Loss of motivation, self esteem and self respect. There is no love for life or gratification of being alive and able. Constantly complaining and doing nothing about making change. Is it real?

There are some other people, very few, who irrespective of the circumstance, have a brilliant smile on their face. They may be suffering from deep pains, emotional or physical, but rarely let it spill out. They bring goodness around. They bring hope to living. Usually this people sooner then later, do succeed in their lives. Very few of them. Where is reality in their world? That pain or the that smile?

This led me to another aspect to think and ponder upon. The 'power of intent'.

One can make changes, cross that fine definitive line between perception and reality and lead a life which is more fulfilling. The power to change misery in to joy. Power to convert sorrow in to happiness. To convert tears in to laughter. Yet not forgetting the reality, that pain is inevitable. Just like death.

The important aspect here is that of self conciousness. Tricky word this conciousness is. Every time I used this word in my conversation or writing, people suddenly gave a unnecessary intellectual/philosophical 'high' importance to the event. Suddenly they start 'behaving' differently. Unfortunately so many spiritual teachers and gurus have used this terminology so loosely now that it has lost it's simple meaning.

The word conciousness once again takes you back to the fine definitive difference between reality and perception. So given the understanding of conciousness, in terms of understanding the reality versus perception, I find it is rather easier to work with ones own conciousness. For a moment, set aside the belief, the knowledge, the education, the opinion and the suggestions from outside, and you will see your own conciousness clearly. You will that distinctive fine line that separates your reality from your own perception.

Once you see this, you will also realise that your perception is also part of your reality. Mind boggling isn't it? Well I am still working on this concept and also on 'power of intent'. Someday soon I am sure I will have much clearer picture and much simpler words to express.

Haven't you ever had that feeling that you are being used? Especially by someone close to you? Or maybe someone you really care for is over using your generosity? Don't you feel like breaking from it?

First of all to learn how to stay away, first thing one must learn it to know that you are being used. It is one of the most difficult things to do in this world.

Most of the time, the person involved is a person we have a feeling for. Whatever this feeling may be. Romantic, friendly or plain old fashioned sympathetic. Because of such feeling we are blinded and we simply cannot see the fact. We tend to ignore the evidences of the reality. We tend to overlook the bright and clear signs warning us of cheating we are exposed to. We don't see any fault in those people. We in fact we go out beyond reasonable limits of giving them benefit of doubt. Many times we fool ourselves by believing they will learn the lesson and change.

It never happens. They never learn. They always make another sad story and one more after that. They drain your energy in all forms. Financially, emotionally and purely energetically they suck away like parasites. You get hurt but that emotional blinding numbs your senses. You do get pain but you don't register that pain. You ignore it. You neglect it. You simply shrug it off saying that's life.

This doesn't help anyone. Definitely not you nor the person who is cheating you.

I speak from my own experience. This experience has brought me to a point from where, now I can see the pitfall. From this experience I wish to share the knowledge with people and hope that they don't fall in the same trap.

Think clearly on the following points / questions: If this questions give you any insight, work on how would you use the new information to better your own life. As always, I am more than happy to answer to your questions and get some good input to further refine the method of saving our selves from being used.

Do You:

• do it naturally or feel compelled to?
• stretch yourself for being of use/help to other?
• act out of your own free will or you are usually asked to/called upon?
• ever consider your own priorities/limits before shelling out?
• feel obligatory to help?
• do it make yourself feel good?
• help so that you can win over people?
• help because you think you are making a change in their lives?
• really believe it is going to help them?
• ever consider if it is helping you or not?

This list can go on and each person from their individual experience can add and share their experience here with me and others.

I would wait for some response and soon enough I will write my own experience on my experiments with helping others. The amount of losses/gains are for individuals to justify but I will still quantise some so that there is a balanced perspective offered on the issues.

It's not an attempt to make someone look bad or feel bad. It's my own expression. One of those things that has been lingering on my mind for long. Realising that world is indeed a great place, provided one values the self worth.

This is not about stopping to help people. It's about realising that not every one needs help. We ought to weed out those fakes against the genuine. It's a difficult call but trust me friends, it is needed. Many a times it turns out that these people are none other then our own friends, family, people we really care for. But we are taken for granted. We are assumed.

In the end, we suffer. We keep quiet. Good hearted people that we want to be, we never even acknowledge of having make this mistake.

Why we fool ourselves? Isn't that another form of emotional escape we always look for? Probably we help others so that we always remain in demand and surrounded by people. We need this because we are afraid to be alone. Maybe we haven't found ourselves yet. That is why we need an excuse to be needed.

Clarity of thought is one thing that has always escaped us. It is not difficult to achieve. It's just that we don't want to achieve it.

Someday, I am sure, I will have that courage to seek clarity and live life more fulfilling. I am not complaining at my current life and still aspiring for a little bit more so that I can share it with others. I have had a fair amount of my share of hardship, betrayal, pain, sorrow and losses. Now I seek is my fair share of comfort, loyalty, joy, happiness and some achievements.

When MTV, nominated Orkut for its  new Youth Icon of the year, very few would have really imagined that Orkut will make it to the numero uno position. Infact I voted for "You" as the youth icon. It was hard for me to digest initially that, in the country supposed to be culturally (and otherwise) so rich, we will be selecting someone as virtual as an online community as the Youth Icon. But I was on the wrong side. And rightly so. With so many Arm-Chair analysts, debaters, enthusiasts and alikes mushrooming in, it was only an oversight on my part to think that Orkut is going to loose out. I still remember, during my school days, in literature, I started with writing essay on something like "Chandani Raat me Nauka Vihaar" (चान्दनी रात मे नौका वीहार) or something like on a leader (Do you remember when was Rajendra Prasad Born, I do remember ), or on Picnic. I won't be surprised , if my Kids, down the line will be asked to write an essay on any Online Forum, or will be asked to give an extempore on their last online debate.

Orkut can be a reason to cleberate for arm-chari netizens who has dedicate their entire life, entire youth to the monitor and key board, for online lovers, for online patriots, for online revolutionaries, and for, in words of Soumya, suffering from ICPSS, but certainly it can't be an Icon from me. I will be more than happy taking even the next door Sharma ji as my Icon, instead of this 'great' virtual social network as my icon.

Identity Crisis, Quest to participate and Password Sharing Syndrome.

Oath: I, Soumya Saxena, hereby agree that all information in this Blog is authentic and acquired from various lifetime experiences pertaining to the recent trends on orkut. Any relation to person living or dead is incident. …Opppss!!! Co-incident.
 

 What is this Syndrome?

If you are interested in any community, if you love to participate there by flaunting your knowledge or by pestering people, creating confusion, or by making pathetic threads but the problem is that either you are banned from that community or you are hated on that community (no one even care to read your thread… the mods delete your thread) then my friends you must look at this new trend.

For people who suffer from identity crisis, who actually do not want to reveal their real identity may make a fake profile with fictional names, weird pictures, unheard places and easily post without indulging in any personal conversation.

Such species are found in abundance and are well known for creating mess, often banned, but always comes back with various fictional identities … declaring “we will remain the same.”

But the most amazing way is the latest technique called by the computer experts as the “password-sharing syndrome”. Here one who is banned or unwanted can acquire the profile password of his/her ‘good’ friend and can use the profile for posting in the community and let out all his/her frustration and utmost urge for posting and Bingo!!!! He/she is not even caught.

Reasons and Requirements:

This technique requires two fools (there can be more that one in certain unique cases), one who wants to post in a community by any means and is actually dying to do so by hook or by crook (desperation at this stage seems limitless) the other is the person who is fooled in this disorder because of his/her foolishness or some sentimental psyche by letting his/her password be shared for this purpose. Both the parties here suffer from mental anxiety and some or the other kind for mental state which requires a kind of satisfaction and appreciation both by others’ and by each other. Which is received by this sharing and further usage of this facility.

Symptoms of this Syndrome:

The symptoms may not seem much evident on the face but if one observe they gradually become manifest. First and foremost you will find a change in the personality and behaviour of the person who is sharing his/her password, that person will seem to be different and post differently unlike what he use to do earlier.

Second, there will be a latent or manifest support for the person who is hated or banned (the person is with whom the password is being shared).

Third, the ideology of these two people will be similar or same or they will be found supporting each other.

Fourth, that person will be seen online on odd times, like late night, early morning or during work or college hours, when generally he or she is not online.

Fifth, his/her area of interest will suddenly change and the posting style of the two people will be same or similar.

If these symptoms are noticed then there is a grave suspicion of this syndrome. And these symptoms should be taken lightly.

Remedy:

Unfortunately, no remedy is available for this disorder; the computer experts have failed to find a possible solution till now because the disorder is still new to most of them and unknown to m any. Moreover, it cannot be stopped wholly cause it depends on the personal prudence of two consenting people. The only solution available is avoidance to certain extent.

Warning:

This syndrome can be really disadvantageous and damaging to the person who is sharing his/ her password as it may lead to tarnishing of image, similar hatred towards himself/herself. Furthermore, the account may also be misused for wrong purposes, which you might be totally unaware of and it may lead to serious unwanted consequences and you may leave feeling used for this treacherous purpose.

Advice 

For those who are actually suffering from this disorder think that they are really smart and no one is actually aware of their operations, must remember that people on the other side are not foolish enough to be fooled with this technique.

Even they have their ways to outsmart such people suffering from identity crisis and this syndrome.