Loan loop

The more I think about being loan-free; I end up burying myself in quagmire of loans. Hitherto, It was education loan even for bachelor's- immediately after that repay loan for my dad's health, vehicle loan and my vehicle philanthropy :P made me pay loan twice. Now its the marriage loan and in immediate future loan for my masters... and then may be to buy a flat :(.The loan loop seems to be like a Abhimanyu'schakra Vyaaoh . I can't run off to woods to meditate but accept the fact of life and live a "Loan - life" .

Reminds me verses from Bhagavad Gita - I use the resources bestowed to me in corporeal life but have minimal attachment to corporeal life

Ambivalence ?

I was filling the Visa form and It sucks to see religion field on the form. I know I am not religious ...what do I do ?.I have chosen free thinker because I have transformed to be one few years ago after my iconoclastic behavior questioning the relevance of the same.Ever since I have seen people killing other people from religion, I am totally disinclined to call myself as a Hindu.

The religion details are no where on the passport. I don't want to tick on Hindu as a short cut. I want to know if "freethinker" is really checked in case of people applying for Visa, when a person is Hindu - what would happen. Why is the free thinker column there on Visa form?. I am sure no person would be born as free thinker.

What has religion got to do with a person's work / studies ?. I cant even call myself a free thinker because there are several instances where I do not explain points logically and scientifically. I am again stuck in this mundane.

SLR gets 70mm to 300mm lens

The most awaited lens hits my home today :). Feels good to have the lens with IS. I am yet to get pictures without handshake.Thanks to Akshaya who made my day.

Meditation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l-YYqjhVi4&eurl=http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=397

Feb 9th, Birthday

This is the day of the year where I would balk and look back into my past...I reminisce last year - well adorned and draped in the nice saree . Instead of being happy with my brother's wedding arrangements - I wore a mask of cheerfulness when I was soaked up in moroseness that the destiny had given - after the call to US.

I told my friend that I would wish him on his birthday- Feb 9th till the last breath and this year also I did remember to wish on time. Its just not wise to make our lives more turbid with my wishes but I still would pray for him that wherever he is, I wish for a happy n cheerful life.

To me honoring the word defines me unless life has some noble .There is one saying which I remember every Feb 9th probably " Dhokha khana Dhoka dene se behtar hai" / "to be robbed is better than robbing away someone". I just cannot unravell the destiny but what I have today and what state I am in is far better.

Thinking on the lines of Birthday, I have stopped sending greets for my friend's birthdays because it had become taxing to remember birthdays and getting into monotonous routine of asking for the updates in residence address - I no longer enjoy to socialise but I wish I could be evanescent .I do care for them :sticking to e-copies of greets would at least help nature because I will not be responsible for felling of tree.

We all need help !

One evening I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was, what society would consider, a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of the "don't want to be bothered" times.

"I hope he doesn't ask me for money," I thought. He didn't. He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop and he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. "That's a very nice car," he said. He was ragged but had an air of dignity around him.

I said, "Thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside me said, "Ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say yes, but I held true to the inner voice.

"Do you need any help?" I asked. He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke three words that shook me.

"Don't we all?" he said.

I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help. Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that.

You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see. -- Cal

- a short story on Daily good