Tag Archives: philosophy

Book Review, Hinduism, Motivational, Mythology, philosophy

My interpretation of My Gita

I have always believed that the Universe has too many ways to communicate with us. It might not be too soon or too late but right on time. Out of many ways, one is through books. I am so convinced with this based on my own experience of stumbling upon a book and realizing how much I needed to read it. I tend to accidentally buy books that I don’t not really want to but something pushes me to buy and read them at the right-est time, in all honesty, one such book is My Gita by Devdutt Pattanaik. I cannot stress on how I am happy to have read it.

Author’s magic

https://www.juggernaut.in/authors/devdutt-pattanaik

Before I start discussing about the book, I would like to acknowledge and shower my love on the author’s narrative. Every writer is different, has a unique story to present and connects with you differently. Devdutt Pattanaik stands out in terms of connecting quite accurately. Simple at the language, minimalist approach and makes the most complex concepts perceivable. A good writer or a storyteller is the one who enables you to visualize. Devdutt Pattanaik, throughout his narrative, presents you the picture. This keeps you engaged as a reader. He is any reader’s writer and by that I mean ANYONE can read and understand what he is trying to convey.

My Gita to the rescue

There are times when you are pensive and perplexed, almost in a dilemma about many things in life. You seek answers for so many questions that linger over your mind. I experienced this. Just when I thought I am lost without a beginning or an end, My Gita came to the rescue. The personification here comes from the feeling of almost having a conversation with someone more than a book. I was answered. Yes! I could relate to every alternate passage and verse. In a way, I was able to recollect similar experiences or those that made more sense after reading the book. I will be sharing a few quotes from the book to relate with my thoughts about it.

My Gita is Devdutt Pattanaik’s interpretation of Shri Bhagavad Gita which is the knowledge of the universe given to Arjuna (the seeker) by Lord Krishna (the giver) amidst the Mahabharata war. The book revolves around the Hindu paradigm but also around other religions, giving you an understanding of those too. A newbie would not really have to worry about not understanding something as every concept is well explained in the most comprehensible manner.

It connects the past with the present, thus making it more relatable for a contemporary. This also left me wondering about the accuracy and significance of the modern terms that we apply on the narratives of the past. While reading I realized that we look at the past, the times that we have not witnessed, with the present or modern magnifying glass and conclude on that basis. This might not do complete justice to the past. I realized how the world was different in each stage, thus, the possibility of needs and definitions of many things being different from what it is now. Simply, even the meaning of our identity differs. A lot might have not been the same as we see them today. A following quote from the book may explain what I mean here.

Karma may determine the circumstances of our life. But humans have the power to create their own identity by creating and claiming property, or kshetra. Society values people more as proprietors than as residents of the body, for property is visible and measurable. As a result, ‘mine’ becomes more important than ‘me’.

Devdutt Pattanaik, My Gita, 2015, p.183

Besides, My Gita is more psychological and philosophical in its narrative than just religious as it seems. I realized how religious notions are also not too different from concepts involved in these western terms- psychology and philosophy irrespective of different languages or explanations

It got me to the gradual realization that I was being led towards ‘self-actualization‘. I questioned myself, my thoughts, approach and attitude towards many things in life. It made me ponder upon those I had not thought about otherwise. It added on to my insights and broadened my ways. Many may disagree with his interpretation of the Gita but that is what My Gita focuses on, you may agree or disagree, you can be right or wrong, you are free to believe anything or nothing, after all,

Your reality is different from my reality because your body is different, your filters are different, your experiences are different, your knowledge is different.

Quoting from My Gita, 2015.

Lastly, I realized that I am a different person after I finished reading My Gita. I evolved with each reading. In the end, I started seeing things and understanding differently. It would not be an exaggeration to say that I did feel enlightened. Sharing this one last quote among a plethora of wise quotes from the book that changed me as a person.

My deha is different from yours. My hungers are different from yours. My assumptions are different from yours. My capabilities are different from yours. My experiences are different from yours. My expressions are different from yours.

Devdutt Pattanaik, My Gita, 2015, p.66

Those looking out for My Gita

My Gita on Amazon: https://amzn.to/30nlbTy

Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3h72DwV

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life, philosophy, Religion

Raised by Religions

I was born in an area of Mumbai that comprised of people belonging to different sects and had different faiths.

This area has a Mosque at the entrance, a Temple in the middle of it and a Church further inside, towards the way to my house.

Although I was born in a Hindu family, I was raised by my Christian neighbours and Muslim family next door.

I would visit the temple everyday with my Grandmother, attend the evening aarti (worship rituals) and relish on the prasadam (sacred food) and even tirtham (holy water) given by the Priest.

I would even visit the church, my neighbours would take me along (to be precise), attend the masses and had myself to the holy water be sprinkled upon by the Father.

I had also been taken to the Mosque once when I was burning in fever that lasted for days despite the medicines, until, the Imam (priest) prayed and tied a Taweez (charm) around my neck. My parents say that I recovered real soon.

I loved celebrating Diwali, burning crakers along with my friends. Our Christian and Muslim neighbours would lit lamps and candles, so that we could have fun for some time longer. They would not even mind when we threw colours at them during Holi and say “bura naa maano, Holi hai”.

I absolutely loved the Biryani cooked by my neighbour, Salma aunty, and also the huge platter with fruits, bhajiyas, sweets and other Ramzan delicacies that she would give us everyday during this holy month. I relished on the ever famous dessert Sheer khurma (vermicelli pudding) for the first time which was got by one of my Mother’s students. I used to wait for the sherbat (flavoured milk with nuts) that was distributed in every house by a group of Muslims during Muharram every year.

I loved the whole vibe during December month or Christmas season because the whole lane in front of our house would be lit with lightings and star shaped laterns. I would wait for the candies distributed by someone dressed as santa claus and would hang stockings in the window without fail. Enjoyed the porridge distributed during Lent Season and Easter delicacies too.

I don’t remember ever being hungry as a kid. I was in fact over fed and pampered by my neighbours and none of them ever made me feel different.

I heard stories of the Hindu Gods from my grandmother but I also heard stories of Jesus from other neighbours and some lessons from Salma aunty from the Quran.

I always felt that I was not alone a Hindu but also equally a Christian and a Muslim.

I have been a part of all the differences that we see today and thus I fail to differentiate. I have seen good and bad people. But I was never conditioned to see a good or bad Hindu, Muslim or Christian.

The whole world maybe working in a certain way. It might have changed in terms of its essence and ideals. There are ample reasons for it too. But what does not really convinces me is to see a group of people in a certain way, that we call prejudice. It is definitely the behaviour that is certainly good or bad. But behaviour of a particular number of people can never be the sole representation of the entire community or world.

Is it that we forget that we are all individuals despite the diverse identities we carry or are attached with? We all definitely want to be a part of the social identities given to us and even want to be good at it, but we are still individuals. Even if we are influenced and manipulated, it becomes our individual choice to do what we do. Individual choices lead to the doings, good or bad.

Most of us have been fortunate to have been among so many different types of people with different beliefs and identities. It is on us, individuals, how we want to see the “difference” that is pertaining and becoming more prominent with time. And we do know that every individual deserves love, if not then what are terms like equality, fraternity and others that are used otherwise are really for?

There is no way that we are pure or belong to only one identity. At last, there is only one question I would like us all to ask ourselves,

what if we belonged to the other side?

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life, philosophy, poem

The Cosmic Soul

Image Source: https://www.nasa.gov/wise/pia18848

What if your soul does not seek for the worldly things?

If it constantly seeks the abstract but is surrounded by concrete?

If your journey is limited on the outside but beyond limits?

If the peripheries are just set but it sees no boundary?

If attaining needs are just bodily but there is nothing for your soul’s awakening?

What if you realize, that your thirst is unfathomable, impossible to be quenched?

That your wound is far deep and deceptive, impossible to be healed?

That your soul is the only absolute amid the cosmic realm, it lives even if you don’t?

And that the questions you ask yourself are the answers that your soul seek?

-Pooja Ashokkumar

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Inspirational, Motivational, philosophy, Uncategorized

Six ways to keep yourself happy.

Image source: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/632474341397257029/

“Happiness is not a product or property to be owned. It is a state of mind that can be created.“- The Sapient Musings

https://sapientmusing.home.blog/

Life has come to a point where an emotion, the basic, has to be reminded and motivated about. We are on the search of those emotions that we feel are lost among the hustle and tussle of everyday life. Emotions are present in each one of us. Some inclining on the extreme side, while some on the mild or least side. When I look around the people around me, I think, I introspect, if they are truly happy. I ask myself, if I am happy. The ones reading this right now, ask yourself if you are happy? Happy about the job you do, about the people you are surrounded by, about the things you do, about the life you live? We are still trying to figure that out.

It is true that many of us are lagging behind the fast pacing world unable to cope up with and find a solution for it. This is continuously repressing us from being happy. Here are five ways that you can keep yourself happy.

Know your needs

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” 

― Philip Pullman

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/needs

A lot of people fail to distinguish between needs and wants, this is one of the major cause of distress. Once you know what is your need and work to suffice it, you will be less distressed. Know what you need, what is your instant need and save the rest for later. This process will satisfy yourself which will unconsciously and consciously make you happy.

Acknowledge and focus on the good

Image source: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/632474341398629833/

In a day, there are many good things that happen, that usually are ignored or goes unacknowledged by us. Keep a track of the good things that happen with you in a day and count on them. This will help you focus less on the negative and more on the positive side of your day ending up in a happy mood.

Appreciate little things

Image source: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/13159023897240289/

Start noticing the little things that you come across everyday. It is the little things that embrace big happiness. Notice and appreciate if someone smiles at you, if someone helps you, if someone appreciates your efforts. We may snub these little things, but these are the reasons that can make your day.

Stop the comparison


Remind yourself that you are good the way you are and doing better whatever you are doing! We often compare ourselves and our lives with others, this is a natural phenomenon but consciously you can remind yourself that you are doing good. The comparison is what makes you feel less and leaves you in a desperate state of owning things and a life that someone else owns. Remember, the grass is always greener on the other side. The mantra to be happy is to be happy with what you have and feel happy when others grow.

Achievements are not the only success

https://izquotes.com/quote/orison-swett-marden/achievement-is-not-always-success-while-reputed-failure-often-is-it-is-honest-endeavor-119587

Achievement and success are two different things. You many not always need to achieve something to be successful but you can be successful without achieving big things. It is easy to be happy after realizing this. Achievement and success can differ individually too. For some, success might be money, growth, luxury and achieving other big things, while for some it might be just helping out someone in a day, making someone cross the road or show direction, or help in some task. Knowing what success and achieving means for you will help you in being happy.

Yourself, hard-work and time

There is no other mantra for being happy except for yourself, hard-work and time. When you know your needs, your thoughts and ideas, your caliber, your skills and when you incorporate all this with some hard-work and leave it on time, things will fall on its place. Time is a healer and assents with hard-work. This is the ultimate solution to be happy.

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