Poor GOD takes brunt of MAN'S greed for power.

Is Nigeria's conflict religious or political? - Inside Story - Al Jazeera English

The calamity that has befallen Nigeria is nothing new which we have seen throughout the history of mankind. Power and Greed muffles live itself. The power broking between Constantine I and Licinius I to the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinian cause is nothing more than  political manipulation of entities who want to remain in control.

God now appears to be caught in the crossfire that mortals have barraged against each other. Poor God even if he appears today in person to defend himself/herself, I don't think the feuding powers would want to listen. Instead the parties concerned would probably tried to broker a deal with him/her to support one against the other.

Thus is the state of humanity crumbling in it's own greed. From a person who rides through a red light to the perpetrators of corrupt practice, they all share a common platform, that they only think of themselves and not about the implications of their actions. Has society degenerated so low that we have forgotten altruism altogether.

Spiritualism has been replaced by marketing campaigns by evangelists. The purported guardians of divinity seems to have betrayed their original purpose. As such it is not surprising to find greater distrust and resentment has taken place towards religion, no fault of GOD but due to his/her so called representative in this mortal world.

Questions thus arise, when all else fails where do you look for an answer or guide? Well I think we should not look too far, LOOK WITHIN oneself. You would see humanity in yourself. Identify and nurture it, the circle would be complete. After all, all religion preaches the same as well.

Guru Tegh Bahadur, Joan of Arc and Mahatma Gandhi- WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?

All of them had faith in their “believe”, whilst confronting the face of death. How many of us would stand by with what we believe, even if it means certain death awaits? In the advent of a scientific world, man, constantly look for an answer for every possible phenomenon, and when he can’t, he, searchers for justification for its existence.

 “Believe” today seems to be as superficial as the dew in the morning, when the sun goes up the dew disappears. Or on the other hand, the “believe”, could be something imposed by somebody else to fill in the vacuum in the minds of the beholder. Thus the beholder conforms without reasoning, but merely abides due to conditioning and regimentation, for non-compliance would lead to either worldly or ethereal, punishment or reward. Whether one believes in himself/herself, or in the Divinity, reasoning via understanding and experience should be the source their faith. Otherwise their actions or inactions would be in vain.

Guru Tegh Bahadur was the 9^th Guru of the Sikhs who was executed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb for his non- compliance to renounce his faith. Joan of Arc a Catholic Saint at the age of 19 was burned at the stake purportedly for heresy, a charge which was deemed politically motivated. Mahatma Gandhi was murdered, for what he believed, “non-violence”.

All three individuals had a choice to comply, which may have saved their lives but they chose not to and pursued their own destiny. Today their lives have had profound impact on our rationalization process. It keeps check and balance on our own pursuits so that humanity is not compromised.    

The Illogic Call Terrorism

Three would-be suicide bombers found guilty of terror plot.

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/21/three-wouldbe-suicide-bombers-guilty-terror

Terrorism is real and it is here to stay. Denial only prolongs the act. Whether it was Britain’s feared IRA or Japan’s  Aum Shinrikyo or Al Qaedah their realm of terror at different period of time was definitely real.  When war is waged against the common man, it would then be deemed to be an act of terror(ism). When this happens the objectives of the cause becomes diluted and sympathy turns to hate. No matter how noble a cause maybe when it crosses the boundary beyond the perpetrators, the actions of the victim would not be held in the same respect. 

According to the website terrorismfiles.org http://www.terrorismfiles.org/encyclopaedia/terrorism.html  terrorism is defined as “the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion.”

Another definition given states it as, “the systematic use of terror or unpredictable violence against governments, publics, or individuals to attain a political objective.”

Throughout history we have seen terrorism being inflicted by political outfits, nationalistic and ethnic groups, revolutionaries, and even by armies and various government linked intelligence agencies.

Regardless of the perpetrators, ordinary lives are pawned without its consequences being cared for when a terrorist act is carried out. The rights of the victims are totally ignored. But then again are these victims truly innocent bystanders, or were they themselves party to the cause of agitation? Only a post mortem would tell. An analogy, a person who may have no qualms in throwing a sweet wrapper out of his/her car while driving becomes ballistic when his/her neighbour’s rubbish bin accidently overflows into his/her compound. In this equation call “life” every action or inaction has its own multiple sets of reactions that webs. 

Gandhi may have propounded non- violence but if he had lived today, I am not so sure if he would continuously believe the same. But then again he is a “Mahatma”, who incidentally succumbed to a violent death himself. Godse eventually was hanged for his crime despite pleas from Nehru as well as two of Gandhi’s sons, for which they believed that a death sentence would dishonour the legacy of a man opposed to all forms of violence. 

So when emotions run high without reasoning it would give rise to the ugly head call TERRORISM.

The China Factor

Chinese Army Unit Is Seen as Tied to Hacking Against U.S. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/technology/chinas-army-is-seen-as-tied-to-hacking-against-us.html?emc=na&_r=0

 

Despite the growing proliferation of Chinese Economic interest worldwide there is definitely an aura of scepticism on it's supposed hidden agenda. Beyond economic conquest of Chinese interest, the fear seems louder in the area of political exaltation amongst the developed world. The question often arises as to how  independent are Chinese corporations void from Chinese government stake. 

From the hacking incident at the Dalai Lama's office in India, to the denial of telecommunication supplies by the British government during the London Olympics points to one direction ie. FEAR.  In October 2012, American companies and its government was advised by the US House of Representatives' intelligence committee  to avoid doing business with China's two leading technology firms, Huawei and ZTE, because they are believed to pose national security threat. Similarly in Canada the $15billion takeover of Nexen by CNOOC did not materialise after much deliberation. The Canadian government has assured that this would be a one time deal and future investment would be combed independently. 

Interestingly China has no problems in troubled African nations and it's investments in Sri Lanka gave rise to many speculations particularly on how Sri Lanka managed it's long drawn internal conflict. 

With more exposure of political espionage purportedly committed by the Chinese, the brunt of the blame goes to Chinese Corporations owing to their visibility. Whether the threat is real or otherwise Chinese corporations are going to be continuously bombarded with this stigma. By virtue of this greater resistance can be expected to be instituted by the developed world to make it difficult for Chinese corporation to have liberal investment mobility.  What can the Chinese government do to elevate this predicament? The current government under Xi Jinping has a lot of homework to do to reengineer itself away from this impression by creating complete independence towards corporate governance in China. Than maybe!

 

 

 

 

What have Senator Xenophon and Armed Men of Sulu Sultanate Have in Common.

Both are not wanted in Malaysia for the same reason. On one hand you have an individual who came into this country legally with proper documentation but was denied entry due to his past activities claimed to have "tainted Malaysia's image at international level" and is also believed that it may "lead to disharmony and disrupt the well being of the country". On the other hand as reported more than one hundred armed men have entered illegally into the country and have taken refuge at a local village and are seeking recognition to their status. As a sovereign state each country has national security to be of utmost priority from undesirable external elements. However consistency in managing such a threat should also be conspicuous otherwise it would only lead to unnecessary speculation. What more living in a global digital community the probability of the inevitable is definitely higher. So powers that be need to be louder in making sure that their actions are heard.

Some Thoughts From The Horsemeat Scandal

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/16/horsemeat-scandal-how-many-ate-meat

Profit seem to hijack every aspect of humanity. It is very worrisome to note that such a scandal occurred in a country or in the region  where the highest level of regulatory standards are prescribed to every aspect of life. If such taint can pass through needle hole screening there I fear for countries where greater laxed attitude exist. From GM to adulterated food, it has been constantly debated however the problem seem not to get any better but on the contrary. Profit pursuit has overridden basic morality of life. If such actions persist where would it lead mankind. Disease's are on the rise, new strains of bacterias and viruses have evolved, we are at the mercy of pharmaceutical companies to find cure for the neverending malady. This in itself would than spawn the health"care" industry. Is there a conspiracy? I do not think it is an orchestrated act but they all have one common theme "PROFIT".

The Palestinian Dilema

In trying to decipher the Middle East, firstly one must understand the Islamic dichotomy of Sunni and Shia which has clear boundary that has separated the Islamic world spiritually as well as politically. By virtue of this, the Islamic world today is divided in influence further by three parties ie Iran, Turkey and General Arab Countries. On this equation rises a new platform called the Muslim Brotherhood, a new wave of liberal thinking Sunni Muslims (Instrumental in the Arab Spring uprising). This in itself would see the creation of a complex web of partisan socio-religious-politico (SRP) climate.
Upon the death of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinians and the Palestinian cause became an instant orphan caught in the evolving SRP calamity. Thus led the formation of Hamas, a splinter group from PLO which was dissatisfied with crony politics led by the Fatah faction. The role played by Iran (Shia) and Syria (Allawites) in providing direct support to these splinter factions in Palestine is of public knowledge, an action which is treated suspiciously and also objected to by the Sunni Arabs.
Thus you find the Palestinian ground be it West Bank or Gaza becoming host for these middle Eastern governments to play out their own political agenda. Sadly the enemy here for the Palestinians are within and not outside as it is popularly believed. Until such time when there is an internal realization of this predicament it is unfortunate that destruction would continue to befall the Palestinian people.
So at this point in time Malaysia or other sympathizing countries can only carry out mitigation humanitarian work and nothing more. This is not just the struggle of the Palestinian people, it involves an agenda that spreads across an entire turbulent region.

Mega Mergers See Comeback As Uncertainties Fades

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/author/peter-lattman/

It looks like another rebound after a tough period. But where does this leave the consumers in this big equation. Are we in the equation, even considered when numbers are crunched. Karl Marx feared this predicament, Alvin Tofler predicted it but the proliferation never ceased. Pursuit of Economic superiority has been the agenda leading Corporations. Regional MNC became Global MNC's, slowly moving away from country of origin identity to become entities that operate beyond social conscience, as they are no longer bound by onsite values. At this juncture vigilance should rise from society to become governing mandate enforcing compliance towards creating a JUST environment that preserves a Win Win situation to all stakeholders in this equation.

Spirituality and Sexuality

Spirituality and Sexuality

By: Meena Om on Feb 13, 2013

The Universe is interwoven and inter-connected for creation, perfection and destruction. Everything in it has a role to play for constant evolution. Nothing is frivolous.  Only when human has used all available powers to the maximum and has derived wisdom and clues for further evolution, is he bestowed upon with greater powers. This goes on guided by true spirituality – science of spirit – based on the laws of Nature, till human realises the supreme reality of the Godhead within. True love is the Universal Life Energy --the supreme driving force behind sexuality and spirituality. Sexuality is not a force or an adjective for physical union – as the human mind understands it. Sexuality is a thrust of energy guided by the stream of life force which flows in the human mechanism to feel ecstasy on all energy pools – chakras. Ecstasy is a feel of fulfillment, reaching the climax of the joy of creation and this bliss is not meant to be localized just on the mooladhar or root chakra. If it is focused only at the base or root it makes human exist in a horizontal plane.

Human is endowed with seven centers to feel this ‘feel of fulfillment.’ One can reach the climax of these only because of true love force. To experience these orgasms, constant dhyan-concentration and will enforced by true spirituality is needed. Human is privileged with an intellect that can organize, discipline and reform thoughts to channelize sensibilities and capacities. Consuming energy at the root chakra for lust and indulgence in physical gratification deprives him of the orgasms of higher planes desirable for transformation into a higher being. This pure energy can never be directed to higher dimensions (chakras) by created or confused spirituality, for example through drugs, torturous ways, hectic ritualistic means or undesirable, unnatural, untruthful paths. This universal life force evolves and vibrates on higher frequencies of consciousness only by the grace of true spirituality. The truth of sexuality and spirituality is to be understood as whole and complete (poorn) in the context of the universal and human mechanism – (unseen anatomy) by living life consciously with constant awareness. Sexuality is a force, to be used for human evolution according to personal attributes and traits. The ascending order of sexual energy and spiritual power is as follows:

Mooladhar Chakra (root) –focuses on the release of body waste and creating new life. It stands for living with basic instincts. If sexual energy is just contained here, it makes human equivalent to an animal. Human is gifted with a sexual urge all the year round because he is capable of utilizing this energy for other dimensions of creativity and growth unlike animals which experience it only for certain periods.

Swadishthan Chakra (Hara) – energy enclosed here assists in performing work or karm perfectly. Head of institutes, organizations, workaholics etc, fall in this category. They experience the ecstasy of a job well done!

Manipur Chakra (Solar) – the climax here is of reaching and realizing some new or previously unknown knowledge – scientists, inventors, gyanis etc have known to experience this.

Anaahat Chakra (heart) – embodies the ecstasy of the explosive feel of unconditional love towards all - matter and being, as felt by Sufis, saints etc. 

Vishuddhi Chakra (throat) – the climax here is of the anand bhav or feel of bliss of excellent oratorical prowess, imparting knowledge by wonderful mastery of speech as done by great leaders, teachers, gurus and swamis.

Agya Chakra (third eye) – ecstasy here takes the form of a fully developed intuition, clear vision just as in the case of visionaries, mystics, etc

Bindu Visarg (point of quantum leap) – here the pinnacle is of knowing the real self. One is happiest with oneself, never getting bored or tense, just blissful under any circumstance.  The predominant bhav is of total gratitude for being the most beautiful creation of Nature, drinking the constantly pouring ambrosial nectar. Experiencing the Divine that ‘de-wines’ everything!  Such a person has balanced male and female energies like zen masters, paramhansas etc.

Sahasrar Chakra (crown chakra) - this is the highest orgasm. Here one experiences the feel and ecstasy of merging -- yog with whole creation from sahasrar – perpetual joy. This bliss of feeling absolute oneness is absolutely chaste, pure. The chosen one who reaches the sahasrar state can live on all chakras effortlessly without indulgence and attachment and is the highest evolved human – Avatar- master of orgasms of all energy circuits (chakras). 

This is the beauty of sexual energy guided and governed by satyam shivam sundaram – true spirituality. To embark upon this journey from four petals to thousands petals sincere effort backed by truth, love and light that eliminates all ignorance and falsehood, is required. The irony is people use spiritual vocabulary without knowing their exact meaning or definition. Today it has become a fad to talk about spirituality - Consciousness, self realization or about kundalini. The market is flooded with information. These words need accurate and exact interpretations which are the outcome of direct experience not of acquired knowledge.

True spirituality (doing things in the right spirit) is not mind created religiosity; it is a conscious pathway which constantly unfolds the unseen mystic dimensions of human life and its mission on planet Earth. Actually, it is the most beautiful journey that requires no outer means.  The Universe creates universe out of it own self, only for its own joy (sexuality) and sheer beauty (spirituality) and human needs learn this lesson from the Universe - to act like the Universe, in the spirit of oneness and Universality.

The Pope Could Still Right the Wrongs

By JASON BERRY

Published: February 11, 2013

DURING his eight years as pope, Benedict XVI sought rebirth for the Roman Catholic Church by meeting with victims of predator priests and making several apologies for the church’s aching abuse crisis.

But he failed to buck the logic of apostolic succession, a position that sees cardinals and bishops following in a direct spiritual line from Jesus’ original apostles but has been warped into a de facto immunity given to men of the hierarchy.

Still, Benedict has one last chance to right some of the wrongs of the recent past by forcing out Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the dean of the College of Cardinals and the man who, more than any other, embodies the misuse of power that has corrupted the church hierarchy.

Cardinal Sodano is hardly alone: a long list of leaders betrayed Catholics everywhere with their pathological evasions, sending known sex offenders into treatment centers to avoid the law, then planting them in parishes or hospitals where they found new victims.

But Cardinal Sodano ranks with the Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony as an egregious practitioner of the cover up. As John Paul II’s secretary of state, he pressured Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict, in two notorious cases.

In 1995, Cardinal Hans Hermann Groër resigned as archbishop of Vienna, trailed by accusations, soon proven, that he had abused young men. Cardinal Ratzinger wanted the pope to speak out; Cardinal Sodano overruled him.

Cardinal Sodano also pressured Cardinal Ratzinger to abort a case filed in 1998 by several men accusing the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, of abusing them as seminarians. Cardinal Sodano was a longtime beneficiary of money and favors from Father Maciel. Priests who left the order told me he received at least $15,000 in cash.

Cardinal Ratzinger tabled the case until 2004 but, with John Paul dying, finally ordered an investigation. In 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict. Cardinal Sodano’s office then announced the Maciel proceeding was over, while people kept testifying. Benedict dismissed Father Maciel from ministry in 2006; he died in 2008. Still, Cardinal Sodano lavished praise on the Legion, despite the news that Father Maciel had several children.

In 2005, Cardinal Sodano was elected dean of the College of Cardinals, which will select the next pope. At 85 years old, he is too old to vote, though he will oversee the conclave, and will surely have his candidate.

Benedict did not do enough as pope to right the church’s ship; he recoiled from using the powers of the pope as, literally, a one-man Supreme Court to force out these who engineered this train of disasters. But he still has time for one last act. As Benedict leaves the crisis he inherited from John Paul to the cardinal who will become the next pope, he should do one sure thing before his Feb. 28 resignation: force out Cardinal Sodano. He owes that to his successor. 

"The Divine virtue betrayed by man. The institutionalization of spiritual pursuits by itself contradicts with divinity. Over the period of civilizational evolution we have seen how man have manipulated divinity (regardless of believe) to satisfy his own "ego" (as in defined by Freud). Pope Benedict was instrumental in making rights to some wrongs of the past. Sad that he his leaving so soon." - Varmman

Jason Berry is the author of “Render Unto Rome: The Secret Life of Money in the Catholic Church.”

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : The rising menace of intolerance

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : The rising menace of intolerance

Should the word tolerance be used at all to describe human relations? Wouldn't understanding be a better word? Adherence to diversity in unity would be something that civil libertarians fought for. Globalization whilst developing proximity, it is also exposing awareness on divergence and making humans more insecure about their own believes and value systems. More so today, acceptance of this divergence, void of self reference criterion has become a challenge in maintaining sensibility of human relations. Convergence may seem and easy way out, but it has become equally disarray with cross continent human mobility. Thus instead of TOLERANCE I would believe contextual AWARENESS and UNDERSTANDING may pave the way for greater HUMAN CAMARADERIE. 

Yesterday my nephew Pravin Kumar wrote that "love conquers all", and I replied "Love Kills Too". Yesterday many of you would have realised that a girl jumped to her death in a major shopping complex purportedly minutes after having an argument with her boyfriend.

Some say that it is cowardice to do so and others believe that it takes much courage. Regardless, the state of mind at that second when someone wants to commit an act is very much driven by an overwhelmed emotion, that takes control of all sensibilities.

LOVE like any other emotion is a state of mind, managing it like any other (emotion) would help one to deal with the ups and down of that state.

Oedipus, Cleopatra, Shah Jehan, and even the bard have all a common theme in their LOVE story...DEATH. Interestingly it is believed that even St Valentine wrote "from your Valentine" to the daughter of Asterius (the Jailer where St Valentine was imprisoned) just before his execution.

Perhaps Valentines Day should be a day of contemplation of LOVE rather than the day to celebrate LOVE. After all don't you think that LOVE should be celebrated everyday!!!