15 YEARS AGO, IN HIKKADUWA, ON BOXING DAY

Greeja and I revisited Hikkaduwa and Galle after a span of 15 years just a few weeks ago. We were in Sri Lanka with our daughter Raviena on January 2004, enjoying the sun, beach and whetting our appetite with great seafood, not realizing that exactly 11 months from our visit there, the whole scenario would change. 

Christmas day 2004, I was on the couch watching TV and Greeja was in the kitchen. Suddenly I felt rather dizzy and felt the floor move under my feet. My fear was that something was happening to me,  and I called out to Greeja, and she said she was experiencing  the same dizziness. But it stopped after a while, and then they flashed on the TV saying that North West of Sumatra was hit by an earthquake.  Reports indicated that some parts of Peninsula Malaysia experienced tremors due to the earthquake. 

If the earthquake caused damage to the immediate proximity to the epicenter, it was the subsequent Tsunami that created one of the greatest destruction in the living history of mankind.  

Memorial Tomb

The above monument stands as a reminder to the wrath of nature which took away 36595 (official) lives in Sri Lanka in one fist of fury. This monument was erected above an open burial ground that houses thousands of unidentified dead persons in the aftermath of the Tsunami devastation  at Hikkaduwa. 

Marked Grave 

Greeja and I visited the Tsunami Photo Museum at Telwatta, a few kilometers from Hikkaduwa. We had the same haunting feeling as when we visited the Killing Fields in Cambodia. This was one of the few Tsunami photo museums there. Ms Kamini, a survivor of the 2004 Tsunami, ushered us around the Tsunami Museum, which actually was the site of her home before the Tsunami devastated the entire home to oblivion. She lost many of her family members and friends on that fateful Boxing Day. 

Tsunami Photo Museum

Floor Foundation

"The above floor foundation is the only thing that was left after the water resided" she said, in a deep sorrowful voice.

The Canvas Tent

And she excitedly pointed to the tethered canvas above, and exclaimed that was the tent which served as her home until proper placement took place several months later. She as many others we met are still in the state of confusion as to why this had to happen to them, I really don't know whether they have really moved on or even made peace with themselves or with their Maker on what befell them on that day.

Telwatta also witnessed the death of more than 1600 persons who were trapped in the Colombo - Galle mail train. As the train was approaching the Telwatta station,  a huge wave about 24 - 29 feet above sea level swept through the train, uprooting the train with its track, which was located approximately 200 meters from the shore line. Since it was a Full Moon holiday coupled with Christmas, the train was carrying an unusually large number of passengers, none of whom survived.

Photo of The Twisted Railway Track

The Lament of The Survivors

More Messages From Survivors

An Obituary

Below are the drawings as seen by the surviving young children who witnessed this calamity.

These pictures were drawn by Surviving Children 

During the calamity, people also witnessed certain intriguing events. Amongst which was that the entire Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya (Temple) which is located in a small island off Hikkduwa was totally spared by the Tsunami, but claiming everything on the coast adjacent to it, perhaps just about 600 meters away.

                                                                                Seenigama Vihar                                                                                                                                                                     

Another interesting thing about this temple is, the water from its well is fresh water and not salty as it should be. Lord Devol Deviyo who is the main deity at this temple believed to be the patron of fisherman. There is a story behind Lord Devol, but that we will keep it for another day.

The Fresh Water Well

The fragility of human lives can be recounted from the harrowing experiences by the people of Sri Lanka, whilst nature was displacing people on this side of the island, in the north however human recklessness was seeing the death of more than 100000 people, which eventually came to an end in 2009.

Sri Lanka, the Tear Drop of India, was also famously quoted as Serendib, Island of Dharma and also the Pearl of the Orient, had gone through it's own wretched past, but looking at the people today at Hikkaduwa, they have surely rebounded. The past is still etched in their memory but they are not allowing it to weigh them down in their pursuit to build a better tomorrow.

We left Hikkaduwa that day, quite for sometime, not really talking, but trying to take in the overwhelming stories by the locals, and wondering in amazement how life reconciles and evolves with or without people who may have mattered at different points in time.

Our existence only goes as far back as the memories of someone who still remembers us, thus there goes the insignificance of "I". All the inherited and created ego of an individual can be just washed   away in a blink of an eye, so why the self-conceit when one is alive.

Honganji Vihara

This statue of Buddha posing with the Abhaya Mudra was erected facing the sea near the site of the railway track that killed thousands on that unfortunate day. Abhaya Mudra is a gesture of fearlessness and provides reassurance and safety, which is also supposed to dispel fear and provide divine protection and bliss. Note carefully that this Buddha sculpture is based on the Bamiyan design that was destroyed in Afghanistan by the Taliban. The key message is HOPE and hence PERSEVERANCE.

This reminds me of a Tamil poem in  Purananuru, written by Kaniyan Pungundran (2nd century CE) that goes like this (translated) :

"Every village is my village and every person is from my kin.

Like a lot of things in life good and bad cannot be attributed to other as they come from within us.

Likewise, agony and relief of agony come without any external triggers but from within us.

Death is not unheard of or new.  

It unnecessary to rejoice that life is sweet or complain in anger that life is bitter.

Like rafts drifting along in the rapids of a great river, dashing over the rocks after a downpour (from skies resounding with thunder and lightning), our lives, no matter how dear, follows its own course.

We know this from the vision of wise seers who can see.

So, we are neither awestruck by the great nor do we belittle the ‘not so great."

This poem proposes the idea of equality amongst all living being, and with equanimity it can bring about peace and harmony within mankind as well as with nature.

Alas human GREED seems insatiable, more destruction is forthcoming, injustice is on the rise, not only the helpless suffer but poor mother nature is severely taking the beating. 

I trust that HOPE for a better tomorrow lies within every citizen of the world, by bringing about change to themselves first.

Today is 26 December 2019, Boxing Day, 15 years ago since the earthquake in North West Sumatra with a magnitude of 9.1 triggered a series of Tsunamis as high as 30 meters, hitting the shores of 14 countries and causing death to an estimate of 227,898 people. With one swift blow it changed the lives of many. 

So in remembering that fateful day, let us reflect and ponder on the fragility of life and what should all of us do to make the world a better place to live.

Ravi Varmman

1456

26122019

Subang Jaya

Rabbit Is Up to Tricks

In a world long before this one, there was enough for everyone,

Until somebody got out of line.

We heard it was Rabbit, fooling around with clay and the wind.

Everybody was tired of his tricks and no one would play with him;

He was lonely in the world.

So Rabbit thought to make a person.

And when he blew into the mouth of that crude figure to see 

What would happen,

The clay man stood up, 

Rabbit showed the clay man how to steal a chicken.

The clay man obeyed.

Then he showed him how to steal corn.

The clay man obeyed.

Then he showed him how to steal someone else's wife.

The clay man obeyed. 

Rabbit felt important and powerful.

And once that clay man started, he could not stop.

Once he took that chicken, he wanted all the chickens.

And once he took that corn, he wanted all the corn.

And once he took that wife, he wanted all the wives.

He was insatiable.

Then he had a taste of gold and he wanted all the gold.

Then it was land and anything else he saw.

His wanting only made him want more.

Soon it was countries, and then it was trade.

The wanting infected the earth.

We lost track of the purpose and reason for life.

We began to forget our songs. We forgot our stories.

We could no longer see or hear our ancestors,

Or talk with each other across the kitchen table.

Forests were being mowed down all over the world.

And Rabbit had no place to play.

Rabbit's trick had backfired.

Rabbit tried to call the clay man back.

But when the clay man wouldn't listen

Rabbit realized he's made a clay man with no ears.

A poem by Joy Harjo

The First Native American US Laureate Poet

This poem captures the very essence of human evolution, where GREED has over ran HUMANITY, where GREED Has Become a norm rather than an exception, where GREED has become A Way of Life, where GREED Is No Longer an Ethical concern. 

Ravi Varmman

11.11

20062019

Subang Jaya.

Narrative of The Bogey Man: A Malaysian Tale

My dear friend Raj shared a heartwarming video on how innocence is blind when it comes to human diversity. Similarly, another friend posted another video which was actually a true story of how a good Samaritan helped an impoverished family to eventually lead a better life. Why was this particular story endearing? Well both the Samaritan and the beneficiary are of different races. So what? After all this is Malaysia, where we have always been proud of multi-racial and multi ethnicity as the fundamental fabric of our society. 

Alas all may not be as it seems. Racial tensions, religious bigotry and political divide have slowly penetrated into the psyche of the various communities. With social media abound and with wider footprint, even the slightest of murmur picks up an instant storm. The powers that be (the new political entity, Coalition of Hope) are not only laden with establishing their own style of governance but have to also deal with this socio political upheaval that is threatening to disenfranchise itself.

Man have always been afraid of the Bogeyman. The Bogeyman is a universal figure that has appeared in folklore all around the world, with a single agenda, that is to frighten children to submission. Since it is an imagined character, the appearance and depth of fear of the bogeyman is as far as the child can imagine.

In a chaotic sociopolitical landscape, the bogeyman can manifest in multitude of forms, society regresses to their own cocooned world to seek psychological comfort from this character. To the believer the bogeyman is real, to the fence sitters perhaps they don’t want to take any chances, and to the sceptics they prefer to stay silent.  The consequences, the noise of the believer becomes louder and drowns sensibility, which eventually translates into mainstream credence. And that’s when a plural society starts to show cracks, which if not addressed with immediacy, could harm the paramountcy of a nation.

Witnessing the video, one friend quipped, “how I wish more Malaysians would be like the Samaritan in the heart rending incident,”, I would dare say to him that all Malaysians are like that. We have always been a peace loving and caring society. Race and religion never mattered to us especially when it comes to human empathy. But somehow along the way, the bogeyman had hijacked our mindset by filling it with fear and suspicion.

Freddy Krueger is playing out his mischief in our dreams. If only Malaysians wake up from this slumber the bogeyman would vanish, and we could restore who we were in the first place ........... MALAYSIANS. As long as the bogeyman resides in our psyche in whatever form, we will remain divided.

Compatriots from my era may know this song by heart, "Malaysia Berjaya", a patriotic song composed by Mustapha Hussain,  just after the Indonesian confrontation which ended in 1966. Then the bogeyman was Indonesia, the fear was real to many, but this song brought hope, confidence and the spirit of unity that bonded Malaysians for years to come.

Revisiting this song is like revisiting my school days .......

Malaysia kita sudah berjaya

Aman makmur bahagia

Malaysia abadi selamanya

Berjaya dan berjaya

Berbagai kaum sudah berikrar

Menuju cita-cita

Satu bangsa satu negara

Malaysia berjaya

Dari Perlis sampailah ke Sabah

Kita sudah merdeka

Negara makmur rakyat mewah

Kita sudah berjaya

Dengan semboyan kita berjaya

Menuju di angkasa

Satu bangsa satu negara

Malaysia berjaya

English Translation:

Our Malaysia has succeed

Peaceful and radiant

Malaysia forever shall you live

and achieve more success!

The people have pledged

to strive for the aspiration

Of one people, one language

Successful Malaysia!

From Perlis to Sabah

We are now free

A prosperous nation, with affluent people

We have succeed!

With the bugle we sound our success

Shooting for the stars

One people, one nation

Successful Malaysia!

Those were the times when we as school children roamed free without total inhibition, without pride or prejudice. Race and religion did not matter in our bonding, it was all about Malaysia, one PEOPLE AND ONE NATION.

Alas this spirit seems to somehow wean, and eventually was overtaken by new sociopolitical direction that promoted divisive agenda as opposed to the wishes of the founding fathers of this great nation.

We have to get rid the fear of the bogeyman, for this imagined fear has done enough damage to the nation and its people.

So let’s join arms in arms, together drive the mischievous bogeyman out of our psyche and embrace acceptance and forge ahead to build a greater future.

To all ALL MUSLIMS, today is the first day of the fasting month, Best Wishes to everyone for a meaningful beginning.

Let’s celebrate compassion and brotherhood.

Let's bring back the GLORY DAYS.

Ravi Varmman

Subang Jaya

1145

06052019

PARADOX OF EXPECTATIONS: A TAMIL NEW YEAR STORY

The first day of the Tamil Year is about to end in 30 minutes. The Bengali's call it Pohela Boisakh and the Singhalese call the day Nava Vasarakh , New Year in any other name brings the same meaning which is wrought with hope of the mortal world.

Tamilians all over the world would have started the day with prayer and followed by Thanksgiving meals. But one thing that would be common is the aspirations for a better year ahead, with lots of prosperity, health and wealth included. 

When many were celebrating today, my dear friend was grieving for the passing away of his Mum. Aunty was a Grand Lady, leading the fullest life seeing through her great grandchildren too. A very unassuming soft spoken lady, was definitely a great loss not only to my friend and his family but also to people who know this gentle person. Many who came for her wake reminisced their own story about her and how she had touched their lives. 

Soon this grief would wean, life would go on, and to many Aunty would be just a distant memory, and everyone would be back on their mortal pursuits with hope and many with accompanied action. 

Death does bring reflection of our own existence,  but the problem is the staying power of this reflection seem weak. Hence in many, the reflection does not translate into lifelong righteousness, instead the obsession towards sublunary pursuits by the beleaguered mind tends to be overwhelming. 

Every beginning has an end, life and death are the only certainty, everything else that happens in between is purely incidental. But the ability to convert this incidentality  into a meaningful chapter would be entirely on the hands of the beholder. To live resolutely with utmost tenacity may seem incomprehensible but with the right awareness, and it's corresponding attitude thereafter should make it possible.

A NEW YEAR is the time to reflect, contemplate, and celebrate the life and time we have led with all the people that have touched our lives, and reciprocally to look ahead to bring forth the same significance in other people’s life in front of us.

To Aunty Mary I dedicate this poem to you:

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

 I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

(Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there, I did not die!)

by Mary Frye

To my Dear Friend, I share your loss. 

Ravi Varmman

0111am

15042019

Subang Jaya.

NELSONIAN KNOWLEDGE

WHAT AM I?

Lord Millet in a judgment in the House of Lords in 2002 said, "It is dishonest for a man deliberately to shut his eyes to facts which he would prefer not to know. If he does so, he is taken to have actual knowledge of the facts to which he shut his eyes. Such knowledge has been described as "Nelsonian knowledge", meaning knowledge which is attributed to a person as a consequence of his "wilful blindness" or (as American lawyers describe it) "contrived ignorance".

Who is the Nelson that Lord Millet is referring to? Well it is none other than Admiral Horatio Nelson, of British Royal Navy. As history records, that Nelson was blinded in one eye in his early stewardship with the Royal Navy. At the battle of Copenhagen in 1801, in order to defy orders from the  then Commander of Chief to retreat, Nelson intentionally placed his telescope on the blind eye and said,  "I have a right to be blind sometimes. I really do not see the signal," and he pushed forward his vessel into battle.

Interestingly this was a story that I read a long time ago, but a recent incident tickled my senses to revisit the phrase. John Walcott a correspondent of TIME magazine, during an interview with Brooke Baldwin of CNN on the topic of US Presidential Intelligence briefing, used the phrase "willful ignorance" with respect to Trump's action on the matter.

When the President of US of A, thinks that Button and Nipple are part of India, that should be pretty nightmarish for the personnel who work for the US$81 billion dollar a year, intelligence entity. By the way forgive me for not clarifying what Button and Nipple means, actually that's how the President of US of A had been alleged to have pronounced Bhutan and Nepal.

MY LIFE IN THE BOX

Willful ignorance is a contemporary terminology that means the same as Nelsonian Knowledge.

However Nelson may have had his reason, to act deliberately to pursue his agenda, whilst knowing very well of the orders that may come from the Commander in Chief of that day, should he use the non impaired eye.

Unfortunately, today, blatant ignorance seems to be the order of the day. A blinkered vision mars good sense and intelligence in many people. Be it political ideology, economic models, social order as well as religious dogmas. 

It appears that people can see but they are not looking, they can hear but not listening. I dread to think that we are probably at the brink of a zombie apocalypse.

In one country, a Minister of Internal Affairs upon returning from overseas, was immediately arrested at the airport on charges of corruption. On the other hand in another land a Deputy Foreign Affairs minister claimed he was educated at a prestigious university, which he was not, but his colleagues came to his defense claiming that afterall he did not commit rape or steal. What bothers me is the level of tolerance at the latter speaks volume of the state of mind of the people there.

The danger will be when the willful ignorance of a numero uno of an entity is fed willfully by his /her lackeys which in turn becomes a fodder for the creation of  a false ego of the numero uno, which can be destructive not only to the numero uno but also to the institution the person represents. 

Former Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe is a case in point, where in his pursuit to bring  socio-economic justice to the Shonas, he destroyed the entire Zimbawean socio-economic platform established by the earlier colonial government. What was set out to bring his poor Shona people out of misery, ended up just the opposite.

In the corporate world Michael Dell of Dell Inc. would be a classic case in point. He started his company when he was 19 years old, by 2001 Dell became the largest computer provider in the world. All that started to spiral downwards, as the company was hounded by inscrutable decisions, legal problems and stunted innovation  which points to the numero uno at that time. 

Both individuals suffered the endemic ego as their parasitic affliction. Were they conscious of this? I believe their willful ignorance, coupled with willful feeding by the minions around them, sugar coated their problems.

This problem seem more pronounced now than ever before. That's ironical isn't it? Aren't we more knowledgeable now than say 30 years ago, having access to more information within our finger tips? 

Perhaps that's our problem, information over load, can't handle the volume, too much to compute and decipher. So what's the solution, compartmentalize information based on need and interest. No fret,  that's taken care too.  Our very own social networking platform and search engines are already doing just that.  

At the end of the day, we are only exposed to what has been predetermined by us, unless of course we want to leave our comfort zone and seek anew. Takers are limited I believe, and the rest of the world goes on believing what they have been programmed to believe. 

So ignorance can be bliss but in world that is governed by disruptions, shorter technological developmental cycles, extreme people diversity, I believe not only the numero uno, but all of us have to come out of this quagmire to ensure 'real' human development. 

Otherwise we will end up as the "Dead Living." 

If you know what I mean, the opposite of the "Living Dead."

I AM OUT OF THE BOX

By the way the story of Lord Horatio Nelson does not end there, his intentional decision to disobey Lord Hyde Parker the then Commanding Admiral, and the eventual ceasefire with Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark brought triumph not only to Britain but Nelson was appointed as Viscount Nelson of Nile, the new Commander in Chief of the Royal Navy. Poor Lord Parker was recalled to London and was stripped of his position.

If only the British fleet commanded by Nelson lost that day owing to his insubordination, perhaps history would have been rewritten.

Four years later, Nelson died at Trafalgar at the young age of 47. On the sunny afternoon of 21st October 1805, Nelson's fleet was facing the combined forces of the Franco-Spanish fleet, outnumbered and out gunned, Nelson pushed forward with his strategy to cut off communication and put the Franco-Spanish fleet into disarray which he indeed did. But alas his victory from the HMS Victory came with a huge price, he was fired at from the French navy ship " Redoubtable", just before it surrendered. Historical record states that Napoleon lived long enough to witness his victory of that day, and when Captain Hardy of HMS Victory came to report of the victory, Nelson quivered to Hardy, "Thank God...Thank God ..... I have done my duty" before he closed his eyes for the last time.

Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson went down in British history as the greatest naval commander, a man who took pride in his character, career, who lived for his country, and most importantly as an officer who cared for his men.

Perhaps Nelson qualifies to be willfully ignorant. But can anyone choose to indulge in such wanton behaviour whenever he likes? Well Napoleon Bonaparte, who was Nelson's nemesis at the Battle of Trafalgar was also another character who suffered from willful ignorance. 

........but that story I will leave for another day.  

I AM ALIVE

Not all persons are built the same way, hence to LOOK, LISTEN and OBSERVE should be a mantra that all of should adhere to, rather living in falsehood. 

ravi varmman

23.29

Subang Jaya

7 February 2019 

  

  

MAN'S BEST FRIEND AT VARANASI

I AM THE BOSS

Have you ever been to a place where man's best friend is indeed a best friend where they roam freely without any inhibition.  Well, then welcome to Varanasi (aka Kashi and Banares), the land where dogs are the Boss.

Yeah we know you are doing the Tarpanam (ritual for the deceased), but were you kind to the deceased when Alive?

Have any one wondered why dogs have such privilege at Varanasi? Legend has it that Lord Kala Bhairava's companion was a dog. Who is Kala Bhairav  According to the Hindu Puranas, Kala Bhairava is another representation of Lord Shiva in the most terrifying form. In the Skanda Purana, the Lord Kala Bhairava emerged out of Shiva's third eye to subdue the egoist tryst that Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu had in claiming who is the most superior being. The Skanda Purana concludes that Brahma's 5th head was severed by Kala Bhairava to subdue Brahma's ego, resulting in  Kala Bhairava incurring the sin of Brahmahathya, where it is stated that the Brahma's head got stuck in Kala Bhairava's hands. Kala Bhairava was advised to walk through the 3 worlds to seek a place where his sins could be washed off. Finally arriving at Varanasi or Kashi, Brahma's head dropped off from Kala Bhairava's hand and ever since then, Kashi or Varanasi has been the spot where Hindus believe, by virtue of immersing oneself in the Ganges river at Kashi,  one's sins will be washed off so that the person could reduce their cycle of birth and death and eventually attaining liberation.

My Bed of Roses 

Over My Dead Body

We Need Our Tan

Kama (lust), Krodha (Anger) Loba (Greed), Moha (Temptation), Mada (Pride) and Matsarya (Jealousy or Envy) are all the manifestation of ones ego, hence the rise of Kala Bhairava within the philosophical context of Sanathana Dharma (Hinduism) was to destroy all the six enemies that inhibit one's spiritual growth which ultimately leads to one's liberation.

The Wretched Body Has To Go

So where does the dog come in this equation?  Well the dog represents undivided love. Although the story of Kala Bhairava was narrated differently in various literature, but one thing that was consistent in all was the companionship of the dog with Kala Bhairava, which stood steadfastly with Kala Bhairava in his journey through the 3 worlds.

So what shall we do Now?

Interestingly dogs play a significant role in Sanathana Dharma (Hinduism). Dogs have senses that can detect illness in people (medical science has already proven this) hence it is stated that even Lord Yama (Lord of Death) will be careful in taking away someone's life if the beholder has a dog in his home. 

Ok Hurry it up Bro, I can't be Waiting the whole Day

Saint Manikavasagar uses the word 'dog' 72 times in his composition of Shivite hymn, Thiruvasagam, to describe the concept of devotion towards divinity.

The Vedas mention that it is compulsory that one leaves a handful of food for the dog before going to bed, otherwise it is deemed that the house dweller is living in an incomplete house.

And I am sure all of us have heard about the chivalry of dogs throughout history and its bonding with children and adults alike.

Hence it is not surprising that dogs are referred to as man's best friend.

Hey whats Happening?

Is it any surprise that the reverse of dog is "GOD"?

Is it a coincidence?  I don't know.

My first encounter with a dog friendly environment was at Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. It was not surprising since Tiruvannamalai was the home to Ramana Maharshi, a Saint who had lived all his life who practiced compassion to all beings, and in particular to dogs and especially towards Karupi the dog who had been his constant companion. Even up to today his values on compassion is evident at his Ashram, where dogs, peacocks, monkeys roam around freely in the grounds. 

For us our late KRYSTAL and ABBY (Abhirami) had always been our boon for comfort and love, and when they died it was indeed traumatic for our family.  Today we are blessed with ATHENA and ARYAAN, who came into our lives about 11 months ago, and happily chewed the front door, the wooden shoe rack, the brick wall and of course the innumerable foot wear. These are our everyday haunting, but the the siblings are still adorable.

The Majestic Krystal 

The Heart Melting Abhirami....Abhirami....

The Adorable Rascals Aryaan & Athena 

Back in Varanasi, everyday seems to be a "DOGS"  day out. As the photos describe, they come in all shapes, sizes and colours. To me it was a sight to behold, never saw so many dogs roaming free without a care or concern.

Ok I have been Marked

Don't you want to be my friend, I am the new kid on the Block?

With so much cruelty towards animals which  we see around us, perhaps Varanasi is a dogs paradise. Looking at these dogs, it gives hope on humanity, ie. KINDNESS. 

So the next time if you are in Varanasi and do come across a dog, feed it, perhaps you may wash your sins away........or at least you will have the satisfaction of feeding a stray.

ravi varmman

Subang Jaya

14.32

4th February 2019

        

FREEDOM II

FREEDOM IS NOT A REACTION;

FREEDOM IS NOT A CHOICE,

FREEDOM IS FOUND IN THE CHOICELESS AWARENESS

OF YOUR DAILY EXISTENCE 

AND ACTIVITY

Imagined Control

As expounded by Jiddu Krisnamurti, the state of unpremeditated, complete awareness of the present without preference, effort or compulsion.

Is this even possible today when we are hogged by a consumerist culture. A new world of quick fixes, even spirituality is seen as a commodity. 

The state of stillness would be impossible for distraction comes in all shapes and forms, and the most destructive one comes virtually. The virtual realm exposes one to an infinite probability of choice, which in it self becomes stifling, that strangulates our very own existence . 

Perhaps freedom of choice only expresses the ability for one to choose freely within a given choice in a particular boundary.

In one of my social networking group, someone proposed a view that man's ability to describe GOD seem very reflective of himself. My reply was, isn't it logical, where man's ability to imagine is determined as far as his faculties permits. So as much as he tries, his imagination is still boundered by what he is exposed, hence the concept of limitless is a misnomer within this perspective.

Imagination

Freedom should give the beholder the capacity for self knowledge and the ability to make free as well as rationale choices. Some say that with the advent of technological advancement with greater access to information people may embrace greater freedom. But this in fact is an oxymoron because what goes in the virtual world has its own conspiring theories. The internet has the capacity to magnify propaganda and politicize issues both at individual and societal level. Case in point is Cambridge Analytica and its alleged role in the US presidential election.

The paradox of boundered freedom can be clearly seen none other than in the US where Americans are spending more money trying to defend their right to free speech than benefiting from it.

So is there real freedom as aspired by Jiddu or have we been conned to believe in an assumed utopia that we are living with free will, just because we believe that we are an independent and rational thinking consumers.

But then again what about the bombardment of advertising that constantly hounds us ...........

Bounded Mind

Confined Mind

Abraham Lincoln and Mohandas Gandhi had their tryst with freedom and we all know the consequences, neither the proponents lived to see their efforts nor the benefactors fully realized its outcome.


ravi varmman
Subang Jaya
18.36
29 January 2019