Musings Own Thoughts

  This question has haunted me for a long time and I do not think I have an answer to it. Since time immemorial there have been power asymmetries and there have been oppressors and the oppressed. Revolts against the oppressor have been seen and the fight between good and evil is the subject of books, wars and the basis of religions. The simplistic narrative of all such situations is that evil is all evil and good is all good and the good will eventually win and destroy evil. This is the black and white certainty of most of our belief systems the stuff of our childhood story tales and Hindi films which end with a happy ending.  The symbolism since time has been the theme of dark forces black battling against the good forces which are always shown as bright or pure white.  The power of our conscience is such that we see everything clearly and in many cases we see wrong things being done like stealing, cheating, being unfaithful, deceiving, slandering and even killing. At su...

 Today I wish to write about the wisdom of the Buddhas signified by the Japanese proverb.  See no Evil. Hear no Evil. Speak no Evil. Think or Do no Evil.  While this seems good to display, is it justified in terms of way things pan out in this world. We are surrounded by evil forces and the high standards of ethical and moral behaviour are rarely if ever upheld. The lines between correct and incorrect are indistinct if not completely invisible.  Many believe that we are living in the worst times, where the human intellect has fallen beyond measure. But this position too is relative as evil and good exist as surely as day and night for as long as humans existed and will continue to do so in differing proportions. So while it is important to recognize this duality it is equally important to be extra careful to verify and be clear as to the veracity of what is fact or fiction and truth or untruth.  The monkeys or Buddhas are symbolic of a slow measured pace of life...

 There are a few books I usually read simultaneously and the sequence of books read is generally random based on some recommendations.  Many of these are heavy non fiction books. Books on public policy have been on my reading list for a while and the realization that simplistic state interventions based on hunches not well researched can have effects which are opposite of what was intended. The state by itself tends to be an oppressor and has a monopoly on sanctioned violence. So if the common rights of one are infringed by another there are laws to justify punishing the infrigers on behalf of the oppressed. While there maybe safeguards to prevent misuse, these too can be set aside and state can selectively misuse the law and become an oppressor itself. The state can and does take away your land and possessions for the greater common good and also in fact take nearly one third of your hard earned money as tax to ensure you get basic amenities and as a nation guard you against ...

 First principles say that God is defined in the dictionary in different ways. There are broadly two  main connotations of the word. GOD spelt always in capital is a supreme power or entity mainly abstract and even if concrete an entity all powerful, all knowing but which does not have an actual face. The second concept is one of ruler, an all pervading entity and a director who is in charge with an actual face.  This concept evolved in human history over many ages and based on the ability of the human mind to comprehend, anything large, incomprehensible, unexplainable became akin to God. The nomadic prehistoric man objectified God as in whatever helped him survive and overcome his adversaries.So a large tree, rocks, walls and dense forests or even storms, rivers, lightering and thunder which created a favourable outcome with respect to survival against animals enemies became God. As he got domesticated and started keeping animals and made agriculture and food production ...