PANKAJ

During their process of becoming greatest in the respective era's, Lord Rama went to exile and so did Arjuna (which obviously is more of metaphorical for mango man like us) If need be, would I go to exile? Welcome to another curious post  Will I go to exile?  NO! But why...even when heroes like Rama and Arjuna did go? Am I apprehensive or helpless against the hardships? Or Am I bound in shackles of the material world...?  NO! Do I need a wife as committed as Sita who would throw away the material world in a split-second for me...? NO! Do I yearn for a brother like Lakshamana for whom world would mean me, to accompany me...?  NO! Do I expect a brother like Bharata to carry my footwear on his head and run administration on my name...?  NO! Do I desire to meet a committed soul like Hanuman who would vouch on my name...?  NO! Do I desire ruling kingdoms as end result similar to case of Rama and Arjuna?  NO! What do I need then...? So that I am not la...

Unsure of the actual source of the diagram below, this surely used to send me to guilt trips making me feel embarrassed. Is worrying so seriously useless and am I so silly that I couldn't realize such a simple thing?!! Let's discuss another curious case Well, upon reflection I could finally come out of my embarrassment and realize that there’s nothing wrong with worrying. No one worries purposefully.... After all, worry is just as natural as excitement. Have we not seen many kids/teenagers anticipating their birthday's weeks in advance? When we don't blame people for getting excited while anticipating good things, why do we blame people for getting worried while anticipating bad things? It is as simple! I write this very vehemently to tell people who preach againt overthinking that yes over-thinking and worrying is bad but nothing to make anybody feel foolish about it. Stop sending people on guilt trips... PLEASE!! Maybe, worry and their conscious thinking are ...

If "If it is meant to be, it will come to you no matter what" vs "If you want it, go get it!" We are often confronted by these two mutually exclusive thought patterns. So who wins in this classic tug of war between efforts & destiny? Welcome to yet another blog in curious case series Often I have found myself and numerous others going through this perpetual debate of efforts vs destiny when it comes to fulfilment of desires and wishes. Often, we have mixed experiences. Certain things which are meant to occur happen no matter what often without the individual putting any conscious efforts. Where in certain things for which, even if one move mountains, they simply don't move! So what's the verdict? What's the bigger truth - efforts or destiny? Can efforts outperform destiny and the existing system as it works - just like Sage Vishwamitra once tried to create a parallel universe? Barring such exceptional cases, I would like to sum up my thoughts ...

   Judgement is absence of empathy   In the last two blogs, we discussed in detail about things which took centre-stage in Bhishma's life. Coming to conclusion, Bhishma's life was a roller coaster ride and like a painful oxymoron of being the most powerful yet being the most hapless one . He took commands from masters he may not have liked and executed things which he personally might never agree to. He unwillingly fought from Kaurava's side in the Mahabharata battle and even in the battle, he could not do complete justice neither with the warrior inside him nor for the side he fought for. He fought only to prevent Kaurava's defeat and never to kill Pandavas and win the war for Kauravas. Another pity for a warrior of his stature. At this point his condition looks seriously pitiable...nowhere to go! He endured and endured before getting killed by his own great grandson Arjuna and died a death which also had an element of ploy in it. Bhishma's lif...

  Judgement is absence of empathy   Welcome to part II of this curious case series on Bhishma We discussed in the previous blog that oath which Bhishma took does not look the real problem. After all, let's not forget that the war happened between the great grandchildren of Bhisma i.e 3 generations later => his oath did serve the purpose for the timeline which he might have anticipated while taking the oath!   Thinking about the real problem, the answer according to me is the "time" it took Hastinapur to get the just and stable rule Bhishma wanted and the fact that Bhishma was no ordinary mortal. Rather, arguably the most powerful warriors of his times, one who withstood even Lord Parshurama in one-on-one battle! No surprises that Hastinapur was safe from invasions during his time. Pandu was short-lived, Dhritrashtra was blind, Drona joined Hastinapur later, Pandavas/Kauravas grew up as warriors much later. For a significant period of time, the security of the kingdom...

Judgement is absence of empathy   Bhishma, arguably has been the most discussed character from the mega epic Mahabharata. More often than not, he had been under scanner and been criticised left, right and centre for his debated inability to stop Draupadi's disrobing among other things and the eventual happening of war. Criticism of Bhishma has gone to the point that it has become like a trend among all newbies who explore the text that "read the text and blame Bhishma"! But was Bhishma as simple the character as it seems and was his decision making as easy as it sounds to enthusiasts like us? Can someone with divine origins and one who stood undefeated against Parshurama in battle, be such a simply silly person? Let’s try to explore in yet another curious case. All the criticism which Bhishma faces, roots of it mostly go to his oath of never marrying and serving loyally to the seated king of Hastinapur while never be...

Motivation is garbage - Mel Robbins  People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily - Zig Zigler  Idea is persistent, but inspiration to pursue it is temporary - Rework book If you need inspiring words, don't do it - Elon Musk  Twitterati is going crazy these days with Gen Z giving a lot of philosophical insights. Some of them are hell bent on questioning everything which seemingly has prevented the structure from collapsing so far. (By the way...there is a difference between asking questions and questioning things, isn't it?) "Overrated" is the word people are after these days and prefixing it with every known "good" thing. Is networking overrated? Are books overrated? Is motivation overrated? and so on So coming back to the question of this blog, is motivation overrated? Here’s my take  I don't think that if one needs motivation for doing something, he isn't aligned with it. ...

Why anger? How does it come into being? Is it always bad and is it only bad? What role does it play in our lives? Anger surely is a curious case in more ways than one could think of. My curiosity to understand anger and an attempted response to one of my friends' poems made me write this poem on anger (https://vaishnaavi.wordpress.com/2020/09/22/anger/) Anger It deprives you of oxygen like poison..... It burns you like fire !! Maybe....it's the weapon of destiny For......it may make you do what you never desire! Or maybe it is a litmus test of your character... For......a moment of rage can destroy what all you acquire Only the finest of men can withstand and justify.... While a lot of them might still acquire! Control and composure is what it simply demands.... For......a word ill spoken may invite undue ire! Most potent it is.... just a moment of it can materialise.... What takes fate......eons to conspire!! Even Gods aren't immune to it... It's as fundamental as lov...

Why do I post blogs with the title “curious” when it could very well be “obvious” for many readers? :) Here’s the heart-felt answer From curious to obvious, And from obvious to curious.. Learning and unlearning is a journey, Beautiful but arduous! To share the same with you all, An experience rewarding and joyous! Finding answers, and at times finding questions A cyclic process from time immemorial, To the zero ubiquitous... Trespassing my mind daily, thoughts a million Trying to capture them, an attempt very audacious Few caught, many forgotten Left behind, a trail very gorgeous!

               With great power comes great responsibility. Same goes for privileges! Freedom definitely is enjoyed by all but the interesting question is, is freedom genuinely understood and valued by all? More importantly, is it well interpreted by all in the first place? Welcome to another blog in curious case series. All of us need freedom right….it’s after all a basic human right. History has many unsettling incidents of how tormentors did atrocities to people often defying them their freedom. Many countries including India have won its freedom after enormous bloodshed over very long period of time which makes freedom a huge privilege and also a matter of great responsibility. We are highly privileged to be living not only in the era of freedom, but also in the era of technology. Internet, which once was a luxury is now in everyone’s pocket. Freedom + Internet in today’s world is pretty much any one might ask for to break free the shack...