RANDOM THOUGHTS 211 TO 225

211. When India play cricket, I always pray for its win. On all other occasions, I only pray for the weaker team to win. Am I correct?

212. In one day cricket, if we win the toss, 1. We must opt for batting first if we have bowling strength. 2. We must of opt of bowling first if we have batting strength.

213. You feel tense Indians should not get out while batting but pray the opponents should get out while Indians bowl. Is it no confidence on Indians?

214. People who know the game of cricket, watch it at home on TV. People who do not know the game, go to the ground to enjoy the festive mood. Am I correct?

215. While cricket is a game of great uncertainty, how TV people are able to predict the winning chances, just when only one over is bowled?

216. Hockey is our national game. Chess originated from India. Then why cricket, a British game, is improvised and popularized in our country?

217. A cricketer would not have even played few matches, scored few runs, taken few wickets, but pride gets into his head and he becomes arrogant. How?

218. In earlier years, the cricket captain was free to take decisions. It is a collective decision now. Does it mean that he is no longer intelligent?

219. A cricketer is making big money now. Hence the adage "11 fools are playing and 11,000 fools are watching" does not apply now. Am I correct?

220. Every game has its own rules. Cricket is no exception. Many people do not know the intricacies of the game but they enjoy it. How come?

221. I am not an expert in cricket. I just know its rules, to score runs, to take wickets, to field, to captain, to behave and to win. Nothing more.

222. Hero worshiping is our in-born nature. Whether it is an actor or politician or cricketer, we worship. Why this mindset is not prevalent elsewhere?

223. After American independence, due to people's anti-British sentiments in the U.S,  Baseball was created in the place of cricket.

224. Both baseball and cricket feature a bat and a ball. Baseball was already popular in America. Hence cricket did not entice the Americans.

225. Americans like fast-paced games which are of short duration. Hence tennis, baseball, Basketball, and Football are popular as Cricket takes longer time.

பரமாச்சாரியாரின் பார்வையிலே - 6

ஒரு மரத்திலே புஷ்பத்திலிருந்து தான் காயும், பழமும் உண்டாகின்றன. புஷ்பமாக இருக்கும் போது மூக்குக்கும், பழமாக இருக்கும் போது நாக்குக்கும் ரஸமாக_இருக்கின்றன.

பழம் நல்ல மதுரமாக இருக்கிறது. இந்த மதுரம் வருவதற்கு முன் எப்படி இருந்தது? பூவில் கசப்பாகவும், பிஞ்சில் துவர்ப்பாகவும், காயில் புளிப்பாகவும், கனியில் மதுரமாகவும் இருக்கிறது..

மதுரம் என்பது தான் சாந்தம். சாந்தம் வந்தால் எல்லாப் பற்றும் போய் விடுகிறது. பழத்தில் மதுரம் பூராவாக நிரம்பிய உடனே கீழே விழுந்து விடுகிறது..

அது போல், இருதயத்தில் எல்லா இடத்திலும் மதுரம் வந்து விட்டால் தானாகவே எல்லாப் பற்றும் போய விடும்..புளிப்பு இருக்கும் வரை பற்றும் இருக்கும்..

அப்போது காயைப் பறித்தால் காம்பில் ஜலம் வரும். காயிலும் ஜலம் வரும். அதாவது, மரமும்  காயை விட்டு விட விரும்பவில்லை. காயும் மரத்தை விட்டு விட விரும்பவில்லை..

ஆனால், நிறைந்த மதுரமாக ஆகி விட்டால், தானாகவே  பற்றும் போய் விடும். பழமும் இற்று விழுந்து விடும். அதாவது, மரமும் பழத்தை வருந்தாமல் விட்டு விடுகிறது. பழமும் மரத்தைப்  பிரிய வருந்துவதில்லை.

படிப்படியாக வளர்ந்து மதுர மயமாக ஆகி விட்ட ஒவ்வொருவனும் இப்படியே ஆனந்தமாக சம்சார விருட்சத்திலிருந்து விடுபட்டு விடுவான்.

பழமாக ஆவதற்கு முன் ஆரம்ப தசையில் புளிப்பும், துவர்ப்பும் எப்படி வேண்டியிருக்கின்றனவோ, அதைப் போல காமம், வேகம், துடிப்பு எல்லாம் வேண்டியிருக்கின்றன.

இவற்றிலிருந்து நாம் ஆரம்ப தசையில் பூரணமாக விடுபட முடியாது.. ஆனாலும் இவை எல்லாம் ஏன் வருகின்றன? என்று அடிக்கடி நினைத்தாவது பார்க்க வேண்டும்.

இப்போது இன்ன உணர்ச்சி வந்ததே! ஆசை வந்ததே! கோபம் வந்ததே! பெருமை வந்ததே! பொய் வந்ததே! இதனால் ஏதாவது பிரயோஜனம் உண்டா? இந்த உணர்ச்சி அவசியமாக வருகிறதா? அனாவசியமாக வருகிறதா? என்று நினைத்துப் பார்க்க வேண்டும். 

அப்படி நினைக்கவில்லை என்றால் அவை நம்மை ஏமாற்றி விடும், ஏமாந்து விடுவோம். புளிப்பு இருக்க வேண்டிய சமயத்தில் புளிப்பு வேண்டும், துவர்ப்பு இருக்க வேண்டிய சமயத்தில் துவர்க்க வேண்டும்.

ஆனாலும், அந்தந்த நிலையோடு நிற்காமல், பிஞ்சு படிப்படியாகப் பழமாகிக் கொண்டே வருவதைப் போல, நாமும் மேலும் மேலும் மாதுரியமான அன்பையும், சாந்தத்தையும் நினைத்துக் கொண்டே வந்தால் நாமாகப் போய் மோட்சத்தைத் தேட வேண்டாம்.

எந்தப் பருவத்தில் எப்படி இருக்க வேண்டுமோ அப்படி இருந்தால், தானாகவே மோட்சம் என்ற மதுர நிலை வந்து விடும்.

RANDOM THOUGHTS 196 TO 210

196. A husband and wife are like two sides of a coin. If one is the head, the other is the tail. But who is what is only known to them.

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197. In following a religion, One is a firm believer, doing rituals daily. One is just a believer, doing rituals occasionally. One is nonbeliever, without doing any rituals.

198. Since 2004, I have so far paid Rs.1,30,000 as medical insurance premium without claiming a pie. However, I am glad that someone has benefited.

199. Dear friends, please do not consider me as a passing cloud. I break my head daily to find a topic that is both informative and useful. It is a tough job.

200. My vision is very poor. I am unable to read or write. The doctor advised cataract surgery. I am scared even to cut my nails. What am I to do?

201. Of late, the hair on my forehead is noticeably receding. To divert the attention of others, I am growing beard and it works. How is the idea?

202. During a phone talk, if a person intervenes, he is ignored. But during a personal talk, if a phone intervenes, it is not ignored. 

203. What is the reason for chaining of drinking water tumblers in public places and mugs in the train toilets? Is it mistrust on the public?

204. Some people look at the canvas instead of the painting, look at the screen instead of the movie, look at the wrapper instead of the content.

205. Chess originated in India, before the 6th century AD. From India, it spread to Persia and then taken up by the Muslim world to Southern Europe.

206. In earlier years, the wife loves her husband but he loves his career. In later years, the husband loves his wife but she loves her children.

207. There are so many ways of showing a person's love for another. Anger is one among them. Many people do not understand it properly.

208. A MIL and DIL normally prepare coffee individually but not for the other. Is this due to individual space they enjoy or due to enmity?

209. I do not like you at heart, but I always talk in praise of you. I like you at heart but I always criticize you. Which one is better?

210. COUSIN: 1. a child of your uncle or aunt. This person can also be called your first cousin. 2. A child of the cousin of one of your parents is called a second cousin. 3. someone who is related to you through a brother, sister, uncle, or aunt of one of your parents is a distant cousin. 4. You may add brother or sister to denote the gender.

மனதில் தோன்றிய எண்ணங்கள் 1276 TO 1290

1276. பெற்றோர்களை நோகடிக்காதே...நாளை உன் பிள்ளையும் உனக்கு அதை தான் செய்யும்.

1277. பணம் பணம் என்று அதன் பின்னால் செல்லாதே...வாழ்க்கை போய் விடும். வாழ்க்கையையும் ரசித்துக் கொண்டே போ.

1278. நேர்மையாக இருந்து என்ன சாதித்தோம் என்று நினைக்காதே. நேர்மையாக இருப்பதே ஒரு சாதனை தான்.

1279.நேர்மையாக  இருப்பவர்களுக்கு சோதனை வரும். அதற்காக நேர்மயை கை விட்டு விடாதே...அதுவே  உன்னை காப்பாற்றும். 

1280. வாழ்வில் சின்ன சின்ன விஷயத்திற்கெல்லாம் கோபப்படாதே. சந்தோஷம் குறைவதற்கும், பிரிவினைக்கும் இதுவே முதல் காரணம்.

1281.உன்அம்மாவிற்காக ஒருபோதும் மனைவியைவிட்டு கொடுக்காதே.அவள் உனக்காக அப்பா அம்மாவையே விட்டு வந்தவள்.

1282.அடுத்தவர்களுக்குதீங்கு செய்யும்போது இனிமையாக இருக்கும்...அது உனக்கு வரும்போது, அதன் வலியும் வேதனையும் புரியும்.

1283. உன் மனைவி உண்மையாக இருக்க வேண்டும் என்று, நீ  நினைப்பது போல்...நீயும் உன் மனைவிக்கு உண்மையாய் இரு, 

1284. ஒருவன் துரோகி என்று தெரிந்து விட்டால்.அவனை விட்டு விலகியே இரு.எல்லோரிடமும் நட்பாய் இரு.நமக்கும் நாலு பேர் தேவை.

1285.கோவிலுக்கு சென்று புண்ணியத்தை சேர்க்கவேண்டும் என்பதிலை.யாருக்கும் தீங்கு செய்யாமல் இருந்தாலே.கோவில் சென்றதற்குசமம்.

1286. நிறை குறை இரண்டும் கலந்தது தான் வாழ்க்கை...அதில் நிறையை மட்டும் நினை...நீ வாழ்க்கையை வென்று விடலாம்.

1287. எவன் உனக்கு உதவி செய்கிறானோ, அவனுக்கு ஒரு நாளும் துரோகம் செய்யாதே.அந்த பாவத்தை எங்கு போனாலும் கழுவமுடியாது.

1288. வசதியாக வாழ முடியவில்லை  என்று நினைக்காதே...நம்மை விட வசதியற்றவர்கள் கோடி பேர் இருக்கிறார்கள்.

1289. பிறப்பிற்கும்  இறப்பிற்கும் இடையில், நீ செய்யும்பாவம் புண்ணியம் மட்டுமே உனக்கு மிஞ்சும்.உன்னுடன் கடைசி வரை வருவதும் இதுவே.

1290. துன்பத்தைக் கண்டு துவளாதே. சந்தோஷத்தைக் கண்டு மயங்காதே. வாழ்க்கையில் இரண்டும் மாறி மாறி வரும்.

WHERE IS MY MONEY?

Sometime back, I had a savings bank account with the Indian Overseas Bank at Anna Nagar, Chennai. On a Monday, I went to the bank to withdraw cash. It was crowded due to preceding holidays. 

I was sitting in one of the seats with the bank token in one hand and my mind on the expenses to be made with the cash. There was no seat vacant for the customers to sit. There was complete silence excepting some hushed voices among the customers. Everyone was in their own world.

Suddenly a man stood up and started shouting "where is my money" Everyone was shocked and started checking their wallets whether their money was intact. Again and again, the man shouted "where is my money". 

Few people gathered around him and inquired what had happened. They asked him whether he had lost his money. The manager and some of the bank staff also rushed to him and inquired. Again he shouted "where is my money" The manager was puzzled. 

The man then told the manager," you have put up many boards boasting about your performance. You have mentioned in one of them that you will clear the cheque in 8 minutes. I have been waiting for more than 40 minutes to encash my cheque. I have not yet got my money. Where is my money? 

He again started shouting. Immediately, he was taken inside the counter, his token was obtained from him and his cheque amount was given to him and he was sent away.

COMPANIONS IN THE TRAIN

Few days back, I was returning from Bengaluru to Hyderabad by the Kachiguda Express with my wife. It leaves Bengaluru at 6-20 pm and arrives at Kachiguda [Hyderabad] at 5-45 am. We prefer early morning arrival so that we can have our coffee and also attend to the morning rituals. 

We always booked lower berths and our seats were near the windows. After we boarded the train, two ladies who were senior citizens arrived and occupied the middle seats near to us. They were fair, orthodox, clad in silk saree and must be beautiful during their younger years. They said they were sisters and belonged to Madwa community.

After the departure of the train and everyone settled in their seats, the younger sister requested me whether we could take their middle berths and spare our lower berths for them. I readily agreed and asked them what was their age. She said the elder was 70 and the younger was 68 as against our age of 74 and 71.

They had come to attend a wedding. They arrived in the morning and returned in the evening and hence they were sleepless and tired. I told them not to worry and that they could go to bed after dinner at 8 pm. However, they were not aware that we were returning after performing 15 days arduous last rituals for my departed mother.

They were gossiping about many people at the wedding. They were commenting about the arrangements and treatment etc. At 8 pm, they had their dinner containing tamarind rice soaked rich in oil which stained the seat also. It was followed by few medicines. We had our usual idly and buttermilk.

Predominantly, life style determines a person's health. Sedentary life style leads to all physical problems. My wife is a workaholic. Wherever she goes, she never hesitated to do any work. People used to admire her for this attitude. Hence she is healthy and active. I also do my part and encourage her.

I gave them the lower berths and took their middle berths. They were astonished to see my wife at the age of 71 effortlessly and carelessly climbed over to the middle berth. The younger sister was pointing out this to the elder. When they left at Kachiguda, they did not even have the courtesy to say a thank you or goodbye.

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL

My mother expired on 30th May at the age of 94 at Bangalore. Irrespective of the age, a mother is always a mother. No one can replace a mother in showering love. She was ailing for few weeks. When she was ailing, my heart was praying for her early recovery. My intellect was praying for her peaceful departure. 

I was engaged in performing her last rites for the last 15 days. The system in Hindu religion is so tedious to follow for a 74 year old man like me. Taking head bath twice daily and to travel 150 Kms twice to immerse the ashes etc in the river were difficult. I had to take medicines daily to avoid getting cold. Following the mantras with hearing difficulty was another issue.

In normal practice, the funeral pyre is lit by placing the fire on the heart of the body. Then the funeral yard workers close the body with green coconut leaves and wet clay. They make holes for ventilation. The pyre burns overnight  and the ashes are collected on the next day. Whereas, in the electric crematorium, it is heart breaking to see our beloved going into flames before our naked eyes.

Every one has to leave this world one day. One must be fortunate to leave peacefully without much suffering. Everyday, before I go to sleep, I pray to the Lord that I should not wake up on the next day. I wish for a peaceful death. The Lord should have mercy on me and bless me.

I think death is performance appraisal. One takes another birth according to his performance. He goes on taking birth after birth until all his desires are fulfilled and he becomes desire less and pure to merge with the Lord. Let our thoughts and deeds be pure. Let us reach the abode of God instead of just hanging within four frames on the wall.

THE PEN COVER

About 40 years back in 1979, I happened to go to the post office near Pondy Bazaar in T.Nagar, Chennai, to post an envelope to Bombay. I had written the address at home leaving some space for the pin code to be verified at the post office. 

After reaching the post office, I got the correct pin code from the staff. When I wanted to write it on the envelope, I noticed that I had forgotten to bring my pen. So, I requested the person standing nearby to lend me his pen. 

To my utter surprise, he gave the bottom of the pen retaining the cover with him. Such was his confidence in me for a worthless pen. I felt as if he had slapped me. I felt as if he had spat in my face. After filling the Pincode, I gave the pen back to him politely. 

From that day on, I never ever missed keeping a pen in my shirt pocket whenever I put on my shirt. Whenever anyone asked me for the pen, I remembered this incident and gave him the pen with the cover. 

In my opinion, the person retaining the cover doubts the person might not return the pen. He considers he is not trustworthy. This affects the integrity of the person. Even if the pen is taken away by him absentmindedly, another one can be bought as it is not worth a fortune.

Similarly, I find the tumblers provided for drinking water at public places and the mugs in the train toilets are chained so that people cannot take them away. This is also an act of not trusting others and their integrity. It means that people always have stealing attitude.

We must consider fellow humans trustworthy and believable.