FOR THE SOLACE OF THE MIND

Hi friends,

A UNIQUE SATISFACTION

I was late this morning for my walk. It was at 9 AM. Whatever be the time, I never missed it. Today, on my way I noticed an old woman sitting in the hot sun in the corner of a street selling tomato and sapota in two baskets. 

She must be 70 plus with wrinkled skin and face. I waited at a distance and watched her. No one came forward to buy her products. She had covered her head with a dupatta to escape the heat. Having sympathy for her, I went near her to buy. 

But I didn't know Telugu nor she knew English. We could not communicate. Somehow I managed to buy one kilo each and gave her whatever she demanded. There was some unique satisfaction, I didn't know why.

SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE

A human is a mixture of good and bad. A person is good when good qualities in him are more and the bad qualities are less and vice versa. Life is the process of removing the bad qualities and to become a good person. It is difficult to achieve. It may take a lifetime. 

Removing bad qualities is realization. A realized soul leads a simple life without vices. They do not drink alcohol, go after women or indulge in unlawful and unethical activities. To teach any subject, the teacher must be well qualified in that subject. Otherwise, he is unfit to teach. 

There is no fixed qualification to teach spiritualism. Everyone becomes a spiritual teacher. The layman, with his disturbed mind, listens to such unqualified teachings to seek solace. It is not correct. You must listen only to qualified people who lived a saintly life. For Eg. Paramacharya.

ADOLESCENCE

Hi friends,

During my walk this morning, I saw a young boy, say about 18, waiting for the college bus. When I walked past him, I saw cigarette burning within his fingers. I hesitated for a moment as I never used to extend advice unless it is asked for. 

However, I could not resist since I was only doing something good for him. I explained to him in detail all the consequences of smoking. He listened to me patiently without any argument until I finished talking. But I noticed he never threw off the cigarette in his hand.

When a person smokes a cigarette, a small quantity of Nicotine is added to his blood. He feels some intoxication and happiness. He enjoys it. That enjoyment is the root cause of all problems. 

When the nicotine content in his blood goes down, he longs for intoxication and wants to smoke another cigarette. Slowly the number of cigarettes gets increased and he does not find a way either to control it or to stop it. He becomes an addict to smoking.

During the adolescent period, a person gets into three bad habits viz., smoking, cinema, and infatuation. Alcohol and drugs come later in life. A mentally matured person will not get into bad habits as he knows the consequences. 

Mostly boys when they enter the college get into these bad habits due to their association with bad elements. Parents instead of worrying about their marks should worry about their getting into bad habits and advise them suitably not to get associated with such students. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

THIS SAMBAR IS SWEET

Hi friends,

I know for certain that I am very ignorant as far as taste is concerned. I eat only to satiate my hunger and not for the taste. I do not know how a dish is prepared nor the ingredients put into it. 

When I was young, my father used to advise me a lot about wasting food, asking for more quantity, eating all items equally, washing one's plate, etc. Those things had gone into my head. So I don't eat for the taste. 

I remember an incident when I was studying in college. When I came home in the afternoon for lunch, I told my mother that the sambar was sweet in the morning but it was sour now. She said she forgot to put salt in the morning. 

Such was my ignorance about taste and I did not bother to improve upon it. During the 43 years of my married life also whenever my wife asked me for an opinion about the food she had prepared I only said it was wonderful. 

I never criticized nor appreciated on my own because I was totally ignorant. When she found anything wrong with her preparation later, she used to chide me for my ignorance. But she continued to ask me for opinion. 

You may not agree with me and would advise me to learn it. I don't think it is necessary because I look at only two aspects. 1. The efforts she takes to prepare the food for me. 2. The love with which she serves the food for me? That is all.

A VISIT BY THE DAUGHTER

Hi friends,

A daughter has a special place in a family for the reason that she will be leaving the family after her marriage. The agony of leaving the daughter after her wedding is greatly felt in India. To see her again, she has to visit the parents as they have reservations to visit the son-in-law. I recollect the occasion when my daughter first visited us after her marriage. 

Our house was spruced up. I went to the station long before the arrival of the train. She did not allow me to carry her baggage. My cute little grandson walked along with me holding my hand. Normally, I preferred the bus but I engaged a cab. 

The joy of the parents meeting their daughter long after her marriage cannot be expressed in words. She was totally a different person. Her complexion had improved. She looked bright and cheerful. Saree and churidar were gone and replaced by jeans and leggings. The long-plaited hairstyle was cut short. High heels had come in. A fancy handbag was on. 

All these changes were due to the influence of the man of her life. We were only happy to see these changes. She had brought my favorite plum cake and my wife's dry Jamoon. She had come for a stay of only 15 days. Every night, she took us to the hotel for tiffin and ice cream. She was on a spending spree.

The little kid was a wonder to watch and to play with. He never gave any trouble. He was always quiet and mingled with us freely. He ate his food on time. He​ was playing with his dolls, building houses, drawing pictures, cutting and pasting them, listening to kids' songs, etc. 

The house ​was scattered with his​ playthings. No one was bothered about it​.​ I sang our family song every time to make him sleep. It was the same song that I sang for my daughter also when she was a kid. I could see a glint of a smile on her face.

Our daughter was busy with office work till late in the night and woke up late. She ate very little food and the mother was chiding her. We were always talking either sitting in the hall or on the kitchen table or lying on the bed with her head on my lap and the legs on the mother who was pressing it with love. 

It was a delight to watch her expressive face and twinkling eyes. We were happy to see loads of currency in her handbag, her modern accent, freedom of expression, and better exposure and outlook. At times, we even doubted whether she was the same daughter.

Days moved fast. Since she had become the wife of another man, we could not retain her any longer. The day of her departure had arrived. We were devastated. The house looked gloomy everywhere. No one talked much. There was silence all over. The food was not tasty. 

She packed her things. My wife prepared food for their journey. I went out and got some snacks and sweets for her in-laws. Finally, the cab arrived. We went to the station to see her off. I could see tears in the corner of my wife's eyes. I could feel a lump in my throat. 

Inside the compartment, my grandson was sitting on my lap, playing with my fingers and uttering some words only known to him. When we got down, he started crying to come with us. The train started off mercilessly without understanding our feelings. From the outside, we could see her face as a silhouette through the tinted window glass. 

Slowly they were moving off. Suddenly, my wife hugged me and started crying on my shoulders. I could not find words to console her. Everyone around was watching us. When we were going to see them again? The separation of loved ones was the most painful experience.

THE FOUR MISTAKES OF MY LIFE

Hi friends,

Decision making is important for success in life. A proper decision not taken at the proper time and place will definitely affect one's life. I miserably failed to take correct decisions in my life on four occasions. My life would have been different if I had taken the correct decisions on those occasions.

1. In the 60s, admission to engineering courses was difficult. There were only a few govt colleges. Hence a 3-year diploma course in engineering was started. I was admitted to a premier institution. I could have done AMIE further. But I did not have an interest in engineering. Hence I did not fare well and failed miserably. That was the first mistake of my life.

2. In 1980, at the age of 35, with great difficulty, I constructed a house. I was just breaking even when my FIL gave my wife some money as her share of his property. I never wanted to make use of her jewels or cash. Otherwise, I would have constructed the first floor. Both floors would have improved my financial condition. It was the second mistake of my life.

3. In 1992, I got a good job in Hyderabad. I rejected the counteroffer from the company where I was working. I could not manage the new job due to the lack of knowledge in Telugu. I had to leave the job. I could not get a better one as I was only a graduate. So leaving a good job at the prime age of 47 with two children was the third mistake of my life.

Before I was 56, all my savings had been spent on children's education, daughter's wedding, and family expenses. I was jobless and also penny less. My children came to my rescue by giving their entire earnings for 15 years. If my daughter was like the engine, my son was like petrol. We lived on the interest income and within 15 years, we could save what they had given to us.  

4. In 2017, when I was 72 and my wife was 69, we decided to join with our son at Hyderabad on their invitation. While my wife is able to go along with the children, I still longed for independent life especially in a place where I do not know the local language. As all the activities are taken care of by the children, I am unable to keep myself engaged and I have to be idle all the time. This was the fourth mistake of my life. I can only cry now.

IF YOU CAN WRITE, I CAN ALSO WRITE

Hi friends,

Recently I read someone criticizing the Prime Minister of our country asunder. I am apolitical. However, I wish to say a few words. 

"Do you think the clown we have for a PM thinks on these lines? No - because he simply lacks the education nor the intellect to understand such issues."

Before accusing another person, one must look at himself first. Most of the people fail to do this. The root cause of all the problems is there is no self-assessment.  

India is the largest democracy in the world. It comprises of 30 states and 6 union territories. The political system is considered to be the best in the world. Each state is run by the Legislative assembly and the country is run by the Parliament. 

The state is divided into assembly segments based on population. The people of the state elect their representatives. The person who gets the majority votes becomes the assembly member. Political parties contest the election and the party that gets the majority, rules the state for 5 years.

Six assembly segments constitute one Lok sabha constituency. The people also elect the Lok sabha member. The party which gets the majority in Lok sabha rules the country for 5 years. Political parties in the state assemblies based on its strength elect members to the Rajya sabha

There are no criteria to contest the election. The person should be an Indian citizen. It is the Govt of the majority of the people, for the people, by the people. This is the system in our country.

There are four categories of people as rich, poor, educated and illiterate. The rich are in pursuit of money. The educated poor just cry over the problems. The illiterate poor, the majority, is the cause of all the problems.

So education is important in the uplifting of the country. If all people are educated, they will use their prudence in the elections and select the right candidate. Due to poverty and lack of education, the poor are bribed to vote as they need the money for the day to day life.

 

Correct decision at the time elections is important. If unscrupulous elements are elected the people only will suffer. There is no point in crying over the spilt milk. Therefore raise your voice for eradicating illiteracy.

Instead of mulling over what is going on, please do your duty, make your parents happy, help the poor and pray to God. Lead a simple life within your income and save for your kids. Whatever you think or say or write, nothing is going to change the situation. Why you bother? 

TO OWN A CAR OR NOT?

Hi friends,

TO OWN

Some people like to own a car irrespective of their income. You find pleasure and feel proud of it. You say it is a status symbol. You can go out anytime with your family. Your children are happy about it. They love their daddy's car. 

It is a pleasure to talk to your vehicle, caress it, wash it every week and polish it. It is like your child. You get immense pleasure in maintaining it in top condition. You are happy when other people appreciate your car. 

When you visit relatives by going in your car there is unique satisfaction for your entire family. To go for a drive when you are happy or sad is refreshing. When you give a lift to others they are happy. In case of emergency, you can help by lending your car. 

NOT TO OWN

The other man feels the opposite. He says it is a waste of money. You can engage a cab anytime. It is less expensive. You need not spend money on petrol and maintenance. You don't worry about accidents, police, court, and compensation. There is no tension while driving if you hire a cab. 

You need not waste your time in washing, cleaning and polishing it. Hassles of learning and getting a driving license do not arise. You don't need additional space to park it, protect it from sunlight, etc. If you buy you have only one car, if you hire you have many cars, 

You don't envy others who own costlier cars than you. You need not worry about the hike in petrol price. A new car lasts only for 5 years and then you will have to replace it. If your car breaks down en route, you will be in trouble especially during the night or long journey.

IN MY VIEW/

You may own a car provided 1. Your income is high. 2. You travel long distance daily to office. 3. You move out frequently with your family. 4. You go out of the station often with family. 5. You have a passion for driving. 6. You are willing to replace it every 3 years. 7. You are a businessman and you get depreciation.