Life of Likes!!

We lead a life of likes. We do things that we like, we want to watch listen to music that we like, choose food that we like, choose relationship based on our liking towards a person. We don’t do some things because we just don’t like them. Have we ever tried to question as to why we like something. Have we ever tried to find out a deeper meaning of the association of things beyond just likes and dislikes?

It’s very difficult to question why we have “likes” or “dislikes” in fact it’s difficult to question those likes with high stakes. We provide justifications such as the way we are brought-up, the culture we belong to, and influence from situations and circumstances of our lives that makes our likings. But STOP and think, are these answers convincing enough to push away the question?

We can see a relationship between our likes and our capabilities or say expertise. They are very much aligned. We are almost experts at what we like, be it movies or our work domain. We are almost always in the “auto-pilot” mode and we tend to like it. We detest any disturbance being introduced to our routine. Spontaneity is what we are proud of, as well as it is very much applauded by people who recognize it. For a moment let’s take a break and question why we are so spontaneous about the things that we like. How come we are so comfortable doing it? Have we just settled for a logical answer? Have we ever wondered if there is an entire path that can open up to a different world if we go little deeper than just our instinctive likes! Let’s a take a simple example, if you like a soap, have you ever wondered what in your favorite soap you like. Have you ripped the qualities of the soap and see whether you like a particular attribute (such a fragrance, texture) of the soap? If you like the fragrance, what about that fragrance? and so on. As you can see, this could lead you to a different world altogether and your regular expertise might not help much in this kind of exploration.

Can we be aware of why we are behind our liking? Are we able to answer the question: what makes us like a particular thing or a person? When we are aware of what attribute we like, it brings forth many other aspects in our radar. So to be aware of our likes has some potential to move us in a direction or in a path which leads us to an exploration.

Each one us have unique pattern in our “likings”, a certain way the mind functions and a certain way the body functions. We can’t forcibly question or reason out this pattern, we can only be aware of the way we move along with a set pattern. It is very evident for people outside to easily recognize this pattern in us than ourselves. We need to get to know our pattern, as pattern per say may be a limiting factor. The templates in us may be a reason for success but its limiting factor as well. A set of templates is given to animals too but only a human being can cognizant of the fact of this template that is inherent.

The problem in leading the life with template is that it is just bondage. The way our world works, is not according to any template. The stress that exists today is because of the friction between the world and our template that is mismatching. Everything for us must go according to our template, if something doesn’t then there is always friction and unhappiness. More we bring in the harmony by adjusting our template more friction we are going to experience. The true freedom exists in throwing away our template.

So what can we, right now, do with our likes in life:

• Be aware of our likes and find out the strength in the likes that’s making us act now!
• Pursue our likes, do research, and never stop at shallow level by mere logical analysis. Move towards the deeper meaning of our likes by consciously questioning it
• Explore the root of our likes. Move towards the deeper meaning of our likes by consciously questioning it and constantly being aware of it

Freedom Fighter Forever?

The question “what are we looking after in life?” remains as question for life. We grow up, of-course under the care? (or cage!) of our parents, each and every time dependent on every single thing in life. Of Course money is what we need for our independence at that stage as it empowers us to buy what is necessary without having to “depend” on anyone and that’s what our idea of independence is when we are growing up.

Soon after completing the education we start searching for this independence through solid financial grounds and here we go... we have our long sought independence. This phase of life is most enjoyed as one starts to get the attention and respect in the eyes of the society.

So does the seeking of independence stop here. No, as the thriving for our identity starts when we find ourselves in the midst of so many successful people in the society. So we start to appease the system or oppose the system. Appease, because we want to get our work done, if not oppose because we need our presence, our independence to be exercising every moment of our life. Life seems to be in control only when we exercise our freedom of choice.

What about at the career space, we need constant monitoring else our productivity would come down. We need well defined systems and processes to keep ourselves in track. Imagine if we were to be left alone in the space without any constraints. Wow sounds utopian but left to ourselves, we do nothing. We rot; we putrefy in our own justification and judgments.

Why is that then we rebel the existing systems? Why our idea of independence thwarted. Our idea of accountability has to be hidden and packaged in rules, regulations, and constitutions. Do we ever realize that we are moving far from being independent; more we practice our version of independence?

We need to throw away our notion of our independence. Our “Independence “can be translated as un-questionability. No doubt all of us are successful and have achieved the goals that we have set, and lived by our resolutions that we take every year! If we look at the struggle and success that we have got today and have pondered why ever we wanted that success, all the fingers point to that state where we are un-questionable!

We need a good job, basically to be independent that means no one should question us for the spending that we do today. We need better life, better car, better vacations and better things in life so that no one would question us on the quality of life that we are leading.

Think again! Can that be a purpose of life? In unison I can hear the answer as NO. Then why are we rebellious, why do we protest rules, why do we resist protocols, why do we question the very own customs that we have put on ourselves for discipline.

If not, then can we own up accountability? Own things that we ought to do in this life and for this society. Be a provider in this system instead of solely leaning on the system. Create processes instead of merely following them. Do some work that would matter to our world of expertise.

Can we call it quits to the independence that we are fighting for!!

These are the initial steps that can be taken to shift our paradigm of independence and move towards accountability:

• Be with the system without challenging or questioning it out of your own logic
• Get your act together in the areas of your life that really matters to you because you ought to be accountable for your own life
• Allow others to question you and your actions, thoughts, and choices that you have made in your life without being judgmental or defensive

Can effectiveness and effortlessness work together!!

Why do we feel that a work that results in great output needs lot of efforts?
Or
Why is that we have to put that extra efforts to have consistent results?
There is a notion in all of us that the hard work, sweat, and tension are the ingredients of success or a discernible output
Love
When we love an object or a person, have you noticed how effortlessly we deal with the whole process of interaction. When we love something, the work or the transaction with it becomes so natural that we instantly without any effort deal with it and also enjoy it.
If you go further one step ahead, why can’t we sustain that initial effortless energy and enthusiasm throughout?
The process starts with, we becoming interested in an object and we start to love. We put all our energy into loving the object without even realizing that we are pushing our limits beyond reasoning. But sooner than later, the interest starts to wane and we take lenience towards the object of interest. Like they rightly say, familiarity breeds contempt, we tend to become bored and no longer pursue our interests in the object. We reason out so many excuses such as lack of time, busy with something more important and so on.
When we reflect on what really has happened, we can see that the real “Love” on the object has died within us. We often blame the object for losing its charm. The object would be as enchanting as ever when we initially started liking it.
We must turn our minds inside and reflect on what is that making us stop loving the object of desire which is ever delightful eternally!

Change!!

I started this blog during the start of new batch of class @ RT Nagar. Then, I had used Shanthi Niketan as the title for this blog, named after the work of Rabindranath Tagore. Now that we have moved to Jack fruit house, I am renaming this blog as Jack fruit house. Hope that the genesis of bigger and better ideas happen under the shades of this Jack fruit tree! -Guru

Can we achieve all that we want to achieve?

How many dreams and aspirations do we have? If we start counting, I think we can never stop! But how come we are where we are today and not where we really want to be? Why are we left behind with just memories of our dreams and aspirations? Why can’t we achieve?

Can we attempt to answer these questions?

So let’s start with our responsibilities and the extent of it. We might have achieved a considerable amount of stability on disposing our regular and routine responsibilities. But why do we stop there? What makes us fazed when we face new tasks, responsibilities, or relationships that demand more energy from us.

First step towards achieving more is to take-up more. Of course we might wonder why disrupt the serene weather of our comfort zone and invite trouble tornado? Did we just observe that anything new is equal to trouble! Yes that's because it requires extra energy that has never been there until now. If we try and get our act together to make that extra effort, we soon realize that we need not “generate” extra energy but simply unwrap the energy that is within.
This leads to a question: Do we have that energy within already? The answer from the wise is always a big Yes!

The second step is to unwrap the energy to push ourselves forward. As mentioned earlier, there is no concept of extra energy. The energy that we have might be wasting away somewhere. We need to identify it.
It is rightly said that the greatest enemy of our success is within. When we take-up something new, the prejudices against ourselves, the doubts, and the unknown and uncertain thoughts that cloud the mind is the culprit. We tend to plan accordingly and of course end up getting trapped in the plan that is created out of our murky mind. What else do we expect other than becoming overwhelmed with burden of our own plan to succeed and finally abandon our dreams and aspirations to accept the so called reality that is not!!

So let’s get down for some action:
1. Stretch yourself a bit in every aspect of your responsibility, however ridiculously small it might be but just stretch.
2. Identify the energy drains and seal the leaks by just acting on your responsibilities instead of planning.

Jealousy

What do you experience when you are jealous?
o Anger?
o Frustration?
o Crookedness?
o Burnt up feeling?
o Insecure?
o Feeling of failure?
o Irritation?

Jealousy manifests itself in different forms and who is the one who goes through the wrath of jealousy? It’s none other than the person who is jealous.

Jealousy begins to manifest, when one fails to achieve what he is aiming for and can clearly see others achieving it without much effort. Yes it begins, when one starts to compare his achievement with others and when he competes to possess what he lacks.

Goodness


Can goodness co-exist with jealousy? Can we be good to the person we are jealous about?

o Goodness can co-exist with jealously only until situations favor the jealous.
o You can be jealous about a person but still be good to him.

Are we open enough with at least our closest circle of people? Do we allow the other person to explore us, know us, or even let them sense what's going on in our world?