MEASURE OF SUCCESS

I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE ANYTHING   .... 1.

I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING .... 2. 

I DO NOT WANT TO BE ANYONE           .... 3.

The above seems contradictory to all one learns in life, in this current post-modern civilization.  One is encouraged, since infancy to gather things; in childhood and youth to learn all there is to know is ones' vocation or expertise; in youth and adulthood to rise to the top of the class in academics, sports, work, profession and society.  All these carry one through life and become: Assets, Status and Personality, or A-S-P.  Let us analyze how useful these really are for a continuously happy life leading to enlightenment. 

One is born with THREE things free, in this universe or multi-verse.  These are: BODY, MIND and LIFE-FORCE (this last comes from the Cosmos), or B-M-C.  One did not have to struggle for or obtain or achieve any of these, they were just there for one, absolutely free, absolutely organized; with zero effort on ones' part. Unfortunately, without deep meditation or guidance from enlightened ones', one is not aware of these most important free things.  The entire life is instead spent in achieving, struggling for: ASSETS, STATUS, PERSONALITY.  All kinds of compromises, manipulations and effort is spent to obtain these three things, under the impression that these latter three: A-S-P will help one have a better life, a perpetually happier life.  So a lifetime is spent to obtain with great effort and sacrifice A-S-P instead of using properly, the free B-M-C provided at birth. Here, by 'one', reference is made to 'the Self', the 'I' in each one of us. 

When in good health and in youth, the Self may ignore the Body.  Recognition and appreciation of the 'organized Body', its service to the Self, is rarely done if at all and this leads to misuse as in: over eating,  starving, wrong consumption, leading a stress full life, sleep deprivation, over sleeping, straining underused bones, muscles, sloth, etc. This is misuse of the Body which came free with birth. 

Similarly, the Mind is often used for temporary sensual pleasures, chasing meaningless dreams and fantasies, ideas without focus or plan, bad choices, anger, greed, contempt, pride, envy, gossip, association with persons who promote or subscribe to such things, etc.  It is said that most things a person says are not recalled even at the end of the same day. This is misuse of the Mind which came free with birth. 

The Life Force given by the Cosmos provides everything that is needed by each living and sentient being.  How many are aware of this and appreciate it?  Most think that they are the ones' who are providing, creating, maintaining, all possible things. The entire Cosmos responds positively to each one of us, to the Self.  One has to recognize this.  The Cosmos is interested in ones' evolution and happiness, yet one fails to recognize this.  Misuse of Body, Mind and Cosmos is caused by endless desires which cannot be fulfilled and so result in the evils of the Mind.  The environment is polluted, overused and misused, un-natural boundaries are drawn and possession is claimed for whatever Nature and Cosmos has provided free. Wars are fought, species are exterminated and controlled, even genes which evolved over millions of earth-years are not spared.  Useless pain for all of creation.

A lifetime is spent in collection of Assets by any means, without contemplation of the actual 'needs' and the means for obtaining them. Every day one says, today this is mine, tomorrow that will be mine, and so on.  With Assets, come the desire for Status and Personality. One hankers after fame, position, membership of prominent Associations or Organizations, university degrees, gives donations or uses any means to get ones' picture published and name printed on public property or society goods, joins public cause only to promote ones' Status.  Soon, fair weather friends will warn us to improve our Personality, for a 'make-over'. So one chases high fashion clothing, cosmetic surgery, health clubs and medication for a seeming fitter body, bigger house-car-gadgets-yatch-jet.  In short everything is done to show one has 'arrived' and is a substantial presence is society and nation.  In fact, today one with wealth is advised to use cryogenics to store ones' dying body indefinitely for possible future rejuvenation.  Scientific research is on to download ones' memory onto a tera-bit memory chip as an alternative to savings ones' conscience or life. 

Now, imagine that life is drawing to an end, as it must for each and every living thing and sentient being.  At this instant, think which is more useful: A-S-P or B-M-C.  Those who have been chasing A-S-P will without doubt have serious and untimely, debilitating illness or disease and all the money in the world cannot but extend a vegetative existence.  Same for Status and Personality; associates will probably have a party knowing that the end is at hand.  History is replete with the powerful 'kings' of yester year who were mourned only in passing or who's end was hastened by their near and dear ones'. 

On the other hand, imagine the same situation with one who has tried to properly use the free B-M-C.  Such a person will find listening to ones' Body brings rich dividends. Aging will be natural with generous faculties and death will occur at ones will or in good health.  One will have lived a 'full life'.  Mind will be in full control, used to implement what the Self and Intellect commands for general good.  It will be at peace and harmony with all of creation.  Realizing that one is: interdependent, interconnected and interrelated to the Cosmos and its Cosmic Energy, the same will be available for ones' use at all times.  This is to be experienced to be understood and believed.  Recognizing that there is a Force far greater than ones' I or Self, will allow one to invoke it at will for greater good only.  Such a person has raised Conscience to a very high level and is therefore on the path to 'enlightenment'. 

Therefore, to achieve this level, I return to the first three lines of this essay: 1, 2 and 3.  The first is important since if I focus on 'taking', I am creating Assets, which will only cause greed and selfishness.  The second is important since if I want to Know Anything, I will be wanting a high Status, which will cause envy, hate, contempt, etc.  The third is important since if I focus to Be Anyone, I will be wanting to have a great Personality, which will cause enmity, conflict, etc.  In any case, none of these help one in life as has been explained earlier.  Living a minimalist life, with humility and sense of service and co-existence with all creation, will give continuous happiness.  Making these a part of ones' life puts one in a perfect position for meditation and leads one to enlightenment. 

Thursday 05th July 2012.  

EASING PARKING BLUES

While recently traveling in Neuchatel in Switzerland, I noticed some rather nice innovations in most of the covered multi-level public and mall parking.  Each parking area has an electronic board outside, clearly visible as one drives to it, indicating the parking timings, time rates and number of vacant places inside.  Each parking slot has a lamp about four meters above ground.  This remains red when occupied and turns green when vacant.  When one is entering the particular parking-level, one can see at a glance the whole parking plate or zone and quickly determine vacant slots where one can park.  This does away with the incessant cruising and need for security on the particular floor to direct the visitors.  The slots are clearly numbered so that one can find ones' vehicle easily.  The parking level floors are fully paved, clean and have side zones for leaving shopping carts and garbage bins.  Well lit elevators take one to different levels. Clear lit indicators tell one how to reach the exit or the other levels.  Payment machines at the entrance and exit allow one to automatically collect the parking ticket with the date-time stamp and pay for the duration of parking by cash or card.  Human intervention is reduced to almost nil.  This last may not be necessary in India where labor is available economically.

It seems a simple infra-red proximity sensor coupled to high intensity LED lamps does the trick.  The totalling of the green lights will indicate the vacant slots on the outside electronic board.  The location of the red-green lamps and visibility from the entrance must be carefully planned.  Currently at most parking: open, covered and multi-level, one is stressed out rushing to capture an open slot and then trying to remember the location.  One will observe strange reversing and turning to get into a vacant slot, causing traffic hold up.  Witness the Mumbai Airport Parking issues, unnecessary pain; so also most shopping Malls.  With new multi-level public or private parking buildings coming up across the MMR, such simple arrangements with reasonable round the clock lighting (artificial or preferably natural with light pipes) and alert security guards with CCTV cameras, will go a long way in offering desired comfort to the citizens.  Let us remember that we now have TWO MILLION vehicles in MMR and rising by the day with sub-normal parking and even zero parking arrangements.  Since all these parking facilities are being charged a substantial fee, the added cost of red-green lighting and outside electronic boards, should not burden the service provider much. 

I expect the Activists focused on such issues will direct this idea to the right planning authorities and the MCGM will incorporate the same in their SOPs and DC rules. Jai Hind!  

JAN SABHA FOR MUNI ELECTIONS IN MUMBAI

It is a given that Citizen Activism of all brands, including the Anna Effect promoted by India Against Corruption, is a long term activity. We at IAC have long ago accpeted this fact and are promoting it with citizens who are often misled into treating this satyagrah as a short term competition between citizens and government. THIS IS NOT A US VERSES THEM FIGHT AT ALL.

The current Muni Elections in Mumbai offer an excellent opportunity for concerned Citizens to act for better governance and delivery of services. IAC-Mumbai has arranged a new flavor of Jan Sabha (Citizen Meeting), in various Constituencies ... some 20+ so far. The accompanying chart gives details of these critical events over the next few days. These are also posted at our web link: iacmumbai.org in the Event Box.

The Candidates from the mainline political parties and a few chosen Independants will be invited to interact with the Citizens of the constituencies. IAC-Mumbai IS NOT SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING ANY POLITICAL PARTY OR CANDIDATE. Time being a constraint, all possible candidates cannot be invited.

The standard queries put to the Candidates by our Moderators will expose the knowledge and capabilities of the Candidates. Citizens will judge for themselves who they should donate their precious vote too. The lottery is worth rupees twenty-five thousand crores per year in Muni Budget. Those parties or candidates who absent themselves will be insulting the citizens of the constituencies and further losing an opportunity to get votes. It is assumed that each citizen attending the Jan Sabha represents FIVE votes.

For the Volunteers, it a win-win all the way. They win four World Cups if they put thru the Jan Sabha process ... whatever the results.

1. Volunteers learn to work as a team for a common public cause.
2. Volunteers interact with citizens in their areas when they use leaflets to invite them for the
citizen meet. Thus their bonds are made with citizens as selfless workers.
3. Volunteers see the fickle nature of some politicians and candidates and do not remain in perpetual awe of 'leaders'. They learn that as 'owners' they can 'interview' Nagar Savak's for a five year job of serving the community.
4. Volunteers interact with the elected and selected officials for public work and get confidence in handling the official quirks and processes.

To make this long story short, it is critical for citizens to participate and change things for the better by joining this opportunity. STOP THE PLUNDER OF INDIA. JAI HIND.