A new begining !

The paragraph in today’s daily says “Actions are performed by Three means ...Body, Speech and Mind. Body can help or destroy physically, Speech can praise or curse. These can be controlled by a Court of Law in the former and by Society for the later, it’s the third realm.. Thoughts that you constantly entertain. This is wholly of your making’
It was indeed a revelation for a lesser mortal like me, who is a novice in gathering knowledge on this vast subject called LIFE.In retrospection of the past Ten Years, these words do gain a lot of relevance. Today, when I think back to the thoughts that were uppermost in this period, they were crude, totally dispassionate and gainful for the self and no other. There are enough justifications for being like that, but there are also answers that negate those justifications. How true…. You are a product of your thoughts. It sounds good on paper, but little do we realize that every moment of our life, these very thoughts, result in the end product of who we become and what we get materialistically!
It’s a Buddhist friend of mine who initiated me into the process of Right Thought. Ever since, things fell into place. Taking one step at a time, to think good for one hour a day, and then let your mind play havoc with thoughts !! Slowly, it became 2 hrs and then a little more and now a few months by, its indeed the best gift I have got. Alone in this world, I was living in a state of perpetual insecurity. The result, alcohol, which puts you into euphoria, but actually into depression and then your brain is like a runaway train. The result is seen next day, when the Train is still chugging on the same track of negative thoughts!! Here comes the challenge of changing tracks. Someone suggested meditation and yoga and soft music and going to the temple and and and ……!!! Close your eyes, look inward, and you will recoil from the sight! That’s it, you are back on the Freeway to Happiness!
Days go by, slowly, you start realizing, when the brain is in turmoil, Heart beats faster, Anxiety pumps up the pressure and you know, its not a good thing, all it needs is to STOP….. Look….. Proceed!!Its a wonderful life, the tendency to sacrifice is enormous, all of us have a Mother Teresa in us, and we expect returns in terms of love and caring!! Boom, there goes the balloon when it doesn’t happen! Take courage, take those thoughts and dump them, get your train back on track and the Station would be a wonderful place to get out and stretch.
To conclude, a few years back, I was at the lowest ebb of life, contemplating to end it. Great Expectations turned to Great Disappointments! It was a blame game. Totally convinced that I was Father Right, and the world was Mama Wrong!!Precious days spent in self pity, a heart full of revenge, faltering at work, and an outcast in society. It couldn’t get worse.. .. Keeping a happy mind turned it all. To an interest in cooking, ironing clothes, reading books of knowledge, enjoying the early morning mist, silence of the night, shadows in the yellow glow of a street lamp and most of all, the laughter of children !! Am content, happy and most of all, interested in humanity and a wonderful destiny that lies in our brain!

Rain !!!

Monsoons in Kerala, brings to an end, the oppressive heat, sweat, beer consumtion and the eternal power cuts..! The reason for not having any Hartal or Bandhs at this time of the year,!! Most leaders are cooling their heels in Air Con Bedrooms or equally well equipped Bars at the most snooty clubs in the State Capital or the Commercial Town !! From the roadside Attimari, to the so called Leaders of any political party its time to plan and plot the kill of anyone who is doing good for society !! That’s – Kerala !!!
Come monsoon, and everybody gets melancholic, any time is Alcoholic Weather !! Wow, It sounded fabulous for me, coming from a place where drinking is taboo during the week, and a couple of Beers during weekends !! Gods own country ! Was party time, all the time !! 3years back, we were All India, Runner Up Position on the Sale of Booze in the State to the Sardars of Punjab!! The Mallu, woke up, lifted his Lungi and thought its high time we beat them to it, Today, its with pride that the State Goverment pays its employs by the profits on the sale of liquor alone.!!The Sards, put their Lungi down, and went about looking after their own Biz and making a success of their state in terms of productivity, commerce , infrastructure and welfare !!Wah Wah .. this is sensible,in comparison to dignitaries who cry hoarse on cattle class, in God’s own country !
Cricket came to Kerala with the IPL league. It was formed and a Central Minister got caught in the controversy with the eternal Love Lady on main stage and had to resign. Cricket of the Lords , welcome to God’s own country ! More recently a ODI was planned in Kochi. A blessing for the Residents, the roads got repaired, stadium redone and painted, sidewalks cleared of filth, and a prominent bank selling tickets started the countdown to D Day. They were sold out days before the match and people from Kasargod on the tip of North Kerala to Nagercoil from South converged to Kochi. Another telecom company dressed up the audience with T Shirts and wanted the sea of humanity to be the colour of BLUE !The night before the match.. skies opened up with torrential rain !! Outfield soaked,pitch totally unplayable, the umpires ruled.. No Play….Millions went home disappointed… Welcome to Kerala !!
Rain or no Rain, theres always action !! It was the Elections to the local bodies that kept people busy talking at homes and at the various watering holes on the outcome. Merits and demerits of candidates in the fray were discussed till the Bars closed !! Kerala Day saw the emergence of Malayalam as a cumpulsory language to be learnt if you live here. And the list goes on !
Suffice to say, we make it happen. Elections are an addiction, Lottery Tickets,Cricket,Roads, Political Personalities, Gulf Returnees, Land Acquisition, SMART City, Toddy, make great topics for discussion until the last drop is drunk with chilly beef at the local tavern !!Its season time,cruise ships with hordes of Tourists arrive to rejuvenate with Ayurveda, enjoy the tranquil backwaters, and the surf of our beaches. Oh ! Its work time for the next 3 months !! Tourism, the only industry that thrives and feeds the denizens of this euphoric state. Kerala!!!