What are the marks of modernity?

Modernity touches the social, economic, religious and political fabric of our lives in many ways.It is a concept of being time conscious in terms of present or todays world and is supposed to inherently encompass a new rationalized progressive thinking.When I read about honour killings, dowry deaths,obnoxious amounts being spent on opulent weddings,casteism etc. I wonder at the contradictions that are apparent in our so called fast developing society and economy(even if its geographically scattered and limited).Economically we seem to have embraced the trappings of modernism in every possible way. Our sartorial and brand preferences, fascination with latest technology from cell phones, flat screens, fanciest cars to latest gadgets to home decor, every visible manifestation is there to reflect upward mobility on the social ladder and how we are in sync with the times.People find it easier to adopt cosmetic changes in outward appearances to reflect modernity in their lifestyle and choices but unfortunately remain resistable to any change in their thinking especially when it comes to social relationships, interactions and traditions. One needs to scratch and look beneath the surface veneer of modernism to really understand the dynamics of conservatism and traditionalism operating in a the mental framework of the society.There has to be a combination of education, exposure to other social systems and courage to question,challenge,change and give up set traditions,customs and closed mindsets of the society.The only true mark of modernity is the nature of thought process of an individual or society-- how liberal, unbigoted, tolerant, flexible and free thinking one is.

How busy are you?

I am always thankful for a day which has been happily busy without moments of boredom.The saying "Idle mind is a devils workshop" is true because a mind without focus, purpose,agenda,goals and hopeful plans for the future is a recipe for depression and a disastrous life. A purposefully engaged mind on the other hand is a source of high self esteem and contentment. However, in todays technologically advanced times of cellphones and laptops the need and pressure to be constantly available 24x7x365 has become like a dog collar. There is no demarcation between personal and professional time and commitments, due to constant e-mails, messaging and phone calls.More and more of us in professionally demanding careers are on the way to an early burnout due to overloading of our minds. Now the funny thing is that at the other end of the spectrum there are specific categories of people with more than extra time on their hands-- young teens,retirees and housewives, who long for mentally stimulating activities. So busy bees and the idle Toms face issues of not being able to engage their minds in the ideal way.One of the biggest challenges of life is to keep your mind engaged in ways that allow you to feel happy and live your best life.The trick is to find the right mix of activities-- -creatively & spiritually fulfilling, intellectually challenging, physically strengthening and some just plain good old fun. Let your mind have a balanced diet of serious reading, frivolous retail therapy, concentrated report analyses, carefree nail art creativity, intense decision making and mindless farmville. The more varied the minds engagement, the happier you.

Do we celebrate the peaks or the flatlands of our lives?

Marking personal milestones of our lives is important because it ushers in happiness and makes us feel proud of our accomplishments.We need to share these moments with friends, family and wellwishers because happiness when shared gets multiplied.However, the emphasis should be on marking these events than on what we do and how we do it. One can choose to light a candle and say a prayer,go out for a celebratory dinner, spend quality time with the family, go on a vacation, donate for a cause or go whole hog and throw a statemant making party reflecting your style and financial status.Whatever we choose to do we need to remember that even though these are important peaks of our lives we will be remembered not for these but the integrity and the attitude that we have maintained on a daily basis in our lives.Its the daily rigour of traversing the flatlands of our lives which in reality is the determinant of the success our life is rather than the the few and far between high points.

Who are we ?

We witness various types of energies like gravitational,kinetic,heat, electrical,nuclear,solar etc and their change into other forms daily in our lives.The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed though it can move around and change form.As I read this basic law of physics there is a moment of incredulous wonder and spiritual insight. The same words seem to be used to define our SOUL -- something that doesn't take birth or die.It is eternal and changes form in the shape of a new body with rebirth.For a moment let this sink in and you'll agree that that there is enough scientific fact staring in our faces that we are Energy Beings.And like all energy forces having an electromagnetic field we too have a field of electromagnetic vibrations or waves which interact with the universal web of energy.So we are vibrating masses of energy capable of interacting, influencing and determining the the quality of energy manifesting in our lives.

Is this world truly an illusion or Maya as The Gita states?

One often wonders what the world being an illusion means and the rational mind seeks a scientific explanation for these eternal truths.Illusion or maya means something that is not what it seems to be or deception.Now, if we look at our world everything from plant, animal, rock, wood, metal to humans is nothing but atoms of various elements arranged in different combinations. Water is two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen and carbon dioxide is one atom of carbon and two of oxygen. Similarly, every substance is a combination of different atoms. If we enlarge an atom to the size of a room then the nucleus is nothing but a speck barely seen by the naked eye. The rest of the space in the atom is empty except for the subatomic particles electrons revolving around the nucleus.So, at the atomic level everything in our world seems to be vast empty space with energy (as the basis of interaction between atoms is electrical energy) and has no defined concept of physicality or form. Therefore, a table is not really a table if we take it apart to the subatomic state and the same holds true for us humans and other things.Then doesn't the statement that this word is an illusion stand true?

How should we celebrate?

Celebration is not only a form of self expression of personal happiness but unfortunately has become a social statement.At the risk of sounding like a party pooper, I feel celebration has become tedious affair of fulfilling and meeting a myriad of social expectations.Yes, we need to celebrate minor and major events of life but in todays consumerist, personality driven, status conscious society celebrating occasions has become a gargantuan display of wealth and one upmanship. People forget that that the ability to be able to afford a certain level of luxurious entertainment doesn't necessarily mean one has to indulge in it to the fullest possible extent and then also subject others to that.They don't realise that this sets unconscious social guidelines of aspirations which others might not be interested in following or be able to afford, but buckle down under societal pressure.Also there are some who might start thinking that this is the way things should be done and follow blindly irrespective of the affordability factor.Why can't celebrations be quite personal moments of joy shared with dear ones instead of a carnival of hundreds of acquaintances, friends and relatives?We need to step up as individuals with courage to go against the tide and re- establish less ostentatious and more meaningful ways of celebrating.

APPRECIATION

The way
you make me feel
when you walk into the room
reflects why
I treasure my life with you.


The confidence
that you have in me
to attempt the impossible
reflects why
I treasure my life with you.


The little things
you do to make me feel cherished
reflects why
I treasure my life with you.


The understanding
that you give more than you seek
reflects why
I treasure my life with you.



ANJALI KUMAR