time

Reading to Seneca: On Shortness of Life makes me realize how much time I have wasted. The time I have wasted in fighting, worrying or in pain.

Our allocated time on this planet is limited, It is on us how to make use of it. We can waste it by participating in things we don’t like or pursuing a career we like.

In the end, it is on us to decide how we would like to spend allocated time of our life. Future dreams and past regrets have taken over the beautiful present time of our life. I also came across this post of Time Urban your life in weeks

People are frugal in guarding their personal property; but as soon as it comes to squandering time they are most wasteful of the one thing in which it is right to be stingy. ― Seneca

advice

Don’t come to me seeking any advice. I have no bumper sticker attached. I am some random dude trying to figure out the meaning of self.

Also, why should somebody seek advice from a random, who has no skin in the game or experiences?

If you are on a journey and have figured out a purpose, got on to inner belief why give damm on others advice?

dreams

Many died with their dreams,
many lived through without a dream,
many surrendered themselves, their dreams.

Was it time, situations or was it not just enough fire to fulfill their dreams?

Dreams are all we have, dreams are what we live for, dreams give us purpose and meaning.

Keep on dreaming.

Ascetic Games: Sadhus, Akharas and the Making of the Hindu Vote

Finished reading “Ascetic Games: Sadhus, Akharas and the Making of the Hindu Vote”. I am not sure what the author was trying to conclude via the book. 

  1. It is a well-known fact that whether its a king or a priest everyone craves for power. 
  2. Every organization has its role in politics, the Vatican was not alone. 
  3. Politics and ideology are part and parcel for vote bank. What congress did with Chandraswami, BJP is doing with RSS/VHP.
  4. The Akharas are safe heavens for all anti-social elements like other religious centers. Weren’t terrorists were inside the golden temple. 

It is very easy for us to read one book and form an opinion or belief. Smart authors win by peddling their ideology. As a reader, we have to be very open-minded and take everything propagated rationally. 

critic

It is easy to criticize someone, situation or state of our nation. What is difficult is to be empathetic and help. Not everyone is lucky to know things. Most of us are still illiterate.

This holds more especially if you are in people’s business. Everyone watches you, your steps and tries to learn from it. If you will act opinionated, criticize it will affect your brand value. The job requires being less of a thought leader and more of helping others.

Becoming an asshole is easy, thanks to social media. We know how a tweet made people quit their job, with career.

division

Why do we have this division?
Why did the almighty (if he/she, exists) not gave everyone equal opportunity?
Why did he create this division?
What was going on his/her mind?
They created a class, then religion and then money.
On top that they created a society where everyone had to be someone, where everyone had to be a high achiever, where one being rich can dictate over poor even being incorrect.

Attachment

Why do we have to add so much importance to our relationship or things like our pet or house? Are they all permanent?

We enslave ourself in attachment and misery follows. Can we not be rational and see things as they are?

“Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.”
― Epictetus

Younger me

My early 20’s is like a train wreck. I lived mostly like an animal. It had its share of fun, excitement, fear, misery, ignorance, and remorse.

Looking back at it, I wonder how different I would have been now if I had these virtues in my 20’s.

  1. Fearlessness 
  2. Radical self-belief 
  3. Well read
  4. More conscious about health, food, mental and physical well being 
  5. Lived moment to moment
  6. Stayed away from toxic people
  7. Taking criticism more in a positive sense

I was talking to my friend last evening and while talking this thought crept in me. 

pleasure

We crave for pleasure. Going by marketers pleasure comes down to great vacation, food, and partner. 

I take the definition of pleasure from the Greek philosopher Epicurus. My life has gotten much better since then.

Epicurus was a Greek philosopher and founder of the school of philosophy named Epicureanism. Center of his Philosophy revolved around pleasure. 

According to Epicurus: “Pleasure is the beginning and the goal of a happy life”

Epicurus observed that pleasure has a few simple ingredients:

  1. Company of great friends for life.
  2. Freedom to lead a life on our own conditions. 
  3. Conscious thoughts, being aware of self. 

I have written in length about Epicureanism in https://atuljha.com/blog/2018/04/04/we-are-all-epicurus/