Now That's Some Illuminating Inspiration!

Now That's Some Illuminating Inspiration!

~Interpreting the great Helen Keller's quote

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you can never see the shadow."~Helen Keller.

Great humans are not only known by their actions but also their quotes, which remain alive much longer than them. Here's a gem from the great Helen Keller, which offers illuminating inspiration for anyone with zest for Life.

Knowing that she was visually and aurally challenged, this quote becomes even more significant, in terms of the positive outlook of Life, because it reflects her inner experience of light and shadow.

Sunshine is warm, bright and nourishing. All are positive aspects and necessary ingredients for life to flourish. Anyone who is focused on growth can appreciate the value of it.

Shadow is a mere reflection of the person looking at sunshine, that the person him/herself isn't bothered about much (how many times does one keep watching one's own shadow..? Never, probably..!)

When one looks at sunshine, one is looking ahead. Forward. To what's possible, now and in the future. With hope.

Watching the shadow is looking behind. To the past, that's done and dusted. Lingering on the glory days that are irrelevant. Just wishing for that time, with a sigh.

Now, close your eyes and imagine all the aforesaid things, playing like a movie, on the mind screen. That's how Helen Keller would've visualised it (remember she could neither see nor hear).

In a time when the physically challenged beings like her probably didn't have much hope to be significant. Yet, she went ahead and did spectacular things that guide her ilk even now. Decades after she was gone. Wow!

Learning directly from an illustrious life like Helen's - irrespective of any flaws she may've had as a human being - is obviously far more valuable than reading tomes from the so-called self-help experts, who keep churning out the same idea, in book after book.

Is there any reason for us to still complain about the injustice of Life or choose to “Be Joyful and Spread the Cheer” instead, like that awesome icon!

~Swamy | @PrakashSwamy

Note: This post was originally Swamy's response to a question in Quora.

Follow Swamy on Quora for more such insights on Life.

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NhAladiyAr 400 ~ Verse 259 ~ Flies are Us!

NhAladiyAr 400 ~ Verse 259 ~ Flies are Us

பொழிந்தினிது நாறினும் பூமிசைதல் செல்லாது 
இழிந்தவை காமுறும் ஈப்போல் - இழிந்தவை 
தாம்கலந்த நெஞ்சினார்க்கு என்னாகும் தக்கார்வாய்த் 
தேன்கலந்த தேற்றச்சொல் தேர்வு.

Pozhinhdhinidhu nhARinum poomisaidhal sellAdhu
Izhindhavai kAmuRum eeppOl - izhindhavai
ThAmkalanhdha nhenjinARkku yennAgum thakkArvAith
ThEnkalanhdha thEtRachchol thErvu.

Though the flower holds delicious honey and spreads its fragrance all around, a fly will leave it and eagerly go to where the filth is. Similarly, for those with a tainted or corrupt mind, even the choicest counsel, filled with wonderful insights that provide clarity in life, offered by the wise ones or realised Masters, is of no use.

For a fly that’s stuck with filth - in thought and action - the value of a beautiful, fragrant flower with honey is of no interest or use. Even if someone explains in detail about the flower’s value, the fly won’t change its preference (for the filth). But for the bees, which fly around busily, looking for honey, no one needs to explain the value of the flowers.

People who are totally stuck in materialistic survival are like that fly. The spiritual insights and methods for attaining liberation offered by Realised Masters / Gurus won’t change them in any way. Because, in their mind, things like wealth, success, status, fame of the material life are the most valuable.

Seekers who are traversing the spiritual path are like the bees. They are seeking ways and means to realise the Truth, i.e. attain self-realisation or enlightenment, so it’s not necessary to explain to them the value or importance of a Guru.

Note: That's why, even though Mrs Swamy keeps worrying about those who are not even interested in tasting the nectar of spirituality, Swamy never speaks about spirituality to anyone, on his own.

~Swamy
@PrakashSwamy

நாலடியார் 400 ~ பாடல் 259 ~ ஈக்களும் மாக்களும்!

நாலடியார் 400 ~ பாடல் 259

ஈக்களும் மாக்களும்

பொழிந்தினிது நாறினும் பூமிசைதல் செல்லாது
இழிந்தவை காமுறும் ஈப்போல் - இழிந்தவை
தாம்கலந்த நெஞ்சினார்க்கு என்னாகும் தக்கார்வாய்த்
தேன்கலந்த தேற்றச்சொல் தேர்வு.

தன்னுள் இனிய சுவையுடைய தேனைக்கொண்டு, நறுமணத்துடன் மலர் இருந்தாலும், ஈயானது அதைவிடுத்து, மலம் போன்ற இழிவான பொருட்களையே விரும்பிச் செல்லும். அதுபோல இழிவான மனமுடையவர்களுக்கு, அறிவில் சிறந்த அல்லது ஞானோதயம் அடைந்த பெரியோர்கள் கூறும் இனிமையான, வாழ்வில் தெளிவை ஏற்படுத்தக்கூடிய, தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்ட நல்ல கருத்துகளால் எந்தப் பயனும் இல்லை.

எப்போதும் மலத்தையே விரும்பி, அதைத் தேடிச் சென்று உழலும் ஈக்கு, அழகான, நறுமணம் மிக்க, தேனை உடைய மலரின் அருமை தெரியாது. அதன் அருமை பற்றி எவ்வளவுதான் எடுத்துரைத்தாலும் அது தனது இழிவான விருப்பத்தை மாற்றிக் கொள்ளாது. ஆனால், ஆர்வத்துடன் தேனைத் தேடிச் சுறுசுறுப்பாக அலையும் தேனீக்கு மலரின் அருமை பற்றி யாரும் எடுத்துரைக்கத் தேவையில்லை.

பொருள் சார்ந்த வாழ்வின் மீது மிகுந்த பற்றுடன் இருக்கும் மனிதர்கள் அந்த ஈயைப் போன்றவர்களே. ஞானோதயம் அடைந்த குருமார்கள் கூறும் ஆன்மீகக் கருத்துகளோ, மெய்ஞானம் அடைவதற்கான வழிமுறைகளோ அவர்களிடம் எந்த மாற்றத்தையும் ஏற்படுத்தப்போவதில்லை. 

ஆன்மீக வழியில், உண்மையை உணரும் தேடலுடன் செல்லும் சாதகர்களுக்கு, ஒரு குருவின் வழிகாட்டுதலின் அருமை பற்றி யாரும் எடுத்துரைக்கத் தேவையில்லை.

குறிப்பு: இதன்காரணமாகவே, ஆன்மீகம் பற்றிய ஆர்வமே இல்லாதவர்களின் நிலை பற்றித் திருமதி ஸ்வாமி அடிக்கடி வருத்தப்பட்டாலும்கூட, ஸ்வாமி வலியச்சென்று யாரிடமும் ஆன்மீகம் பற்றிப் பேசுவதில்லை.

~ஸ்வாமி
@PrakashSwamy

NhAladiyAr 400 ~ 135 - What to Learn!

NhAladiyAr ~ 400 verses.. 4 stanzas each..

Thirukkural (1330 verses.. 2 stanzas each) is so well-known that it overshadowed pretty much all the other tomes of equal value. One such, belonging to the same category of ancient Tamil literature of PadhineN KEezhkkaNakku (anthology or logical group of 18 books) group of tomes (பதினெண் கீழ்க்கணக்கு நூல்கள்) is NhAladiyAr (நாலடியார்).

A collection of 400 verses (by various anonymous Poets - considered to be Jain saints), of just 4 stanzas each, it's known for its enchanting use of similes to convey a pertinent point. The 400 verses are grouped under 3 headings (similar to Thirukkural) & 40 subheadings, comprising of 10 verses each.

Long term Swamy readers may recall the “2000 Years Old Tweets” or #2KYOT in digital-natives-lingo Nano blog series in https://swamyverse.blogspot.com, which is on pause for the time being.
Who knows, it may suddenly spring back to life, when some madman like a 3-term CM, who did absolutely nothing to solve a chronic pain that his state still suffers from, during his (& his son's) term, goats about a farcical win in the parliamentary by-election, in which 93% voters Did Not vote & he still got elected with a mere 3% of total votes, and will shamelessly enjoy the free perks of being a member of the Parliament (ah.. the bitter sweetness of the world's largest democracy)!

On the occasion of yet another nondescript day tomorrow (don't even think about it…), Swamy is launching the random Nano blog series that's aimed at bringing such classical treasures to the notice of the intensely competitive insanely fast world that we inhabit today, offering (hopefully.. sincerely) a semblance of sanity, with the ancient lights that can still shine their wisdom light, to shoo away the ignorance darkness that surrounds us like an AR (or is it still VR!) goggle (or ‘IT’, if you're a - strictly Hollywood only - movie fan like Swamy)!

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நாலடியார் 135 (பொருட்பால் ~ கல்வி)

NAladiyAr verse 135 (Material Life ~ Education)

கல்வி கரையில கற்பவர் நாள்சில
மெல்ல நினைக்கின் பிணிபல - தெள்ளிதின்
ஆராய்ந்து அமைவுடைய கற்பவே நீரொழியப்
பாலுண் குருகின் தெரிந்து.

📚

The number of things to be known / learned is innumerable. But the lifetime (to learn them all) is limited / short.

If one ponders / contemplates quietly, even in the limited lifetime, there are many illnesses / diseases that one could be afflicted with (which reduces the available lifetime further).

So, just as a swan would isolate & consume only the milk from a mixture of milk & water, the smart / wise learners (seekers) will choose & learn only those tomes (scriptures) that will aid their quest for a better / more purposeful Life (attain self-realisation / liberation / mukthi).

📚

கற்கக்கூடிய (அ) அறியக்கூடிய விஷயங்கள் கணக்கற்றவை. ஆனால், கற்பவருடைய வாழ்நாள் குறைவானது (அத்தனையும் கற்கப் போதுமானது அல்ல).

சற்றே நிதானமாகச் சிந்தித்தால், அந்தக் குறுகிய வாழும் காலத்தில்கூட, பலவிதமான பிணிகள் (நோய்கள்) வரக்கூடும் (அதனால் வாழ்நாள் இன்னமும் குறுகக்கூடும்).

ஆகையால், இருக்கக்கூடிய எல்லா நூல்களையும் கற்க முயற்சி செய்யாமல், இந்த (குறுகிய) வாழ்நாளுக்குள் தாம் மேன்மையடைய (பெருவீடு பெற / ஞானோதயம் அடைய) எத்தகைய நூல்கள் பயன்படும் என்று தெளிவாக ஆராய்ந்து, நீரிலிருந்து பாலைமட்டும் பிரித்து அருந்தும் அன்னப்பறவை போல, அத்தகைய நூல்களை மட்டுமே அறிவுடையவர்கள் கற்பார்கள்.

📚

Hmmm... It's hard for a book lover (Swamy inclusive) to digest the Truth of verse 135 that's as transparent as glacial meltwater (howzatt for a simile, eh). But since it's undisputed Truth, which remains relevant after millennia, at least Think about it, the next time you pay for a bunch of books, irrespective of whether it's at a beloved (but now defunct) bookstore like Landmark or the ubiquitous Amazon!

~Swamy
@PrakashSwamy

2KYOT C2 Greatness of Rain K12

2000 Years Old Tweets ~ Chapter 2 ~ Greatness of Rain ~ Kural #2 

The monsoon has finally arrived in Chennai. Instead of heaving a sigh of relief (most of the water bodies that supply water to Chennai residents have more or less dried up), Chennaiites have overnight started cursing the intermittent showers due to the following reasons (minimum list, of course)...

1. Diwali shopping - It's hard to imagine how pretty much an entire city goes bonkers & try to shop during just a week before Diwali - the traffic in many commercial zones have already gone beyond unbearable!
2. Roads - Or whatever is left of them. Change in governments don't matter. Change of Mayor doesn't matter. Nothing seems to matter when it comes to the condition of Chennai roads - especially during monsoon. All those who are dreaming about migrating to Mars are most welcome to do their terrain training in Chennai. This November is highly recommended as the best time for superior survival experience!
3. Diwali itself - kids are going to be very upset if it rains cats & dogs on Diwali day; fathers are going to be very very upset because the great deal they got on Chinese crackers will be wasted; mothers are going to be extremely upset as they can't visit near & dear to show off their new design saree or churidhar they got by swimming in the human ocean at one of the top 3 destinations - Saravana Stores, Pothy's (all Kamalhaasan fans are going there by default this year & also wear the dress bought there for the 1st show of his next movie தூங்காவனம்  :O) & Chennai Silks. Since 2 of the 3 are located in Velachery now, Swamy is so relieved that he chose to move out to Pallikkaranai 4 years ago (exactly a day after Deepavali - talk about timing ;)

And while it continues to rain, cooling a parched earth but raising the temper(ature) of yet-to-do-Diwali-shopping-just-in-time-for-Diwali families, there's so much more comic relief on Chennai roads, including but certainly not limited to...

• Parking the bike wherever it started pouring & hiding under bus shelters, flyovers & shop entrances - if you are in a car & bewildered as to how there can be a traffic jam in pouring rain, that too on a highway, all you need to do is look around & above for a circular flyover (a notorious design that's present pretty much all over the city, where everyone takes a turn but no one waits for anyone creating a logjam every now & then), because it's guaranteed that a 106 motorists would've abandoned their motorcycles on the road & hiding right under the flyover :O
• Pillion rider holding an umbrella over the rider's head - it's not just ridiculous but extremely dangerous, so it's certainly not hilarious, at all. But when you see it - again and again and again, the only thing one can do is LoL :D
• Not venturing out in rain, at all - it's really funny that anyone who can ride a two wheeler is perfectly fine riding out in blazing sun (which is a little over 11.5 months in Chennai), that too without a helmet to cover the only head s/he has got. But the same stupid person isn't ready to venture out riding in the rain, despite the scientific fact that about 74% if a person's body content is................................................................ just water! BAU Humbug :{}

Jokes apart, it would be interesting to know what Valluavar got to say about this truly enchanting but apparently bewildering - especially for the hilarious species called humans - thing called Rain!

19 தானம் தவமிரண்டும் தங்கா வியனுலகம் 

வானம் வழங்கா தெனின்.

Without rain, benevolence (giving) & penance (realization) will cease.

Oh, now we get it! People hate rain because giving & realization (which are supposed to elevate their miserable lives to an altogether different level) already ceased to exist. Ah, humans :( 

@PrakashSwamy

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P.S: If, like Swamy, you're also enchanted by the amazing natural phenomenon called rain (or even if you aren't yet), do enjoy his blog post exclusively about it ~ Rainchanted!

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Note: This post is part of Swamy's blog series on the epic book of Tamil poetry Thirukkural, thought to be written over 2000 years ago by the poet ThiruValluvar, in an enchanting Tweet long couplet format, which is amazingly relevant even in the digital space of today!
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Be Joyful & Spread the Cheer :)

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2KYOT C41 Lack of Knowledge K407

2000 Years Old Tweets - Chapter 41, Kural 407 - Lack of Knowledge

Popularity always wins when it comes to publicity. In the digital space, i.e., the age we live in now where every Tom, Sheikh & Hari sprinkles jargons like digital, digitization, digitalization in daily conversations, those with millions of followers are popular. Some of these celebrities even have their own apps! What (IF!) they know doesn't matter, but what they do does, which is mostly posting a quadrillion photos on Instagram or Twitter or FB or what not - of whatever they do, including those that any human with common sense knows should be private. And their followers will gleefully savour all those photos (they probably check their idol's photos even before brushing their teeth) & dutifully like & share each of them, to propogate the most important thing necessary for human salvation - nothing!

Not to say that celebrities don't know anything, but there are other really smart humans out there, who know a lot better about a lot of things important for a better human Life. Like why should we progressively reduce consumption of fossil fuels, so that we don't obliterate the only inhabitable planet on which we live today - Earth! Or learn Science to understand the marvel of creation that evolved over many billion years, instead of believing a few thousand years old book that says someone created it at the snap of a finger!

407 நுண்மாண் நுழைபுலம் இல்லான் எழில்நலம் 

மண்மாண் புனைபாவை அற்று.

Those that lack (genuine) knowledge may be attractive, but that's no different from the beauty of a clay doll.

Hmmm... Thiruvalluvar must know, because celebrity worship isn't a 20th century phenomenon & must've existed from time immemorial. It's ok if you're following (hopefully not 'only') clay doll celebrities because in a free society you're free to follow whoever you want. But, there are a couple of things you can do, so you're not trolled as a clay doll worshipper, err. follower.

a) Follow people whose knowledge on subjects that are important for the progress of human species is acknowledged - not just academically but even on popular media - such as Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michio Kaku, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking, etc (yep they're all scientists & Swamy is fascinated by the scientific Truth they unravel about Life). You can also follow the intelligent liberals such as Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert, who dare to rip apart the facade of the ruling class morons, on a daily basis, and tickle our funny bone while doing so, which is doubly beneficial as it helps both the heart & brain! Of course, you're absolutely empowered to follow Swamy as well - on any social media you prefer (he doesn't do Instagram though).

b) Stop sharing nonsense - like utterly pointless photos of celebrities you follow - that doesn't enable the progress of our species in any way. Unfollowing them would be even better, because then you'll have more time to learn really useful things about Life!

@PrakashSwamy

Note: This post is part of Swamy's blog series on the epic book of Tamil poetry Thirukkural, thought to be written over 2000 years ago by the poet ThiruValluvar, in an enchanting Tweet long couplet format, which is amazingly relevant even in the digital space of today!

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Be Joyful & Spread the Cheer :)

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2KYOT C73 Communicating without fear K723

Two things are prevalent in the evolution of humans from time immemorial - war and being tongue tied.

At a macro level, we still see many nations - powerful or not - pumping so much money into building or buying weapons and going to war - within their own country or elsewhere. Wars just don't cease, despite the heightened awareness of atrocieties associated with them due to the omnipresence of information in digital space, including but not limited to causing the death of scores of our own - supposedly evolved species.

At a micro level, many human beings, who voraciously consume all such information - including war - thru a variety of media, are left tongue tied, when it comes to speaking and expressing themselves, in front of a group of their own species. Many wonderful ideas, invigorating thoughts, opposite points-of-view remain locked inside the head of people who are scared to death (pun intended) to communicate them to others. That's one of the prime reasons for many netizens sticking to just liking & forwarding posts than commenting or publishing their own.

723 பகையகத்துச் சாவார் எளியர் அரியர்

அவையகத்து அஞ்சா தவர்.

Many die in the war. Few dare to speak confidently in a group (or in public).

2000 years ago, Valluvar beautifully beaded the two seemingly disconnected things - apparent fearless death of people in war & obvious fear of people about public speaking - together.

Which one is easier? Isn't addressing a group of fellow humans or expressing yourself in public far easier than fighting a bloody war!

@PrakashSwamy

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Note: This post is part of Swamy's blog series on the epic book of Tamil poetry Thirukkural, thought to be written over 2000 years ago by the poet ThiruValluvar, in an enchanting Tweet long couplet format, which is amazingly relevant even in the digital space of today!

2KYOT C80 Analysing Friendship K791

Almost every day, we get 'friend' requests. In a world progressively deprived of human kinship, many are glad to accept a new friend (virtual, unless already known), without hesitation. Few do the rudimentary (but obviously necessary) background check such as who, who are his/her friends (friends of friend), what kinds of posts s/he has posted, where is the person from, is there any connect at all with that person, et al. The checks could be misleading, if the profile is fake. Very few have the confidence & conviction to not accept all friend requests.

It's amazing Valluvar has written about this 21st century scenario, over 2000 years ago, in his own succinct couplet way.

791 நாடாது நட்டலின் கேடில்லை நட்டபின்
வீடில்லை நட்பாள் பவர்க்கு.

It's hard to let go of friendship. So, it's not smart to accept someone readily as a friend, without sufficient (background) check!

So, the next time you gleefully accept a friend request, think about what Valluvar said, in his 2KYOT, i.e. 2K years old Tweets!

Note: This post is part of Swamy's blog series on the epic book of Tamil poetry Thirukkural, thought to be written over 2000 years ago by the poet ThiruValluvar, in an enchanting Tweet long couplet format, which is amazingly relevant even in the digital space of today!

@PrakashSwamy