Sunday 28 February 2021
Friday 26 February 2021
Expressions
Relationships are like a
multiplex where many films of different genres play together under one space.
When you begin to think this way, all you can do is smile and realize your own
foolishness of thinking “ this is mine” and this is “hers” and also that you
can actually control any of it. And yet, all our lives, we don’t learn any
better.
And you know what is worse? That
all the films play on one screen!!! Can you imagine the plight of the movie goers!!!
And yet, they DO play together.
No wonder we are all roaming around with distorted expressions instead of
enjoying life, without worrying about why we worry so much about what happened
and what is going to happen.
They say attitude determines altitude.
This makes even more sense as you grow older and you know the time to scale
altitudes is coming closer and closer
Relax. Take a chill pill. Have
a charminar and watch the world go by.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
SpeakingtreeBlog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Wednesday 24 February 2021
Environments
Extortion, extracting the proverbial pound of flesh is the norm today. The extremely flimsy and transient “fame” comes with a huge price tag. It is for all to see.
The system is so decadent that
no one does anything for nothing. Everyone wants to control everyone AND their
environments and the higher the range of fame, the higher the price. If you do
anything out of a mere goodness of heart, you are declared a fool. In fact, you
don’t belong to this world.
Why is it necessary to be
obsessed about people recognizing you wherever you go? Except furthering your
ego each minute, what does it do? And look at the tags attached: Loss of
privacy, jealousy and hatred, security issues, and so much more. Is it worth it?
Ultimately, even the rich and
famous are human beings. In their position, it’s a rat race. To stay on top of
the ladder is the name of the game. And stress levels are unbelievable! No
wonder then that the extra energy comes from other artificial addictions
because moral strength is certainly not visible here as a source of that extra
energy.
Actually, and unfortunately,
all the anchors have been lifted from us. The biggest minus because we are now
like rudderless ships, running amuck on the sea of life, getting swept by
lashing waves wherever they take us. No control over ourselves.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Tuesday 23 February 2021
Monday 22 February 2021
Traditions and culture
I truly believe that with every
succeeding generation, some things change to get enhanced and some tend to
deteriorate. We can imbibe what benefits us but to forgo our own traditions and
culture is like mutilating a beautiful language instead of letting it evolve.
The concept of “old wine in a
new bottle” applies to this superbly crafted Amazon original “Bundish Bandits”.
The producers have done Hindustani Classical music great service by packaging
the pure “bundish” or the classical song and raga rendition, contrasting it
with contemporary music.
Very cleverly titled, this
serial will inspire a new interest for our traditional raga based music. Much
as we might appreciate the rhythm and compositions of the current digitalised
music, this cannot be a substitute for the divinity of the pure notes which we
refer to as “Naad Brahma” meaning that sound is god.
It is pure harmony, pure joy.
My deep appreciation for the
way the old and the new have been blended without compromising the old. It is a
serial which one can go on watching with match sticks in the eyes, wanting to
watch just that one more episode.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Monday 15 February 2021
Criticism
I guess when your life has been complicated since childhood; you tend to get tired of any more of this, growing up. Sometimes, you don’t know that this is going to be your life’s theme and you are going to get it from all quarters.
At such times, it is not easy
to put it down to karma. I used to hear a lot of “holier than thou” criticism
around people about how so and so should have behaved. Obviously, the judgments
are passed without any in depth understanding of you. It just seems to make
people feel better because while doing so, they actually believe they are
better off..... Until someone makes a judgment on them and they don’t love that
person anymore.
That’s how life is today.
People are scared of being lonely so, they don’t have the courage to live on
their own terms. The stage of isolation has to be crossed to become stronger.
It is different karma for different souls but one should not buckle under its
pressure. God knows it all. Humans don’t have to if they don’t care to.
The message is that of inner
strength and respecting oneself, which also means balanced love, not a careless
one.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Friday 12 February 2021
Teaching and learning
Teaching and learning go hand
in hand. As we teach our children virtues, it is not a one way flow. It is a
simultaneous opportunity for us to review our own principles. Somehow, adults
do not retain what they learnt as children.
They say, life happens when
they grow up. It’s never rung true. An excuse! Because all the wrong conditioning
we adhere to very faithfully, so why not the right things we teach our kids?
Double standards and multiple
standards which, fortunately, kids don’t know in their innocence; all the
complexes and small mindedness are developed later, when we forget to apply our
own teachings in our own lives.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Thursday 11 February 2021
Wednesday 10 February 2021
Image of the Divine
Over a period of time, water
can cut stone. Similarly, our life is chiselled by the cutting away of unwanted
features and becoming polished in the image of the Divine.
We just tend to give up the
effort somewhere along the way. Maybe, we look for quick returns. Or maybe,
stop believing in ourselves.
One thing is sure. When your
inner mirror begins to clean up, it starts attracting everything that is clean
like a magnet. It is true that the Universe gives you only more of what you
have.
So, why not have goodness?
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Tuesday 9 February 2021
Sunday 7 February 2021
Sign of generosity
Genuine appreciation is a sign
of generosity which comes from being a confident person and even a spiritual
person because only if you feel a certain natural human bond will you feel
kindly towards a person.
I used to attribute a lot of
human limitations to karma. Now I know that karma is something we merely hide
under because we want to blame something or another. Because that part of us
which connects with others does not work.
To revive that part is to get
some health back. Otherwise, we remain only partially alive.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
SpeakingtreeBlog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Thursday 4 February 2021
Human sensibilities
How human sensibilities change
with the times! The human touch fades in the wake of aspirations which promote
exclusivity.
When we were growing up,
certain things were just not done. Each time we defied our sensibilities, we
were restless and in pain . The feeling was hard to live with.
The same feelings today are
perhaps available with a great deal of dilution and complexities of feelings.
Human dharma encompasses being
honest, simple, clean in mind and compassionate. It is the way to BE. We were
never taught this because it was simply the way we lived.
I can say with surety that even
today, these hold good because disregarding these will not let us find peace or
harmony in our lives.
People change. The norms of
living must not. Energy is connected.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Wednesday 3 February 2021
Benefit of doubt
Giving benefit of doubt is the
cleverest self preservation policy. You want peace? Just give benefit of doubt.
Something important gets left
out because of someone else? Just give benefit of doubt.
If your work doesn’t get done
because the staff member was on the phone, please give benefit of doubt.
Do we see what’s going on? Anyone
who is in demand can afford to shirk responsibility and because of our need of
them, we compromise and keep compromising through ... yes... benefit of doubt.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Monday 1 February 2021
Philosophy of life
We say we have choices. At
least, all humans are supposed to have free will and choices. Yet, we have so
many issues! Why, when we have can make our decisions?
The whole thing is, the choices
we make don’t guarantee the results we want. So, we are constantly in a state
of turmoil.
If only the consequences were
in our hands!!! Life is never a straight, predictable line. There is a super
saying in Marathi symbolizing life: वाकड़ी
तिकड़ी वलणे; Full of twists and turns.
I know one or two people who
enjoy the ride. They take things in their stride. And they know how to balance
when the twists and turns come. What crucial knowledge, sir jee! Makes life
really into a joy ride!
I really admire them because
you have to be spiritual in your philosophy of life, or, it might make for a
huge struggle. Strength and spirituality is a deadly combination.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
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