"I dream. Therefore, I live."

In these days of high disposable incomes and limited responsibilities, the so called midlife crisis starts much earlier.

"What next?"

People start looking for goals in life. Most get lost in the routine of life like getting married, kids etc. all of which tends to give some sense of purpose in life.

"I need to work because I need to give them a better life."

Until when the kids grow up and the need for a real goal becomes even more important.

I remembered reading an interview with L&T co-founder Henning Holck-Larsen . He was more than 90 years old and even at that age, he was talking about dreams for his company. The interviewer was surprised and pointed out to him that he was dreaming at even at that age. Larsen then said something to the effect of "without dreams, you are already dead".

The other side is greener

I recently visited an ISKON temple here in Salt Lake City. As I was told, there were more firangs than Indians at the temple and it was an amusing experience.

The temple was founded by a White American (who is also the priest) and his wife following their experience in a Krishna temple in California. The Americans were intrigued by the paintings of the Krishna on the flute with dozens of gopikas and many cows around him. The priest was knowledgeable about each detail and answered to their questions gracefully. Then there were people sitting in an adjacent room singing "Hare Krishna" bhajan continously. There were also dance programs of Mohniyattam, Bharathanatiam etc by ABCD Indians which were patiently watched by the crowd of over 500.

There was a book store around and as I was browsing through some books, an American lady wearing a sari, who was manning (wommaning???) the store asked

"Where are you from?"

"Kerala in India."

"Oh. You may have been born in Kerala, but your ancestral birthplace is in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh"

"Huh?"

"Yes. Vrindavan is the cradle of human life".

"No. Thats in Africa, where the oldest fossils were found."

"The archeologists are wrong."

"Really?"

Of course, most of the people there might have been the jobless and trying to make a purposeful living. But they really think that its true.

Hindu mythology is probably the most complex and convoluted from all of them. So, its hard to understand why people not born into it become passionate about it.

Can't blame them. Steve Jobs visited India on a spiritual journey when he was young. So did the Beatles who stayed at an Ashram and spent their most productive days.

Maybe it is the rich culture that they find attractive. Maybe its the positive effect of chanting bhajans which indeed seems to relax the brain. Maybe people want to believe in rebirth :)

In anycase, their interest and respect for other traditions is to be appreciated!

Irony

I really liked this cartoon about a comparison of public image of Bush vs. Obama.

Bigotry and politics aside, it appears that people are more forgiving on mediocre people ("the bloke is trying his best") than on people who are good leaders and who deserve some support to implement their best ideas.

Maybe because we pity the bad ones and envy the good ones?

In search of meaning

It turns out, there isn't any.