Concept of God

What is god? Who is god? Where is god? How does god look like? Is god just a concept or an entity in existence? Is god needed for life? Should we worship god or look up to god? Is god a male or female or something different? Who made god?

These are some of the questions that come to mind when one thinks about the limitations of human capability and concept of higher power. The materialistic and scientific school of thought denies or seriously doubts the existence of god. That school of thought tends to believe that all the worldly phenomena can be explained by science. What appears is reality for that concept and there is nothing beyond that. On the other hand, believers in god stipulate that there are so many things and processes that can be explained only when the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent god is accepted.

All the religions of the world are based on the belief in some kind of god. Those differing views from different religions all converge on existence of all-powerful almighty but differ greatly on the philosophies, forms, formats and personality of that almighty.

Even if one were to deny the existence of god, there are many things which are very difficult to explain without the presence of almighty. Can science alone explain the emotion a mother feels for her child? Can science alone explain how a single cell embryo grows perfectly into a full living being? Can science along explain how that first blood circulation or first beating of the heart starts? Can science alone explain how the basic fundamental forces of nature were created? Can science alone explain how earth is the only inhabited planet ever found so far? Can science alone explain how earth is so perfectly placed at a perfect distance from a perfectly sized star so that trillions of living organisms thrive here whereas no other celestial body has been found to harbor such ecosystem of life?

There are multitude of such profound questions answering which is beyond the scope of science known so far to mankind. That makes it natural for the intelligent, inquisitive and thoughtful mind like that of human beings to nurture the idea of god that is all-powerful and behind all the creation or creative phenomena.

Long live the debate and may god (?) bless the thoughtful, inquisitive and intelligent human mind.

23 August 2018

Writing from the Heart

Words are ordinary combination of letters. But not just combination of any letters. Each word is designed to convey a meaning. So, words are meaningful combination of letters. Words, sentences and a language in general are results of generations of evolution, usage, changes and mutations. What is considered contemporary today shall be old-fashioned tomorrow. But, as languages age or as the way people use languages changes, the things that endure are the contemporary expressions representing that particular time. A work of writing is a reflection of times that it is written in. Be it prose, poetry or play. Be it technical, philosophical or vocational, a writer's strength is in the endurance of the idea that the writing represents.

Being a deeply aspiring writer still learning the perks of writing, I am amazed by the capability of great writers to convey profound meanings in permutations and combinations of words that are mostly commonplace. Like painter converting a blank canvas and a few pots of color into a timeless piece of art, the wordsmiths create magic by playing with words.

A right word in right place creates a profound effect on reader. This is specifically true about the poets and lyricists. In a few dozen words, they express philosophies of life, love, relationships, happiness, grief, joy, sadness in such profound ways that the messages endure ages. Whenever possible, people relate their life experiences and express their feelings in the form of those poems, songs or lines from literature or philosophy. Great authors are indeed true gifts to humankind.

I have a dream that words come to me easily and happily whenever I want to articulate something. I have a dream that people easily grasp what I write. I have a feeling that my writing lasts longer than myself. I have a dream that one day I shall have a creation that I could be proud of. I have a dream that some day I shall be able to give something back to society from which I have obtained so much in terms of learnings and philosophies of life. I presume such is the dream of everyone looking for a meaningful life.

Happy dreaming. Good luck (to me as well) for realization of those dreams.

19 August 2018 (11:03 PM) आइतबार, ३ भाद्र २०७५ (राति ११:०३ बजे) 

म

सृष्टिको मियो म,
व्रम्हाण्डको केन्द्र ।
म छु र त सबै छ,
चर, अचर, सजीव, निर्जीव ।१।

म अनन्त, अटल, अमर,
कति आए, गए, बिलाए ।
कति आउलान्, हराउलान्,
तर म यही छु, निरन्तर ।२।

हिसाब किताब, प्रष्ट छ मेरो,
जोड, घटाउ, अङ्क, सुत्र ।
बढेको, राम्रो, बनेको मद्वारा,
घटेको, नराम्रो, विग्रेको उद्वारा ।३।

मेवा, मिष्टान्न, रसिलो, पोसिलो,
आदर, सत्कार, सम्मान मेरा  ।
तीक्त, रिक्त, फोस्रो, खोक्रो,
गाली, तिरस्कार, अपमान अरुका  ।४।

सुनौलो घाम, हरियो बन,
खुशी मन, स्वस्थ तन ।
शीतल पवन, शानदार भवन,
शान्त उपवन, मेरो नीजि धन ।५।

उखरमाउलो घाम, ढुङ्गाको थुप्रो,
दुखी मन, सासको टेवा ।
हुरी वतास, चुहिने छाप्रो,
उजाड करेसा, अरुकै पेवा ।६।


कोदालि पाते तँ, राम्रो म,
तोतेदेखि सिकेको, सबै संग ।
अक्षरको गाथा, आत्माको नाता,
'म' नै रहेछ मनपर्ने रंग ।७।

पहिला म, अनि पो तँ,
पालै पालो, क्रमै संग ।
कुरेर बस्नु, अनन्त सम्म,
म हुनुपर्छ हुनलाई दंग ।८।

म बाट महान, म नेै मनपर्ने,
मलाइ मान, मसंगै मिल ।
म को महिमा मसंगै माग,
मबिना जगत छैन केहि मान ।९।
--

१ भाद्र २०७५ 

पद, प्रतिष्ठा र त्यसप्रतिको सोच

आज १ घण्टा चाँडो कार्यालय पुगेको कारण केहि अतिरिक्त समय थियो । हवाइजहाज र उडान प्रविधिमा अलि बढी नै चासो भएकोले केहि एउटा नया जहाज उडाएको ककपिटको (पाइलट बस्ने ठाउँ) भिडियो हेर्दै थिएँ । त्यतिकैमा मजस्तै चाडो आउने एक सहकर्मीसंग कुरा हुन थाल्यो । 

आजभोलि कार्यालयमा फेरि अन्यौल छ । उच्चतम पदमा विद्यमान व्यक्तिको कुर्सि धरापमा छ । स्वाभाविक हो कुर्सि धरापमा भएपछि त्यसमा बस्न चाहने विभिन्हन अभिलाशिरुका नामहरू हरेक सरोकारवालाको मानसपटलमा सलबलाउछन् । 

कुरा गर्दै जाँदा पदमा बस्ने, बसाउने, खुस्काउने, मिलाउने, ठेल्ने, धकेल्ने, बाहिरिया, भित्रिया आदिको कुरा हुन थाल्यो । अहिलेको व्यक्तिलाइ राख्छ रे । हटाउँछ रे । फलानो आउने रे । ढिस्कानो आउने रे । यसो रे । उसो रे । ईत्यादि, ईत्यादि । तर समग्रमा को आउने, कति कमाउने, कति टिक्ने, कस्ले टिकाउने मात्र कुरा भयो । फलानो आएपछि सँस्थाको यति काम हुन्छ । यति काम हुनुपर्ने छ । यस्ता समस्या छन् । यी आदि कुरा भएनन् । यसले पनि पद, त्यसको स्थायित्व, त्यसको प्रतिष्ठा, पदमा बस्नेको दायित्व, उपलब्धि, चुनौति आदि भन्दा पनि व्यक्तिगत उपलब्धि, कमाइ वा गुमाइ आदिमा अधिकाँशको ध्यान जाने वर्तमान प्रवृत्ति उजागर गर्छ । यसो हुनु पक्कै पनि ठूलो र देशव्यापि प्रभावक्षेत्र रहेको सँस्थाको लागि सौभाग्यको कुरा होइन । 

पद, सुविधा, कमाइ आदि अस्थायी कुरा हुन्, बगी जाने खोला जस्तै । तर प्रतिष्ठा, छवि, स्वभाव, नेतृत्वको क्षमता, सँस्थाको स्थायित्वप्रति पदमा बसेकाको देन आदि स्थायी हुन् । हरेक पदासिन व्यक्तिको ध्यान अस्थायी भन्दा स्थायी कमाइ गर्ने तिर लाग्नुपर्ने हो । एक अन्तरवार्तामा स्वामी आनन्द अरुण (नेपालमा ओशो तपोबनका संस्थापक गुरु) ले "हालका पदासिन हरू अस्थायी सम्पत्ति कमाउने धुनमा स्थायी सम्पत्ति गुमाउदैछन्" भन्ने आशय व्यक्त गरेका थिए । लाग्छ उनको भनाइले अधिकांश पदासिन वा पदासिन हुन लालायितहरुको मानसिकतालाई प्रतिनिधित्व गर्छ । 

२ वर्ष, ३ वर्ष वा ५ वर्ष नै किन नहोस, यदि चालिसौं वर्षको जीवन पलक भरमा जान्छ भने पदावधि पनि आउँछ, जान्छ । तर पदमा रहुन्जेल पदासिनले जे गर्छ त्यसले उसको पछिको मान सम्मान, छवि र अन्तत: आत्मिक शान्तिमा पनि गहिरो असर गर्छ । पदको दुरुपयोग गरेर समाजलाई झुक्याउन सफल हुनेले पनि आफूलाई त झुक्याउन मुश्किलै पर्ला । 

महाकवि लक्ष्मी प्रसाद देवकोटा जस्ता युग मानवले त मरणासन्न हुँदा "जन्मे म यो स्वर्ग विसे पलाएँ, आखिर भै खाक यसै बिलाएँ" भन्दे इहलिला समाप्त गरे भने साधारण सांसारिक व्यक्तिले त्यो अवस्थामा के सोच्ने होला?  समय छंदै कमसेकम आफू प्रति सचेत, सच्चा र ईमान्दार भएर कर्म गर्न सके त्यो पल सहज हुँदो हो कि? मनन गर्नुपर्ने कुरा छ । 

मङ्गलबार २६ श्रावण २०७५ (Tuesday 14 August 2018)

A Person's Right To Die at Will

Today, a rather sombre topic. There was a fine documentary on BBC radio this morning. It was about a 29 year old woman in Holland who opted for assisted euthanasia in December to end her life. Euthanasia is itself a very contentious and controversial topic. In many western countries it is allowed on the grounds of the person being terminally ill and in a lot of physical pain so that the quality of life is absolutely low. However, even in most of the countries where it is allowed, it is allowed only for physical illnesses. Not for mental illness or psychiatric problems. That was the case of this Dutch woman Aurelia Brouwers who had severe psychiatric problems.

Euthanasia on physical illnesses that are terminal are much more widespread but not so with psychiatric patients. According to the BBC "The vast majority of the 6,585 deaths from euthanasia in Holland in 2017 were cases of people with a physical disease. But 83 people were euthanised on the grounds of psychiatric suffering. So these were people - like Aurelia - whose conditions were not necessarily terminal". 

It is not uncommon for common people to encounter death in many ways. Family members, friends, colleagues or even unknown people passing away is a daily occurrence in our lives. Some die at ripe old age, some have their live cut short at a very young age. Some die due to terminal illnesses, some in accidents and few also commit suicide. 

There are many ways people die and the different ways have different impact on the people around the person that passes away. Someone dying at a ripe old age of whatever cause is a normal occurrence. Even family members take that naturally and move on after initial short period of mourning and lamentations. In cases of accidents and someone dying young of illnesses, the impact is much longer and deeper. Everyone contemplates on the potential life being cut short. It is a life long scar for family, especially the spouses, parents and children. 

The dimension is different when it is a case of suicide. People always have that lingering thought that it could have been prevented. It is considered unnecessary wastage of life. Some even blame the dead for their inability to face travails of life. In most societies, the act of suicide is also considered an act of sin and cowardice. 

But what if your life is so terrible that the best alternative is to end it? What if you go through insurmountable pain day-in and day-out so that you suffer your life much more than you live it. What if you are afflicted by such an illness that causes a lot of pain, is expensive to treat but still does not cure, is degrading your life every day and is bound to lead to a painful and undignified death very shortly? Are you justified to chose to terminate your life then and there? Can you choose to die on your own free will while you still can make that decision? Or wait till  you are incapacitated that you cannot communicate your desires, are in life support and cannot convey your message, cannot tell anyone what you are feeling, even that you want to die now? What if you are in a coma for years where neither you nor your loved ones can have a feeling that you are alive? These are the thoughts that probably occur in the minds of those unlucky people who have to suffer so much that death becomes the easy option for them. 

In mythology we come across people who could choose their death. Like Bhisma of Mahabharat and other many sages who could meditate to death or predict how they would pass on. But these are modern times and though it may sound weird and unethical to many, assisted suicide or euthanasia is the most dignified option available to end their life for good. 

Friday 10 August 2018 (शुक्रबार, २५ श्रावण २०७५)

A Positive Place to Practice for Perfection

It does not matter if you struggle to find words. It does not matter if you become nervous. It does not matter if your eyes wander and your knees shake. It does not matter if your hands move awkwardly or you stand askew. It does matter that you try. It does matter than you stand up and practice. It does matter that you learn from your mistakes. It does matter that you challenge yourself. You can falter here, you can fumble here, you can freeze here. But once you stand up, rise after every fall, polish yourself after every fumble, you shall be ready to be at your best when it matters the most.

It is not a matter of trying to be anybody. If you see an accomplished performer, it is not for your to be envious of that person or frustrated about yourself. It is for you to realize that it is possible. It is for your to realize that Rome was not built in a day. That accomplished performer was not born accomplished. That person also started like you, faltered, fumbled, failed but rose again.

It is not everywhere that you find people who are accomplished but ready to make everyone else so. It is not everywhere that you find people who give you constructive suggestions so that you can be better on your own right. There is no one who belittles you. There is no one who boasts in front of you. If they are accomplished, they want to show that they are very similar to you and you can be like them. If they are novices, they want to show that they are here to progress with you and need your support. It is mutual. It is cohesive. It is constructive. It is positive. It is a place to be. It is a place to learn from everyone else. It is a place to let everyone else learn from you.

Looks so ideal. Is there such a platform? There certainly is. Are there such people out there? There sure are. You just have to look for it and start with yourself. Positivity is contagious but has to start from you. Once you have that disposition, you see everyone else that way. The world is a mirror image of your own outlook. Not hundred percent but to a very large extent. 

Keep being positive. 

07 August 2018

Enterprising Spirit

On 1st July 2018, I wrote 'Standing on Your Own Feet'. That consisted of a few statements of praise for an enterprising young person who personified persistence,  perseverance and progress. Yesterday, on the same venue (Everest Toastmasters), we had more stories of same kind. In particular, there was an enthusiastic, enterprising and energetic young person who started with very little. A person who had to work either side of college to pay for his education and subsistence in Kathmandu. A person who chose the 'road less traveled', the road of personal enterprise while being offered lucrative positions to work for 'others'. A person who could be a great motivator for the amazing idea of self-employment, entrepreneurship and job creation rather than seeking a job for oneself.

In a TED-like talk about his personal struggles, persistence and propensity towards taking risks, the speaker provided an amazing insight into the sweetness of success that comes at a cost. The harder one works for a goal, the more fulfilling its achievement becomes. This is the mindset every young person should adopt. That is, rather to be a job-creator than a job seeker. Though a lucrative job may give stability and freedom, it is no match for the glorious sense of accomplishment one gets at being able to create jobs. I would be the most unsuitable person to talk about job creation as I am myself a job holder. However, having been with so many enterprising people who have been amazing job creators and contributors, I also know a little about it. If by some means I were able to go back 25 years, I definitely would start my own enterprise, however small, than go looking for jobs.

Now that the country is getting more stable, it is the best time for young enthusiasts to embark on this journey of entrepreneurship. This is the best way they can have a good and fulfilling life while contributing towards overall economic betterment of society. Just go for it while you have time.

Monday, 06 August 2018 (21 Shrawan 2075 BS)

Questions to Treasure.

Who am I?

A universal question. A question of conscience. A question of existence. A question of self exploration. A question seeking meaning of life. A question to which there would hardly be a perfect answer. A question for life.

When people asked why apple fell to the ground or why sun rises and sets or why storms and quakes happen, science came to the fore and answered most of those. But the question of 'who am I?' is not a question that can be answered by a scientific, mathematical or logical mind. It is a question that even sages, mystics and religious gurus are struggling to answer.

Why am I here? Why was I born? Why was I created? What purpose was I created for? What if this happened to me? What if that happened to me? What if I was born somewhere else? What if I was born way richer or poorer? What if I was born a 100 years earlier or later? What if I was born as opposite gender? What if I was born into a different creed, color or culture? These are profound existential questions that a lot of people ponder.

Unlike other petty things people do, one's birth and the circumstances surrounding that are something that cannot be changed or undone. In this vastly unequal world, those with less privileged circumstances are expected to show frustration about their situation in which they had no say in choosing. However, if one thinks about these things in a larger-than-life perspectives, one can find solace in appreciating that this particular life is just a single peg in a large chain of events. That chain of events is a evolutionary journey transcending many births, deaths and incarnations in different forms of existence. At least that is what most of the myths and religious doctrines say. If one thinks rather deeply and considers the many unanswerable mysteries of life, that notion seems the only plausible explanation of what one experiences.

Though it may seem dogmatic superficially, on deeper thought, one slowly starts to appreciate the fact that this particular life is not just a one shot blip in the vast cosmological journey of infinite time. If lives are created, there might be a creator and if there were a creator, that creator would create these plethora of lives with some purpose. If one starts to believe in this larger than life perspective, one also tends to appreciate the larger purpose of one's existence and possibilities of one's life. This perhaps also helps in appreciating the fact that each person is not just that person's own self but part of a much larger integrated and interrelated picture. This notion also leads to compassion, empathy and a feeling of harmony with others. Perhaps this is the notion of coexistence, global fraternity and the notion of self-vs-nature-vs-the-world identity that many good-natured icons have promoted over the course of history.

However, these questions are such that one cannot even assume to answer easily. These are questions that are better unanswered because that keeps the mystery alive. That keeps the quest alive. That keeps the thirst and desire alive to make life more meaningful. That keeps the aspiration afloat to have a higher fulfillment in life, above material and worldly accomplishments.

Let the questions persist.

01 August 2018