Thoughts on Communication

Communication is multi-layered and multi-dimensional. People express themselves in layers. At the top most layer of the discovery process are “facts.” Stuff we put into forms and documkents. Below this is slightly complex inteelectual sheath that shares thoughts and opinions. And finally you have an emotional ore feeling circle. Further thoughts are ometimes expressed verbally and expressly. Sometimes thoughts are not shared at all. Emotions too are suppressed totally in socially driven culture where what others think matters more than what we truly want to do.

Inspirational leaders continuously sharpen the saw and learn to hone their communication skills. They no longer see people and their communication as black and white; they are able to see rich color and 3D images that bring out the underlying thoughts and emotions. They are also able to detect suppressed emotions pretty fast and help the other party to articulate and express them. When the issue is out it becomes an object available for analysis and resolution.

Floatel--Kolkata

20.11.2011

I am here at Kolkata to conduct a session at the certification course on Valuation at Hotel Floatel (lit. a floating Hotel!)

The venue is a renovated ship on the river Ganges adjacent to Baboo Ghat. The main hotel with the state rooms is on the ship which is accessed by a narrow pontoon bridge. The conference halls and reception are on the boat jetty.

The balcony, terrace and walkways both on the ship and on the jetty provide a nice view of the Ganges River and the stately buildings on either side. The steamers and boats plying on the river are a pleasant sight. It is pleasantly cold and there is mist. The atmosphere so early in the morning (8:00 AM) is pretty sleepy!

Both the Howrah Bridge as well as the new bridge are visible on either side from the Hotel.

• Howrah Bridge uses only suspensions and is built without letting down any pillars into the middle of the Ganga.
• Just opposite Floatel is Rama Krishna Ghatt where every Saturday the same pundits who perform aarthi puja at Haridwar perform the same Pooja in the evenings.

In search of the Striped Cat

I am at Bhandara to conduct a programme on Financial Awareness for the engineers od Ashok Leyland at the Bhandara unit. I decided to use Saturday to visit a few places of interest near Bhandara. Bhandara is very near the Tiger territory. Large reserves like Kaanha and Bhandavgarh are not very far. But the nearest and most feasible visit was to Nagjeera about 70 kms east north east of Bhandara.

The wildlife park is accessed by a well maintained road. Private vehicles are allowed inside provided they are accompanied by a guide. I took a guide as wellas the jeep with open roof and raised seating in anticipation of a face to face meeting with striped cat! But I had no such luck. There were reports of a sighting at waterhole at 8:00 AM that morning of a mother and two cubs. There are about twelve of these beasts at Nagjeera together with a whole lot of fauna like owls, eagles, deer—both Chital and Sambhar, bear, leopard, gaur and of course the ubiquitous langur. A wildlife spotter must have keen eyes and patience. This is because most animals have hides and featrhers that are camouflaged and meant to fade into the background of russet brown and faded green.

I did get a nice shot of an owl inside a hole in a tree. The owl was sleeping with its head sticking out of the hole high on top of a tree.

I also saw herds of Chital. I had a magical moment when a herd of Chital crossed the road and went grazing on the otherside. I stood up for a better shot and the herd started running away. One of them, a doe stood, turned her head srraight at me and posed for a perfect shot. Since I used my Sony DSLR and not the Canon EOS 450D, the shot is a bit grainy. But still it is a real wild life shot and arguably my very first.

As I wended my way back to Nagpur airport without having glimpsed even the tail of a live wild tiger, I made up my mind that one day somewhere or the other I will shoot a real, live, tiger I the wild from at least twenty feet.

Korambhi

12.11.2011

I am at Bhandara to conduct a programme on Financial Awareness for the engineers od Ashok Leyland at the Bhandara unit. I decided to use Saturday to visit a few places of interest near Bhandara. Bhandara is very near the Tiger territory. Large reserves like Kaanha and Bhandavgarh are not very far. But the nearest and most feasible visit was to Nagjeera about 70 kms east north east of Bhandara.

Before leaving for the Tiger reserve, I visited the temple of Amrutha Devi at Korambhi. Near the banks of the Wain Ganga perched atop a hill is the Temple. From the hill there is a breathtaking view of the river as it bends around a curve. At the foot of the hill ias a bathing ghat and boat jetty.

There about 150 stairs making for a strenuous but short climb. I enjoyed the view from the top and spent a few serene moments in front of the deity and invoked her blessings on my endeavours. The pujari was a friendly chap whio readily agreed to permit me to take a photograph. At the entrance of the temple before approaching the main entrance is a small shrine on the left dedicated to Kala Bhairav. The idol is terrifying and symbolic of the primordial energy that is uncontrollable and unpredictable.

After the visit I came down and walked to the river bank to have glimpse of the Wain Ganga. Thereafter we left for Nagjeera.

Buddhism on Vegetarianism—A different perspective

Most people in Srilanka (69 per cent to be exact) are Buddhists. Buddhism preaches Ahimsa. Yet the Sinhalese relish and eat the flesh of fish, fowl and beast. I was curious about this apparent paradox. Our garrulous guide, mr. Sumedh, gave this quixotic explanation based on his perception of Buddhism. (He is the son of a Police officer who was a great follower of Jiddu Krishnamurthy.So he is not unaware of the intricacies of the philosophy of his religion.)

“I think therefore I act. The thought leads to action and action binds you in karmic knots. So whatever you do without forethought or desire has no karmic impact. This includes what you eat. This is a non-issue for a Buddhist. In fact extreme preoccupation with Vegetarianism is also a Karma creator!

The goal is to overcome Karma not argue about food! Sumedh asked if I would argue whether it is sinful to eat “soap”? No! Why? Because, NOBODY can eat it! But the fact that flesh is edible also means that it was intended for human consumption. (This is similar to the Judeao-Christian argument). Those who eat it may do so. Others who don’t want to need not. Why argue about it and try to influence others thus creating more Karmic Bonds.

I neither agree nor disagree with his views as I don’t want to get into Karmic knots either!

Buddhism in a Nutshell

I discovered a Book Titled Buddhism in a Nut Shell by the Venerable Narada Thera. I found it to be a succinct and sound exposition on the religion from a Therawada point of view.

“There was no teacher ever so Godless as the Buddha, yet none so god-like”

When we see so many Buddhists praying at the Tooth Relic Temple we would naturally be worried whether the Buddhists worship the Buddha! The answer is an emphatic no! Why then do Buddhists build Viharas and imasges of the Buddha, offer incense and flowers at the altar, kneel before the image of the Buddha and pray? To whom do they pray? Here is thje answer given by the Ven. Narada Thera:

“An understanding Buddhist in offering flowers and incense to an image, designedly makes himself feel that he is in the presence of the Living Buddha and thereby gains inspiration from his noble personality and breathes deep His boundless compassion.He tries to follow his noble example.”

Advaita the doctrine of Non-dualism advocates self discovery and attaining oneness with the Brahman through True Knowledge. Buddhism says that Nirvana is the route to total breaking away from the Karmic cycle of pleasure and pain caused by actions and reactions. In this sense Advaita and Buddhism are so near to each other as to be almost the same! So much so, that the Advaita Doctrine has been accused more than once by commentators of the Dvaita and Visistaadvaita sects as no better than Prasanna Boudham (Or Buddhism in Disguise!)

Continuing with the Thera’s words;

“The Bo-tree is also a symbol of Enlightenment.These external objects of reverence are not absolutely necessary, but they are useful as they tend to concentrate one’s attention. An intellectual person could dispense with them as he could easily focus his attention and visualize the Buddha.

For our own good, and out of gratitude we pay such external respect but what the Buddha expects from his disciple is not so much obeiscance as the actual observation of the Teachings.

The Buddha says: “He honors me best who practices my teaching best. He who sees the Dhamma¹ sees me.”

The Buddha not only speaks of the futility of offering prayers but also disparages a slave mentality. A Buddhist should not pray to be saved, but should rely on himself and win his freedom.

I too believe that a visit to a temple should be purely for the upliftment of the soul. The Ven. Thera quotes Dr. Radhakrishnan, a noted authority on Ancient Indian Philosaophy:

“Prayers take the character of private communications and selfish bargaining with God. It seeks for objects of earthly ambitions and influences the sense of self. Meditation on the other hand is self-change.”

I believe that everything can be attained if we change from within rather than pray pitifully for an external intervention from a supreme diety. Prayers, if at all used should be a positive assertion of our innate purity as being that is complete in itself and a resolution to change our perception and thereby our circumstances.

1. Dhamma literally means the Teaching.

Sojourn in Serendip – IV

We wended our way from Nuwara Eliya to Colombo through Emerald green tea estates that rolled away on all sides. The road wound along the lush green estates. In the distance were the tall mountain peaks.

En route we came across numerous water falls and cascades created when the Kelani River meets a rock formation that defies erosion. The river then falls down to the next harder rock and so on as it creates a layered waterfall amidst the green fields.

We stopped at St. Claire’s Falls which is, by far, the most picturesque of the waterfalls in this region. We also saw Devon’s Falls which is just opposite the St. Claire’s Estate Tea Centre. We had an invigorating drink of the tea brewed on St. Claire’s Estate. Still further away is Hatton, a small British Settlement developed by Tea Planters during the British Colonial period.

In the distance we can glimpse the mist-covered heights of Adam’s Peak or Sri Pada, the second highest peak in Srilanka but arguably the more popular. The Sinhalese believe Buddha visited the Island Three times during his life.Every year thousands of pilgrims climb this figh mountain to view the foot print (Sri Pada) of The Buddha on the Summit. The Muslims believe the print was that of The Prophet Mohammed (May his name be Praised) and the Hindus that it is the holy foot print of Sri Rama! I am sure the Christians have an equally convincing story of a visit by Jesus to the Islands when he left his imprint on this high peak. Well, after all, Religion is not about God it is about Belief!

As we move down from Nuwara Eliya to Colombo, the Kelani River accompanies us singing a merry song on its way to the plains. The terrain on which the water flows makes it ideal for white water rafting.

For the curious movie buffs, it may be interesting to gret down from the car and take detour on foot to the lacation where the famous movie, “The Bridge on the River Kwai” was shot. The forest area between Khanchanabhuri (where the Tiger Temple is situated) and Burma is the place where the story of the famous movie, “The Bridge on the River Kwai” happened. My friend B Ramakrishnan has travelled on the legendary train across the bridge. But the movie was shot here in Srilanka on the River Kelani. A bridge was actually constructed here and was destroyed as part of the shooting.

Another place of interest could be the huge bungalow of Dr. Anand Jayasuriya, now converted into a restaurant which houses his imperesssive collection of classic vintage cars including a couple of Rolls Royce, a porche and a Jaguar.