Circle

He looked with an un-interrupted gaze, a rapt attention, which communicated nothing in specific. It had an emptiness of a deep surprise or disbelief as he continued to sit and gaze at the stage. The artists had been immersed in their performance, subconsciously aware of an audience, glued and applauding.

He had gone there specifically to drown the echoes of a critical mind. Those that had made him one of the best critic of art, in town. But the profession had given him a perspective, that for centuries was considered suicidal. One that drives away beauty and what have you, from life..

This was an invitation from an actor friend. As he let his consciousness merge with the performers, his friend tapped at his shoulder..

“Dude! Sometimes just see things as they are.. like a detached observer.. dispense with the critic’s mind sometimes..“

“Hey Peter! I’m sorry, didn’t notice your coming.. and.. well! There is a difference between being disinterested and uninterested. I get involved with disinterest. I’m not a scavenger, fishing for trash and neither the drift of a wind – permeable anywhere…But thanks for the invite, it really is a pleasure to witness this..”

“Glad that you like it…, good that it’s worthy of compliments from you..”

Interesting it is that you constantly remind me that I breathe and live beyond my work too. These were the things that you came to me for, when you struggled as an actor. A critic’s deep intent was to see perfection, that we are capable of .You needed one, then. How ironic that today you reckon it as a disease to be cured of! You’re a dear friend, nonetheless!

“Yeah, hope you’re enjoying it too, and my presence is not a pre-occupation.. “

Audience breaks into clapping. Both of them take another dive, losing the headiness of knowing who they were, as the new act began..

A Case for Vegetarianism

Many a times I’ve seen a curiosity, as to why one would be a vegetarian.I think I could speak for myself here. Although it’s been a way of life for me, for the very simple reason, that I never got to know the other side for a good part of my life so far, but ever since reason and logic dawned on me, the choice only grew stronger. I would like to share my thoughts hence.

Reason 1:

There’s life in everything. How it manifests gives it some sense of being more important or superior than the other. Animals with ability to move, act and react out of instinct – show greater manifestation of life than plants. By similar analogy human beings, blessed with reason and intellect, are valued more than animals. And maybe also the reason why a celebrity deserves a lot more privileges than I do.  So if I have to consume a life for my subsistence, I would prefer to start at the start.

Reason 2:

Almost follows from the first one – Starting from the start. Sun, water, air are the primary sources of energy. The more one moves to the inner stages of the food chain, the more complex the food becomes. Considering my not so very physically exacting lifestyle, simpler suits better.

Reason 3:

One kg of meat needs around 8 kgs of cereals (The statistic varies from one type of meat to the other and one research to another!). But the fact remains that they aren’t commensurate. If everybody on this earth starts consuming meat, we might not be left with any food! The effects are palpable in the food inflation experienced across the globe since 90’s, as economies grew and so did the intake of high –protein diet. So it keeps me happy to do my bit for this planet.

These reasons are enough to keep me from eating things that move. I thus, rest my case.. 🙂

Of happiness et al..

A tear in the eye –  how many ways could you interpret it? Many perhaps, until the context is known. I have lived through these amazing times of how much we assume. The silver lining is that we don’t know each other’s idiocracies generally and that helps in keeping on the cloak of sanity. People who come the closest and assume a sense of importance, teach you variously and move on..There are good people, (all of us that is!) – but one can sense that each is afflicted one way or the other. One can see people set parameters of what they like and dislike and eat their words with another logic in place -because winning has become so important for us!  In Hinduism- Kshma or forgiveness, is an exalted trait. Forgiveness for oneself (which still comes a little easier) and for the other, because apparently there is no other.. Even if there is one unhappy soul on this earth, there could  not be happiness for everyone. But in this process of assuming intentions and reasons, all these secrets and fancies – an ego’s need to be a superior and to be pandered, fantasies – physical and mental, and insecurity that others would infringe – has got everyone’s defenses up. Agony has it’s own flavour that’s favoured a lot. We love to be victims, even if – of our own device! It’s said Krishna/Christ, considered to be God incarnate, couldn’t survive in this world – because they wanted to see everyone happy! I think we deserve to be better 🙂