“Religion”: The most misconstrued term

It was a normal weekday and the lecturer had just entered into the classroom. Before starting the session, he informed the students that today is birthday of the Goddess Lakshmi (this professor has great knowledge and interest towards the Indian scripture). Also, he quoted some Sanskrit Shlokas about Goddess Lakshmi. The guy seated next to me, Sanjay (changed name), cracked a joke on the professor to make fun of him. One guy, who was placed in front of us, misconceived the joke and thought that the joke was on the Goddess. He had instantly lost his temper and yelled at Sanjay: “Shut up, man! You shouldn't make jokes on God. You should respect our religion”. Sanjay gave a serrated and prompt reply to him. “Oh really! Who are you to tell me what to do or what not to do? It would be better if you mind your own business since you don’t have any copyright on God”, Sanjay replied.

After the end of the class, that guy came to Sanjay and started arguing. As the argument proceeded, the angry guy started abusing Sanjay like a bully and used some odious words for him. Soon I started feeling that I should intervene to moderate the heat and I did the same. I cleared it with the angry guy that the joke didn't belong to the God at all & it was merely on the professor and I asked him to calm down. Thus, I succeeded to stop the argument. The next lecture started after a while. After that session, again that guy came to Sanjay, but with the guilt this time.“I thought that the joke was on the God . It’s okay if it was for the professor. I'm really sorry Sanjay”, the guy apologised.

This had left me unsettled for that entire day. I believe that it was really a disgusting statement by that guy. Did he mean that you can make fun of people, and even of your teachers (who are considered to be equivalent to God in Hindu religion), but you can’t do that to God? Moreover,if he was truly religious, he wouldn't ever have abused somebody, like he did with Sanjay.

So, what is religion? What does it teach us? Is it all about visiting temples? If you think so, then you’re partly right. Yes my friend, only partly right!!! Praying to the God is undoubtedly a great practice. Let me not get into the spiritual part here, yet I want to quote that prayer is one of the greatest powerful resources available to us. But what should come next to the prayer is most significant and interesting part of life to think about. Consider an example of a man who spends a substantial amount of time of his typical day in praying. Is he a good person? Or shall I say the religious person? The answer is “we can’t say”. I always doubt this criterion and I wonder why it’s always complicated when it comes to define religion. I'm not as great as to define what religion is; however I leave you with one of the simplest definition of religion: “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness”- Dalai Lama.

Actually, every religion is mainly comprised of two things: Love and Compassion. It is well said by a wise man: “In Library, Gita and Quran never fight. The people who fight over them are ironically the ones who have never read them”.

12 Life lessons from "Temple Run".

1. Game: Player keeps running by itself. Controller has to direct it to the left or right and jump or slide to pass through the given obstacles.

Learning: Life keeps running by its own, but you have to direct it well by using your wisdom.

2. Game: There is only one player at a time who runs individually for a mission.

Learning: You have to run as an individual throughout your life’s journey. You came alone into his world and you will have to go alone.

3. Game: As the player will go longer, the journey will get tougher. Nevertheless, you will get higher rewards along with your journey.

Learning: Same is applicable to the real life. The longer you reach, higher you get.

4. Game: There are different players available- a young man, an old man, a young girl & a man with a strong built. But the choice of the player barely affects the game performance.

Learning: What will take you to the success are the prompt, smart & concentrated decisions in your life irrespective of your gender, age or physical appearance.

5. Game: You can collect the “power” to boost your run for a short period of time. But you’re likely to miss some coins during that time.

Learning: You can take short-cuts in your life. But it’s up to your preference how would you like to go in the life. If you’ll run fast to achieve your specific goals, you’re likely to miss other parts of your daily life.

6. Game: When you will hit an obstacle, a guerilla will start running after you to kill you. You've to be an extra conscious during that period of time and shouldn't get hit by any other obstacle in order to save yourself from guerilla. Remember that you need to be an extra conscious only for that short period of difficulty.

Learning: Bad time often comes in people’s life. It’s absolutely natural & normal. All you need to do is to be a little extra conscious during that time. We should be calm and patient during the difficult times and shouldn't ever over try.

7. Game: There are more than one ways to pass some obstacles, For example, you can either jump over the fire obstacle or can slide your player to pass through it.

Learning: There is always number of alternatives available to pass through the difficulties. In the end, what matters the most is that you must survive.

8. Game: You will get sufficient lifelines meanwhile your journey. The game score is irrelevant to the number of life lines used.

Learning: It doesn't matter how many times you failed to reach your goal. In the end, people will see your score i.e. your achievement, not your journey.

9. Game: It’s a smartphone game which requires the touch screen features to play. Controller should play it soft. If you’ll apply your physical force, it may damage the smartphone’s screen.

Learning:  It’s the skills which are required to take the right decision at right time. Physical power doesn't count in the long run.  

10. Game: You can use cheat code to score high.

Learning: In your life, unethical practices may, sometimes, take you to the heights and you may get applaud by people. But it will never give you the self-satisfaction & true happiness.

11. Game: The graphics of the game are really artistic. The surroundings of the running track are adorable. But the controller can barely take a glance at it since (s)he’s always concentrated to control the player.

Learning: We usually ignore the natural beauty around us & are always busy in the “rat-race”. Sometimes, we should stop, relax and adore the natural beauty.


12. Game: Despite of the fact that the player is certainly to die at a point of time, the play time is always enjoyable.

Learning: We all know that death is inevitable. Nonetheless, we can always enjoy our present.

!!! CHEERS !!!

UPSC-CSAT issue or another political heave ???

What are they (protesters) talking about, I can't for my entire life understand. Scrapping off the English language? Idiotic! Are we gonna get administered by the bureaucrats who are not proficient in the English language? In this era of technology, industrialization & globalization, which are apparently the key socio-economic development factors for our country, can they really avoid the use of English language? Say for example, can they avoid using computer keyboards which are designed in the English language? And so on! How long we will keep allowing dirty politicians to deceive us is the matter to give a thought, not the CSAT scrap off. Protests are, actually, required to foil “us” from regressive attacks. Wake up India!!!

Please access this link to know the details of the issue: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/upsc-row-not-over-as-oppn-protesting-ias-aspirants-demand-scrapping-of-csat/article1-1248396.aspx