Rishikesh

Poll politics and caste are inseparable in India. For those who came late, caste is a social group whose membership is determined by birth. Here is a backgrounder to the caste system in Karnataka. Our friends culled out these figures before the last polls. These are the statitistics provided by various state appointed committees. As they say, facts are sacred. Opinions are free. Caste percentage Nagana gowda Havanur Venkat swamy Chinnappa reddy 1. Lingayat 15.57 14.64 16.92 15.34 2. Vokkaliga 12.98 11.98 11.68 10.81 3. Kuruba 04.08 06.77 06.92 06.27 4. Eediga 02.40 02.25 02.45 02.31 5. Brahmin 04.28 04.23 03.81 03.45 6. Maratha 04.08

How many reams of paper have been spent writing about Aham Brahmasmi? Countless. How many times has Anal Haq been explained by writers and scholars? But how many times has it been written that both have a strikingly similar meaning? Why do we do this? Is it because we are afraid of exploring meanings of new terms? Or to open up to different cultures? Or to share what we know? Are we afraid to think aloud? Do we think we will be offending others’ sentiments if we speak the truth? After all, is being politically correct the only aim of a civilized society?

I chose this title because I wanted to sound strange and confusing. Yesterday over lunch, I got to know former US vice president Al Gore won the Peace Noble for his environmental campaigns. I was busy and could not think much about it. I had heard about Al Gore’s film on snow animals. The only other thing I could recall about him was the way he introduced himself to students in a US university. ``I am Al Gore. I used to be the next President of the US’’. For me, that smelt of Narcissism. But when I went home yesterday night, I began watching TV to get details. I hopped between channels that were speaking to Al Gore and the one that was speaking about former Indian Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. Then it struck me. How a former vice president of a resourceful country can smoothly go out of politics in that country and how some one like Gowda could remain an undying irritant in Indian politics. About how a not so young man can comfortably forget the luxuries of the White House and go film

ಇಸ್ಲಾಮಿನ ಮೂರನೇ ಕಲೀಫಾ ಅಲಿ ಅವರು ಧಮ೯ ಯುದ್ಧವೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದರು. ಇವರ ಮೇಲೆ ದಾಳಿ ಮಾಡಲು ಬಂದ ಎದುರಾಳಿ ಸೈನಿಕನೊಬ್ಬನನ್ನು ಸೋಲಿಸಿದರು. ಇನ್ನೇನು ಅವನನ್ನು ಕೊಲ್ಲಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಖಡ್ಗ ಎತ್ತಿದಾಗ ಅವನು ಇವರ ಮುಖದಮೇಲೆ ಉಗುಳಿದ. ಇವರು ಖಡ್ಗವನ್ನು ಇಳಿಸಿದರು. ಅವನ ಜೀವ ಉಳಿಸಿದರು. ಅವನು ಯುದ್ಧ ಕೈದಿಯಾದ. ಅವನನ್ನು ಜೈಲಿಗೆ ಕಳಿಸುವಾಗ ಅವನು ಅಲಿಯವರನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿದ. "ಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ನಡತೆ ನನಗೆ ಅಥ೯ವಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮುಖದ ಮೇಲೆ ಉಗುಳಿದಾಗ ನೀವು ಸಿಟ್ಟಿಗೆದ್ದು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಕೊಲ್ಲುತ್ತೀರೆಂದು ತಿಳಿದಿದ್ದೆ. ಆದರೆ ನೀವು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಜೀವ ಸಹಿತ ಉಳಿಸಿದಿರಿ. ಯಾಕೆ?" ಅಲಿ ಹೇಳಿದರು: ನೋಡು, ನೀನು ನನ್ನ ಮುಖದ ಮೇಲೆ ಉಗುಳಿದಾಗ ನನಗೆ ಕೋಪ ಬಂದಿದ್ದು ನಿಜ. ಆದರೆ ನಾನು ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದು ಜೆಹಾದ್ ನಡೆಸಲು. ನನ್ನ ನಿನ್ನ ನಡುವಿನ ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ದ್ವೇಷ ಸಾಧಿಸಲು ಅಲ್ಲ. ನಿನ್ನ ಮೇಲಿನ ಕೋಪದಿಂದ ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಕೊಂದರೆ ಅದು ಪವಿತ್ರ ಜೆಹಾದ್ ಹೇಗಾದೀತು?. ನನ್ನ ನಿನ್ನ ನಡುವಿನ ಬೀದಿ ಜಗಳವಾದೀತು ಅಷ್ಟೇ"

We all know who Pratibha Patil is. We also know how she got to be the President of India. For the first time in India's 60 year history, we have a women as President. She is also head of the Parliament of the World's largest democracy and Supreme Commander of the largest voluntary armed force in the World. Some people say she is there on merit. Some say loyalty to one political party and a family is the only merit she has. The debate continues. More people know who Sania Mirza is. The Tennis star is remembered by the number of matches she won and the equal number she lost. However, more people seem to recall the designer's magic wand that transformed a simple urban middle class girl into someone who looks like a celebrity. What is unfortunate is that fewer people know who Koneru Hampi is. The World Grand Master in Chess has won more matches than she lost. This girl from a modest family in a small town was a national champion when her classmates were mugging

ಇಗೋ ಕನ್ನಡ!

Hey, read this .... Who kaun thi Singer: Lata Mangeshkar Music Director: Madan Mohan Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan Year: 1964 Jo humne dastan apni sunayi aap kyun roye Tabahi to hamare dil pe aayi aap kyun roye Hamara dard-o-gham hai yeh ise kyun aap sehte hain Yeh kyun aasoon hamare aapki aankhon se behte hain Ghamon ki aag humne khud lagayi aap kyun roye Jo humne dastan apni sunayi aap kyun roye Bahut roye magar ab aapki khaatir na royenge Na apna chain khokar aapka hum chain khoyenge Qayamat aapke ashkon ne dhaayi aap kyun roye Jo humne dastan apni sunayi aap kyun roye Na yeh aansoon ruke to dekhiye phir hum bhi ro denge Hum apne aansuon mein chand taaron ko doobo denge Fanaah ho jaayegi saari khudai aap kyun roye Jo humne dastan apni sunayi aap kyun roye and listen to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =N6MtKqcqeYM&mode=related &search =

Did you know that a south Indian philosopher introduced martial arts to the Shaolin temple? His name was Bodhi Dharma or Daruma or Damo. He carried an south eastern version of Kalari Payattu to Japan and China. He also spread Buddhism there. He also taught martial arts to the monks in the Shaolin temple. They needed it for self defence as they lived in the forests, amid wild animals and were frequently attacked by thieves. That is how non violent Buddhism became equated with warrior monks in 'kung fu' films. Damo dolls are sold in Japan and are thought to bring luck.

We all know many are trying to put the Taj on the list of the new seven wonders. Did you know what the great poet Sahir Ludhiyanvi had said about the Taj? "Ek Shahensha ne lekar daulat ka sahara, udaya hai mazak hum gareebon ke mohabbat ka. Sahir on The Taj". It means, "a great king has used his wealth to ridicule the love of poor people like us".

We all know the War of 1857 started with Mangal Pandey near Delhi. But did you know the War of 1857 ended with Jung Bahadur in Bhalki in Bidar district? Here is story. Bidar has its own place in the country’s first war of independence. Unfortunately, the common man knows very little about it. The war of 1857, also knows as the Sepoy Mutiny, was kicked off by a soldier, Mangal Pandey, disobeying orders of his British senior officer and shooting him dead. Historians believe the war came to end, with the arrest of a follower of Tatya Tope in Bhalki in Bidar district in 1867. Madho Rao alias Rama Rao was the nephew of Shirmant Shahu Chatrapati, the Maharaja of Satara. He was also known as Jung Bahadur, because of his prowess in battle. British military officer and historian Sir Richard Temple has referred to Jung Bahadur in his dairy. Details about Jung Bahadur’s life and achievements are also found in the book “The Freedom Struggle in Hyderabad”, published by the expert committee

The author Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhairappa is a Kannada writer. He is the author of the popular and much discussed book Avarana. He retired after teaching at the Mysore based Regional Institute of Education, Sardar Patel University and NCERT, New Delhi. He was born in a poor Brahmin family in Santeshivara village in Hassan district on July 26, 1934. Now he lives in Mysore. He is married and has two sons. In college, he majored in Philosophy. He was awarded a Doctor of Philosphy (PhD) from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda for his thesis Satya Mattu Soundarya (Truth and Beauty). The novel Avarana The Mysore University's dictionary gives the meaning of Avarana as cover, environment, ambience and surroundings. In his novel, the term Avarana has also been used to imply falsehood and deliberate attempt to hide the truth. He describes it as a novel based on medieval Indian history. His earlier novel Sartha spoke about ancient history. (More details at the end) It uses the &

Kuduriyavaru Bandaravva Kuduriyavaru Bandara Usurigondu Hesaru Kottu, Hesarigondu Kusuru Kottu, Eneno Andaravva, Kuduriyavaru Bandaravva Kuduriyavaru Bandara -Da Ra Bendre

An Indian Police Service officer called up that morning to complain: Why are you so pro Dalit and anti government? I have known her for long and could guess what had bothered her. That day's paper had carried a long story on alleged police excesses on Dalit protestors in Bidar. (Date:10/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/10/stories/2006121001530300.htm) I told her. Why do you think being pro Dalit is being anti government?. Secondly, I have covered a press meet. The views expressed there may not be my own. A newspaper should provide a platform for diverse opinions. I narrated this to senior journalist and MLC Quazi Arshad Ali. He said: Newspaper offices are not post offices. We don’t print all that is sent to us. We publish only those thoughts that are in consonance with our principles. The debate continues; are newspaper offices post offices?

The number of tigers in India is fast decreasing. People kill them and sell their skin and bones. If the same situation continues, then a day will come when we will get to see the tiger only in paintings and old photographs. We have heard this many times from the many NGOs working on the tiger. It is nice to know so many NGOs and so many award winning campaigners are working on the country's national animal. But has anyone noticed that suddenly, there are no sparrows in the towns and cities? Has any NGO taken up any study to find out why? I think this short story explains our attitude towards the lofty and the lowly.

Thus goes a famous story: Former MP from Bellary Basavarajeshwari had a brother. Years ago, when he invited mediapersons to lunch, he would stress:"Please eat well. We dont know if you will get to eat dinner". At a recent press meet, we were recalling this and laughing. One of my friends remarked that mediapersons had come a long way since those days to these days of 100k salaries and OB van drives. Just then, former MLA Gundappa Vakil said:"All the media friends should join us for lunch. We dont know how many of you have had breakfast". Contrary to public opinion, times have not changed.

A dramatic ballad singer studied under a strict teacher who insisted that he rehearse day after day, month after month the same passage from the same song, without being permitted to go any further. Finally, overwhelmed by frustration and despair, the young man ran off to find another profession. One night, stopping at an inn, he stumbled upon a recitation contest. Having nothing to lose, he entered the competition and, of course, sang the one passage that he knew so well. When he had finished, the sponsor of the contest highly praised his performance. Despite the student's embarrassed objections, the sponsor refused to believe that he had just heard a beginner perform. "Tell me," the sponsor said, "who is your instructor? He must be a great master." The student later became known as the great performer Koshiji.

A master calligrapher was writing some characters onto a piece of paper. One of his especially perceptive students was watching him. When the calligrapher was finished, he asked for the student's opinion - who immediately told him that it wasn't any good. The master tried again, but the student criticized the work again. Over and over, the calligrapher carefully redrew the same characters, and each time the student rejected it. Finally, when the student had turned his attention away to something else and wasn't watching, the master seized the opportunity to quickly dash off the characters. "There! How's that?," he asked the student. The student turned to look. "THAT.... is a masterpiece!" he exclaimed.

A Japanese warrior was captured by his enemies and thrown into prison. That night he was unable to sleep because he feared that the next day he would be interrogated, tortured, and executed. Then the words of his Zen master came to him, "Tomorrow is not real. It is an illusion. The only reality is now." Heeding these words, the warrior became peaceful and fell asleep.

A renowned Zen master said that his greatest teaching was this: Buddha is your own mind. So impressed by how profound this idea was, one monk decided to leave the monastery and retreat to the wilderness to meditate on this insight. There he spent 20 years as a hermit probing the great teaching. One day he met another monk who was traveling through the forest. Quickly the hermit monk learned that the traveler also had studied under the same Zen master. "Please, tell me what you know of the master's greatest teaching." The traveler's eyes lit up, "Ah, the master has been very clear about this. He says that his greatest teaching is this: Buddha is NOT your own mind."

Upon meeting a Zen master at a social event, a psychiatrist decided to ask him a question that had been on his mind. "Exactly how do you help people?" he inquired. "I get them where they can't ask any more questions," the Master answered.

Two traveling monks reached a river where they met a young woman. Wary of the current, she asked if they could carry her across. One of the monks hesitated, but the other quickly picked her up onto his shoulders, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other bank. She thanked him and departed. As the monks continued on their way, the one was brooding and preoccupied. Unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. "Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women, but you picked that one up on your shoulders and carried her!" "Brother," the second monk replied, "I set her down on the other side, while you are still carrying her."

Successor The old Zen master's health was fading. Knowing his death was near, he announced to all the monks that he soon would be passing down his robe and rice bowl to appoint the next master of the monastery. His choice, he said, would be based on a contest. Anyone seeking the appointment was required to demonstrate his spiritual wisdom by submitting a poem. The head monk, the most obvious successor, presented a poem that was well composed and insightful. All the monks anticipated his selection as their new leader. However, the next morning another poem appeared on the wall in the hallway, apparently written during the dark hours of the night. It stunned everyone with it's elegance and profundity but no one knew who the author was. Determined to find this person, the old master began questioning all the monks. To his surprise, the investigation led to the rather quiet kitchen worker who pounded rice for the meals. Upon hearing the news, the jealous head monk and his comrades

A monk set off on a long pilgrimage to find the Buddha. He devoted many years to his search until he finally reached the land where the Buddha was said to live. While crossing the river to this country, the monk looked around as the boatman rowed. He noticed something floating towards them. As it got closer, he realized that it was the corpse of a person. When it drifted so close that he could almost touch it, he suddenly recognized the dead body - it was his own! He lost all control and wailed at the sight of himself, still and lifeless, drifting along the river's currents. That moment was the beginning of his liberation.

One day there was an earthquake that shook the entire Zen temple. Parts of it even collapsed. Many of the monks were terrified. When the earthquake stopped the teacher said, "Now you have had the opportunity to see how a Zen man behaves in a crisis situation. You may have noticed that I did not panic. I was quite aware of what was happening and what to do. I led you all to the kitchen, the strongest part of the temple. It was a good decision, because you see we have all survived without any injuries. However, despite my self-control and composure, I did feel a little bit tense - which you may have deduced from the fact that I drank a large glass of water, something I never do under ordinary circumstances." One of the monks smiled, but didn't say anything. "What are you laughing at?" asked the teacher. "That wasn't water," the monk replied, "it was a large glass of soy sauce."

The students in the monastery were in total awe of the elder monk, not because he was strict, but because nothing ever seemed to upset or ruffle him. So they found him a bit unearthly and even frightening. One day they decided to put him to a test. A bunch of them very quietly hid in a dark corner of one of the hallways, and waited for the monk to walk by. Within moments, the old man appeared, carrying a cup of hot tea. Just as he passed by, the students all rushed out at him screaming as loud as they could. But the monk showed no reaction whatsoever. He peacefully made his way to a small table at the end of the hall, gently placed the cup down, and then, leaning against the wall, cried out with shock, "Ohhhhh!"

A distraught man approached the Zen master. "Please, Master, I feel lost, desperate. I don't know who I am. Please, show me my true self!" But the teacher just looked away without responding. The man began to plead and beg, but still the master gave no reply. Finally giving up in frustration, the man turned to leave. At that moment the master called out to him by name. "Yes!" the man said as he spun back around. "There it is!" exclaimed the master.

Just Two Words There once was a monastery that was very strict. Following a vow of silence, no one was allowed to speak at all. But there was one exception to this rule. Every ten years, the monks were permitted to speak just two words. After spending his first ten years at the monastery, one monk went to the head monk. "It has been ten years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?" "Bed... hard..." said the monk. "I see," replied the head monk. Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk's office. "It has been ten more years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?" "Food... stinks..." said the monk. "I see," replied the head monk. Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the head monk who asked, "What are your two words now, after these ten years?" "I... quit!" said the monk. "Well, I can

The emperor, who was a devout Buddhist, invited a great Zen master to the Palace in order to ask him questions about Buddhism. "What is the highest truth of the holy Buddhist doctrine?" the emperor inquired. "Vast emptiness... and not a trace of holiness," the master replied. "If there is no holiness," the emperor said, "then who or what are you?" "I do not know," the master replied.

One day the Master announced that a young monk had reached an advanced state of enlightment. The news caused some stir. Some of the monks went to see the young monk. "We heard you are enlightened. Is that true?" they asked. "It is," he replied. "And how do you feel?" "As miserable as ever," said the monk.

Egotism The Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty was a national hero for his success as both a statesman and military leader. But despite his fame, power, and wealth, he considered himself a humble and devout Buddhist. Often he visited his favorite Zen master to study under him, and they seemed to get along very well. The fact that he was prime minister apparently had no effect on their relationship, which seemed to be simply one of a revered master and respectful student. One day, during his usual visit, the Prime Minister asked the master, "Your Reverence, what is egotism according to Buddhism?" The master's face turned red, and in a very condescending and insulting tone of voice, he shot back, "What kind of stupid question is that!?" This unexpected response so shocked the Prime Minister that he became sullen and angry. The Zen master then smiled and said, "THIS, Your Excellency, is egotism."

I think my book will be written on the Arabian Nights style:- One story a day. The steward on the plane asked us: What do you want, chicken or pasta? The old man sitting next to me on the plane asked him: what kind of chicken? The steward smiled and said: "The one that had feathers on it." An instantaneous sense of humour seems to keep Americans healthy.

Sabba Papassa Akaranam, Kusalassa Upasampadam, Ananya Parayodapanam, Itenam Buddhanam Sasanam : Do no sin, learn a skill for livelihood and always think from the other man'a angle. This is the gist of all of Buddha's teachings.

My friends have been asking me to write about my sojourn to the USA last year. I liked the idea, but was not sure how to write it. Then I came across Zen stories and Aesop's fables. I liked their short, crisp and clear format of story telling. Their influence on me has been very long lasting. It seems they will guide all my future writing.

Once there was a well known philosopher and scholar who devoted himself to the study of Zen for many years. On the day that he finally attained enlightenment, he took all of his books out into the yard, and burned them all.

A Zen Teacher saw five of his students return from the market, riding their bicycles. When they had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?" The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying this sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!" The teacher praised the student, saying, "You are a smart boy. When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over, as I do." The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path." The teacher commended the student, "Your eyes are open and you see the world." The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant, nam myoho renge kyo." The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel." The fourth student answered, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all

The Emperor asked Master Gudo, "What happens to a man of enlightenment after death?" "How should I know?" replied Gudo. "Because you are a master," answered the Emperor. "Yes sir," said Gudo, "but not a dead one."

The great Taoist master Chuang Tzu once dreamt that he was a butterfly fluttering here and there. In the dream he had no awareness of his individuality as a person. He was only a butterfly. Suddenly, he awoke and found himself laying there, a person once again. But then he thought to himself, "Was I before a man who dreamt about being a butterfly, or am I now a butterfly who dreams about being a man?"

A student once asked his teacher, "Master, what is enlightenment?" The master replied, "When hungry, eat. When tired, sleep."