Fujiko Suda / Reflection

Thoughts of India After Coming Back to Japan

Things become great when one cares.... But then what is human history but a blip in this universe? I was thinking of great in terms of human history, Alexander the Great, Buddah, Jesus Christ. Taj Mahal, Pyramid in Egypt built by humans. What are left of these great people? What will their deeds be after another billion years? What will these works of humans mean then? As India's Presiden Kalam puts it, "Earth rotates on its own axis, what happens, day and night happen. Earth rotate around the Sun, what happens, a year passes. Sun also rotates around the galaxy in 250 billion years. Our galaxy is called Milky Way and there are thousands of galaxies like ours. All planets are in harmony and move in natural way." And what does it mean, to become great?

I am reminded of my insignificance in terms of such vast space and time. But then taking courage in the fact however insignificant, we are still a part of this fantastic world, and thoughts that we have, these words we utter here in this virtual world, wish to live true through love and work, these all have meaning at least to us, and I find happiness here and now. I think it has much to do with western culture. That regardless of how insignificant a deed might seem, even if Hindu teachings lead one towards not caring about things of this world, I wish to live and care here and now, precisely because this moment is eternity.

Thoughts of India After Arriving in Bangkok

I have landed in Bangkok about three hours ago, and the contrasts between this place, Bangalore, and Tokyo are just so pronounced. (Albeit I should be comparing against Delhi and not Bangalore.) People's beliefs, attitudes are what changes the outcome of the appearance, content, outcome of cities, countries.

India is said to be 70% Hindu. And it's teachings are not to be tied to things of this world, this life, because afterall, we live on forever in different forms, whether it be ashes, molecules, energy. But with such attitude, one would not take care of here and now as much as those who would have deep attachments and care to things of this life, world.

The Hindu religeous message is not saying, don't take care of your relations and surroundings now, in this life. It teaches about reincarnation that would bring about things that was not worked out in the past. But I think to many people, this becomes an excuse of not doing one's very best, to take it easy, because hey, I will have another chance to redeem myself next time around. Perhaps this kind of attitude is making people so succeptible to bribes, to not take care of one's living environment, to now spend money on things that lasts, like good buildings, good interiors.

As a Man Thinkth

Sato-san recommended James Allen's As A Man Thinketh, so I read it. I think James Allen was one of the writer that inspired Margaret Thatcher when she was growing up. ( I looked for her biography, Path to Power on my bookshelf, and was annoyed I couldn't locate the book...)

It's a very short book, but full of inspiration. The philosophy of it, especially the way the sentenses felt, struck me that it sounded very similar to the book of Buddhaism. Particular line I thought of was the following:

"Rouse thyself by thyself, examine thyself by thyself; thus self-protected and attentive wilt though live happily..... For self is the lord of self, self is the refuge of self; therefore curb thyself as the merchant curbs a noble horse. By one's self the evil is done, by one's self one suffers; by one's self evil is left undone, by one's self one is purified. The pure and the impure stand and fall by themselves, no one can purify another."

The entire book of As A Man Thinketh specifically explains this concept, your life is result of what you think.More l live, more I try to learn from my life, it is becoming truer and truer. Work, love, family, it's all about what you think and the action taken.

As A Man Thinkth

Sato-san recommended James Allen's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/087516000X/qid=1057244383/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-3882882-6756167?v=glance&s=books&n=507846">As A Man Thinketh</a>, so I read it. I think James Allen was one of the writer that inspired Margaret Thatcher when she was growing up. ( I looked for her biography, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0002550504/qid=1057244541/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/102-3882882-6756167?v=glance&s=books">Path to Power</a> on my bookshelf, and was annoyed I couldn't locate the book...)

It's a very short book, but full of inspiration. The philosophy of it, especially the way the sentenses felt, struck me that it sounded very similar to the book of Buddhaism. Particular line I thought of was the following:

"Rouse thyself by thyself, examine thyself by thyself; thus self-protected and attentive wilt though live happily..... For self is the lord of self, self is the refuge of self; therefore curb thyself as the merchant curbs a noble horse. By one's self the evil is done, by one's self one suffers; by one's self evil is left undone, by one's self one is purified. The pure and the impure stand and fall by themselves, no one can purify another."

The entire book of <u>As A Man Thinketh</u> specifically explains this concept, your life is result of what you think.More l live, more I try to learn from my life, it is becoming truer and truer. Work, love, family, it's all about what you think and the action taken.