Instant Liking vs Gradual Appreciation

It is highly underestimated how much importance we put in instant likeness. We value what we like naturally. This might not be a bad thing per se but we ought to understand what this method of decision making brings with it. We all have known by now that there are no silver bullets in life and that holds for this behaviour of ours. I’ve observed that the things that have given me longer-lasting happiness were things which I didn’t like at the first glace. Sound very weird, I know but I have examples from my own life that I’ll share. I’m forced to believe that the deliberate persistence and hard work we do towards anything can give birth to liking and that lasts more than our instant infatuation. ...

June 4, 2020 · Cauldron of Life

Judging Is Easy Repentance Is Hard

We are faster than a flash when we judge and slower than a snail when we accept mistakes. It’s been clearly understood by every sane person that judging is not right. We can only judge what we truly know and we truly know nothing. Less we know about ourself and lesser about anyone else. Then why is it so easy to judge? As Daniel Kahneman explains in his book Thinking fast and slow we have two types of thought processes, one which is fast and automatic and the other which is slow and logical. They both have their place and should be used for the right job. We, humans, are lazy and we let the automatic and fast mind direct us the majority of the times. We look and make a judgement without waiting for the slow and logical mind to think about the background. This is a deep-rooted habit pattern as our ancestors were required to make quick decisions. It was a do or die situation but things have changed. Today we are not always in a perilous situation and can take time to stop and reason but it takes conscious practice to fix this. ...

May 1, 2020 · Cauldron of Life

A Letter to Myself

Dear Ankit, I know that you are doing great in your life. The numbers are moving fast, the numbers of age, money and mistakes. I also congratulate you for all the hardships and struggles that you have overcome. Come on, I know you want to believe that it was nothing and people have worse and I agree. But that won’t mean that what you have achieved was easy. Applaud for your efforts even when many of them might have failed. Thank yourself for trying out new things and having the courage to work on your inner self with the highest priority. ...

March 8, 2020 · Cauldron of Life

No Fortune for a Penny

The title can mean different things to different people. For me, the only fortune is my time and love. My firm belief is that we love without expectations and I am the one who needs my love the most. We all have limited energy on any given day and to invest it on someone who doesn’t give a damn about you is not a great way to spend it. I love you and I always will and that’s not going to change. But if what you bring on the table is selfishness and only concern about yourself, that’s a bad vibe. I am there for you when you need me and time gets hard and I’ve always been. But I’m not going to run after you, chase you and be constantly present, to be drained of my energy. I’m going to prioritize my peace and work on being happy myself first before I help anyone else. And if this hurts your feeling, fuck you! ...

March 7, 2020 · Cauldron of Life

What Your Likes Can Tell

When I pondered about my likes and then about the likes of some of my closest people. It soon dawned upon me that we don’t like much. I would challenge you to take one minute pause and think of 3 things you like? I’m confident that you are going to have a hard time listing even three of them. When someone like me tries to itemize them, they come up with travel, sleep and hangout(~hangover). ...

March 3, 2020 · Cauldron of Life

Happy Lives

A happy couple was living in the fast-moving city of Bangalore. They would work hard every day in the cubicle. They took pride in what they did but there were days when nothing seemed right. All the efforts they put felt useless. While there were days when everything looked perfect and today was such a day. They have bought their first car. Working in a day job, living in a big city and owning a car seems like a dream for a middle-class family. And yes, of course, it includes putting in sick leaves on a lazy day, exploring the best brews in the town and going for a drive to the one favourite Maggie shop. ...

July 24, 2019 · Cauldron of Life

Meaningful Questions

Question is undoubtedly the most powerful tool in the quiver of an inquisitive person. It is like a shovel using which we dig the dirt of ignorance and try to understand reality. It is also the torch we point towards the pit to better see in the darkness of falsehood. It is the chisel we use to carve our own personality. The way we question reality, nature and anything around, shapes our complete being. Buddha asked if sickness, old age and death would reach him? Newton asked why the apple fell down from the tree? A child asked why the star shines and how is there water inside the coconut? ...

February 6, 2019 · Cauldron of Life

The Song of the Mountain and the Sea

While you climb the mountain, I tread the beach. While you pick the flower, I clear the weed. While you protect me from the cold, I fight the heat. While you shower the love, I make the ends meet. While you see the stars, I like to sleep. While you touch my arms, I kiss your lips. While you push me forward, I don’t let you fall deep. While you snap at me, I sound the bleep. While you clean the house, I clear utensils. While you sing the prayer, I turn the beads. While you go to work, I stay amiss, While you suffer the pain, I feel trist. While you instil discipline, I spoil the kids. While you play the music, I do the leads. While you do your hairs, I find the clips. While you fight the tears, I kill the pricks. While you’re with me, I’ll always be me! :) ...

January 17, 2019 · Cauldron of Life

Checking if My Cats Have Returned

My life was marching on its comfortable path every day when some kittens showed up in my balcony. I would give milk to their mother, try to touch the kittens only when the mom was not there and keep smiling. The kittens grew fast and now they run and play. Only one thing hasn’t changed their mission to not come near me and my desire to hold the soft fur balls. It’s been almost perfect but perfect doesn’t last long. Things seem so perfect at times but then again in this world only change is permanent. ...

January 15, 2019 · Cauldron of Life

Why Forgive

Yesterday I visited Nandi Hill, a very beautiful place with clouds below your eyes. Small hills rising above the clouds as if cutting through them. If not for those hills the sky feels like another sea of white foam and water. I love to travel and I love it even more so for the insights and observations we make when travelling. This time the wisdom is about forgiveness. It’s even stranger when I think what made me think about forgiveness and it was rudeness. Have you ever wondered why Jesus never confronted Judas even when he was well aware of what was going to happen? Or why Ram never had any hard feeling for Kaikeyi when she sends him to exile for no wrong? Or why Yusuf even as a king forgave his brothers for the years of suffering they brought upon him? ...

January 15, 2019 · Cauldron of Life