Love
Posted by
Roh
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Love gets so complicated,
It gets you frustrated,
You choose it again and again
Even when there's nothing to gain
What makes it worth your time?
Is the feeling that sublime?
You say without it your life is dreary
Yet it's the very thing that makes you weary
In love there's no right or wrong,
Its melody is like a broken song
Often it comforts, often it saddens,
Often it liberates, often it maddens
Yet the world longs for love
It's a gift after all from the heavens above
What you do with it is upto you
But remember, true love, is the privilege of a few
So if there's someone you love, go show that you care,
But along with the good times, embrace the despair
And if your love truly stems from the heart,
You'll find a way to be with one another, even when apart
It gets you frustrated,
You choose it again and again
Even when there's nothing to gain
What makes it worth your time?
Is the feeling that sublime?
You say without it your life is dreary
Yet it's the very thing that makes you weary
In love there's no right or wrong,
Its melody is like a broken song
Often it comforts, often it saddens,
Often it liberates, often it maddens
Yet the world longs for love
It's a gift after all from the heavens above
What you do with it is upto you
But remember, true love, is the privilege of a few
So if there's someone you love, go show that you care,
But along with the good times, embrace the despair
And if your love truly stems from the heart,
You'll find a way to be with one another, even when apart
Shut your mouth, Jabronis.
Posted by
Roh
comments (0)
I don’t believe in Fatwas. But if we must issue one, let’s put it to optimum use. First, anyone who can’t exercise basic restraint in speech is disastrous for society. I’m talking about the loony variety that randomly meets you and say something totally inappropriate like ‘Isn’t that person ugly?, or it could even be a snide remark, apparently in jest, directed towards you. While the temptation to respond to that by swiftly delivering a swollen cheek reaches dizzying heights before sanity eventually takes over, tolerance is of the essence here.
People who comment on another’s appearance are so far below on the evolutionary scale that you’d need to excavate endlessly to bring them to the surface. It is never funny to joke about someone’s appearance or for that matter any physical attribute that they have no control over. Moreover, in a media-fed society where every opinion is visually dictated to us, our entire concept of beauty is distorted. Actually it’s plain retarded. While I’ve personally reached a point in my life where it doesn’t affect me whether you call me attractive or unattractive, I’m sure other people are affected by such snide remarks. So what do you do? Ignore? Retaliate? Nah. Smile. Not the wide, grinning, elated one. But the one in which you let out a stream of air from your nose and your lips part to about 30% of a full smile. It’s laced with just a dash of indifference. I’ve perfected that look. Honestly, it’s the best way to disarm a verbal-diarrheic sufferer. And they are guaranteed to be left looking like the joke is on them. But don’t forget to bang in a quick, mental ‘God Bless You’. And mean it. Karma points should be overflowing - never know when you need to redeem them.
You need to realise that nothing anyone says to you can ever have any power over you. And the moment you allow anyone to, you’ve disappointed that all-pervading entity above. For he has made you perfect, and to allow a fellow, superficial human being to challenge that is indulging is spiritual hara-kiri.
People who comment on another’s appearance are so far below on the evolutionary scale that you’d need to excavate endlessly to bring them to the surface. It is never funny to joke about someone’s appearance or for that matter any physical attribute that they have no control over. Moreover, in a media-fed society where every opinion is visually dictated to us, our entire concept of beauty is distorted. Actually it’s plain retarded. While I’ve personally reached a point in my life where it doesn’t affect me whether you call me attractive or unattractive, I’m sure other people are affected by such snide remarks. So what do you do? Ignore? Retaliate? Nah. Smile. Not the wide, grinning, elated one. But the one in which you let out a stream of air from your nose and your lips part to about 30% of a full smile. It’s laced with just a dash of indifference. I’ve perfected that look. Honestly, it’s the best way to disarm a verbal-diarrheic sufferer. And they are guaranteed to be left looking like the joke is on them. But don’t forget to bang in a quick, mental ‘God Bless You’. And mean it. Karma points should be overflowing - never know when you need to redeem them.
You need to realise that nothing anyone says to you can ever have any power over you. And the moment you allow anyone to, you’ve disappointed that all-pervading entity above. For he has made you perfect, and to allow a fellow, superficial human being to challenge that is indulging is spiritual hara-kiri.
Love and Peace
Rohan
27 ways to know you're 27
Posted by
Roh
comments (10)
1. You’re ‘somewhere’ but you’re not ‘there’ yet.
2. If you’re married, you’re unsure of whether to have kids. If you’re not, you’re unsure of marriage itself.
3. You think twice before jumping ship in your job. Suddenly CV matters more than ever.
4. Your friend circle is streamlined. Only some matter. Most don’t.
5. When someone calls you for a late night party, you see the time, and think whether it’s a workday tomorrow.
6. Frivolous sex seems mundane, even overrated.
7. You ask yourself deep questions like ‘Is there more to life than just this’?
8. Birthdays are happy occasions. That’s it. Nothing to get too excited about.
9. At social gatherings, you’re unsure of whether to mingle with the early 20s or the early 30s. Both seem equally uninteresting.
10. Little kids call you Uncle and Aunty.
11. You’re independent, but would rather not be.
12. You make enough money, but not really enough.
13. Every ‘IF’ is followed by a ‘BUT’ – You weigh the pros and cons of everything.
14. Your metabolism is slowly deserting you.
15. Sleeping at a fixed time seems to be a priority.
16. Waking up at a fixed time seems to be a priority.
17. You’re unfamiliar with the latest lingo in the young circle. Recently, I discovered that LBD stands for Little Black Dress.
18. You still get acne. It’s almost gone, almost, well not really.
19. You're the man with the plan, except what is the plan?
20. You’re the woman with a focus, except what is the focus?
21. Ripped jeans make way for sober ones.
22. Your wardrobe finally has a suit.
23. You want to change everyone...except yourself. Too late for that.
24. You’re suddenly interested in news channels and the economy.
25. Kids used to be annoying, now they’re oh-so-cute!
26. Sudden role reversal – Payback time for parents!
27. You live alone, and finally learn to switch off the lights.
2. If you’re married, you’re unsure of whether to have kids. If you’re not, you’re unsure of marriage itself.
3. You think twice before jumping ship in your job. Suddenly CV matters more than ever.
4. Your friend circle is streamlined. Only some matter. Most don’t.
5. When someone calls you for a late night party, you see the time, and think whether it’s a workday tomorrow.
6. Frivolous sex seems mundane, even overrated.
7. You ask yourself deep questions like ‘Is there more to life than just this’?
8. Birthdays are happy occasions. That’s it. Nothing to get too excited about.
9. At social gatherings, you’re unsure of whether to mingle with the early 20s or the early 30s. Both seem equally uninteresting.
10. Little kids call you Uncle and Aunty.
11. You’re independent, but would rather not be.
12. You make enough money, but not really enough.
13. Every ‘IF’ is followed by a ‘BUT’ – You weigh the pros and cons of everything.
14. Your metabolism is slowly deserting you.
15. Sleeping at a fixed time seems to be a priority.
16. Waking up at a fixed time seems to be a priority.
17. You’re unfamiliar with the latest lingo in the young circle. Recently, I discovered that LBD stands for Little Black Dress.
18. You still get acne. It’s almost gone, almost, well not really.
19. You're the man with the plan, except what is the plan?
20. You’re the woman with a focus, except what is the focus?
21. Ripped jeans make way for sober ones.
22. Your wardrobe finally has a suit.
23. You want to change everyone...except yourself. Too late for that.
24. You’re suddenly interested in news channels and the economy.
25. Kids used to be annoying, now they’re oh-so-cute!
26. Sudden role reversal – Payback time for parents!
27. You live alone, and finally learn to switch off the lights.
Chance vs Choice
Posted by
Roh
comments (2)
You’re standing at the supermarket aisle, and myriad choices stare at you. You enter a garment store, and multiple colour combinations of apparel are stacked neatly in different sections. A visit to the book or electronics store will probably leave you more confused than certain of your purchase. In life, we have a lot of choices. At least when it comes to mundane, day-to-day living. But what about the deeper, more meaningful aspects of life? Relationships, Career, Sickness, Health, Money. Do we choose these, or are they simply a result of destiny? An ancient Hindu saying goes, ‘On every morsel of food, the eater’s name is written.’ If this is true, then it is also true that you get exactly as much as is written in your destiny, not an ounce more or less. This, instinctively, makes sense. Consider this: Two people out of college, both brilliant, both equally hard-working. Yet, one makes it to the top, the other struggles. One has riches, fame and glory, while the other tries to make ends meet. Only one thing explains this, and that’s karma. I believe that karma is firmly linked to your destiny. Take a highly competitive industry like the film world. Millions of strugglers come to Mumbai from all across India in the hope of making it big. All view the world with their rose-tinted glasses, the glimmer of hope evident in every eye. Yet, some make it, while others perish. And some make it without even having tried for it. ‘I got spotted at a coffee shop’, ‘A director randomly approached me at a party’, ‘I never wanted to be an actor’…we’ve all heard of such examples. And if destiny doesn’t explain this, then what does? Of course, ‘success’ itself is subjective. Who’s more successful, the brilliant academician who dedicates his entire life to teaching underprivileged students in a village or the corporate honcho who rakes in the big bucks? Both probably have their own roles to play in life. And that again is destiny. We all come here to experience something. So if someone struggles all his or her life to ‘get somewhere’ and yet doesn’t, then maybe that’s the experience: to struggle. Yet, society will be quick to judge these people, deeming them as ‘failures’ who couldn’t make it. The people judging them forget that karma and destiny are unavoidable, and sooner or later, in this lifetime or the next, it’ll catch up with them too. A managing director of a huge multinational could have been a peon in the previous lifetime, or be one in the next. Everyone experiences everything at some point of the life-death cycle. So why judge? To judge is to insult destiny.
When things don’t seem to work out in life, we get impatient, and many of us visit tarot readers, psychics, palmists and the like who offer us a glimpse into the future. If it’s something we want to hear, our spirits lift, but if it’s doom and gloom in store, then we’re disheartened and begin to fear the future. Sometimes, it’s more comforting to not know the answers to certain things in your life. I believe that most answers only lie with the almighty. And if he has to communicate it to you, it’ll come from within and not an outside source. Why rush things and allow doubt to enter your mind? If he’s created you, can’t you trust him enough to take care of you? We have all tried to ‘make things happen’ in our lives, but how often has it worked? It is said that if you really want to make God laugh, tell him what your plans are.
While I do believe in destiny, I also believe that thinking positively is immensely beneficial. It may not change what’s written, but it definitely helps in accepting the future. The ultimate goal in life is to return to the creator, with nothing more left to experience. Till you reach that point of enlightenment, why judge someone else’s experience, and more importantly, why judge your own? Don’t be a good person so you can reap the benefits of your noble actions in the next lifetime. Be a good person because it’s the only way to be.
When things don’t seem to work out in life, we get impatient, and many of us visit tarot readers, psychics, palmists and the like who offer us a glimpse into the future. If it’s something we want to hear, our spirits lift, but if it’s doom and gloom in store, then we’re disheartened and begin to fear the future. Sometimes, it’s more comforting to not know the answers to certain things in your life. I believe that most answers only lie with the almighty. And if he has to communicate it to you, it’ll come from within and not an outside source. Why rush things and allow doubt to enter your mind? If he’s created you, can’t you trust him enough to take care of you? We have all tried to ‘make things happen’ in our lives, but how often has it worked? It is said that if you really want to make God laugh, tell him what your plans are.
While I do believe in destiny, I also believe that thinking positively is immensely beneficial. It may not change what’s written, but it definitely helps in accepting the future. The ultimate goal in life is to return to the creator, with nothing more left to experience. Till you reach that point of enlightenment, why judge someone else’s experience, and more importantly, why judge your own? Don’t be a good person so you can reap the benefits of your noble actions in the next lifetime. Be a good person because it’s the only way to be.
Respecting women - How hard is it, really?
Posted by
Roh
comments (2)
I’m shocked, saddened, and utterly aghast. Not just by the one incident that’s been the news-focus of late, but by the millions of such crimes against women that have already happened and will continue to occur across the world, unless there’s some sort of miracle to lift the human consciousness from its shockingly low depths. How did we even descend into such anarchy? When did men lose all sense of restraint and behaviour? Society barely recovers from one incident, and another one occurs, thwarting any attempt of a positive outlook to the future.
Women need to be credited for the existence of mankind. They are the perfect managers – managing their work and home impeccably. They embody eternal love, compassion, commitment and resilience. Managing every aspect of life harmoniously is only one of their unending qualities. I wonder, then, why they demand to be considered ‘equal’. They’re definitely superior.
I’ve always asked for only one thing from the almighty – to bless with me a daughter. But with an increasingly depraved male mentality that considers the fairer sex as a device of sexual gratification, no matter how young or old, I better be careful about what I wish for.
Commitment confusion
Posted by
Roh
comments (30)
Relationships – they can be liberating, confusing, exhilarating, comforting, saddening, satisfying, reassuring – the list is endless, really. Yet, it’s precisely these myriad emotions that make relationships special. I’m in an utterly satisfying, committed relationship, and I’ve experienced all these feelings, and each feeling has only strengthened the bond that I share with my better half. As a student of life, I’ve always had many questions on relationships, and have explored various self-help books for finding my answers. But as with all sources of knowledge, the one that comes from within is always the best source. What you’re about to read now might seem like a contradiction to widely accepted beliefs about relationships, but if you read it with an open mind and heart, these words might resonate within you as the ‘truth’. Of course, in the larger scheme of things, nothing is really true or false or right or wrong. Everything in life is a matter of personal perspective.
As someone in a relationship for seven, fulfilling years (and counting), and two of those seven years being long-distance, I’m often asked how I handle temptations and situations where the desire to stray is intense. Many of these questions are from men or women who love their partners immensely but have ‘slipped up’ (to use their terminology) on a rare occasion. While the obvious moral answer is ‘You need to ask yourself if cheating on your partner is worth it’, I think the real answer lies elsewhere. History suggests that human beings have been attracted, physically or emotionally, to more than one person at a time, regardless of whether or not they were in a committed relationship. It’s basic human nature. In fact, a number of articles go on to suggest that even when it comes to marriage, monogamy is a not a natural phenomenon but a cultural one. Now while I, personally, don’t condone infidelity, I do agree with these observations at some level. If a friend of mine walked up to me and suddenly confessed, ‘I’m in a relationship with three incredible women’, my first response would be ‘Do you love all three?’ Now this might seem like a radical point of view to many people reading this, but it’s something that I do truly believe in. Moreover, my spiritual explorations over the years have only confirmed this belief. One of France’s famous psychologists, Maryse Vaillant recently stated ‘"Most men don't do it (indulge in infidelity) because they no longer love their partners, on the contrary," she said, "They simply need breathing space. For such men, who are in fact profoundly monogamous, infidelity is almost unavoidable".
I’m in a relationship with the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen in my life. And for someone who doesn’t care about looks, it’s something else when I say it! She’s all I really ever want or need from my life, and the feeling I get when I’m around her is unmatched. She’s the epitome of commitment, and despite being a writer, what I feel for her is indescribable in words. When I close my eyes, I just know she’ll be the mother of kids (apologies for being so sappy!). But she’s perfectly and intricately handcrafted for me. There’s definitely a past-life connection there. And I choose it remains for future lives too. Yet, it wasn’t always like this. Being the borderline eccentric person that I am, I’ve taken periodic breaks from my relationship, only to introspect and be sure of my feelings at a deeper level. And being the perfect woman that she is, she’s understood my need for this. I don’t want any doubts to arise when she’ll be my wife, and I choose to be the best husband, for not only does she deserve that, I WANT to be one. At the risk of sounding proud, I can say that I’ve had many, many women attracted to me in these seven years, and while there were temptations to stray, I’ve been committed. I’ve let myself loose on breaks at times, had some crazy drinking nights, done things one wouldn’t normally do, but I’ve never compromised the sanctity of my relationship, not in the strictest sense anyway. But if someone did stray, and sought my opinion on the matter, I wouldn’t judge the person. I think it’s very possible to really love someone, make a one-time ‘mistake’ (if that’s how you define it), and still not lose any feeling for the person you love. In many instances, it has a beneficial result: you realize that the one you love is irreplaceable and has a firm, rooted, irreplaceable place your heart, and the need for anything outside of it is misguided, or more appropriately, unnecessary. Of course, if you’re in and open relationship or on a break, it’s not straying. But even if you’re not, and it does happen by chance, then you shouldn’t beat yourself up over it, or let society play moral judge. Moreover, you shouldn’t feel like a victim of circumstances or victimize the other person. Everything in life is a choice. While these are points to consider, I, personally, truly believe that sex is something that is too intimate and can only be shared with someone you truly love, if you are in a relationship that is. If you’re not, you could have many sexual partners, and have feelings for all of them, until you find that one person you want to have it with for the rest of your life. And if you still don’t find the one, that’s perfectly alright too. There’s nothing wrong about choosing to remain single forever.
If you were to gatecrash a ‘committed’ man’s bachelor party, 8 out of the 10 things you would see there would be considered serious cheating (lap dances, kissing are some of the milder things!) But the way I look at it, it’s just a little mindless fun before you make that one, all-important commitment to your soul-mate. Some of you may wonder whether I practice what I preach. Well, I haven’t been in too many situations like these personally, so I can’t provide an accurate first-hand account. But here’s a hypothetical response. And I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Would I forgive my partner if she let herself slip-up once and assured me it didn’t mean a thing? Yes, I would. Would I expect her to do the same? No. Is it okay? Well, there’s never a definite answer to that. Not one that pleases all, anyway.
I believe in monogamy, but I also believe in the theory that it isn’t natural. There’s credible research that confirms this. Human beings, however, have evolved to the extent that they can keep their primal urges in check. So when I tie the knot with the woman I love, I’ll make that promise to uphold the pact of loyalty. But that’s only because I choose to not look beyond her. I find monogamy fabulous and sexual exclusivity wonderfully romantic. But it must be backed with the right purpose. It must arise out of the deep passion between two people. Most importantly, it should be a matter of choice. When it’s forced upon or is just a farce, it goes against our basic nature of seeking variety. So if you find that such exclusivity is a tough commitment and even tougher to stick to it, don’t think of yourself as the devil incarnate. It’s only natural! I, on the other hand, better go scouting for that perfect engagement ring.
As someone in a relationship for seven, fulfilling years (and counting), and two of those seven years being long-distance, I’m often asked how I handle temptations and situations where the desire to stray is intense. Many of these questions are from men or women who love their partners immensely but have ‘slipped up’ (to use their terminology) on a rare occasion. While the obvious moral answer is ‘You need to ask yourself if cheating on your partner is worth it’, I think the real answer lies elsewhere. History suggests that human beings have been attracted, physically or emotionally, to more than one person at a time, regardless of whether or not they were in a committed relationship. It’s basic human nature. In fact, a number of articles go on to suggest that even when it comes to marriage, monogamy is a not a natural phenomenon but a cultural one. Now while I, personally, don’t condone infidelity, I do agree with these observations at some level. If a friend of mine walked up to me and suddenly confessed, ‘I’m in a relationship with three incredible women’, my first response would be ‘Do you love all three?’ Now this might seem like a radical point of view to many people reading this, but it’s something that I do truly believe in. Moreover, my spiritual explorations over the years have only confirmed this belief. One of France’s famous psychologists, Maryse Vaillant recently stated ‘"Most men don't do it (indulge in infidelity) because they no longer love their partners, on the contrary," she said, "They simply need breathing space. For such men, who are in fact profoundly monogamous, infidelity is almost unavoidable".
I’m in a relationship with the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen in my life. And for someone who doesn’t care about looks, it’s something else when I say it! She’s all I really ever want or need from my life, and the feeling I get when I’m around her is unmatched. She’s the epitome of commitment, and despite being a writer, what I feel for her is indescribable in words. When I close my eyes, I just know she’ll be the mother of kids (apologies for being so sappy!). But she’s perfectly and intricately handcrafted for me. There’s definitely a past-life connection there. And I choose it remains for future lives too. Yet, it wasn’t always like this. Being the borderline eccentric person that I am, I’ve taken periodic breaks from my relationship, only to introspect and be sure of my feelings at a deeper level. And being the perfect woman that she is, she’s understood my need for this. I don’t want any doubts to arise when she’ll be my wife, and I choose to be the best husband, for not only does she deserve that, I WANT to be one. At the risk of sounding proud, I can say that I’ve had many, many women attracted to me in these seven years, and while there were temptations to stray, I’ve been committed. I’ve let myself loose on breaks at times, had some crazy drinking nights, done things one wouldn’t normally do, but I’ve never compromised the sanctity of my relationship, not in the strictest sense anyway. But if someone did stray, and sought my opinion on the matter, I wouldn’t judge the person. I think it’s very possible to really love someone, make a one-time ‘mistake’ (if that’s how you define it), and still not lose any feeling for the person you love. In many instances, it has a beneficial result: you realize that the one you love is irreplaceable and has a firm, rooted, irreplaceable place your heart, and the need for anything outside of it is misguided, or more appropriately, unnecessary. Of course, if you’re in and open relationship or on a break, it’s not straying. But even if you’re not, and it does happen by chance, then you shouldn’t beat yourself up over it, or let society play moral judge. Moreover, you shouldn’t feel like a victim of circumstances or victimize the other person. Everything in life is a choice. While these are points to consider, I, personally, truly believe that sex is something that is too intimate and can only be shared with someone you truly love, if you are in a relationship that is. If you’re not, you could have many sexual partners, and have feelings for all of them, until you find that one person you want to have it with for the rest of your life. And if you still don’t find the one, that’s perfectly alright too. There’s nothing wrong about choosing to remain single forever.
If you were to gatecrash a ‘committed’ man’s bachelor party, 8 out of the 10 things you would see there would be considered serious cheating (lap dances, kissing are some of the milder things!) But the way I look at it, it’s just a little mindless fun before you make that one, all-important commitment to your soul-mate. Some of you may wonder whether I practice what I preach. Well, I haven’t been in too many situations like these personally, so I can’t provide an accurate first-hand account. But here’s a hypothetical response. And I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Would I forgive my partner if she let herself slip-up once and assured me it didn’t mean a thing? Yes, I would. Would I expect her to do the same? No. Is it okay? Well, there’s never a definite answer to that. Not one that pleases all, anyway.
I believe in monogamy, but I also believe in the theory that it isn’t natural. There’s credible research that confirms this. Human beings, however, have evolved to the extent that they can keep their primal urges in check. So when I tie the knot with the woman I love, I’ll make that promise to uphold the pact of loyalty. But that’s only because I choose to not look beyond her. I find monogamy fabulous and sexual exclusivity wonderfully romantic. But it must be backed with the right purpose. It must arise out of the deep passion between two people. Most importantly, it should be a matter of choice. When it’s forced upon or is just a farce, it goes against our basic nature of seeking variety. So if you find that such exclusivity is a tough commitment and even tougher to stick to it, don’t think of yourself as the devil incarnate. It’s only natural! I, on the other hand, better go scouting for that perfect engagement ring.
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