Ramanisblog

Tag: Culture

  • Facts about ‘Introverts’

     

    Simple emoticons of the five temperaments: San...
    Simple emoticons of the five temperaments: Sanguine (top right), Choleric (bottom right), Melancholy (bottom left), and Phlegmatic (centre), with the new temperament Supine (top left) and Phlegmatic blends in between. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    The normal perception  of Introvert is as one who is shy,withdrawn , recluse and one preoccupied with self.

     

    It is believed that Introverts are more or less asocial.

     

    And some even believe that they are cunning and scheming.

     

    These are all Myths.

     

    Introvert is one who is reserved by Nature who is generally more into their inner world.

     

    They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy. This is true even if they have good social skills. After being with people for any length of time, such as at a party, they need time alone to “recharge.”

    When introverts want to be alone, it is not, by itself, a sign of depression. It means that they either need to regain their energy from being around people or that they simply want the time to be with their own thoughts. Being with people, even people they like and are comfortable with, can prevent them from their desire to be quietly introspective.

     

    Being an Introvert is also due to the Culture.They are taught not to express their Emotions overtly.

     

    For those from the West,Asians in general and Chinese and Japanese in particular are Introverts, which is not the case.

     

    It is just that Asians normally keep a distance till they know the other,especially those from the West.

     

    Now read on about the Myths on Introverts before forming an Opinion on Introverts.

     

    Story:

    Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
    This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

    Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
    Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

    Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
    Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

    Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
    On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

    Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
    Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

    Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
    Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

    Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
    Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

    Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
    Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

    Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
    Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

    Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
    Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

    http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2Rq4SN/:m6!6-xry:48bzzezF/jerrybrito.org/post/6114304704/top-ten-myths-about-introverts/

    http://giftedkids.about.com/od/glossary/g/introvert.htm

     

  • Annihilation of Aborigines ,Australia.Guatemala, Canada, Bolivia.

    Throughout History, the real sons of the soil,The Aborigines of the World(the word was coined to indicate 
    ‘     A member of the indigenous or earliest known population of a region; a native’.)  were the victims of  the Colonial powers  right from the Spanish.

    Indigenous Australians - Aboriginal
    Indigenous Australians – Aboriginal (Photo credit: azfar ahmad | thepatahtumbuh)

    In their quest for resources and markets for their Produce, these powers.Great Briratin,Spain,France, went about in a systematic way to root out the Natives of the Land.

    This,they ensured by luring the Natives by Money,Wiping out their language,making them feel that their Culture is inferior.

    Even to-day India fells it.

    The British were the past masters of this art.

    They divided the country ,especially India, by destroying the Cultural Institutions,attempted to kill the local languages  with the introduction of English as the official Language,under the guise of introducing the World to the Natives.

    This was complemented by the Proselytising  Missionaries, who promised wealth and Salvation, denigrating Native Religions.

    In fact this activity still goes on unchecked.

    Al-Jazeera has scheduled a Programme to cover this aspect with reference to day’s Aborigines.

    You may follow Al-Jazeera in YouTube as well.

    Let us know what we were and where have we have come from.

    “

    Living the Language can be seen on Al Jazeera English each week at the following times GMT: Tuesday: 2230; Wednesday: 0930; Thursday: 0330;Friday: 1630; Saturday: 2230; Sunday: 0930; Monday: 0330

    • Australia: The Aboriginal People – from April 17
    • Guatemala: The Maya – from April 24
    • Canada: The Ktunaxa – from May 01
    • Bolivia: The Aymara – from May 08
    • New Zealand: The Maori – from May 15
    • Over the Airwaves – from May 22″
    Now the few remaining indigenous languages are in danger of dying out in the coming years. The struggle to preserve them often rests with a few dedicated individuals striving to not only re-learn the language of their ancestors, but to also teach it to others.Michael Jarrett, who teaches the Gumbaynggirr language spoken on the coast of New South Wales, says: “When I was growing up, the Aboriginal people were forbidden to speak their language. So I didn’t get to hear fluent speakers talking together. But the land is starting to hear the native tongue again. The Gumbaynggirr language belongs in Gumbaynggirr territory. It hasn’t heard the language for many, many years.

    ‘

    The government of Australia has a very poor record when it comes to treatment of its Aboriginal citizens. Indigenous Australians were dispossessed of their land, despised for their culture, and marginalized, abused, and murdered. Perhaps most notorious of all the Australian policies were those that led to what has become known as the Stolen Generations. Under several federal and state programs that continued into the 1970s, the government forcibly removed Aboriginal children from their families and sent them to white families and church-run institutions for cultural reprogramming. A recent national report on the policies found that there was not a single Indigenous family that did not have at least one child taken away. Despite the deliberate genocidal nature of these programs, the government for many years refused to apologize for them. That same hostile attitude toward Aboriginal peoples was reflected in the Australian government’s long and vigorous opposition to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    Fortunately, there have been improvements in the past couple of years. A change in administration led to a national apology from the government for the Stolen Generations, and the country as a whole celebrates Sorry Day. The new administration also reversed the country’s opposition to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. But there is still along way to go. Indigenous peoples on average live 17 years less than non-Indigenous people, and every measure of social and physical welfare, from infant mortality to nutrition to health, housing, education, and employment, is significantly lower for Aboriginal Australians than for non-Indigenous Australians. And all of the negative markers for disenfranchised populations—imprisonment, domestic violence, alcoholism—are much higher for Aboriginal peoples. An Aboriginal man is 13 times as likely to be in jail as a non-Indigenous Australian, and an Indigenous teenager is 28 times more likely to be in jail.

    The government is making efforts to address some of these imbalances, but their handling of child abuse in Indigenous communities demonstrates how far they have to go. They enacted a set of programs that essentially let the government take control of Indigenous communities and undermined their land rights. That situation reflects a larger problem: even where there are government programs aimed at addressing the injustices and issues facing Indigenous people, there is far too little involvement of Aboriginal Australians in setting up or implementing policies.

    Indigenous groups in Australia are increasingly well organized and successful. They have in recent years made some impressive gains in land claims, but the process of claiming land rights and the legal framework in which it operates still strongly favors the state and creates unnecessary hurdles for Indigenous Peoples. Most original Indigenous land has not been restored yet.

    The problems facing Indigenous Australians are similar to those of Indigenous Peoples around the world, and Cultural Survival was founded 40 years ago to address those problems. To see a list of Cultural Survival archival articles about Aboriginal Australia, click here. To learn more about Indigenous issues around the world and what you can do to help, go to our home page here.

    http://www.culturalsurvival.org/australia?gclid=CMWQkveK0K8CFc966wodMGX8Eg

  • Upnayanayana for Women Sanctioned by The Vedas.

    The Upanyana Ceremony
    Uapanayana

    I received an email notification of a Post’ Periyava clarifying upanayana for girls’ from Sage of Kanchi website,me being a subscriber.

    The views of Periyava is here below.

    ‘

    “I said that the twice-born must perform sandhyavandana with the well-being of women and other jatis in mind. I also explained why all samskaras are not prescribed for the fourth varna. Now we must consider the question of women, why they do not have such rituals and samskaras.

    Even though we perform the punyaha-vacana and namakarana of newborn girls and celebrate their first birthday, we do not conduct their caula and upanayana nor the other samskaras or vows laid down for brahmacarins. Of course, they have the marriage samskara. But in other rites like sacrifices the main part is that of the husband, though she (the wife) has to be by his side. In aupasana alone does a woman have a part in making oblations in the sacred fire…..more“

    http://mahaperiyavaa.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/periyava-clarifying-upanayana-for-girls/

    Many women were great Rishis.

    Some of them were.

    Gargi,Visvara, Ghosa, Romasa, Lopamudra, Apalargi.

    They have even composed Rig Vedic Hymns.

    Sage Apasthamba states ‘Atha Upanayana vyakasyamaha’

    He does not mention males only.

    Interestingly , in Taitriya Upanishad, in Shikshavalli,sex of the student is not mentioned(I await to be corrected)

    If there were Great women Rishis  who could compose Vedic Mantras, they should have had Upanayana performed for them for Upanayana is the prerequisite for learning the Vedas.

    I quote here below some points to state that women were entitled to Upanayana and that performing Upanayana to girls is not against the Sastras.

    Despite all this we find frequent references in Rgveda to daughters being fondly
    caressed and affectionately brought up by parents. Ordinarily girls were no doubt less
    welcome than boys but we must add that there were also some parents in society who
    would perform special religious rituals for good luck of getting learned and capable
    daughters
    4
    . Girls were educated like boys and had to pass through a period of
    brahmacharya. They were educated both in the spiritual and secular subjects. Women
    during the Vedic age were not only ritually entitled to perform sacrificial rites
    5
    , they also
    had access to Upanayana Samskara and Vedic study. In Vedas women have been granted
    the highest status of being a seer (rishika) along with men. Some of them even composed
    the Vedic hymns e.g, Visvara, Ghosa, Romasa, Lopamudra, Apala etc. They could recite
    Vedic mantras as matter of course. Brhadaranyaka Upanishad tells us of a woman
    philosopher, Gargi Vacaknavi who carried on learned discussions with Rishi
    Yajanavalkya
    6
    . In the Mahabharata we find a number of stories of girls who were noted
    for their spiritual aspirations. Thus, there is a story of a Brahmavadini Sulabha, who
    demanded praise for her great progress in spiritual path. There was another girl ‘Siba’
    who was the daughter of a learned Brahmana, she studied all the Vedas and after wards
    attained Siddhi
    7
    . In panini’s Asthadhyayi
    8
    , we find the reference of the epithet kumari

    Sramana,i.e. an unmarried female ascetic. These female ascetics dedicated their lives to
    penance. They were known as ‘Kumara – Pravrajita’ and ‘Kumara – Tapasi’
    9
    . In the
    ancient period, the daughters had the right to perform Yajnas, the unmarried girls were
    also seen offering Vedic sacrifices. In the Satapatha Brahmana, we find the reference of a
    woman who performed a special Upanayana on the occasion of soma sacrifice
    10
    . Atharva
    Veda says that the Brahmacharya discipline and training was as much necessary for girls
    as it was for boys
    11
    .
    Upanayana Samskara was one of the highest samskara, it was said that if the
    samskara of upanayana was not performed in the case of girl, women would be reduced
    to the status of Sudras; how then Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas could be born of
    them
    12
    . Upanayana of women was absolutely indispensable, if the cultural tradition of the
    different Aryan classes was to be preserved
    13
    . After the Upanayana ceremony of the girls
    they were asked to follow a disciplined life like that of the boys. But they were shown
    certain concession. They did not have to go out to beg their daily food; they were not to
    grow matted hair. They were to be taught by their near relatives like the father, the uncle,
    or the brother.
    The girl students were permitted to continue their studies till their
    marriages were settled at about the age of 16 or 17. But few girls’ students continued
    their studies for a longer time and were known as Brahmavadinis
    14
    . After Upanayana
    ceremony the girls become specialized in Vedic theology and philosophy and some of
    them also composed the Vedic hymns. In the Taittiriya Brahmana, we find the reference
    of a girl who flatly declined to marry her lover, when she suspected that he was hesitating
    to reveal to her some of his Vedic dogmas and theories”

    http://onlineijra.com/research%20paper/u/upanayana_samskara.pdf

  • Srimad Bhagavad Gita.References in World Literature.

    In addition to references in Tamil Literature, references are also found in other languages of India, Kannada,Telugu, Bengali,Oriya and others.

    Evidence is also found in Ancient Western Literature. 

    Telugu and Kannada.

    ‘The very first literary work in Telugu literature, Andhra Mahabharata which appeared in the mid 11th century, forms the best introduction to classical Telugu poetry. Since it is the earliest version of the great Epic in modern Indian languages, it has helped in the publication of the standard edition of Mahabharata by the Bhandarkar Institute in Poona’. Kannada has two earlier versions but they are adaptations making Arjuna or Bhima the central figure. A still older Tamil version is said to be unavailable today. The Andhra Mahabharata is not merely the earliest but the best work in the language by literary standards. Moreover, this large early literary work serves as an authority for grammar and usage even today and the three member team who could bring it into chaste and polished Telugu diction that could be easily understood by the average reader, are called the ‘Trinity of Telugu literature (Kavitrayam). The first poet Nannaya Bhattu left it abruptly in the middle of the Aranya Parva, probably due to death or political reasons. His patron, Raja Raja Narendra (1019-1061)’ of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty, was, by a strange coincidence, engaged in fighting for his throne with his half-brother throughout his life and Nannaya was his ‘Kulabrahmana’ or spiritual advisor. They had to seek the help of his maternal uncle, Rajendra Chola in the South. The great literary undertaking was therefore, of topical interest. Even otherwise, herioc tales appeal to the Andhras and Udyotana (ca. 892), a prakrit poet mentions them in his work, Kuvalayamala as being constantly engaged in warfare. Tikkana Somayaji resumed the work in the 13th century from Virata parva onwards and completed the Telugu version. The unfinished portion in Aranya parva stands in the name of Errapragada (early 14th century) who was an equally eminent poet.’

    http://www.mihira.com/mihaug00/mahabharata.htm

    Bengali,Oriya and Assamese.

    ‘Towards the end of the 13th century we notice a common literary feature emerging in eastern India that becomes very prominent by the 16th century A.D. not only in the east but also in the south. Vyasa’s Mahabharata was translated first into Bengali and then into Assamese, Oriya, Telegu and Kannada. The reasons for this remarkable synchronicity deserve further study. For the present, let us look at the picture in Bengal.’

    http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=7371

    ………………………………………………………………………………..to be continued.

  • Wisdom Of Lord Krishna,Srimad Bhagavad Gita.Why? -2.

    I had gone through the vicissitudes of Life in full measure, more than what I thought  I could bear,be it losing wife at the age of 28,losing custody of the child,losing jobs,hunting for jobs, financial fiascos,seeing 12 deaths in the family in eight successive years,all very close ,separated from the family,reunited,being placed in a comfortable position now….

    through out,if it was one thing that sustained me was , it was The Bhagavad Gita.

    As I remarked earlier I was simply reading it with meanings explained by different Acharyas like Sankara,erudite scholars like Dr.Radha Krishnan,Professor.T.M.P.Mahadevan and others.

    If simple reading alone could help an individual to face problems of Life, nothing more can be said of the benefits that might accrue if one were to study the Bhagavad Gita.

    With the limited exposure I have of The Vedas,Six Systems of Indian Philosophy,Western Systems of Philosophy,Realism, Idealism,Solipsism,Pragmatism, Existentialism and Logical Positivism and the like,Modern Concepts in Physics,Astrophysics and most importantly my experiences in Life, I am now attempting to look at Gita from my stand point,more precisely the way it has affected me in the conduct of Life.

    This is by no means a commentary worth the name in its real sense for what more can one say than Adi Sankaracharya?

    There is bound to be mistakes  and I apologies in advance.

    Wherever my views or interpretations are at variance with established texts and commentaries, my views may be taken with a pinch of salt.

    Readers are welcome to share their views and comments.

    I welcome criticisms more.

    Srimad Bhagavad Gita  , may be looked at from different perspectives, even from an Atheist’s perspective.

    From Reason.

    Question is whether one would have had the time to explain 700 Slokas  in the midst the armies that were arrayed in the battlefield of Kurukshetra in The Mahabharata and whether the sworn enemies would have waited till Lord Krishna completed his exposition.

    It just looks to be beyond reason.

    Before jumping to any conclusion, let us look at some of the facts that speak of the highest cultural practices narrated in The Mahabharata,described by Veda Vyasa.

    Draupadi was being stripped in open court.

    While every one was keeping quiet,including Bhisma,Krupa and Drona, Duryodana‘s brother takes him to task and Duryodana allows him to have his say.

    When Kunti asks Karna to abandon Duryadana and join forces with Yudhistra,his brother, he replies that he would never  contemplate such an action for it was Duryodana who sustained him and saved him from the ignominy of being thrown out as an out cast.

    Still he promises not to attack/engage any one other than Arjuna in the War;that he would not use Nagastra( a type of Astra) more than once on Arjuna.

    He gave away his protective Armour,Kavacha and Kundala, though he knew it was Indra who came asking for them to protect His son Arjuna.

    In the battlefield, he gave away the Punyaas( Good results that accrue because of good deeds performed, including  his present deed), to Lord Krishna who sought for it ,appearing in the form of a poor Brahmin, despite knowing it was Lord Krishna.

    Bhima hits Duryodana, at the fag end of the war, below the waist, in Wrestling( which was not correct practice) and wounds him mortally.

    Krishna’s elder brother Balarama chides Krishna for ordering Bhima to attack Duryodana thus, and leavea for Kasi( Varanasi) for atonement.

    Duryadana lies dying.

    Aswaththaama, son of Dronachaarya, angered at the way Duryodana was felled and the way Dronacharaya was killed by Yudhistra declaring’Aswathtaama,killed,an Elephant while Krishna blew His Conch, The Panchchjanya at the precise moment when ‘elephant’ was pronounced,( which made Drona drop his Bow and Arjuna killed him), vows to wipe out the Pandava Dynasty and sends an Astra in the form of a ‘Dharpa'( a reed used by Brahmins for performing their daily rites) and it kills every one except the Panadavas( who were whisked to Safety by Lord Krishna).

    It killed the offspring of every one in the Pandava dynasty(except Parikshit, who was saved in the womb by , who else, Lord Krishna).

    Aswaththaama brags about this to Duryodhana that he has wiped out Pandavas, Duryodhana, furious, shouts at him” Do you know what you have done? Pandavas are my brothers.I have issues with them.What have the children to do with this? They as much my children and belong to my dynasty as they are to Pandavas.

    You are not a Brahmin,why, you are not even a human being.Get lost .I do not want to look at you any more”

    Aswaththaama leaves in penitence for Holy Pilgrimage.

    This is not all.

    Let us see some more examples of the Culture  practiced even by the sworn enemies.

    …………to be continued..