2 opening sutras of Patanjali’s text

In reading a commentary on Yoga Sutras (I’m just at the beginning), I found that the commentator stops at every sutra (aphorism?) and meditates on it. The text starts with the sutra “Atha Yoga Anusasanam” – “Now Yoga Teaching”, a standard way of opening texts, I’m told. Like adding a title to a blog, or text, perhaps. The two commentators I’ve looked at take this to launch into several definitions of Yoga, and pedagogy, exploring how Yoga – harmony is one definition – can be taught, focusing on the role of the teacher (guru), and the student. Here, the student is admonished to cultivate an attitude of intelligent submission. This could be called “being coachable”, where one needs to focus on ingesting the information with a reflective attitude, allowing the learning to illuminate one’s understanding of the world.

The second sutra is “Yoga Citta Vritti Nirodah” – “Yoga is the stilling of the mind-state” which I find is quite incredible. As one commentator explains, our state of mind is constantly shifting. He compares it to waves on the sea. There’s the wave and there is water. The mind state is just a temporary phase of the mind, eternally shifting. So in explaining this simple seeming aphorism there is a wealth of background that needs to be understood. For me, it feels like a return to my university philosophy courses where I felt completely baffled most days. In this sutra, the concept of one’s self-perception is brushed away. Why/How? Let’s take a look at how people may describe themselves: I’m a self-motivated, approachable person with a friendly smile. Are you always self-motivated? Are you always approachable? And do you always have a friendly smile on your face? Because one can only describe oneself using mind states as adjectives, the practice of yoga is designed to still the mind. Two questions here:
- What is the practice of yoga?
- And why should we still our minds?

Commentaries are necessary, because our language involves imagination. The concepts which are the foundation of any language evolve over time. In English the word “gentleman” for example, has evolved from the original concept of landed gentry to referring, in the polite form, to any group of men. In a similar fashion the words and concepts in use during Patanjali’s time are different to our understanding of the same now. Citta and Vritti, for example, are are loaded words colored by decades, if not centuries of debate at the time Patanjali penned his text. Their use, and their understanding has changed – which prompts one commentator to suggest that one approach the original text with a dictionary in one hand to explore the text independently to develop a broader and deeper understanding. Perhaps in the process of this piece-wise exploration he hopes that we will have the questing, open and receptive attitude that is suggested.

Lecture on Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Attended a lecture on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali yesterday. It piqued my interest, so I went and picked up two books from the Khan Market on the subject. Yesterday’s speaker recommended Edwin Bryant’s “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” and while browsing, I came across another text with the same title, but with commentary by Swami Venkatesananda. The foreword was really well written and in the same form as a conversation, so I just had to pick it up.

Amazingly enough, or rather, as should’ve been expected, Yoga connects with Ayurveda because they seem to rest on the same principles but perhaps with different aims. I guess there’s quite a bit to study here. My main complaint around this is how unclear studying Indian philosophy/theology can be. I guess India’s always been one of those places where fact and fiction are a hair’s breadth apart. I expect I’ll be posting some more on this topic…

Game of Thrones

I was watching the intro to Game of Thrones. Really impressive visuals and music.

Intro–Game of Thrones

It’s amazing how TV shows have become so creative and “big budget”. I also loved the intro to BSG.

3 Evils

After Jai Bhim Comrade, I’ve been keen to follow-up with more documentaries. Today, I watched “No End in Sight”, about the Iraq War. And then I reviewed some articles in Frontline Feb 25-Mar 09, 2012. In both instances, I found myself disgusted with the suffering caused by the few in power on their many powerless victims. I found myself wondering if hiding behind the façade of bureaucracy and “orders” are still viable excuses for those who act as the arms of these decision makers.

For argument’s sake, let’s call Rumsfeld’s crime that of incompetence. If Rumsfeld was incompetent, why did Colin Powell, despite his reservations, continue to support the administration publicly and not do more to bring the issues to light? It took over 3 years of fuck-ups for the clamor to reach, perhaps the most incompetent of US presidents, Mr. Bush. And sadly, despite the pain and misery caused, these incompetent leaders have gone off scot-free. They will not be charged for crimes against the Iraqi people or American soldiers.

In the case of Godhra riots, the case against Modi has languished in court for a decade, where only the persistent effort of Citizens for Justice and Peace and Mrs. Zakia Jafri et al, have kept it alive with some support from Congress, perhaps for it’s own ends. Frontline’s cover story “A Decade of Shame” documents the story of this historic court case and laments at how Modi, BJP’s cash cow, remains in power.

Through Jai Bhim Comrade, we see that Dalit persecution has continued despite protections offered by the Indian constitution. Without active enforcement and vigilance, the constitution remains a dead thing. Reservation, despite the good intentions behind it, is now a vehicle that continues to divide India along communal lines. Unscrupulous political parties exploit this provision, at times clamoring for larger reservations and at times protesting against them, to foment hatred along communal lines in their bid for power.

As a marine in “No End in Sight” states, “America can do better” – I’d like to express a broader hope. We, all of us, can do better.  Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s concise admonishment is, “Educate, Agitate and Organize”.

Kanpur’s Hotel Mandakini is the nearest Empire of Illusion

Pure chance that I hit Google map search instead of the regular search while searching about the book “Empire of Illusion”, a critique by Chris Hedges.

Momentum–carrying things forward

Carrying on from my last post about Energy and motion. Yes, it did turn out to be the start of a cold which I managed to arrest successfully!

Today it’s back into the loop with taking things forward with my teaching. It gives me a sense of achievement when I help the kids make a connection or cross a hurdle. With Math I’ve found that it’s mostly a matter of practice and probing. And I’m keeping it practice based. We solve a lot of problems and figure out where the kids have difficulties processing a theory or operation. Then it’s a matter of coming up with different ways to give them a perspective on the problem and how to address it.

After that, despite an early session, I was energized enough to do a lot more. I think it’s important to have a positive start to the day.

Energy and motions

Some days when my energy and ideas are on an ebb, it helps to keep moving and engaging in routine things. Today’s been one such day. This kind of day can be put to good use by doing those mindless chores like paying bills, clearing out the drawers or simply watching a movie you’ve been putting off forever. Alternately, you could take some Vitamin C – you could be coming down with a cold. Looks like I am.

Heard of spellcheck?

Spot the error yet? It’s true and it happened.

Jai Bhim Comrade–an eye opener

I’m still a bit too overwhelmed by the screening to unclog my thoughts easily, so please bear with me as I try and discover what I think of this documentary.

It hit me on several fronts:

• The silence that surrounds social injustices in India
• Ongoing injustice (against the Dalits)
• Shiv Sena and the Hindutva movement’s political attitudes towards other faiths and castes
• A look at undocumented histories (Panther movement)
• Real heroes who have fought against the injustices committed against them and despite all pain continue to fight

As Mr. Patwardhan pointed out, one flaw of this documentary is the lack of breathing space for the viewer to absorb the stories he presents. I feel that acutely as I try and distil what I got out of this 198 minute long record.

Jai Bhim is the traditional greeting of Dalits, as well as a name for their community, which remembers Dr. Bhimrao Ramji “Bhim” Ambedkar and his efforts to uplift the Dalits.

Jai Bhim Comrade starts with a brief intro to Vilas Ghoghre, a Marxist Dalit poet whose suicide, following the police shooting at residents of Ramabai colony in Mumbai,  prompted Patwardhan to create this documentary. Interviewing primary sources, Patwardhan shows the official police interpretation of the events for the fabrication they are. He documents the failed prosecution of Manohar Kadam, the police officer who ordered the shooting and puts this story of injustice alongside others, showing the systematic prosecution of Dalits by the “Suvarana” and the Hindutva movement in Maharashtra.

In brief interviews with four non-Dalit members of the public, Patwardhan documents their ignorance of the Dalit cause and explores the hollow foundations of their prejudices. Following the Kabir Kala Manch, and other poets he explores how the Dalits employ the medium of poetry to carry the history of their plight, efforts of their savior (Ambedkar), messages to stay strong, and betrayals by their own leaders.

3 hours and 18 minutes later, I sat stunned in my seat as my mind struggled to grapple with the reality that had been laid bare before me. I still can’t believe that the public which  goes crazy about dumbass things like Richard Gere kissing Shilpa Shetty stands by and allows killing, maiming and systematic prosecution of our fellow countrymen by bigots who, shamefully, are our countrymen too!

Tracking the trains en route, the Railway Budget and Lalu

Recently when my cousin was visiting Delhi, I had to wake up early to pick him from the railway station. I wondered if there was a way to follow-up on the train’s arrival time short of going to the station. I looked up erail.in to look up the scheduled arrival time and my eye fell on the following bit of info:

Indian Railways Time Tables, PNR, Route, Fares, Arrivals/Departures, Running Status – eRail.in (Better Way To Search Trains)

Click On For
Train Number Fare & Route
Dep. Time Running Status at Source Station – select date at step 3
Arr. Time Running Status at Destination Station – select date at step 3
Travel Time Route map
R View run days of the train on calendar
Av Availability of selected class – select date of travel at step 3
Header Sorting
i Special Note
Roll mouse over any text / Data to get help and more features

It worked and I was able to get an update regularly as it passed by key stations. Way to go Dinesh Trivedi!

I’m really happy for all the small but positive changes I’ve observed with the Indian railways. There’s a lot more work to be done. I’m sure it’s not all Dinesh Trivedi, but frankly 10 years without a price change, is just hemorrhaging India’s economy and holding back development of a vital service. The guy must be applauded for having the cojones and the integrity to put forward a budget that is in the public interest of maintaining this vital service and ensuring that it stands on its own feet. I’m looking forward to reading more on the details.

And assertions by Lalu Prasad Yadav about Lalu doing a better job are largely baloney. I’d say that by ignoring safe loading limits on trains (yes, he did), he milked the cow – like a vampire. And then he paid  IIM-A to write a report praising him. Smart move, that.