Resolve to clean up the junk that’s unused.

Both Anand's and b.singh's explanations are good...it's so nice to see all understand it so correctly and beautifully and then write it so clearly and simply...what stops you from writing everytime clearly? You both have good writing skills but that can be developed only when you write - so take every opportunity to write - especially to explain what you like about the 'One liners' which i call as 'Key Notes' because they are 'key ' to unravel our mind games.

Anand has come up with his blog 'www.happierliving.blogspot.com' . please go through it. it's very simple and beautifully put across. good work anand. keep writing....

All that is feared is not necessarily bad!

I request those who have marked 'excellent' for this to explain to that one who has marked it 'not clear'....

please do the needful....

All that is feared is not necessarily bad!

Just Drop!

Every act finds its fulfillment or it’s emptiness not in its own doing but in the intention behind such an act. Same applies to the act of bribery too!

The third most dangerous type come when the intention is really bad and the repercussions of such bribery is really harmful for the personnel involved, for the institutions and may be for the society at large. Here, the basic intention behind the act itself is very bad and harmful for one and all. Few examples given below would illustrate it better.
1. When an innocent is framed so that the accused gets away – be it any crime, is an unpardonable crime. Here, the law maker turns into a law breaker – be it politician, policemen, lawyer and who not. It is a clear case of ‘rakshak becoming the bhakshak’. Here, bribe is given and received for proving an innocent as a criminal. It is not a bribe. It is sharing the booty of the crime. And the person who is involved by accepting ‘bribe’ becomes the criminial’s accomplice.
2. The same applies when the person – be it civilian or the defence personnel or the concerned official takes ‘bribe’ and turns a blind eye to the proceedings of ‘transfer of weapons or bombs’ et like items that are the threat to the society and the country at large. They forget that the little benefit they get, they are paying a huge price as a member of that society and nation too. Their families could also be effected. They can’t imagine that. For a little materialistic benefit they are ready to forgo so many people’s live and safety – can’t be a human quality – certainly is a asura quality. Using a simple word ‘bribe’ would be a misnormer. It should be called as ‘price paid to sell one’s character and the soul’.
3. The same applies to any form of smuggling – need I elaborate on this?
4. When ever, I am torturing a girl or her family for dowry and then on the later date get away from the law by bribing the concerned officials –well, there is no word usable for the concerned officials or for the person whose dowry greedy.
5. Such of ‘bribes’ that make an official turn a blind eye towards poor quality in construction especially flyovers, dams etc that can cost millions of rupees lose to the nation and the loss of human lives when the time comes to pay the price because of poor construction quality.
6. ‘bribe’ paid to turn ‘life saving drugs’ as ‘life taking ones’ by whom-so-ever-concerned
all this and such related issues come under the category which are sinful in nature…..

Now, this is for understanding of the term ‘bribe’ and the consequence of ‘bribery’ at every level. Does this understanding make me a better person in any way? Since, the answer is no. For me the knowing is no knowing. Then, what exactly am I to do? The journey as and when I started was for my awareness and for me to choose how to express myself and my life the best possible way and to understand the repercussions of my various emotions lived and experienced by me in my life.

That means, it was always about me and my actions and my reactions to the situations in my life. Why did the question of others and their value system come into picture? As beautifully explained by Madhuri in yesterday’s comments, let’s sit to sharpen our axes if we want to be excellent workers. And that means, let’s cleanse ourselves of our acquired self if we wish to make this world a beautiful place to live. Because, world is nothing but the figment of my imagination. I am making a difference in this world. Then if it be so, what is MY contribution to this world consciousness? That only is in my hand – literally and that’s where the journey should start too…..journey of cleansing this world of all its negativities – negativities being my own dropping from time immemorial…..

Count me in when ever you are planning to cleanse self and there in making this world a better place to live for you and for me and for every one around……..

bribe...

So, today we wish to deal with the topic ‘bribe’. As already explained ‘bribe’ means ‘gift or consideration of any kind offered to any one to influence his judgement or conduct. It is a type of seduction used to influence a person’s way of working’.

This is practiced in various quarters of our life. Rightly understood, it is practiced by one and all in all walks of life. I’ll give just few examples. Don’t say “I don’t do it” and feel proud about it. This is not it. They should help us to point at all such related issues.

The most common and accepted would be a mother giving ice-cream or toffee in exchange for the food eaten completely or medicine taken or for behaving properly. We are teaching the kids to accept bribe right from the young days and we call it ‘love’. Every time we exchange some thing with the child in exchange for the rank he gets, for his behaviour etc are we not practicing bribing the soft way? We are not ashamed of it! In fact, we share this knowledge with other parents and ask them to follow it too….every person should do his duties on his own and shouldn’t expect any extra rewards for it – even the child for that matter. Because character is set right from then onwards. When we do it, we call it ‘love’ ‘small child no, so it’s ok’ ‘ yeh sab tho karma padtha hai’ and all that. And find fault with others when they do it in grown up situations?

That shows that I have an attitude that says “show me the person and I’ll frame the rule”. Is that right?

The second type come in day-to-day affairs like not wanting to pay fine of say Rs.500/- and bargain for Rs.100-150/- with policemen and get away with it. It is considered savings and good bargaining and even policemen get our swearing. But, more than him, I am responsible for his act. As this could have been totally done away with it by simply following few steps like 1.maintaining/ possessing all the papers required for /during driving 2. following traffic rules honestly and completely 3. by not breaking traffic rules thought it’s easy to follow traffic rules, it seems Herculean task for many to follow and then end up giving bribe and later complain against policemen. This is just one eg. And such related bribe situations can be totally done away with provided I want to.

The next type come under such of category where the person who to get his right is forced to bribe the person who needs to pay him his due. For eg. 1.a pensioner who’s asked by the officer to pay bribe to get his pension 2.medical bills / any bill reimbursed only when the person concerned is bribed. 3. loan/ clearance given only against bribe and all such cases.

Here, all the papers are intact and the person who’s to receive the amount is completely eligible to receive it and yet is forced to cough up some amount to the person concerned to receive the same. Here, it’s the clear case of person not doing his duty or expecting more than his salary just to do his job. This reflects person’s greed, dishonesty and lack of commitment towards his job. Greed, dishonesty and commitment are already dealt with. There is no end to these. At the same time, one can choose to bend to pressure or flow with tide depending upon his internal strength. Azim premji didn’t wish to bribe the official for energy and went to start his own power plant. And don’t say, well, he can afford to. No, he couldn’t afford to then. He didn’t know anything of power or energy then. But, he went on to get it because he WANTED TO.

Now, the question is do all of us, have the strength to lay our own roads to success? If not, why not? Why do we always get away saying “oh, but, it’s not possible for me because of x, y, and z reason?”

Every situation is an opportunity wrapped up as a bitter pill to chart out new routes to success. But, the question is, are we listening?

Every time, the world pushes you on to your knees, you are in perfect position to pray. But, are you happy praying or complaining about the knee pain – that makes all the difference!

The most dangerous type of bribe is yet to be dealt with....but that's for next blog....

cheating...

It’s long after that I’ve seen comments/ doubts posted. So, someone’s reading the blog. So, to that one person who’s reading it, I’ll write for few more days to come. Yes, I was thinking of winding up writing on blog after the completion of ‘FA’ topic. But, I think, I need to shelf that thought for few more days to come.

The doubt raised is “why should honest people resort to bribery?” and such related questions. But, I have not touched ‘bribe’ anywhere yet. We are dealing with cheating only. Cheating is not equal to bribe.

Cheating can be understood as :
At physical level : 1. giving below graded or low graded quality/ service / good in exchange for money / kind.
2. When someone’s paying less than what he/ she should without letting the other person know.
3. When the other person trusts you and you give less than what you owe.
4. Taking undue advantage of your relationship, position, power and denying returning the due that you owe.
5. Telling lies and getting work done or getting cash / kind as favour.
Basically breaking trust of someone is called ‘cheating’.

At emotional level : 1. Using emotional blackmailing also comes under cheating.
2. taking undue advantage of position, relation, power and getting away with wish granted.

At spiritual level : I want you to come out on that…..
These are just few examples. They are not the only ways of cheating. Be aware of actions and the intentions behind every act and then cheating would be understood in totality of its nature.

‘Bribe’ on the other hand means ‘gift or consideration of any kind offered to any one to influence his judgement or conduct. It is a type of seduction used to influence a person’s way of working’. Here, many times it may not involve cheating also. A person waiting in the hospital for tests to be done pays few rupees to the ward-boy and gets them done without waiting for his turn is one such case. Here, actually the person requires that tests to be done and the hospital also is for doing it only. Here, no one is losing ‘actually’ much in this case of bribery. It’s the impatience on the part of the person that forces him to ‘bribe’ the ward boy and get his work done. Though it is considered illegal, actually there is nothing illegal about this. But, it is unethical. Others who are waiting lose out on their time which is bad. It talks about person’s selfishness and so it is bad. Otherwise, no one actually gets harmed by this or such acts. It is to be dealt in detail and that would call for one more blog…..so, wait till next blog….

Till then, contemplate on the meaning of ‘cheating’ and ‘bribe’ and ‘how much do I do either or both of these in my life?’ for the smooth functioning of my life?

This journey is to ‘know myself better’ and ‘not to justify my actions’ or ‘to fool or market myself as a good person’. So, let’s put aside our pretences at least in solitude and face ourselves in nudity of our thoughts and then think of revamping our priorities and goals in life…