Of extraneous existence in nostalgia

Of extraneous existence in nostalgia

Biplab Pal

My spirit I to Love compose,
In humble trust mine eye-lids close,
With reverential resignation,
No wish conceived, no thought exprest,
Only a sense of supplication ;
A sense o'er all my soul imprest
That I am weak, yet not unblest,
Since in me, round me, every where
Eternal Strength and Wisdom are.

The Pains of Sleep: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The very basic fact that we continue to breadth and insufflate every new morning in the most humdrum job one could imagine, transcends into reality of living-survival, struggle and ennoblement of existence through fracas for position, wealth and recognition-you name it. Yes, we are not among the seven hundred millions of Indians who strain to manage 2100 calories a day. And not among the billions whose human existence depletes every day against all kinds of pollutions-environmental, ethical and moral.

Didn’t I tell you, we, the immigrants who have managed to escape, have excelled in the art of living? We escape to excel and excel to escape.

Hei! Don’t talk rot euphemism of nationalism! Of patriotic feeling and tickling of idealism which rarefied into global ecumenical cosmopolitan culture long times back. We live in an era of internet. An era of no fence, no border. Esites are our real asylum, erommance is our real crash and efriends are our real chums. Does not matter that I don’t know the name of my neighbors-it does matter that hundreds of people are reading my blogs, my scraps. I have tons of friends in chat line from Brazil to Russia. And of course they are all gals- more real than the next door girl in my town whom I could never blab the teen ecstasy of a tattooed heart. But I know these gals are real with 34C-they told me.

So what? Who am I? A dude, dad, husband, son, friend, fiancé, Bengali, Indian, American, Engineer and so many fragmented combo of existence packed in a bin- a marketable case tagged with the brand NRB, NRI, Indian techi. In a shiny day, I am American to Americans, Indian to Indians and Bangali to Bengalis. Otherwise, I am a rat worshiping, masala stinging Indian to American who has stolen their otherwise reassured job. Deshi to Indians who according to him, responsible for poor image of Indians in America because I don’t have etiquette enough to be American. And a snob, Greek, cryptic character to most of the Bangladeshi and Bengalis other than the Bangladeshi shop owners. Shiny or gloom is just other side of whether I have market relation with my annotator. Antic stock of market economy in social relation-yes, that’s real me, the ‘I’.

Does nostalgia mean anything to a stock? I am only rated by my market value in real and option market. People around me would buy in or out depending on stock’s prospect in a jittery market. No body has damn time for me, unless I have fungible worth for their investment. No truth is more real than this nasty Bazzari reality.

So how does it matter if I am missing a group theater in Calcutta, riverine terrain of Ganges delta, surreal look of rupasi Bangla and a street corner adda with my soul mates at the day end and weekend? Am I not earning enough dollars for a compensation of homesickness? A cold turkey of what one can easily say not so valuable in our professional life! Compensation is a wrong word in market economics. Actually I am being paid the worth it takes to replace me. That does not count for anything-not even my skill sets other than its availability and vicarial in the naukri bazzar. Yes, I am worse than the hookers, the B-gals. Even they get the worth for their beautiful boobs and bums, almond eyes and ruby cheeks. I don’t. I get the value for hardship in replacing me! I have never been rewarded for my knowledge, skills and diligence. I have always been compensated because they couldn’t find another stock like ‘me’ at the same price.

But it does not matter anymore. I am into eternal biological cycle. I am a dad now and someday, I will be grandpa. My Y gene will survive and that is all that matters. Like colorful falling leafs in autumn, my biological existence would wither away. Pretty much the same way a cow or a pig subsists its life cycle.

Could we ever be better than a biological being?

Better than a snap shot in evolution Scheme?

"How often already you've had to be told,

Keep cold, young orchard. Good-bye and keep cold.

Dread fifty above more than fifty below."

I have to be gone for a season or so.

Good bye, and keep cold: Robert Frost

California 11/15/06

While atheism is fastest growing in the West, it is declining in South Asia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1fgKXmNJrQ&feature=related

While majority of Europe is conclusively turning into atheism, and in USA, atheists are increasing in number ( 8 to 12% from 1986 to 2005), in South Asia we are still in the grip of religious illusion of Islam and Hinduism.

Here is the tally of atheists population.

Sweden 86%
Japan 56%
France 54%
UK 44%
In USA, it is at 12% now from 8% in 1987

Question is why in South Asia we are falling back while West is moving forward?

Couple of hypothesis we need to analyze-

(1) Poverty-lack of education
(2) Stronger heritage of spiritualism
(3) State patronage
(4) Stronger existence of family structure
(5) Fall of communism as savior of oppressed mass
(6) Conservative response to women liberation movement in the West--fear of losing battle over women womb.
(7) Cultural heritage is religious heritage---because of mass illiteracy, secular literature /culture is still alien to the poor South Asians.
(8) Media patronage of religion.

Did I miss any?
Biplab

Zakir Naik's popularity is convincing proof of Islamic fanaticism

This Islamic preacher of Indian origin supports

(1) Death to apostate as he thinks they are traitors of Islam.
(2) Polygamy should be legalized
(3) No religious right to non-Muslims
(4) Every Muslim must be terrorist against America

And he has millions of followers in Muslim world!!!

[3] is very serious. Just read this:

*****

Interviewer: Here is a question from a non-Muslim from India. Are non-Muslims allowed to preach their religion and to build their places of worship in an Islamic state? If so, why is building of temples and churches disallowed in Saudi Arabia, whereas Muslims are building their mosques in London and Paris?

Zakir Naik: I ask the non-Muslims, suppose you are the principal of a school and you intend to select a mathematics teacher. Three candidates come and you ask them, what’s the total of 2 plus 2? The first replies: 2 plus 2 equals 3. The second answers: 2 plus 2 equals 4. And the third one answers that 2 plus 2 equals 6. Now, I ask these non-Muslims, will you allow the candidate to teach in your school who says that 2 plus 2 equals 3 or that 2 plus 2 equals 6? They’ll say, no. I ask, why? They’ll say, because he does not have correct knowledge of mathematics. Similarly, as far as matters of religion are concerned we (Muslims) know for sure that only Islam is a true religion in the eyes of God. In the Holy Quran (3:85), it is mentioned that God will never accept any religion other than Islam. As far as the second question, regarding building of churches or temples is concerned, how can we allow this when their religion is wrong and when their worshipping is wrong? Therefore, we will not allow such wrong things in our Islamic country.

Interviewer: But is it not that they (non-Muslims) also think that their religion is true, whereas we (Muslims) think that our religion is true?

Zakir Naik: In religious matters only we know for sure that we Muslims are right. They (non-Muslims) are not sure. Thus, in our country we can’t allow preaching other religions because we know for sure that only Islam is the right religion. However, if a non-Muslim likes to practise his religion in an Islamic country, he can do so inside his home — but he can’t propagate his religion. It is exactly as if a teacher thinks in his mind that 2 plus 2 equals 3. He has the right to do so, but we can never allow such a person to teach this to our children. Non-Muslims are no doubt experts in science and technology. But they (non-Muslims) are not sure about religious truths. Therefore, we are trying to get them to the right path of Islam.”

Should we in India or in America also ban Islam because we think it is vile????

Can any supporter of Naik will clarify me why they support this Mullah Zakir who even does not admit the
religious right of non-Muslims? Should we apply Zakir's argument on them as we can provide thousands of logics why Islam is notorious as faith and therefore it must be wiped out from India, Europe and America?

This man has millions of supporters. Which mean they also do not support religious plurality. This is height of communal sentiment. This is the reason we all think most of the Muslims are fanatics.

Who’s responsible for the stereotypes of Islam?

Sudheendra Kulkarni

Islam fascinates me. But the conduct of some of its adherents also frustrates me. The positive aspects of Islam are too numerous to escape the attention of any unprejudiced and truth-seeking non-Muslim. For example, Hindus have much to learn from Muslims about the virtue of solidarity and fellow-feeling within their community. During the month of Ramadan, I am captivated by the sight of Muslims who, after offering their evening namaz, end their day’s fast by grouping together and eating from the same plate, without any distinction of class or status

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Also, one can only marvel at the power of devotion and the degree of self-surrender of many Muslim mystics, whose lives have undoubtedly influenced pious, ordinary Muslims. Here is a story told by Vinoba Bhave, the great Gandhian who learnt Arabic at age 50 just to study the Holy Quran in the original. An old Muslim saint once had a thorn in his foot. It had gone deep and doctors were worried that the pain involved in removing it would be too much for the old soul to bear. One of his devotees then told them, “Don’t worry. You remove it while he is offering his prayers. He will be so engrossed in Allah that he won’t feel anything.”

Sadly, this ennobling aspect of Islam sits uneasily with the fanaticism that tarnishes its image. Last week I was shocked to watch an interview with Zakir Naik, a well-known Mumbai-born Muslim preacher, whose TV talks on Islam are highly popular in India and around the world. His books and audio/video cassettes are sold in huge numbers worldwide.

Watch the interview at YouTube, the free video site on the Internet, and draw your own conclusions.

Interviewer: Here is a question from a non-Muslim from India. Are non-Muslims allowed to preach their religion and to build their places of worship in an Islamic state? If so, why is building of temples and churches disallowed in Saudi Arabia, whereas Muslims are building their mosques in London and Paris?

Zakir Naik: I ask the non-Muslims, suppose you are the principal of a school and you intend to select a mathematics teacher. Three candidates come and you ask them, what’s the total of 2 plus 2? The first replies: 2 plus 2 equals 3. The second answers: 2 plus 2 equals 4. And the third one answers that 2 plus 2 equals 6. Now, I ask these non-Muslims, will you allow the candidate to teach in your school who says that 2 plus 2 equals 3 or that 2 plus 2 equals 6? They’ll say, no. I ask, why? They’ll say, because he does not have correct knowledge of mathematics. Similarly, as far as matters of religion are concerned we (Muslims) know for sure that only Islam is a true religion in the eyes of God. In the Holy Quran (3:85), it is mentioned that God will never accept any religion other than Islam. As far as the second question, regarding building of churches or temples is concerned, how can we allow this when their religion is wrong and when their worshipping is wrong? Therefore, we will not allow such wrong things in our Islamic country.

Interviewer: But is it not that they (non-Muslims) also think that their religion is true, whereas we (Muslims) think that our religion is true?

Zakir Naik: In religious matters only we know for sure that we Muslims are right. They (non-Muslims) are not sure. Thus, in our country we can’t allow preaching other religions because we know for sure that only Islam is the right religion. However, if a non-Muslim likes to practise his religion in an Islamic country, he can do so inside his home — but he can’t propagate his religion. It is exactly as if a teacher thinks in his mind that 2 plus 2 equals 3. He has the right to do so, but we can never allow such a person to teach this to our children. Non-Muslims are no doubt experts in science and technology. But they (non-Muslims) are not sure about religious truths. Therefore, we are trying to get them to the right path of Islam.”

Naik’s views provoke a troubling question in my mind: “Why do some Muslims demand secularism and more than equal treatment in countries where they are a minority, but aggressively turn anti-secular and deny even equal treatment to non-Muslims in many Muslim-majority countries?” Muslims cannot escape their responsibility to answer this question.

Naik’s defense of the denial of fundamental human rights of non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia is not unrelated to an unbelievable incident that happened recently in the land where Islam was born. On February 26, four French nationals — all non-Muslims working in Saudi Arabia — were killed by gunmen. Their crime? They were resting on the side of a desert road about 10 miles from the holy city of Medina, which, like Mecca, is restricted to Muslims only.

Whenever non-Muslims, including those who admire Islam’s positive features, express alarm at incidents like these, or at views such as Zakir Naik’s, they are accused of spreading “stereotypes” about Islam and Muslims. But shouldn’t Muslims themselves be debating what produces these stereotypes?

What is God? Will he exist anymore?

God has various meaning and hypothesis beyond actual existence or non-existence. You can look at God from various angles--philosophy ( absolute truth), social science (self organization), study of self (spiritualism), social evolution (Memetic theory), micro-economic model ( spiritualism as basic need and God/religion as product to meet the need ).

Let start from a social evolution theory--I wrote a short note on it last year

http://biplabpal2000.googlepages.com/Businessofreligion.pdf

Basically an ensemble of society will evolve from polytheism to monotheism to atheism-atheism does not necessarily mean only no God. In analytical philosophy it means lack of absolute truth. In that sense communists were not atheist-they believed in historical materialism as absolute truth. Atheism also does not mean lack of spiritualism (study of self). Spiritualism does not need a God or absolute truth or religion.

http://biplabspiritualism.blogspot.com/2007/09/essence-of-being-born-into-this-world.html

http://biplabspiritualism.blogspot.com/search/label/Scientific%20spiritualism

Question is why such evolution will happen-I have explained that in

http://biplabpal2000.googlepages.com/Dharma_Biggan.pdf

as matter of emerging force of self organization of the society. Even today, despite electronic media is behind the social integration, God stands out as much superior force of integration because of cultural legacy. But as the media will be all pervasive and single most important factor in social integration, political power of 'God' will decrease proportionally. But God will rule spiritual domain for sometimes-let me explain this aspect of spiritual God.

A human being can be viewed as chaotic system-unless one place enough boundary around him/her, he/she does not function as a productive system. That is --we all follow certain sets of disciplined functions to keep ourselves focused and a utility machine in the society.Much of these disciplined functions are cultural inheritance-which can be ethnic, religious, political etc. Through these sets of disciplined functions, we bond ourselves with the society and matter around us.

But this chain of commands of marriage, family, society, job etc. also hold our conscience/thoughts to hostage-these sets of cannons force a contraction and pressure on our thought process and you feel as if your mind has been imprisoned by your wife, kids, parents, society, political parties etc. So your mind seeks freedom from this material bondage and this process of liberation can unfold in various synthesis in human beings-most common of which is the complete submission of the self ( ego and very presence of yourself) to a ' God' ( existence of absolute truth). This is the central message of Quran and Gita. To the atheists, this synthesis can be quest for more material (empirical) truth to liberate himself/herself. No matter what-one must develop a conflict within himself/herself for progression of his mind through a synthesis of ideas. A synthesis needs a conflict between thesis (liberation) and anti-thesis (cannons) in your mind. Dr Radhakrishnan and Jiddu Krishnamurty spoke at length on the synthesis of spiritual mind.

Question is: why most of the people seek liberation through God and not through empirical truth? Answer is very simple--it is a lot easier process-does not require much background-mentally more enjoyable as well. Seeking liberation through knowledge is called Gaan Yoga in Hinduism and liberation through submission to God is called Vakti Yoga. Indeed in Gita, Arjun asked this question to Krishna--if knowledge can lead to salvation why do you need submission to God? Krishna answered in the same way-most of the people don't have background to set a quest for knowledge-so for them submission to God serves better purpose.

However, poor people's love for spiritual God has been exploited throughout and is still being exploited even today all over the world. And it all happened because common people can not distinguish between" political God" and "spiritual God". This is darker side of blind submission without any rationality.

But that is another story in another day.

Biplab

Exposing Dr Zakir Naik's claim of science in Quran and Polygamy

This is my video rebuttal against Indian Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik who is falsifying data in public lectures to support Islamic fundamentalism and radicalism. Such businessman of religion, is dangerous for secular state and growth of true spiritualism.

Part-1:
Scientific hint Quran? I have explained how Middle East petro-dollar has been used to
'buy' western scientists to speak on Science in Quran-many of their statements have been manipulated as they have later confessed after the money game behind it was exposed by a Wall Street Journalist in 2002

http://www.humanists.net/avijit/article/Western_Scientists_Bribed.htm

There is no science without experimental data-since Quran does not have experimental data, it is waste of time and insane to speak about science in Quran.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBn166l3-m8



Part-2:
Polygamy supported by demographic data? My exposure will show Dr Zakir Naik does not have minimum knowledge of Anthropology and Social Science to speak on this topic.
I have shown how he is making a sale of religion based on
identity crisis of the Muslims. It is a dangerous trend to justify
outdated customs in the name of science without knowing even minimum basics of
science..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LULgVB9Tpo


Thanks
Biplab
7/15/2008

Rationality and irrationality of being Indian

Dr M Ambekar "One simple example I would like to mention here is that if a Mother has two children one is Disabled. Who she will look after with care? I live it your imagination to answer it.
Your view will be welcomed. "

BP>>First of all I would like to thank Dr M Ambekar to give me opportunity to explain further on the point of irrationality and existence of nation-and thereafter nationalism.

Answer to his question is yes- a mother will look after more for his disabled kid. From the stand-point of economic theory, it is irrational decision. In economic theory, a children is a product of a company formed by partnership of parent. Since a disabled kid is less likely to carry their genetic survival (and therefore a defective product), a rational decision would be to take care more for her able kid. But because we are human beings, we opt for irrational decision!

In Anthropology, we have seen many ethnic groups, where disabled kids are abandoned on birth. Ancient Sparta was a example. Hitler brutally implemented elimination of disabled kids in the name of Darwinism (which is a shame-because natural selection does not mean killing of each other in the name of survival-it means weaker genetic pool will automatically be unable to reproduce their genetic imprint-and therefore their bloodline will be discontinued.). However these are exception-and in human society, parents do care for disabled kids.

But, does it violate Darwinism? Not at all. That disabled kid is less likely to get married. Parent will be kind to him- but dating market will abandon him. I am sorry but bride's mother will not be kind to give her daughter to him. He will not get a prospective match to reproduce his genetic print because of his disability. And thus Darwinism will be in work.

But question is--parent's irrational decision to care for disabled kid. Does it violate the notion that Economic theory is not at work? Not at all. Philosophy of science as founded by Sir Karl Popper, demands that there should be exception to hypothesis to form a scientific synthesis. Literature, arts, religion, culture--by large, these activities do not help human beings to be economically rich-expanding their material wealth. But these irrational behavior of human beings make us human and not a machine or robot. However, our survival is not linked to our human behavior but to our rational steps to increase our wealth. How does it shape up in India?

Let me give a simple example. Bengali culture are practiced in two places-Bangladesh and West Bengal. Standard of culture practiced in WB is quite higher than that in Bangladesh but Bengali culture is dying in WB but flourishing in Bangladesh because existence of Bangladesh as a nation depends on Bengali culture. Most of Bengalis in WB may think, their culture will be better protected if WB can form a separate nation like Bangladesh which won it against Pakistan. However, they will never like the idea of breaking up from India because then, where they will work to earn a living? Years of leftist rule yielded a sterile economy in WB and all most all the capable Bengali people are earning their living elsewhere in India!!! So rational decision is forcing them to stay with India! Or consider Maharathra. It has great economy-but where this economy will head if Siva Sena wants a separate Maharasthra state? The day Maharathra will be independent nation, 80% of its industry will be shutdown because their survival is linked to 1.1B Indian population.

Biplab

Absurdity of Buddhist philosophy

Greed, Buddhist Philosophy and science

Four noble truths of Buddhism emphasize that it is our greed, our expectation which is at the root of our suffering.

Question is-how solid is this foundation of Buddhism? Is it a rational, scientific foundation?

Now look what we are-what is our existence as human being!

I am a father, husband, son, Engineer, Indian, Bengali etc. etc. Meaning, I have to carry out certain biological and social functions to continue as father, husband etc. For carrying out these functions, for each and every step I am dependant on scientific invention of last centuries like phone, PC, internet, electricity, medicine etc. etc. Without these innovations, my existence reduces to a primitive man and some of existence like engineering dissolves into vacuum.

Which of the above innovation was not born out of greed of making money and forming capital? Edison created electricity to make more money-or else he would not have risked investing his resources to build electrical infrastructure. Internet came from APRANET, which again saw its sky rocketed growth thanks to the greed of each and every individual—be it business or pornography or dating. Hard to digest-but truth is--every video technology—be it VHS, VCR, DVD or streaming came to existence for the greed of porno Industry in USA which always wanted better video quality.

That’s why Capitalism is called –science of rational greed. The word rational is important. It means you are allowed to be greedy within the limit of law.

I give you an example. Let say, I meet a beautiful charming lady in a party or in a train. If I become so greedy that I attempt molesting her- I will be behind the bar next day. This is irrational greed. Now according to four noble truths of Buddism-- after seeing her, I shouldn’t desire to talk to her because that would raise some expectation in my heart—will that be good? Not at all—If I don’t get excited looking at beautiful girl, I would consider my biological existence depleted at that moment—because after all our biological existence is completely sexual. So as long as my excitement is within the rational limit, it serves no bad purpose and indeed greed keeps us into our existence.

We see so many scandals in share markets—because people crossed the limit of rationality in being greedy and they are in Jail. USA and advanced countries have tons of laws to rationalize this greed or else the civilization will collapse. All the corporate laws are essentially a kind of rational limit on corporate greed. But society will not innovate for material growth if there is no greed. Hence, rational greed is the solution and no greed according to Buddhism is counter productive to the social evolution.

It is completely absurd to talk about elimination of greed-our biological religion is to raise kids (see my blogs in http://biplabspiritualism.blogspot.com/ ) . In that process we try to ensure survival of our kids by giving them education and building wealth that he/she would inherit. That’s why a person is much less greedy when he/she does not have children. It is proven in social science that a society that forbids individual inheritance, is less wealthy and sterile in innovation. And that’s why Communism is not in existence any more. Our greed is linked with our biological existence for survival of our genetic code.

Anyhow, I found four noble truths are useful not as a religion but to rationalize our greed. I started a lot of reading on Buddhism after I broke with my first girlfriend. I was suffering and I thought Buddhism might alleviate my pain. Well, it helped but I also realized suffering in love is essential and without suffering nobody can realize true love either. Likewise without suffering from greed, nobody can realize their existence either. Hence four noble truths are useful but they are not good enough for human realization and in some sense not relevant at all to our main biological religion.