Thats-so-Raja !

இந்த தனிமை இரவுகள் எனக்கானவை இல்லை. இவற்றில் எனக்கான விரல் கோர்த்தல், மெது மெதுப்பு, தத்துவ எழுச்சி, வழு வழுப்பு, ஊர் கதை, அந்தரங்க ஈரம், உனது தான் எனும் மறு உறுதி, காது வெடிக்கும் முத்தம், இது எதுவும்  இல்லை. இந்த மது மட்டும் தான் இருக்கிறது தேவதைகளின் குரூர சாபம் போல்.

Buddha was supposed to give a sermon one day. He came, sat on the stage, picked up a flower and started examining it. Immediately, he allowed himself to be drawn by its vibrant color, intoxicating scent and softness. He did not speak a single word for the entire sermon. One of the monks present there, called Mahakasyapa, finally smiled. He was the only one who is said to have got it. His realization became what we now call the “Zen” after passing through many generations. What was Buddha trying to teach us with his silent yet very powerful demonstration? Well, we all know its to do with achieving oneness of the mind, living in the present moment etc. But I think, more than that outcome , Buddha was trying to teach the mechanics of achieving it. In my own words, I would say the mechanics is “ TO MAXIMIZE THE PLEASURE ”. Just hold this thought here. Around the same time in Greece, a man called Epicurus discovered the same operating principles. Life is all about maxi...

This script was written an hour before the actual speech. Of course I knew upfront that I am going to muse about the bygone era. And I had so much content from all my research in the past. Now, the challenge was to extract stories that can be told in 5 minutes and that would also enable me to use my body language much (which is the prime objective of ToastMasters Project 5).   ---------------------------------------------------------- Past-O-Mania is reveling in the past,  celebrating the heroes of the yester years, marveling the intensity of their lives and comparing it with that of ours. This short speech is my musings about 2 men from the past. 2 GREAT but relatively unpopular men  outside the philosophical and scientific circles. Gentlemen, who knows how to measure the height of this building? Wait a minute, I am not going to give you sophisticated altimeters or any access to Google. (Some people answered to count the number of stories… I ask...

A few days back, I decided to cook for my family. (I use this placating measure at times to cool down my angry wife). As a new age techie, whenever I cook, I use my phone to show me the recipe. And it was the election times those days. I did not want to miss the important updates also. So I had the TV blasting from the hall so that I can hear the news. Here I am - phone on one hand, a bunch of vegetables on the other hand, ears listening to the news, on top of a brewing curry. As the moment came,  I dropped my phone into the curry instead of the vegetables.  Ooops! It took me a few seconds to realize what I have done . And at the end, like a macho man, I cried for help from my wife. She ran to the kitchen thinking that something life threatening has happened. As she saw me garnished the curry with my blackberry, she started screaming.  (By the way, blending in phones makes the curry taste poor). “ Just what are you doing in the kitchen with your phone ...

Fellow Toastmasters, if I say the letter “L”, which word comes to your mind first? [ The audience said a range of words - Love, Life, Laughter... ] I am a little disappointed that no one said "Logic" . Its always this overrated 'love', 'luck' etc. But you know, logic has single-handedly transformed the entire humanity from being clueless neanderthals to a species that conquered this planet and many more planets to come. The purpose of my speech today is to resurrect the role of logic in everyday life. The monumental importance of standing logically-correct amidst the cacophony of illogical chatter and 'fallacies'! We will try to understand some common fallacies, so that we can appear smart and also win some arguments :) Early greek philosophers  used ‘Argument’ or ‘Dialectics’ as the chief tool to reason out everything. They did not have the elaborate scientific methods of the modern times. There were no formalism techniques to ...

This is the script of my second speech in Toast Masters. It was voted as the best prepared speech. A second consecutive win. Now, I am feeling a strange itch to continue this streak :) ---------------------------- One of the biggest problems I face these days is that I am getting older. There are blindingly obvious signs of it everywhere. I am balding on the top, greying on the sides. My metabolism is dropping that even water makes me put on weight. I get tired of carrying my own weight. And annoyingly, I have a lot of things to say, these days. I talk in great lengths and  half way through, I forget the original point itself. [Pause] Sorry, why I am I saying all these to you? Oh, the old age. Yea! Now, when I complain to people that I am getting older, they always have one thing to say. “Well,  you can't do anything about it but just grow old gracefully ”. I get so annoyed at that statement. Just what in the world is growing old gracefully? ...

Folks, welcome the new Toast Master on the block. I gave my maiden speech last month. With a bang :) It was chosen the best prepared speech of the evening. I am going to post all the scripts here. The main objective is to get your suggestions on the improvements. Also, the beginners who google their way in here would get some tips, hopefully :) This speech was titled the 'The Modern Man'. Project 1 (P1) was intended for the speaker to introduce himself, therefore, its an ice breaker session. Following the tradition, I pulled out a couple of real incidents from my life - the ingredients that cooked me into what I am today. I would probably write a separate blog on those incidents. But, I think what really gave the wind to the sail was the closing  segment (the script below). It was supposed to be delivered in an express speed and I took 2 weeks to memorize it. Phew! I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Multicultured, multi-faceted – a post-modern de...