Bring love back in our lives

In previous years we have seen love loosing to hate, peace loosing to violence. We should stop and ponder. Are we going to allow this to continue or we should do something to reverse the trend?

If we want that in the new year, love should emerge victorious over hate and peace over violence then we need to bring love back in to our lives. My friends wonder where the love has gone. I wonder too. Has love really gone out of our lives or it is still there within our hearts but has been covered by greed which brought hate and violence to the front? Whatever is the situaion we should re-discover love. Without love we cease to be human beings.

Every year people make new resolutions. I also do. Last year I made a resolution to develop positive attitude towards life and people. I succeeded to some extent. I continue with this resolution for this year also.

This year I make a new resolution to bring love back in our lives. Let love be victorious on hate. Let peace be victorious on violence.

I have many wishes too (list is very long. Here are some):

No killings of senior citizens.
No child abuse.
No violence against women.
No road rage.
No police brutality on innocent citizens.
No expolitation of and discrimination against any citizen.
No terror killings.
No photos of ministers on public ads. 
No corruption.
Love all, hate none.

Should we have blood of children of God on our hands when we face Him

The way Taslima is being hounded by some religious extremists is a cause of concern. Every right thinking person is concerned about her safety. People are talking of freedom of expression, religious intolerance and violence associated with it.

I am all for freedom of expression and as people say it comes with a legal, social and moral responsibility. Freedom of expression, like ant other activity, is also governed by natural laws of action and reaction, or we can say cause and effect. If someone expresses an opinion he or she knows that it will certainly cause an effect. Taslima expressed her views in the form of a book. She is a Muslim. She knew what effect it will have on other Muslims. Likewise Hussain expressed his views in the form of paintings. He also knew what effect it will have on Hindus. Both these person were aware of the effect their actions will cause. Yet they went ahead claiming freedom of expression.

I am a Hindu and Hussain's paintings caused me hurt. Similarly Talima's book caused hurt to Muslims. Hindus and Muslims both reacted. The intensity of reaction might have been different but it sure caused hurt. And it can also not be said that Hindus were less hurt and Muslims were more hurt. Some self-styled intelectuals defended Huaaain and Taslime by invoking right of freedom of expression. Intensity of their defence was also different. They were very vocal for Hussain but not that vical for Talima. Reason is obvious. It is considered convenient and safe to take upon the hurt felt by Hindus.

Now an action has created a reaction. A cause has generated an effect. Both parties are responsible. But the primary responsibility rests with Hussain and Taslima who started this. Hussain has run away from India when a case was filed in court. Taslima has been hounded out of Bangladesh. Islamic extremists are out to kill her. WB Govt has surrendered before extremists. Central Govt is also in a fix. Her life is in danger.

Govt of India has a responsibility to ensure that she does not come to harm. It may have to take some harsh decisions. But the people should learn their lessons from these sorry happenings. One may be convinced that Taslima's writings, and Husain's paintings are expressions of genuine perspectives and sentiments -- and not motivated by malicious intentions, but they should also accept that both Hussain and Taslima knew that their actions will hurt others. On this point only both Ansal brothers have been sentenced to imprisonment in Uphaar tragedy case.

Religion teaches tolerance and forgiveness. Those hurt should follow their religious teachings in true spirit. Religion also teaches that one should not hurt others in body and mind. Taslima, Hussain and other people like them should follow this religious teaching in its true spirit. Both should forgive and forget. Let peace take over violence. Let love take over hate. We are all chlldren of God. One day we have to go to Him. Should we have blood of His children on our hands when we face Him.

All Humn Beings are Divine

have always believed in the divinity of human beings. Human beings are the best creation of God. Hindu Dharma tells us that out of all living beings it is only human beings who can reach God and become one with Him. As we get a chance to be human after crores of births as other living beings it is nothing but foolishness that we indulge in negative activities and waste this God given opportunity to reach Him.

God has manifested Himself in human beings. We are all images of God. When we love each other we in fact love God. When we hate others we hate God. To love is a natural trait of human beings. Hate is an aberration.

Today's world is full of violence. People hurt or even kill each other for all wrong reasons. Some people kill other people even in the name of God. They foolishly think that God will be happy with them if they kill people belonging to other faiths. Even if we accept that every faith has its own God then which God will be happy, if His children kill each other?

Shun violence. Love all. Pray to God for self and all.

May all be happy;
May all be without disease;
May all have well-being;
May none have misery of any sort.

— Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.14

All human beings are divine. See God in them. Love all and hate none. Love is Godly and hate is ungodly.

That is perfect;
This is perfect;
Perfect comes from perfect;
Take perfect from perfect, the remainder is perfect.
Peace. Peace. Peace.

— Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad (Invocation)

I love you all.