Why Churchill wouldn’t like the sound of it (Challenge 5 / 18)
Heard about the term VOMITORIUM? Rome had conquered the known world and opulence led to decadence. Excess of wealth took consumerism to an extreme. What happened may shock you. The Romans would throw up lavish meals. Gluttony was the order of the day. After imbibing the drink & consuming the food, the Romans would vomit […]
How ‘the power of sex transmutation’ works (Challenge 4 / 18)
Today I step into treacherous waters. Challenge 4 is about ‘sexual abstinence’ for 41 days during the Ayyappa Challenge. No motivational / leadership training talks about it, so why is this a part of the 18 step Challenge? Let’s recap a story that we all know – Lord Shiva (metaphor for inner-world) was in deep […]
3 Stories on why honesty is not the best policy (Challenge 3 / 18)
Ajith (Thala), is superstar of Tamil Cinema. He is lauded by his fans for his integrity & car driving skills. Acting is the last of the skills in his repertoire. In a recent Blockbuster, Mangaatha this vanguard of Tamil Nadu, keeps saying Ethanai Naal thaan Na Nallavana Irukkanum? (how long do I continue being good?) […]
Life is Smoking Mirrors – Challenge 2 / 18 Continues
A Khalil Gibran story – there were two wells in a city. One for the commoners, one for the wise men. One day a sorcerer poisoned the common man’s well. The folks after drinking the water, tore their clothes & went around the city like mad men. They saw the wise men well clad & […]
‘PHUS’ Your Mind – Challenge 2 / 18
Back in 2004, this is how my day went – my sun rose at 7.30. If coffee was not ready in the next 10 minutes, I had a template of the choicest of words which I would cut, copy & paste on my family. Office was fun. My staff and I played the I Spy […]
Mariamman beats Tony hands down – Challenge 1 / 18
You are in Sydney. You buy a thousand dollar ticket to the Sydney Opera. The setting is majestic.You take your seat at the balcony to soak in even the minutest of Gods. The members of the Philharmonic are bedecked in the finest of dresses. The conductor wafts his hand to synchronize the music and set […]
Have you ever got into a rut?
We were watching Charulatha, the iconic Sathyajit Ray movie at Metro theater Kolkatta. Once scene was particularly annoying. The leading lady kept combing her hair for a complete ten minutes, while all the while looking out of the window. Did I have to waste all this evening just to see a lady comb her hair? […]
The WHY of the 18 Steps
There is a saying in hindi, apne pav me kulhadi marna. It literally means,chopping your legs with your own axe. Shiv, a voice in my head says – why did you to take up this blog challenge.you already have humongous chores to perform at home in the absence of the maid? Another voice in me […]
Rationalists, avoid this blog
Mao said,”the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” When the farmers queried,”that’s alright, but how do we walk a thousand miles?” Mao answered,”take one step and then the next and the next and you will reach a thousand miles.” Right now my plight is the very same as that of the […]