Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Observation about the blog
My blog is titled 'Observations' of a talented idiot and not 'thoughts'. In this light, I must give my readers pure observations and not opinions or thoughts. Thus, I apologise for some of my recent posts, which I felt were not up to the mark, but I could not assign a reason to it. I hope this is an observation and I promise to make amends.
Friday, May 18, 2007
'Culture of Excellence' and the Individual
This post is closely related to the one before this.
I believe that any society that does not voluntarily reward quality where it seems to be unrewarded will eventually become obsolete and will rust to death. Nothing is free. If you don't pay for it now, you'll indirectly pay (perhaps more) for it later.
The statement might seem very obvious to begin with but it involves every individual including you.
Let me start by explaining the statement: Those who are in the habit of offering the best quality and continually improving upon it do it for its own sake. They enjoy it and that is why they do it. When they don't get paid for it, they do not necessarily stop and move on. They either get frustrated and do things ordinarily, which certainly leads to a drop in productivity, or they continue doing things their way even though the market does not pay them, which means that they become inefficient and are driven out by more efficient people who might not bother about quality enhancement. Thus, we get people who are not into quality and the society becomes stagnant. The times keep changing, and this stagnant society cannot keep up with the change. It eventually dies out and transforms itself.
Now let me give you some ideas of what this has to do with you:
1. You know that waiter at that restaurant who did a pretty good job and didn't get a good tip? He could have just stuck to the rules and served you like any other guy, but he tried to make it amazing for you. In a culture which does not tip every once in a while at least, these guys fade out or become inefficient. That waiter might continue doing his job that way, but the other waiters get less tired after doing their jobs and can perhaps earn some extra bucks doing side jobs while this guy does nothing. New waiters see this and are discouraged from offering quality even before the realise the joy in doing it. Nothing is free. If you don't pay for it now, you'll indirectly pay (perhaps more) for it later.
Lesson: Tip when you are impressed with some one's service.
2. Feel the air around you. Most probably, it was much fresher 20 years back. No body's been rewarding this quality in the environment for some time, and we've been feeling the results.
Lesson: Consciously do something for the environment. It is unpaid quality and needs to be rewarded.
3. Sportsmen: Young amateur level sportsmen often struggle very hard without reward to improve their game and very often have to give it up because of a lack of funding. Try and help them if you can. Remember, it's the pursuit of excellence that matters, not the field. The benefits of all quality seeking are highly transferable across fields.
Lesson: Try and help budding sportsmen, artists and scholars when possible.
*I know that what I am saying is well covered by that body of thought under 'positive externalities' in economics, but I am concerned with solving that problem on an individual level here, not theorise about it and suggest policy decisions.
I have also been thinking about the open source software movement in this context, but I cannot get a result yet.
I believe that any society that does not voluntarily reward quality where it seems to be unrewarded will eventually become obsolete and will rust to death. Nothing is free. If you don't pay for it now, you'll indirectly pay (perhaps more) for it later.
The statement might seem very obvious to begin with but it involves every individual including you.
Let me start by explaining the statement: Those who are in the habit of offering the best quality and continually improving upon it do it for its own sake. They enjoy it and that is why they do it. When they don't get paid for it, they do not necessarily stop and move on. They either get frustrated and do things ordinarily, which certainly leads to a drop in productivity, or they continue doing things their way even though the market does not pay them, which means that they become inefficient and are driven out by more efficient people who might not bother about quality enhancement. Thus, we get people who are not into quality and the society becomes stagnant. The times keep changing, and this stagnant society cannot keep up with the change. It eventually dies out and transforms itself.
Now let me give you some ideas of what this has to do with you:
1. You know that waiter at that restaurant who did a pretty good job and didn't get a good tip? He could have just stuck to the rules and served you like any other guy, but he tried to make it amazing for you. In a culture which does not tip every once in a while at least, these guys fade out or become inefficient. That waiter might continue doing his job that way, but the other waiters get less tired after doing their jobs and can perhaps earn some extra bucks doing side jobs while this guy does nothing. New waiters see this and are discouraged from offering quality even before the realise the joy in doing it. Nothing is free. If you don't pay for it now, you'll indirectly pay (perhaps more) for it later.
Lesson: Tip when you are impressed with some one's service.
2. Feel the air around you. Most probably, it was much fresher 20 years back. No body's been rewarding this quality in the environment for some time, and we've been feeling the results.
Lesson: Consciously do something for the environment. It is unpaid quality and needs to be rewarded.
3. Sportsmen: Young amateur level sportsmen often struggle very hard without reward to improve their game and very often have to give it up because of a lack of funding. Try and help them if you can. Remember, it's the pursuit of excellence that matters, not the field. The benefits of all quality seeking are highly transferable across fields.
Lesson: Try and help budding sportsmen, artists and scholars when possible.
*I know that what I am saying is well covered by that body of thought under 'positive externalities' in economics, but I am concerned with solving that problem on an individual level here, not theorise about it and suggest policy decisions.
I have also been thinking about the open source software movement in this context, but I cannot get a result yet.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
A suggestion on the "Standard of Living" concept
I have already talked about the virtues of doing every little thing that you do extraordinarily well, from the viewpoint of being peaceful in life. (See my older post called "The Truth About Happiness")
What I would like to do now is talk about the idea of "Standard of Living" and what it has to do with the idea expressed above.
To begin with, by "Standard of Living", I mean the quality of the life that a person or a society lives. Which is simply to say that it means how happily a person or a society lives. Any other idea of the Standard of Living is rather useless to me because it does not tell me what I want to know.
Now, I strongly feel that the standard of living of a person or a society is seen in its most ordinary and unimportant actions. If those actions are done properly (or even better, extraordinarily well,) I would suggest that the standard of living of that person or society is very high.
This is because the very fact that unimportant and ordinary things are being done well suggests a commitment to quality. Only a commitment to quality and an active pursuit of it ensures real happiness in my opinion.
* This post relies on three important ideas;
1. Extraordinary teams and extraordinary persons do ordinary things extraordinarily well. - A line used by many people including Shiv Khera, Greg Chappell and Stephen Covey.
2. Swami Vivekananda, an Indian guru, once said that if you want to really see the merits of a yogi, do not see how he meditates, see how he makes his bed. ( This is closely related to '1' above)
3. The post is an extension of my ideas in "The Truth About Happiness.")
What I would like to do now is talk about the idea of "Standard of Living" and what it has to do with the idea expressed above.
To begin with, by "Standard of Living", I mean the quality of the life that a person or a society lives. Which is simply to say that it means how happily a person or a society lives. Any other idea of the Standard of Living is rather useless to me because it does not tell me what I want to know.
Now, I strongly feel that the standard of living of a person or a society is seen in its most ordinary and unimportant actions. If those actions are done properly (or even better, extraordinarily well,) I would suggest that the standard of living of that person or society is very high.
This is because the very fact that unimportant and ordinary things are being done well suggests a commitment to quality. Only a commitment to quality and an active pursuit of it ensures real happiness in my opinion.
* This post relies on three important ideas;
1. Extraordinary teams and extraordinary persons do ordinary things extraordinarily well. - A line used by many people including Shiv Khera, Greg Chappell and Stephen Covey.
2. Swami Vivekananda, an Indian guru, once said that if you want to really see the merits of a yogi, do not see how he meditates, see how he makes his bed. ( This is closely related to '1' above)
3. The post is an extension of my ideas in "The Truth About Happiness.")
Sunday, May 13, 2007
How to Use This Blog: Short Comment
While I am happy about the increase in the number of comments on my blog, I must point something very important: when reading this blog, my intention is to give people 'clues' with my words.
Please understand this:
I do not want to tell anybody anything precise and exact. I only hope, always, that after reading what I write, there will be some sort of realisation in the mind of the reader, for which my writing is just a catalyst.
Please do not infer too much from my writing. Read it and the rest is left to that wonderful instrument that you have (and this idiot doesn't have much of!)
Please understand this:
I do not want to tell anybody anything precise and exact. I only hope, always, that after reading what I write, there will be some sort of realisation in the mind of the reader, for which my writing is just a catalyst.
Please do not infer too much from my writing. Read it and the rest is left to that wonderful instrument that you have (and this idiot doesn't have much of!)
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Classification v. Continuity
I know that this suggestion is very difficult to implement, but try it:
When thinking of things and analysing them, try not to classify them into categories. Put them on a scale.
For example: Norway is a cold country and Singapore is a warm country.
This classification seems perfectly justified, but it leads to a liking for oversimplification, where we continuously put things and people into categories just for the analytical pleasure of it. Try forming a description of any person you know and you'll get what I mean.
What should be done is to just keep things on a scale and analyse things comparatively.
For Example : Norway is colder than Singapore.
Such a method of analysis keeps the analysis more realistic.
When thinking of things and analysing them, try not to classify them into categories. Put them on a scale.
For example: Norway is a cold country and Singapore is a warm country.
This classification seems perfectly justified, but it leads to a liking for oversimplification, where we continuously put things and people into categories just for the analytical pleasure of it. Try forming a description of any person you know and you'll get what I mean.
What should be done is to just keep things on a scale and analyse things comparatively.
For Example : Norway is colder than Singapore.
Such a method of analysis keeps the analysis more realistic.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Is This The End?
Hello Everybody,
Regular visitors to this blog must have noticed that in the past few months, the already irregular flow of posts has trickled down to nothing. There have been instances in the past when this happenned but I am inclined to think that those instances were only seasonal variations in the flow of my observations....
An unfortunate series of events has, I am afraid, blocked the free flow of my observations in a manner which makes me think that the cause of this scarcity of good thought is more structural than seasonal this time.
I am noting this down on my blog because I think that the explicit definition of the problem might lead the way towards a possible solution. I believe the problem has a lot to do with a loss of both the environment conducive to my thinking as well as the methodology which refines the original observations.
In brief, I've lost material!! A writer's block perhaps.
All help will be entertained. Your suggestions will do a lot.
Please Help!
Yours Idiotically,
Talented Idiot.
Regular visitors to this blog must have noticed that in the past few months, the already irregular flow of posts has trickled down to nothing. There have been instances in the past when this happenned but I am inclined to think that those instances were only seasonal variations in the flow of my observations....
An unfortunate series of events has, I am afraid, blocked the free flow of my observations in a manner which makes me think that the cause of this scarcity of good thought is more structural than seasonal this time.
I am noting this down on my blog because I think that the explicit definition of the problem might lead the way towards a possible solution. I believe the problem has a lot to do with a loss of both the environment conducive to my thinking as well as the methodology which refines the original observations.
In brief, I've lost material!! A writer's block perhaps.
All help will be entertained. Your suggestions will do a lot.
Please Help!
Yours Idiotically,
Talented Idiot.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Construction and Beauty
A quick realisation.....
It is very important that things look beautiful in every phase of their construction if they have to be truly beautiful after they are finished. All good poems, songs and paintings looked very good to me even when I saw them in their 'making' phase.
Just contrast this with the buildings we see being constructed around us.... I don't find them good looking even after they are done!
It is very important that things look beautiful in every phase of their construction if they have to be truly beautiful after they are finished. All good poems, songs and paintings looked very good to me even when I saw them in their 'making' phase.
Just contrast this with the buildings we see being constructed around us.... I don't find them good looking even after they are done!
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Good idea
This one's from a good friend:
Amitabh Bachchan, in one of his movies, is drunk when points to a bottle of whiskey and says, "If this thing had spirit in it, it would behave drunk." (that's the best translation i could manage).
What it means is that the alchohol itself does not make us behave strangely, but it only releases something that is already there within us. Think about it.....
Amitabh Bachchan, in one of his movies, is drunk when points to a bottle of whiskey and says, "If this thing had spirit in it, it would behave drunk." (that's the best translation i could manage).
What it means is that the alchohol itself does not make us behave strangely, but it only releases something that is already there within us. Think about it.....
Friday, June 02, 2006
The meaning of "art"
Another nice theory developed while having a nice time.....
I would often think that any field of performance started as nothing in particular, on development became a science because of its technical aspects, and in its stage of highest development became "art". Why art? Because art is art! I couldn't really explain that one. Then, a brainwave....
Why do we call something art? It is because we can feel the sheer excellence of it, but we cannot comprehend it. That is why we call it an art. We call something a science when we feel it's sophistication/ excellence, but can also realize that there is a way to it.
However, the person actually doing something excellently, comprehends it quite well. So, it is never art for him. It remains purely technical work. It is only the others who find it art.
When things become too abstract to comprehend for an observer, they become art for him. When he finds the abstractions difficult or challenging but comprehensible, it is a science. However, for the doer, what he is doing never becomes too abstract to comprehend, or else he wouldn't be doing it!
This is exactly why music and many such things: plays, dancing, etc become art for most of us fairly easily... The incomprehensibility of abstraction begins pretty early. Whereas in many sports such as football, we find only certain things artistic: for example, the beautiful style of the brazilians. This is because the incomprehensibility of abstraction begins fairly late in these fields.
But another question arises: if, for example, a musician is not getting joy out of his music the way we are getting, what is his "spiritual" motivation?
The answer is simple: he is working on improving his technique/skill. Every time this reaches an unprecedentedly high level, the musician enters virgin territory. It is the joy of discovering these virgin territories that is pushing him.
I would often think that any field of performance started as nothing in particular, on development became a science because of its technical aspects, and in its stage of highest development became "art". Why art? Because art is art! I couldn't really explain that one. Then, a brainwave....
Why do we call something art? It is because we can feel the sheer excellence of it, but we cannot comprehend it. That is why we call it an art. We call something a science when we feel it's sophistication/ excellence, but can also realize that there is a way to it.
However, the person actually doing something excellently, comprehends it quite well. So, it is never art for him. It remains purely technical work. It is only the others who find it art.
When things become too abstract to comprehend for an observer, they become art for him. When he finds the abstractions difficult or challenging but comprehensible, it is a science. However, for the doer, what he is doing never becomes too abstract to comprehend, or else he wouldn't be doing it!
This is exactly why music and many such things: plays, dancing, etc become art for most of us fairly easily... The incomprehensibility of abstraction begins pretty early. Whereas in many sports such as football, we find only certain things artistic: for example, the beautiful style of the brazilians. This is because the incomprehensibility of abstraction begins fairly late in these fields.
But another question arises: if, for example, a musician is not getting joy out of his music the way we are getting, what is his "spiritual" motivation?
The answer is simple: he is working on improving his technique/skill. Every time this reaches an unprecedentedly high level, the musician enters virgin territory. It is the joy of discovering these virgin territories that is pushing him.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Team Games and Some Ideas
I developed this theory on team sports rather as a matter of fun and as a good point to have a good argument upon, but it has matured into a better theory which makes sense.
My initial statement was that team games/sports are only played by people who's abilities are average or below average, because only they can benefit from other team members. Any player who is above average will soon get frustrated with the others and will have to walk out.
However, this has a lot to do with motivation, not only ability. So the above statement was retained, but 'ability' was replaced by 'motivation'. So now it read like this: Team games can only be played by people who's motivation is below or equal to the average, because any player who's motivation is above the average will get frustrated by the others' lack of motivation and walk out.
However, two truths remained to be added:
Firstly, it can be said that a team can be broken down into indivisual players, all of whom have very specific tasks to accomplish. The overall matching and fitting can be left to a coach or manager, who's dedicated job is only that.
Secondly, both the theories above assume that the sense of joy felt in a team sport is owing to the success of the team as a unit. That is, for example, in football, the joy that each member achieves out of playing in the team is dependent on how many matches the team wins, and how many tournaments or championships the team wins. This assumption is incorrect, because when specific tasks can be set to every team member, it is possible to derive pleasure not from such "material" victories, but personal victories achieved in the specific task. In this case, a player plays not for cups and glory, but for the pure joy of achievements on a personal level, which do not require anyone else's acceptance. Thus, this sort of player plays for a different cause, i.e. , the cause of self-discipline, commitment, dedication, etc.
With the acceptance of these two truths, our theory fails completely! But I hope that we have got a better understanding of team games, and people on the top of such games. So we can assume that Sachin Tendulkar, when he is playing cricket, just comes, bats, fields, does some bowling, all to the best of his capacity and does not bother much about anything else. I don't know if this is true, but it seems like a likely method of achieving excellence in team games.
My initial statement was that team games/sports are only played by people who's abilities are average or below average, because only they can benefit from other team members. Any player who is above average will soon get frustrated with the others and will have to walk out.
However, this has a lot to do with motivation, not only ability. So the above statement was retained, but 'ability' was replaced by 'motivation'. So now it read like this: Team games can only be played by people who's motivation is below or equal to the average, because any player who's motivation is above the average will get frustrated by the others' lack of motivation and walk out.
However, two truths remained to be added:
Firstly, it can be said that a team can be broken down into indivisual players, all of whom have very specific tasks to accomplish. The overall matching and fitting can be left to a coach or manager, who's dedicated job is only that.
Secondly, both the theories above assume that the sense of joy felt in a team sport is owing to the success of the team as a unit. That is, for example, in football, the joy that each member achieves out of playing in the team is dependent on how many matches the team wins, and how many tournaments or championships the team wins. This assumption is incorrect, because when specific tasks can be set to every team member, it is possible to derive pleasure not from such "material" victories, but personal victories achieved in the specific task. In this case, a player plays not for cups and glory, but for the pure joy of achievements on a personal level, which do not require anyone else's acceptance. Thus, this sort of player plays for a different cause, i.e. , the cause of self-discipline, commitment, dedication, etc.
With the acceptance of these two truths, our theory fails completely! But I hope that we have got a better understanding of team games, and people on the top of such games. So we can assume that Sachin Tendulkar, when he is playing cricket, just comes, bats, fields, does some bowling, all to the best of his capacity and does not bother much about anything else. I don't know if this is true, but it seems like a likely method of achieving excellence in team games.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Everybody's Free
As many of yo might be able to imagine, I am running out of good observations to make, and I am relying on qoutes to get things through. Today, I bring to your attention the lyrics of a song called "Everybody's Free" , by Baz Luhrmann. They are very insightful indeed, please read them and get the song if possible.
Everybody's Free
-Baz Luhrmann
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99 If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you
Sing
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..
Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen…
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you
Sing
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..
Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen…
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Good qoutes
I have found two good qoutes, on which I don't intend to give any major explaination.
"Even to win the lottery, you first need to buy a ticket" - Anonymous.
"You can't sell ice to the eskimos." - A musician from Singapore, when asked for his opinion on the eastern musicians who imitate the west.
"Even to win the lottery, you first need to buy a ticket" - Anonymous.
"You can't sell ice to the eskimos." - A musician from Singapore, when asked for his opinion on the eastern musicians who imitate the west.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Another nice pic
This is the first of two photos that I took near Vani, Nashik.
The tree is the same in both photos.
The tree is the same in both photos.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Monday, March 27, 2006
A "Perfect" System.
I have realised that a system for producing near perfect results will always have to be a very fluid system, which will allow huge flaws just as it allows high excellence. This system cannot be consistent, and its results will vary very greatly. That is the price of perfection.
I visualise it something like the difference between solids and liquids. A solid has a fixed shape.. that is a metaphor for a consistent result. A liquid doesn't have a fixed shape.. it can be streamlined into any formation.. but then it can scatter all over the place.
I will take the example of football... consider a club like Real Madrid... they have had glory as high as noone else. But when the times are bad, they can be pathetic. If you can win 4-0 against good clubs, then that same system allows you to lose 4-0 against poor opposition.
I visualise it something like the difference between solids and liquids. A solid has a fixed shape.. that is a metaphor for a consistent result. A liquid doesn't have a fixed shape.. it can be streamlined into any formation.. but then it can scatter all over the place.
I will take the example of football... consider a club like Real Madrid... they have had glory as high as noone else. But when the times are bad, they can be pathetic. If you can win 4-0 against good clubs, then that same system allows you to lose 4-0 against poor opposition.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Killing the "Philosopher's Pain"
Even when you understand the value of discipline, it is still very difficult to implement all you know very well. This is the source of what I would like to call the "Philosopher's Pain", in that he knows what must be done but still cannot do it because he is weak. I can suggest two methods for this. One way is to throw yourself into the line of fire, where you have no option but to change. For example, joining the army. Now, there's no way out, and you have to discipline yourself. Another very good option never occurred to me until now...
Whenever you make a choice, ask yourself, "Did I choose this option so that it is easier and I don't have to move out of my zone of comfort?" If the answer is yes, and if you still have a choice, choose the harder option, where you will have to punish yourself. "Punish" is a term that I am using in a very different sense, of course. Even if you fail in the harder option, you have gained from within. You have become stronger, and that is all that matters.
Whenever you make a choice, ask yourself, "Did I choose this option so that it is easier and I don't have to move out of my zone of comfort?" If the answer is yes, and if you still have a choice, choose the harder option, where you will have to punish yourself. "Punish" is a term that I am using in a very different sense, of course. Even if you fail in the harder option, you have gained from within. You have become stronger, and that is all that matters.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Dealing with depression
There are times in our life when we really feel sick. There's nothing worth living for, and everything seems utterly boring and pointless. This is the best time for some introspection. It is also time to sit down and motivate yourself. As this is a low point, the only way you can go now is up! You are bound to rise to new heights, provided you don't lose hope. This is the start of the next big leap.
The bottom line is, believe in yourself. Believe in destiny. As I have earlier said, you cannot predict your own destiny, and so the only option is to live life as it comes. Take atleast some time alone. Sit on a deserted beach. The pieces will come together again, and you will be prepared to work once more.
The bottom line is, believe in yourself. Believe in destiny. As I have earlier said, you cannot predict your own destiny, and so the only option is to live life as it comes. Take atleast some time alone. Sit on a deserted beach. The pieces will come together again, and you will be prepared to work once more.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Poetry at War
Hello everybody, I know that I am posting after a long time, and I shouldn't do that, it doesn't make sense, I don't know, I don't have an excuse this time, I'm sorry, whatever.
I really don't know what to write, but as I have said before, if I don't write regularly, I'll never know what to write about.
The writing must be done,
Once the battle's begun,
Because it has to be won,
Else what's the fun?
Many have fallen, many have died,
They've had to go to the other side.
Was it their destiny, was it their sins,
Or was it the prophecy of the evil Kings?
Nobody knows, few bodies care,
Most of them cowards, they do not dare.
Caring to them is the biggest sin.
But without the caring, nobody wins!
Let go of your anger, let go of your swords,
Only loving will ever, bring rewards,
The war must be won, but not like this,
But with the compassion of a young child's kiss.
So let us begin, and once more rise,
But this time we use the beautiful device.
- Talented Idiot.
I really don't know what to write, but as I have said before, if I don't write regularly, I'll never know what to write about.
Poetry at War
The writing must be done,
Once the battle's begun,
Because it has to be won,
Else what's the fun?
Many have fallen, many have died,
They've had to go to the other side.
Was it their destiny, was it their sins,
Or was it the prophecy of the evil Kings?
Nobody knows, few bodies care,
Most of them cowards, they do not dare.
Caring to them is the biggest sin.
But without the caring, nobody wins!
Let go of your anger, let go of your swords,
Only loving will ever, bring rewards,
The war must be won, but not like this,
But with the compassion of a young child's kiss.
So let us begin, and once more rise,
But this time we use the beautiful device.
- Talented Idiot.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Creativity
There is a very fine line between chaos and creativity. Infact, creativity can be produced from chaos.
Ok. I've got a good idea. Our mind is like the surface of a lake, and thoughts are like stones thrown onto it. Now, when the mind is filled with thoughts, the surface is shattered and there are too many ripples coinciding with each other. Now, imagine a calm mind...a still surface. Now throw just one stone onto it... you get some beautiful ripples. This is creativity.
Now imagine a lake with many stones being thrown onto it.. too many ripples with no clear or beautiful effect. Just a big mess. This is chaos.
A thought free mind, when stimulated only to a certain degree, produces some amazing things, and we call it creativity. After some amount of stimulation, the creative capacity of the mind gets exhausted, after which it must be calmed down again. It is to be noted that a thought free mind can be produced by several methods, including drugs. However, very few of these methods are sustainable. Sustainable methods are methods that require discipline. And anyway, the concept of creativity is an inferior concept when compared to the concept of peace. In fact, creativity can be a product of peace, but it reduces the degree of peace.
Ok. I've got a good idea. Our mind is like the surface of a lake, and thoughts are like stones thrown onto it. Now, when the mind is filled with thoughts, the surface is shattered and there are too many ripples coinciding with each other. Now, imagine a calm mind...a still surface. Now throw just one stone onto it... you get some beautiful ripples. This is creativity.
Now imagine a lake with many stones being thrown onto it.. too many ripples with no clear or beautiful effect. Just a big mess. This is chaos.
A thought free mind, when stimulated only to a certain degree, produces some amazing things, and we call it creativity. After some amount of stimulation, the creative capacity of the mind gets exhausted, after which it must be calmed down again. It is to be noted that a thought free mind can be produced by several methods, including drugs. However, very few of these methods are sustainable. Sustainable methods are methods that require discipline. And anyway, the concept of creativity is an inferior concept when compared to the concept of peace. In fact, creativity can be a product of peace, but it reduces the degree of peace.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Cause and Effect
I do believe that we are victims of cause and effect, and that our choices are finally illusions. Because, even if one says that one can make good choices, it is finally an effect of the different influences one has. However, this has some implications:
Firstly, it means that one should always be very humble, even when one is very succesful, because one is only a victim of cause and effect.
Secondly, it does not mean that one must stop working hard for moving towards his goals, because even though you are a factor in the operations of the rule of cause and effect, you are still a factor in many other rules. Also, please don't let this theory de-motivate you!
Thirdly, the future still remains unpredictable because if you predict the future, your predictions will be the causes of some more effects, and therefore, your prediction is bound to be inaccurate. I think this phenomenon is a recognised scientific theorem in quantum theory.
Firstly, it means that one should always be very humble, even when one is very succesful, because one is only a victim of cause and effect.
Secondly, it does not mean that one must stop working hard for moving towards his goals, because even though you are a factor in the operations of the rule of cause and effect, you are still a factor in many other rules. Also, please don't let this theory de-motivate you!
Thirdly, the future still remains unpredictable because if you predict the future, your predictions will be the causes of some more effects, and therefore, your prediction is bound to be inaccurate. I think this phenomenon is a recognised scientific theorem in quantum theory.
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