The Lawn ++

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:03:00 +0000

Just like the tree which is a symbol for the enormous diversity in plant life spread out all over the world in the same way, culture defines a community’s identity.

Join Basil as he explores Pakistan’s diverse culture through the eyes of the different communities spread out across this wonderouds nation and helps promote a postive image about his homeland, PAKISTAN.

JOIN now to support his cause!

Religious Freedom

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:07:00 +0000

It’s been a long time since I've posted anything here but during the time of my last post and today, I've made many observations, conclusions and restructuring of many ideas. One of them was about freedom more specifically, religious freedom.

It’s a touchy topic to discuss about in this day and age even though we have the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion. Anyways, I'm not writing this to talk about those two topics, this post is about why freedom of religion.

Religion is many things to many people; it’s a way of life, a strengthening source to a higher power, our guide in times of difficulty and so on and so forth. It also means that each individual has the right to profess and practice the faith he believes in with respect to the community he belongs to and it also means that the individual can and has the right to pursue a different path in religion. Yes, I am talking about dissension in non-violent terms. Everyone does have the right to pursue a different path towards religious enlightenment after all we are conscious beings. Let me make this clear though that this pursuance of another path must be non-violent and shouldn’t be degenerative to the self. In many cases it’s more about personal satisfaction, mostly when you are searching for answers to questions that have sprung from deep down within one’s soul.

There's another aspect to this, a different path at times leads to new thoughts and ideas, something essential if we are needed to progress as a society and handle the challenges of the future. The time up till now is where we have substantially evolved physically but not mentally. We still have traits left over from our ancestors; the first modern humans. The time now and ahead is more about our mental and spiritual advancement and one of the star points of the human mind is that it has developed significantly enough but the potential to cross that barrier and enter the new age of thought still remains. Freedom of thought and religion go hand in hand, the future remains to be seen if we can use them well so that we can transition over to the next stage of mental evolution.

Pakistan’s water woes- BLOG ACTION DAY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0000

Water, the source of life and livelihood for millions is quickly becoming a commodity in third-world countries. Pakistan being one of them, water availability to each person per capita is steadily decreasing. Unchecked population growth and lack of reservoirs are the major factors behind this decrease but climate change is also creeping into the picture. From too dry to too wet weather patterns, the Pakistani climate is slowly but surely taking the unpredictable path.

Water pollution is the other aspect that is directly and indirectly affecting the health of people who live along the river banks as well as the ecosystem it houses.

The social implications are huge as water availability for each individual diminishes. The Indus River is a source of livelihood for more than a million people who live along its banks. Farming is their main source of income and that is under threat. If the farm yield decreases so will their income. More so, other than farming, they have no other skills to generate some kind of revenue. They are practically poor and do not own anything. The recent floods are a testament to the fact that climate change is rearing its ugly head and the floods have devastated the lives of millions and the long-term rehabilitation of the people will take months. As is common in third-world countries where resources “seem” scarce, the efficient use and collection of safe potable water rarely meets the priorities of the government of the day. That said, organizations like the UN, Oxfam, UNICEF, seem to be the only respite for the people. If it weren’t for them, there would have been a huge amount of social chaos.

Lastly, water pollution and the greater environmental degradation- a topic rarely given importance in this ill-fated country, remains unchecked. Industries situated along the rivers conveniently dump their waste (some of them toxic) in to the waters adding to the misery of the locals (including increasing health risks) and destroying the ecosystem that is yet to be fully studied.

The effective use of water, which if left unregulated, will soon make it a commodity accessible to those who can afford it. Not to mention that access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right. We mustn’t forget that preservation is the key for a sustainable future for the future generations. It would be selfish if we do not save it so that they too can enjoy the life that we have with the present supply of water. Use it well, every drop counts!

15th of Oct, is Blog Action Day organized by change.org. Please support their cause by donating.

Journey to Thatta- A contemplation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 08:54:00 +0000

During my recent visit to Thatta where I along with a few volunteers (from St.Patrick’s parish) went to deliver the relief goods for the flood victims, I realized I needed a deep introspection of where I stand, where most of us stand...

We cry and complain a lot about how our lives are not so perfect; we demand/crave for things that in many cases we don’t need. Seldom do we realize that in this varied world of ours, there are people who can't have or have no knowledge about the things that we keep demanding. We are quick to realize this point but it lasts for a few moments and then the focus is back to our domain and we’re back in our “demanding mode”. It is human nature to aspire to want more and we compare ourselves to people who are privileged, those who have been financially blessed but sometimes it would be better if we compared ourselves with those who aren’t fortunate enough, those who don’t even have the basic necessities of life (food, water, shelter, security). If we could do that every day of our lives our own souls will find that peace that is so desperately needed.

Another fact that must be mentioned is that our constant demanding is constraining already scarce resources which include food as well. One of the factors for the general rise in food prices is that overall consumption has increased without more land being cultivated to meet the new demand, couple this with climate change and irregular weather patterns and overall yield is further declining and that has further driven up prices of essential commodities making it more difficult for those who already cannot meet the costs and adding more people to the list who find it more troublesome to make ends meet.

That wall steadily grows which divides the rich and the poor and resentment grows deeper each day. Visualize this, a daily wage worker has to walk every day to work and on his way he must read the number of ads for all-you-can-eat buffets and discounted meals. The previous day his children have had only one meal. Think about what must be going through his mind? Add opportunists and troublemakers and you have the right conditions for a bloody revolution. We believe that we are equals but why this inequality, a man-made anomaly?

Lucid Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:09:00 +0000

Our dreams are a reflection of our lives. Emotions, our fears and insecurities, our aims, our inner most desires and our longing of something that our souls desire
define our dreams.
The kind of dreams are also affected by our activities before going to bed. Horror movies, the type and the amount of food we eat also affect the dreams we dream. But with added humor we can have the strangest dreams. Of chickens taking over the world to other weirder stuff I do not wish to mention, it's amazing how our brains can cook up all of this is just evident of how complex our brains are and where we have yet to unleash its maximum potential.

Lucid dreaming is one such art where you are aware that you are dreaming inside your dreams. This gives you total control of how and what you are dreaming about turning your dream in to your own virtual reality. Conquer fears, experience revelations, understand a problem or simulate your wildest of fantasies and desires. Your imagination is the limit.
Although I do not blog on such topics the occasion called for such a post. If you have ever experienced the state of being conscious during your dreams and has simulated one's own reality please share it here. In the end whatever the dreams are and however strange or impossible they are, it's up to the person to interpret what he/she has seen, it might be indicative of one's soul's need or crave for something.

Of Spirituality

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:22:00 +0000

I have always felt that there is more to the religions we practice. I strongly believe that the culture of a region heavily influences the religion practiced by the people. Overtime the basic doctrine of the faith remains the same but the people begin to interpret it according to their environment and it becomes so firmly embedded in the psyche of the people that attempts to question some beliefs are swiftly hushed up...
This is not to say what you or I practice is something questionable, I believe the faith that you or anybody else for that matter believes in, is none of my concern. But the need always arises when we begin to fundamentally question our purpose of existence. I feel sometimes that I need to strip myself of all my religious beliefs and experience spirituality, naturally, to know that purpose. I wonder if I wasn't trained with the doctrine that my family belongs to but rather instilled with strict ethical values and encouraged to seek ethereal knowledge by observing my surroundings i.e. nature, the stars, and enter the metaphysical world to understand the secret of life. At times, you just can't stop wondering how did all this happen-the spawning of life. It is so vast, delicate and diverse that it becomes incomprehensible.
There has to be a natural, non-religious explanation as to the cause of this creativity and I intend to find out someday...

Flood Relief Supplies Needed!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:31:00 +0000

As the flood waters recede the misery of the people will not end. They have lost all their belongings and have to start from scratch. Right now, their immediate need is clean drinking water, medical supplies and non-perishable food items. Below is a list of all essential items that are needed URGENTLY...

FOOD ITEMS

Liquid Milk (with a sufficient expiry date)
Dates
High Nutrition Biscuits
Tea, Sugar, Milk Powder, Vegetables, pulses, spices, rice, flour
Mineral Water & Water for washing purposes.

NON-FOOD ITEMS

Water Coolers
Cooking Utensils
Footwear for children
Mosquito Nets
Blankets
Bedspreads/Bedsheets
Sleeping mats
Tents
Plastic tarpaulins

PERSONAL HYGIENE KIT

Soap
Hand towels
Tooth brushes and tooth pastes
female sanitary pads
diapers/pampers
washing powder/soap

MISC

ORS
Mosquito repellants
Prickly Heat powder
Anti rash powder for children
Water purification tablets
Candles & Matches
Torches

You can drop of these supplies with me (contact me at basilandrews2@gmail.com) or for those of you who know Mr. Jeremy Nazareth, you can drop it off at his place too. The donations will be forwarded to the flood camp setup at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Be generous in donating as the victims are in dire need of our help. Picture yourself in their shoes to help you understand what they're going through.

14th August: Soul Searching Needed

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:23:00 +0000

I write on the eve of this year's independence. Although the present state of the country does not call for celebrations because of the devastating floods, I'd like to provoke some soul searching in relation to the day...

Pakistan-the beautiful is right now is at her most critical juncture in history. The floods have just exacerbated the extent of the severity of this juncture. Never in this country's history has it ever faced such widespread destruction and this is the moment when we have to rise to the occasion and help in any way possible. Apart from this we are gradually losing the soul of this nation. We are slowly blinding ourselves to the plight of individuals around us. We don't react when our freedom and rights are trampled on. The question arises, have we become so cold. We remain silent when communities are attacked for their religious beliefs. Our politicians fear reprisals and are cowed down into openly condemning such incidents. We say the Quaid, Mr. Jinnah is the founder of this great nation yet we cannot follow his principles that were laid in clear terms in his speech to the First Constituent Assembly on 11th Aug, 1947. The question we should ask ourselves is , what would we do if we placed ourselves in the victims shoes or simply perceive yourself in that person's position. Think about it, we need to go down deep into the cold vaults of our souls and regenerate the warmth and enlighten our minds. We need to look beyond the veil to reach that level of intellectual state where our petty and minor differences don't mean anything and collectively work to make better the lives of the unfortunate and the helpless . Positivity and creativity is the desperate need of this nation. Can we achieve that state of mind?

As I conclude these lines, I am receiving text messages with Independence wishes. I ask myself are we really independent when we have become prisoners of our own minds ? But I am optimistic that we will finally see the light. That's the hidden power in us as human beings.

Happy Independence Day to all. On this day please find the time to look deep within one's soul to become human once again.

Rain, Rain, Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:55:00 +0000

I don't know what it is about rain, especially in Karachi but it has a certain charm to it. Today while travelling to university, the thing that caught my eyes was the greenery that...

just jumps back to life. YES, Karachi, where thick covers of trees are a scarcity. On regular days, you see the same old, dull, smoggy and dusty Karachi. When the heavens burst open Karachi just transforms into this eye-catchy green, dust and smoke free city. Even the buildings are pleasing to look at unlike on other days. Sometimes, I think that it's not, more greenery that's needed; I think we need more rain. Not a lot of it but something like a periodical burst of shower to wash away all that dust and let our eyes feast the landscape. I guess that is but wishful thinking, something that entirely depends on weather patterns. If we really want to see green our best bets is to have as many parks and trees in open spaces and preserve the ones that already exist so that next time it rains we can indulge in one of nature’s many works of art.