My Readings in Life

Insights into my spiritual path

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Wed, 03 May 2017 02:46:00 +0000

A few asked me how to best become spiritual, so thought I'll share with wider audience what I told them. Here’s what I found to be most useful in my spiritual path:

Vipassana meditation camp for 10 days. You need to sit in the same pose on the floor for 1 hour at a stretch. Should go to the camp only after practicing this. I sit in vajrasana at home and office (yes! on the office chair) when I work on my laptop, usually in stretches of 45 mins – 1 hour. I do the meditation I practiced there, or on the mantra I was initiated into, by a different guru, whenever possible.
Chanting mantras, exercising as much lung capacity as possible. I feel the vibrations in my lungs and chest. The shortest mantra, “OM” chanted consciously, experiencing the vibrations of A-U-M in the Abdomen, Upper-trunk, and Mind has the most impact, so I do it 3-5 times every day. I by-hearted and chant pancha suktas including Rudram and Vishnu Sahasranama whenever possible, usually multi-tasking with household chores and previously, cooking. Here's the playlist containing my rendering of these timeless chants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp2tk4Emj14&list=PLrbG5zg_L7VJ0v0ixryfF09a3SkloUez2 and https://soundcloud.com/vishnupendyala
Reciting stotras silently in mind. Over the years, I by hearted a lot of them. I recite them in my mind when I drive or bike to work, when doing yoga, or when jogging or exercising on fitness machines.
Various Yoga asanas for 45 mins, when I don’t get sleep or 3 asanas for 10 mins every day. It takes me 2-3 minutes to recite Hanuman chalisa in mind and I do it in a handstand posture (Adho Mukha Vrksasana), using the support of the wall. Handstand asana should never be done alone, so I precede it with my version of the Uttanasana Asana and follow it with Setu Bandha Sarvangasana or my version of Halasan. I do the former reciting “OM” aloud and the latter, reciting silently in mind, Aditya Hrudayam along with a few other Sri Rama slokas.
Simple life style. Visiting places of worship, donating time and money to good causes, eating mostly unprocessed food, frugality, and spending a lot of time learning. When there are no parties or outside food, my diet in a day mostly comprises of a banana, an apple, half-cup nuts, and a small processed snack. For the last several years, I sleep on a sleeping bag on the floor and don’t remember buying shirts or pants or anything expensive for myself. I’ve been an enrolled student for 35 years. I go to office at least one day in a week on a $100 bicycle I bought in 2004 in Toys-R-Us. I visited almost all the major temples in the cities I visited and a lot of cathedrals in USA.
Scriptures. When I was preparing for my PhD prelims, a professor told us that reading any 100 pages from a 1300+ page big fat book is good enough to pass the exam on this subject. I think that applies to religion as well. Read any 100 or 200 pages from any scripture. It will transform you enough, if you start applying it in your life. For me, in spite of reading a lot of religious books and scriptures, the simple story of Lord Rama has been the most useful scripture. I seek solutions to every problem in that story and try to align with Sri Rama’s decisions. Of course, I’m in no way bestowed with the abilities of Sri Rama, so I take the readings from the story only as guidelines.

Intellect is a responsibility

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 22:03:00 +0000

Intellectuals must always remember that they are intellectuals and live up to the responsibility it confers. Suicide is wrong and not in the realm of scholarly outlook. Here's my published view on the research scholar's suicide in Hyderabad recently.

http://www.indiawest.com/letters_to_editor/sad-truth-behind-hyderabad-student-s-suicide/article_64cd3bae-cb9f-11e5-9aec-87316b989b26.html

VISHNU PENDYALA
SAN JOSE, Calif. — This refers to the leading news in India regarding the Hyderabad Central University research scholar’s suicide. It is indeed sad that the depth of knowledge and thought that is expected of a research scholar could not prevent the shallow thought of ending a life, that too, that of the scholar himself, from taking force.

If one believed that the state ending a terrorist's life is shameful, how shameful is it to end his own life? It’s unfortunate that the right kind of thought process did not prevail. It is even more unfortunate that no one who has been making news out of this mishap is able to realize or project this fundamental truth.

Back to the Future

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 08:00:00 +0000

Faith is Beyond All Reason and Logic. There is an increasing trend to reject what is not comprehensible through reason and of course to exploit what people can believe without reasoning. The former is often a counter-action against the latter. Both are unfortunate trends. History shows that many mistakes have happened because of these trends. There is a lot that cannot be readily comprehended using current logic and reasoning. Many years ago, people could not comprehend by reason that the earth is round or that man could travel beyond the earth. Similarly, some of the vision incorporated in the ancient scriptures is beyond our current reasoning abilities. Though technologically we are advancing towards that vision, we seem to be socially regressing from the same. That combination portends disaster because an immoral use of the all powerful technology can spell doom for humanity. Extending the theme of the movie, Interstellar, and assuming that the time is circular, the ancient scriptures like the Vedas are the legacy that our forefathers back in time left for us and the vision that our future progeny is constantly warning us about. Let's be conscious of the same. Happy New Year!

VEDA Calendar – A Priceless Service in the Honor of Time

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 00:36:00 +0000

Here's my preface on page 8 to the calendar at:

http://www.siliconvalleytemple.net/VEDACalender2014.pdf

Year after year, for the last 7 years, the temple’s unique calendar has been emerging as an integral part of devotees’ dinacharya. Albert Einstein proved to the world that the three dimensions of space and the 4th dimension of time are inseparable. The physical existence of the three dimensions of our body and mind are incomplete without the context of time. Time has some most powerful, divine properties, realizing which will have a great impact on the three dimensions of our physical existence. These properties are not too difficult to comprehend, but we still fail to see them because of the abstract nature of time. Instead, we get obsessed with the more perceptible three dimensions of our physical body.

Fortunately, religion helps here. Hinduism is full of deep knowledge that reveals itself only to the analyzing mind that’s in constant quest for truth. Truth is a matter of time. No lie can hide from time. As said in Bhagavad Gita, time is God Himself, who is the absolute truth. Truth is pure, which is beautiful (Satyam, Sivam, Sundaram). There is no death to Siva even when he drinks poison. Even Siva’s own power in Bhasmasura’s hands could not destroy Siva. That's the power of truth, purity, and inner beauty: Satyam, Sivam, Sundaram. The purity that loves even Bhasmasura; the truth that is accepted even when it is poison; the inner beauty that is conspicuous even when covered with ashes. The three never die. Take all yuga purushas (the person of the times) – Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, and Lord Buddha. We see these three qualities in abundance in them. Time imbibes all the three qualities into one who is in quest of these qualities.

The VEDA calendar, which incorporates the panchanga and various unique features, can be used as one of the tools for such a quest. It helps understand and practice the impact of time on life. This new year, let us resolve to bring about a paradigm shift – from our obsession with the destructible, physical self to a deep indulgence into the 4th dimension of us – the time. When we so indulge, we automatically do what the time likes and preserves – the good. We will also then perceive the energy or the life in us, which is indestructible like the time. Just like the principle of conservation of energy, I believe there is this principle of conservation of life. The energy in us, called the life, never dies, even when the body it takes on dies. It is this timeless, indestructible life in us that we need to get obsessed with – not the transient physical forms that it takes on. I earnestly believe and hope that the VEDA calendar is a great help to us in this lofty New Year resolution. Happy New Year and Happiness Always!

Happiness really depends on how we define it

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 19:10:00 +0000

Browsing through the weekend news stories, I feel like commenting on these two of huge significance:

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/livein-relationship-neither-a-crime-nor-a-sin-supreme-court/436693-3.html

Live-in relationship neither a crime nor a sin: Supreme Court

"Live-in relationship neither a crime nor a sin": Can the Hon'ble judges say the same thing to their daughters and reward them for that behavior? How about to their sisters? When they don't like to say that to their family members, why impose it on others' family? We care so much for material values - see how aggressively governments try to keep up the GDP, growth rate and other economic measures. Why then are we degrading moral values, which are much more important to survival? Marriage is a noble institution. Why is the law increasingly encouraging behaviors contradicting this institution?

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/justice-ganguly-named-by-law-intern-in-sexual-harassment-case/1201136/?SocialMedia

Justice Ganguly named by law intern in sexual harassment case

If the allegations are true, at a minimum, ALL judgments passed by the benches which comprised the Hon'ble Lord, particularly those concerning women must be thoroughly reviewed by a special bench. In that case, the country should also revisit how much supreme, unquestionable, and ultimate authority these fallible Lordships should be accorded.

People and the Public Poilicy

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 17:08:00 +0000

Having read some of the gotchas of the new Obamacare Health-law, one would wonder: If this is the fate of the American President's signature health-law, what would be the assessment for several other laws and their implementation? I think it is a reflection on the huge disconnect between the people reality and the public policy, the world over. That's why i tend to conclude that no amount of law or other social artifacts can substitute for the trust and living up to that trust to ensure universal well-being and fairness. We should improve the micro level, one-on-one interactions first than depending on law to reform the world. If Sociology progressed at the same pace as technology, we'd probably be having heaven on earth by now. - Vishnu Pendyala :)

Justice Miscarried

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sat, 09 Nov 2013 18:23:00 +0000

When people don't act in good faith the burden falls on proof, which is expensive and is often elusive. Justice gets miscarried like in the following case. A few years ago, San Jose Mercury News carried a series of articles on similar wronged convictions. This is the reason i said earlier on social media that: The paradox of law is that its spirit lies in good faith that is beyond proof, while its practice is deep rooted in proof. Vishnu Pendyala

Wrongly convicted man released after 34 years

Kali-fornia?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 01:29:00 +0000

I still wonder if Kaliyug will / has started in Cali-fornia – particularly for its contribution to the way the concept of family – the unit of civilization is being revolutionized and its protection of individual liberties, sometimes at the cost of common good. Congress enacted 366 Federal bills in 2009-2010, (source:

http://www.govtrack.us/blog/2011/08/04/kill-bill-how-many-bills-are-there-how-many-are-enacted/

whereas California introduced 869 bills containing the keyword ‘family’ alone during the same period (source: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html). More than a decade ago when I visited the CA State Capitol, we were told that 10,000 bills on an average are passed by the California legislature every year. I think it is mistake to solve every problem by passing (and then sometimes bypassing those laws). Law was never meant to be a silver bullet. Too many laws protecting individual liberties, encourage litigation. Litigious societies erode the precious values such as love, trust, and tolerance needed for universal welfare. As I said before, law starts where love ends. We should try to solve more problems by love than by law.

Temple Persona

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:42:00 +0000

Here’s my perspective on one of the roles that temples can play in our lives. It was published in the souvenir released today at the Inauguration of Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Devasthanam

“Deho Devalaya.” The Upanishads equate the body with the temple. This similarity can be interpreted in many ways. Just like the body provides us with many tools to live a rich and fulfilling life, the temple provides innumerable tools to live an enriching, complete life. One should practice the art of sensing the world through the organs of the temple, just like we practice the art we are born with, of sensing the world through the organs of the body. The religious teachings, the rituals, and the symbolisms that constitute the temple provide us with the right ways of sensing the world. For instance, take the most treasured sense of taste. Just like the body provides teeth, tongue, saliva and other artifacts to revel in this sense of taste, temple provides many ways to appreciate this same sense.

While the body provides those artifacts to cherish the senses in the very basic plane of existence – the bottom most slice of Maslow’s pyramid, the temple provides ways and means to enjoy the senses at the highest plane of happiness. What we eat in the temple, called the Mahaprasadam, is respected as the God Himself. "Annam parabrahma swaroopam" – food is a manifestation of God, claim our scriptures. Temple teaches us to devour food as if it were divine. Temple food is deliberately rich and delicious - not to be hogged and consumed to satisfy a basic need, but to be enjoyed as a divine blessing at a much higher plane.

When we see divinity in the objects of desire like food and opposite sex, the lowly basic need that lets the senses loose, transforms into a want of the higher plane of love and devotion. The female form of God is revered at the highest level in the temple, as Adi Parashakti – the ultimate power behind the entire creation. When we imbibe the temple’s ritual to revere the female form as the most powerful, our basic instincts give way to discretion and devotion. Vijaya Dasami or Dasara as it is popularly called is one of the most celebrated festival in the temple and is devoted entirely to the worship of the female form.

Vijaya Dasami, means Victorious 10^th (day). My interpretation of Vijaya Dasami, however, is Victory over the ten senses. The festival symbolizes the destruction of tamo guna that feeds into the senses. What is the most tempting sensation to a man, that even sage Viswamitra, with his severe penance and determination, could not overcome? It is the female form. What better entity can we propitiate to conquer this sensation than the female form of divinity itself? When I was small, my grandmother used to call Dasara as an essentially boys' festival and always insisted that I celebrate it as much as I can - wear new clothes and recite hymns in praise of the goddesses, at least. I didn't understand then, but it does make sense now. Not that only boys need to conquer the ten senses, but they do need it more, at least in this context.

“Bhadram Karnebhih Shrinuyama Devah” - Oh God, may we hear Good with our ears, proclaim the invocation in Mandukya Upanishad that is often recited in the temple. “Bhadram Pashyema-Akssabhir” comes next - May we See with our Eyes what is Auspicious. Those are the best ways to utilize the hearing and visual senses. Temples help us do that – we hear only good in the temple and see only that is auspicious. With practice, we can do the same everywhere else – hear only good and see only auspicious ignoring all the rest.

Another claim from the same Mandukya Upanishad is: “Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavati” - One who knows God becomes One with It. If we contemplate on God at all times, trying to know and experience Him and His qualities, like in the various sahasranama recited at the temple, we will become one with Him. Then, as said in the Narada Bhakti Sutras, “Tasmin Tajjane Bheda Abhavaat” - there is no difference between the God and his devotees. That is why, the Manu Samhita says, “Krante Vishnum” - Contemplate on God (Vishnu) in your every step. The temple inculcates this habit.

The “Deho Devalaya” aphorism can be given another interpretation. Like all rivers flow into the ocean, the temple that the body is, is always longing to submerge into the Devalaya, the temple. “Jivo Brahma Sanatana” – the indweller in the body is God, is the next part of the aphorism. Food, a form of God does not fulfill its raison d’etre until it submerges into the God in the body. Similarly, the temple that the body is, does not realize its true purpose until it dissolves in the purity of the Devalaya, the temple.

The serene vibrations of the mantras (man-tra: that which rescues the mind) recited in the temple purify the mind and body. How do we react when we see a long lost friend after many years? How about when we hear our dearest song – a bhoole bisre geet - that we grew up with? Our heart jumps with joy. That is exactly what happens to our eons old soul when we hear the ancient mantras that have been in existence for almost as long as our souls. Even some 3-year-old kids recognize the mantras wherever they are played, as “those recited in the temple.” It goes to prove that their soul is well acquainted with them. Recognizing those sounds would not have otherwise been possible at such a young age and in such a short period without the “Poorva Janma Vasana Balam”.

Participating in the Siva Abhishekam on Monday evenings and reciting Rudram and other suktas along with the priests is one of the most treasured activities that I look forward to, in my weekly routine. Seeing the pleasant personalities of the idols, priests and devotees makes me forget all the stress and unwind. We never see an angry or upset face in the temple. Temple automatically stimulates pleasantness, which then becomes contagious. We are very fortunate to have the temple in the heart of Silicon Valley under the stewardship of the highly learned Sri Marepalli Naga Venkata Shastri garu. To the devoted, the temple makes every day a festival and every routine, a ritual.

It is not spirituality if its experience does not create happiness. Temple helps experience the happiness of spirituality. The depth of a religion is unfathomable to those who never see beneath the rituals it prescribes. Temple helps fathom the depth. I made temple an integral part of my daily life and hope you will too.

Firm Faith in Future

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sat, 25 May 2013 19:35:00 +0000

When the child knows that her parents will relieve her from a hurtful situation, her pain is so much reduced. When the employee believes that his management understands and protects him and his job from unreasonable treatment or untruthful complaints, he will not get affected by team politics. When spouses understand that they have each other at all times to protect and care, they are so much better as persons. So, what is helping in all these situations? It is their firm faith in future. When we know that time will eventually solve all our problems and time will like only what is good, our restlessness disappears. When every calamity is viewed as a small disturbance in the eventual calm and serene existence, life feel so much better and we are in better control of ourselves. When we know that there is a supernatural power that no other power can overpower, which takes care of us in the very long run spanning eons, we have nothing that can be allowed to possess us. We are then in our own control. Anyone familiar with the Greedy Algorithm can quickly realize that worrying about daily happenings without a vision of the ultimate future that is no different from the God, is indeed greedy and in all likeliness, less optimal. Suffering stems from the self, external happenings are only excuses for our ignorance.

Monetizing Relationships

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 01:49:00 +0000

Every relationship comes with a moral obligation. The trend has been that if that moral obligation is not being met, the obligor is made to pay in lieu of the obligation. So, instead of taking care of the elderly parents, citizens started contributing to the common pool called Social Security. If a husband was not caring for his family, either due to adultery, desertion or both, he was made to pay alimony and child support. If a losing employer isn't able to take care of its employees, they normally offer a severance. So far, the trend of monetarily compensating for a broken relationship makes sense. But the latest turn that the trend took, i think is certainly a cause for concern.

Now, not only is the obligor made to pay when s/he is at fault, but also when there is "no fault" on his or her part - essentially paving way for monetizing the most sacred spousal relationship that is so crucial for civilization to prosper. So, a conniving obligee spouse can essentially trick someone into marriage, spend a few years getting whatever he or she can from the marriage and when the balance just starts to tilt towards the benefits from a separation than staying in a marriage, invoke the privilege of a legal separation. Cleverer are those who would want the money, freedom, and other benefits from a legal separation (or from a "settlement" from criminal case in India) and still would want to enjoy the benefits of a marriage to an unsuspecting, loving, and caring spouse. Sounds unbelievable, but yes, there are such ambitious entrepreneurs of marriage.

The trend has now come to the extent of monetizing spousal, employee and child / parent relationships. But there are many other relationships, which also come with an obligation, though not as significant as spousal or child-parent obligations. For instance, in Indian culture, a brother is bound to entertain and provide some comforts to his sister's family. When i was young, my paternal aunt's entire family used to stay in our home for months at a time. In spite of the problems with them, we all loved it, assuming that it was my father's duty to support them. The time seems to have come now, when the obligations started to contend with each other. "If your sister's family stays even a day more, i'm out of here!" or "You want to lose me for your mother who will die in a few days?" don't sound unfamiliar any more. If the sisters' leagues were as strong as spousal leagues, we probably may have had laws for "sister support" by now. But alas, the issue hasn't been as significant (yet).

What's next? We already heard of the news when subscribers dumped friends on facebook for a whopper. The trend is really catching up. Soon one day, we may have systems and laws monetizing every relationship and possibly the obligations that the relationships entail, relieving, for instance, a neighbor of the obligation to give a ride to the doctor, a relative of the obligation of taking care of someone unwell, and so on. With a law being framed for every little forceful outburst from a section of society, laws may soon replace love on earth, as if money is what will remain forever.

I sincerely hope that the world will start realizing that law is not a silver bullet. Love is. Just that making a law is far more easier than fostering love at such a large scale. But the latter is not impossible either. In my younger days in India, a common man hardly encountered law. Even today, laws do not seem to be having as much impact in India as they should, because people still go by their heart when doing things, until of course, they discover the law on their side.

Passion is like a Steroid - Powerful, Possessive, and Perverting

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 06:27:00 +0000

Only dispassionate excellence can sustain in the long run. Passion consumes its wielder. It takes over. A passionate person is no longer in control of things. When i first talked not so encouragingly about passion, my learned audience were very skeptical. Everywhere it is said that we need passion in our life and work. So, why would anyone say anything negative about such as fundamental ingredient of success? If we look more closely, passion may be able to help us get great results. But it can also mislead. It can cause anger, lust, and other social evils. It is the root of the arishadvargas.

When i casually talked about this with one of my marketing colleagues, he said, "I can't imagine anyone selling anything without passion." I reminded him about the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita that the majority of the world bought into. Did Jesus Christ or Sri Krishna exhibit any passion when they preached the holy texts? Knowledge dissolves all passion and drives action - should not be the other way round.

Sin Eventually Crushes the Forbearing Entity

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 03:54:00 +0000

I was reading a forwarded mail, incorrectly attributed to Bill Cosby:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/imtired.asp
and decided to write this. I think we don't have to wait to be 83 or 76 to see some truth in it. Life is certainly not fair. We have the Karma theory extending beyond the current life or the concept of God to take the unfairness in our stride. But we can still help it to some extent.

As more and more bad behaviors are accommodated into the daily living, we may think that we are helping a section of the society to gain their freedom. But eventually, living, on an average becomes increasingly difficult. Take the instance of marriage, which is so fundamental to civilized living. Many bad behaviors, such as adultery, greed, sloth, and most of the other deadly sins got accommodated into the divorce laws, either directly ("no-fault", irreconcilable differences) or indirectly (through distorted implementation / interpretation of the law). The whole idea of making money from a marriage after indulging in one or more of the deadly sins and still gaining freedom from the responsibility of the marital bonds is ill-conceived.

Trust can easily be broken and still the person breaking the trust immensely benefits from the law. The result? More and more marriages have been breaking, more and more children are growing up in sub-optimal circumstances, possibly leading to substance abuse. An Internet search for "marriage rates" shows how much it is declining and the subsequent ill-effects. We are increasingly finding both men and women opting not to marry or have children or both. So, the tolerance we are showing towards certain bad behaviors seem to be actually destroying the institution of marriage itself. The joint-family is almost dead now and family is following that path.

The society and the lawmakers seem to be caring more for sensual freedom. Ancient wisdom made it very clear that sensual freedom leads to misery. We should do only that which is right for the world, not that which satisfies our senses. Unfortunately, the society seems to be rapidly moving towards sensual, material freedom, forgetting the real meaning of freedom. Movies, TV, and media are increasingly glorifying what was once considered crime, illegal or unethical. Only when the leaders are determined to preserve the real meaning of freedom, can they ensure real happiness to the masses. Freedom of the senses is bondage of the mind and soul. Only when the senses are bounded by determination and will, will the mind and soul be free. - Vishnu Pendyala

Retaliation is an Animal Instinct

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 22:58:00 +0000

The Goddess of wealth (metaphor for qualities that get you wealth), Lakshmi asks the devil of poverty (vices that lead to poverty) to stay outside the home until the latter mends her ways. In retaliation, the devil shouts at Goddess to "get out" when the Goddess is visiting, not realizing that she's the one who is losing. That summarizes retaliation. Retaliation is mindless - like all other sensual instincts, and can be worse than similar instinct stimulated crimes such as rape and rage.

Retaliation is a much bigger problem than it appears. Most of the crimes are indeed a result of retaliation. Unfortunately, it is not as cognizable by the current law as other crimes such as rape and rage. A spouse points out some serious shortcomings that need to be corrected by the other spouse. The latter, in retaliation, separates, breaches trust in as many ways as possible and does as much damage as legally possible under the law. The latter's retaliatory actions are not even cognizable under the "no-fault," accommodating law. A family is literally killed by these retaliatory actions and it is perfectly legal. We hear of police getting killed by criminals they arrest, purely in retaliation. Police did their duty, but there is no reason for the criminal to kill them other than for retaliation. Fortunately, this killing is cognizable by law, but not the killing of the unit of civilization that the family stands for.

The instinct to retaliate or serve tit for tat is only skin deep and animalistic. A deeper insight will reveal that the cause for the original action is no longer applicable at the time of retaliation, so an equivalent counter-action is not justified. Correct solution is to address the cause for the original action. If the cause is unjustified, address that one too, but do not retaliate by yielding to instincts without a deeper thought. The more the number of times these instincts show-up, the greater is the attachment to body and the happenings associated with it, the greater is the pain and the harder it becomes to self-control.

Happy Vijaya Dasami

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 02:37:00 +0000

అందరికీ విజయదశమి శుభాకాంక్షలు

Festive wishes to all of you on the happy occasion of Vijaya Dasami, which means Victorious 10th. My interpretation of Vijaya Dasami, however, is Victory over the 10 senses. The festival symbolizes the destruction of tamo guna that feeds into the senses. What is the most tempting sensation to a man (these days, to some women as well), that even sage Viswamitra, with his severe penance and determination, could not overcome? It is the female form. What better entity can we propitiate to conquer this sensation than the female form of divinity itself?

When i was small, my grandmother used to call Dasara as an essentially boys' festival and always insisted that i celebrate it as much as i can - wear new clothes and recite hymns in praise of the goddesses, at least. i didn't understand then, but it does make sense now. Not that only boys need to conquer the 10 senses, but they do need it more, at least in this context :).

Durga, the goddess who is worshiped for the festival, means unattainable - cannot be reached. As long as we have a terrestrial form, absolute victory over the senses is unattainable. But the festival symbolizes the goal that we should try to achieve, even if it is unattainable in this birth. It reminds us of the need to keep trying to detach from worldly matters by practice, devotion and dispassion.

When we see divinity in the objects of desire like food and opposite sex, the lowly basic need that lets the senses loose, transforms into a want of the higher plane of love and devotion. Festive food is deliberately rich and delicious - not to be hogged and consumed to satisfy a basic need, but enjoyed as a divine blessing at a much higher plane. Easier said than done though, but worth every minute of trying.

Investing Irresponsibly is a Sin

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:20:00 +0000

I'm sure your first reaction would be: why will anyone spend hard-earned money irresponsibly? Think again. Who were the investors into the recent rave parties in India? Using "My son", "My sister", "My caste" as the only criterion to give money is hardly exercising responsibility. Consequences must be thoroughly thought out before investing. The investment could ruin a life, a family, or an entire social fabric. Abetting is often not punished enough. But in cases such as this, most or all of the fault lies with the investors and they are not even touched by the law. When a sin goes unpunished in a court of law, inheritance, like in Object Oriented Programming sets in and will be punished in the court of God. Hopefully, perpetrators will realize by then.

In a sense, the law regarding child support is flawed in this respect. It requires the non-custodial parent to pay significant support amount, but does not give any responsibility on how the money is used. Freedom away from the responsibilities of marriage is, IMHO, indeed taking its toll on future generations. Hope the world will realize the impact sooner or later.

The longer one is in denial of the truth, the more fiercely does it surface

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 02:12:00 +0000

The story of Hiranyakashyap sort of indicates this. He eventually had to face God that he denied for so long, in His fiercest forms. My paternal uncle who passed away this week used to say that truth is like fire. Any number of rugs will not be able to hide it. I spent very little time with this paternal uncle and that too when i was little. But i remember almost every word that he said. He used to say, "We pendyalas never bowed down to injustice or let go our values and never should we." There were times when he was in dire poverty. Even then, he brought-up his 5 daughters with dignity and never asked for any favors from anyone. From what i heard about him, he lived up to his own lofty ideals till his last breath. Rest In Peace, Peddananna!

Suffering does not stop until we get to the Truth

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 04:14:00 +0000

A patient has fever, headache, fatigue, indigestion, and some other symptoms. Doctor starts treating them one after the other. Will the patient's suffering stop? It won't, until the doctor discovers the ultimate truth that is causing all these symptoms and addresses it. It could be cancer or it could be something else. Same goes for everything else. Suffering of the world will not stop until the ultimate truth is known. World becomes a better place as more and more truths are discovered and inventions are developed based on these truths. But the suffering still does not stop until the ultimate truth is discovered and addressed.

While, this being the case, imagine the foolishness of people who live in falsehood, let alone discover new truths. No one can save them from suffering. They will continue to move from one disaster to another, avoiding one at a time, by cheating, lying, working around the problem. It is never a good idea to associate with such people either, because they will need and rope-in whomever they can to support them to live in the virtual life of lies and deception.

Suffering indeed does not stop until we get to the Truth. - Vishnu Pendyala

Ignorance is always our best Weapon against Unwanted Influences and People

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 02:46:00 +0000

Happiness is what we think it is. Each one's definition of Happiness is different, until they discover and convince themselves that the real happiness is within and discard the dependence on external stimuli to be happy or sad. The discovery is a long journey though. In the process, one needs to constantly redefine happiness and retrain the mind to loosen the grip of external happenings on the mind and body. Age of course helps with this, but determination helps the most. Basic needs should probably the first to lose their impact on us. Gradually give up the craving for meats, sweets, and snacks. We ignore so many things in life and finally, but most often suddenly, we ignore everything when we die. The detachment should not be sudden, however. In olden days, sages used to prefer getting buried alive. That clearly shows how detached they were with their body and how much they ignored external pleasure or pain. For them, detachment has been gradual and complete to the extent that even death did not matter. To experience the happiness within, ignorance is always our best weapon against unwanted, ephemeral influences. Vishnu Pendyala

If Motivation is like Fire, Complacency is Water that puts it out

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 01:54:00 +0000

I was reading a forwarded mail containing an eyewitness account of the Ramlila grounds episode against corruption. It is sad that even such a momentum and public sentiment gathered over the years could not achieve its goal against corruption. Someday, hopefully, it will. Punishing a handful and passing a "weak" lokpal bill is a good beginning, but hardly matches the magnitude of the problem or the movement against it. What is even more deplorable are the efforts to curb people's voice. Let's see who finally wins in a land where the common man eventually prevailed whenever the question really raised its head.

Aggression is the most Expressive Sign of the Weak...

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:57:00 +0000

...and dealing with aggression, living, and letting others live in peace is the least expressive sign of the strong. Religion confirms this - Jesus Christ or Lord Srirama showed no signs of aggression at any time and were at peace even when dealing with aggression. When do people become aggressive? When they sense there is something lacking that they want to achieve. They want to stretch themselves to achieve it. They want to overpower others to achieve it. Why will anyone want to overpower others if they are powerful themselves and realize it? To the really powerful, it is like adding a drop to the ocean. When do people get angry? When they lack the stamina to deal with the issue with what they are naturally endowed with. So, they realize the need to stretch themselves, thereby exposing, what else - their weakness. A kid once asked me why a lady nearby was shouting so angrily. To make him understand in his own words, i asked him what he does when he is holding his urine for a long time. He said he'll keep jumping, running or even shouting. That's what she is doing, i told him, until she gets rid of that something undesirable she's carrying inside. So, when someone is angry, we should understand that they, like the kid holding pee, need to relieve themselves and help with it sympathetically, if we can, rather than counter with more aggression.

New Year Resolution

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:47:00 +0000

Someone forwarded me an e-mail from Sri. V.V.RAO,National coordinator VeTA Convener, Election Watch A.P, Convener, Social audit council on information Right, Coordinator, Forum for intellectual initiative -Hyderabad. I'd summarize it in one word: detachment. When we are detached and unaffected by material happenings, what remains inside is the blissful nature of the soul. A good, but very tough resolution for the new year. Happy New Year!

Indian Woman-Sarpanch dazzles at UN meet

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:26:00 +0000

There is news like this and there is news (and no news) about horrible crimes on innocent women. Unless women can feel completely safe living in the country, these news may not make a big difference. For that, as a starting point, we need an honest and capable legal machinery, which can truly distinguish good from the bad in its full depth. Only then will the evil fear it and the innocent will not fear approaching it.

"Samatvam aradhanam achyutasya" - Vishnu Purana (1.17.90)
(The perception of equality of all beings is the worship of God, Achyuta)

Dennis Ritchie

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:35:00 +0000

To say just one thing, his creations - Unix & C breathed life into thousands or may be millions of careers, including mine. May his soul RIP and may there be many more such Dennis's with the passage of time.

Dasara Greetings

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 05:13:00 +0000

Every festival brings us the fond hope that good will eventually win over evil.

Wishing you all and all yours, a very happy and purifying Dasara Festival!

May Godess Durga give us all strength to wade away from all durgathis,

dukhas, durmargas, dushtas, and dusthithis.

"जातवेदसे सुनावामा सोमा मरती यतो निधाहधि वेदः ,
सा न पर्शदाथी दुर्गानी विश्वा नावेव सिन्धुम दुरिथाथ्यग्नी" [From दुर्गा सूक्तं ]

Meaning: Our oblations to the all knowing, the one who can destroy
all those who do not like us, May that divine fire lead us out of all perils,
Like a captain takes the ship across the sea (Sindhum),
And also save us from all wrongs. [From the Internet]

[Destruction above may mean to convert them into people who like us -

does not necessarily imply any violence]

Hinduism teaches to see and revere God in masculine, feminine, animal, and all living forms as well. Vishnu Pendyala