Posted on: June 17, 2008 - 1:47 am
Prateeksha, Mumbai June 16/17, 2008 12:36 am
Is not being kind and good, the truth of life ? I was always taught to believe that. Many feel it is quite the opposite. Kindness and goodness are not the truths of life they say. In today’s world if you exhibit kindness it is meant to signify that there is a deeper motive hidden behind. If you are being good it is with purpose.
The purity of deed conducted in a realm that breathes unselfish air, has been tainted. Now perhaps for life.
No longer does there exist a desire to believe and trust with immeasurable faith. The ways of modern life and living have been bludgeoned into by suspect behavior .
Because there is scant respect for honesty in a corrupt society, it has taken a comfortable and lazy seat at the back of the hall. When one is exposed to such impurity, one becomes firm in belief that that is normal and correct behavior. In a society closed and cocooned within its own thinking, there is ever hardly an effort or desire to explore fresh terrain. Some elder or experienced individual, who may have gained faith not entirely because of his current deeds, will become the voice of all reason and decision. His presence amongst others or to the world, then carries different and more severe connotations.
Why does one individual come with a preconceived agenda. Why does he question or put doubts into those minds that may have never faced questioning. Is someone’s intent written on their foreheads. Many question that and say that it is and indeed have capacity to read it. Surely that would require some basic intellect. Is basic intellect always impure and corrupt.
I ponder a lot over some of these issues when I notice humans and their behavior. What a great deal of negativity must be utilized to continuously consider evil manipulation and thought. One evil thought would require endless amounts of energy and strength. Would it not serve better purpose if that energy were to be gifted, wrapped in endless reams of good natured paper.
Is it not right to follow the right path. Or is the left better. Would such indulgence cause you to be left behind.
Why hate on perception. Or is perception the better life. Why judge a state when its reality does not require judgement. Can opinion be formed from what I know from others. Does it not encourage greater pollution.
How does a mind function in such circumstances, or does it not need to. Why does the polluted minds of others disturb the purity of your own. This percentage is small. Small percentages are often close to extinction. Are some of us on the verge of extinction. Would that not be a sad day in the life of normal mortals. Mortals who claim their existence has all along been subjected to only the purity and compassion expected of them.
Who then wins, or does it not matter.
Amitabh Bachchan
Beautiful Thought sir. The more I read your blog the more I feel pure, blessed and cherish each and every moment I spend here
God Bless You Always.
Love
Mayur
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When we conduct our deeds, if we are pure of heart and really do not have other intentions; then we should not worry about others views or judgements.
In sikhi we have seva - selfless service.
As long as YOU know and God knows who and what you are, then all else means nothing.
This Shabad is by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Salok Sehshritee on Pannaa 1356
iqrskwr nh BvMiq nh BvMiq mwn BMgnh ]
thirasakaar neh bhava(n)th neh bhava(n)th maan bha(n)ganeh ||
They pay no attention to dishonor or disrespect.
soBw hIn nh BvMiq nh pohMiq sMswr duKnh ]
sobhaa heen neh bhava(n)th neh poha(n)th sa(n)saar dhukhaneh ||
They are not bothered by gossip; the miseries of the world do not touch them.
goibMd nwm jpMiq imil swD sMgh nwnk sy pRwxI suK bwsnh ]28]
gobi(n)dh naam japa(n)th mil saadhh sa(n)geh naanak sae praanee sukh baasaneh ||28||
Those who join the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, and chant the Name of the Lord of the Universe - O Nanak, those mortals abide in peace. ||28||
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Hi Amit Uncle,
I have just written on yesterdays comments, I think youve just posted this one as I was writing the other. If you get a chance read my daily update to you.
Lots of Love and sweet dreams
Sweta xxx
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Sorry Amit Uncle,
I have just read todays post and I just wanted to say that some people are just knobs! There is no other way of describing these people. I wish people would just share each others happiness or in some cases sadness if that was the case.
As my gran always says, if your going to do something do it with a smile otherwise its not worth it. I love my Gran - I also love you lots too.
Love
Sweta xxxxx
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Please for God’s sake sleep well Amit ji. What the hell rest of the family doing when you are still typing at 1:45 PM ?.
Very nice article though BUT Please give your mind and body a little for rest…
DON’T bother replying me… but please decrease your blogging time…. THIS IS TOO MUCh.. even for reading past 5 days of your blogs took me more thatn couple of hours… I can imagine how much tiem you hve been spending to writer these…
PLEASE TAKE MORE TIME OFF .. AND SLEEP WELL. … i will be praying for your HEALTH…….
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Amitji:
Very nice! I enjoy your blog a lot! You have so much power on people specially one who gets influence very easily. Please keep giving us such thought provoking articles! We need them. Also would like to hear about your thoughts when you go to SiddhiVinayak or Balaji and see many people enduring physical difficulties to reach there. What do you think? Do you beleive that one should only go to GOD to say thank you or is it OK to ask something from GOD?
Daxa J
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First At Last?
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O !! Learned One…among the Normal Mortals… I am one of your ardent admirers, 1st - for the Quality and Quantity of Acting you have gifted us with, and now - for the awe-inspiring literary skills you possess.
About your thoughts on this post…
Theres nothing like a Basic, or Advanced Intellect. I presume, its the ‘Intuition’ that u wud have meant, for it cud be (result in becoming) corrupt. Moreover is it not the Intellect, but the the ‘Intellectual’ who’s corrupt?.
Phew!!!..Its an herculean task to blog with a mobile…so will cut short here.
Regards
Dharman Nair
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We (regular bloggers on this site)have followed you all day on the Mo Blog. Wonder what has happened to you in between that is the cause of such a write up. Perhaps you have been hurt by something or some one. Iam sure all of us get forced to such thoughts at times. Sir, do you remember your sherwood speech. The tenets of dignity, good character, honesty and integrity? Sir, aren’t “These fundamental laws of life” … and fundamental laws will always remain true. The ones who adhere to these always win… We keep learning a lot from your comments. You can’t fail. You have always won eventually. Keep the faith, every thing will be alright. we all love you. We all love you indeed.
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Mr. Bachchan,
You have written a very thought provoking post. It is very sad that in today’s world kindness, goodness, generosity, and sincerity are not seen as virtues. They are seen as things to use against someone or reasons for people to try and take advantage of a person. People take another person’s kindness as a weakness. It’s true that no good deed goes unpunished. In today’s world one does not need to lose their generosity, kindness, or goodness.
However people have to definitely realize that there are people out there who will use your virtues against you and they also have to realize that certain good deeds are interpreted by others in a different light. One has to be on guard against unscrupulous people in life. One in this day and age has to balance looking out for their own interests, setting up necessary boundaries, being proactive, and also continuing to be kind doing good deeds for those who are deserving. It’s great to be kind, good, and generous. But there has to be boundaries and limitations otherwise the negativity and unscrupulous deeds of others in life will drive us all mad. Its a continual balancing act in life.
Best wishes!!
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Amitji:
My husband writes poetry somethimes. And I enjoy them. I email him your philosophical blogs and then discuss with him. Your father’s advise “Man ka hua to Achha or Na hua to aur Achha”.
My husband told me part of his poetry…
Chaltaa ja Musafir
Uthaataa ja Kazaaie
Rakh Kudaa me bharosaa
Detaa ja duaaaie
I say them to myself many times and this helps when some selfish people take advantage of me. The corruption in India bothered us so much that we both left India on our own (me 20 years ago, and him 45 years ago). We don’t regrate leaving India, call us cowards or whatever but we find life in India is very stressful.
Thank goodness you stayed in India and now we enjoy your art(acting) & your philosophy!
All the best always…
Daxa J
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Pay it forward
My cousin asked me last week to read your blog. She said that I might like it. I was a bit skeptical wondering to myself what a superstar could write about except himself.
This is funny because when I read your blog today (for the first time) ,it is a topic i truly belive people need to read and know about.
I was born in the Middle East of Indian origin. When I first went through the Gulf War in 1990 , my mother my two other sibling and I were in India with abslutely no news about my father. Our relative didnt care much for us. I guess it was their circumstances as well that made them not want to help us out. Months into the occupation with no news of my dad and perhaps the unexplained erratic behaviour of my relatives including her father in law who wanted to wipe his hands of us, my mother with us in hand, decided to go to one of run down hotels near a temple and just take all of our lives including hers. We were in the train bound for our destination. We were all in our late teens. We hadnt eaten for about two days. Hunger and hurt I think made us think there was no hope. When we reached the town we went to the temple. And you are and whoever reads this is going to think this is so strange - we were in the train pretty late in the nite, a young man sits on the opposite berth and strikes up a conversation with us. In the course of the conversation he tells my mother (not knowing our intention) , that whatver happened to us was a passing phase. No good would ever come out of doing anything foolish in times of desperation. He said a lot of kind things to her , somthing I think she needed to hear at that moment. At the next station he left. Almost like he vanished. Some might say this is rubbish..
But i think kindness is the truth of life. I think kind words is what saved 4 lives…
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Hello Amit ji,
I’m in a rush so I can’t read your recent blog right now but I do have a question. I hope you don’t mind. There are three homes of yours in Mumbai that are famous: Jalsa, Prateesha, and Janak.
I’ve read that your offices are at Janak and I know you live in Jalsa. Do you also live in Prateeksha (like sometimes spend nights there) because I noticed that it’s 12:36 am and you’re at Prateeksha? Or however late it may be, you always return to Jalsa?
I hope you don’t mind me asking this question. I was just curious. These details may be small or whatever but when we know things like this, it makes us feel like we know you even more. Like the new MoBlog feature…so cool! I love it! It makes us feel more connected to you and your last blog where you gave details of your day! Loved it! And I think others did too, it got the most comments from any blog entry, I think!
Take care!
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Dear Mr.Bachchan..
Indeed very fine expessions on morals of present age.. Everything nowadays is just plastic, nothing but plastic without soul.. Isnt it sir?
Anywayz your good-self has given new birth to the postal system with a soul.. As I was born and brought up at mumbai and rite now am at gujarat from last five yrs, I can smell the soil of mumbai in your letters.. keep rocking always!
Respectfully yours
Rahul D.R
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Dear Sir,
is there a cause for the serious thoughts your wrote today? Has something happened, someone been especially selfish or unfair? Or are thoughts like these often on your mind?
I’m somewhat shocked at those sentences. Is there really ’scant respect for honesty’ in our societies, has any ‘desire to believe and trust with immeasurable faith’ really become extinct?
Do you really believe this?
I don’t. Yes, it is much too easy for dishonest people to prosper in our world, and society places too much value on material or superficial attributes. But I truly believe that most of us try to be respectful, kind and good as best we can, that we faithfully believe in our loved ones, and that hate is the exception, not the rule.
If we give up on this belief, then we are truly doomed.
So, what happened to make your daily blog so sad and dark tonight?
With best wishes, love and regards,
Elisabeth
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Excellent Article ! .. God Bless you .. !
Answers to these questions can only be guessed …
and when you get tired by answering the society the reason for your behavior, what you actually meant and not what they percieved,your good intentions those were misjudged,constant judgments floating around about you and what you do —— You become Sarkar ! .. and say .. “Mujhe jo sahi lagata hain woh main karata hu , chahe wo duniya ke khilaaf ho , sare sansaar ke khilaaf ho” …
Great article .. keep writing Sir ..
Luv
Sachin
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This is again one fan of urs frm the uncountable lot
influenced by you in everyway
n it gives me immense pleasure to draft the 1st reply of the day
Truly sir,a rational man is not affected by the tittle-tattle…Wish u stay tall in Life always
you Rock, gud nyt
shekhar
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dear sir,
well i really don’t know what to write since I’m still apprehensive about the fact that if this entire thing is real or some of the prank of the virtual world! and i do ground my apprehensions on the fact that you being a busy pesron can actually afford time for being upright here to coverse with with people in this manner.
please excuse me for this abrupt ending but do help me in putting an end to my suspicion!
p.s. can i plz write in d format better known as d “sms lingo” coz it gets really tedius to type it this way…u dnt kno but it took really hard writing full words without skippin a single vowel! lets blame it on the generation
regards
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And the things that has confounded me a lot is the amount of time we spend in hating and cursing the things that we do not live. It is so surprising… In this world where time is the only thing which cannot be produced or bought and is priceless, instead of spending on love we spend on hatred…
Now I do not hate the people here I merely laugh at it…
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Dear Amitji:
Greetings! I have been watching your movies since childhood and have always respected you in two capacities: 1) As an actor 2) As a human being.
Also, I saw your talk show with Charlie Rose with great interest and I was stuck by the simplicity, dignity and elegance with which you espoused your thoughts on various subjects. I want to ask you three questions:
1. What matters most to you and why?
2. What is happiness according to you?
3. Success is a relative term. Everybody has a different meaning/interpretation for the term. At what stage of your life did you feel you were successful?
In closing, I immensely enjoyed watching Sarkar Raj and I am looking forward to the third part. I wish you and your family the best in all your future endeavors and pray to GOD that your home be always surrounded with success, happiness and prosperity. Looking forward to your response.
Kind Regards,
Manav
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Dear Sir,
I discovered your blog today, spending an idyllic summer evening in Amsterdam. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through the last many days and think it is a stroke of genius - especially in the hands of someone like you who writes so amazingly well!
I loved your thoughts from today. I am an MBA student and in one of our classes on leadership, we read a note on how building social capital was of utmost importance if one needed to rise in life. It talked about the need to make more friends and to do it in such a manner that it would facilitate a smooth ride up.
A lot of us in class that day felt that article trivialized human relations and expressed so. Connecting with a person just for the sake of getting to know and be friends with them was now being designated as being politically savvy to ‘build social capital’. What was heartening that a lot of my classmates - future captains of industry across the world - refuted that thought and came down heavily on the proponent of this idea. We affirmed as a class that having a meaningful relationship with anyone was anyday much more fulfilling that having built up a connection with someone just for some form of gain.
However the truth remains that there are really no free lunches anymore in today’s cut-throat world. Our children are growing up learning to be careful of strangers smiling at them. I feel suspicious if someone offers to do me a favor and wonder what I will have to give in return. People are too busy or preoccupied to perform genuine acts of generosity.
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I watched Sarkar Raj yesterday. I enjoyed the movie. I liked Abhishek’s acting the best. He reminded me of Jai in Sholay. I also like Supriya Pathak in the small role she had. The best was the climax and was worth watching Dilip Prabhavalkar’s facial expression. You were at your best. A restrained performance. The character seems close to the writer of the blog. The relationship Abhishek and Aishwarya shared on the screen was good to watch. It was the meeting of two minds.
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Hello Mr. Bachchan,
This post was very philosphically stimulating to me! I have often had the same thoughts.
Everyone is a cynic nowadays, there tends to be a general instant distrust of someone who has an honest thought. Such are the times and society. The few good men are overpowered and overshadowed by the corrupt, the warped-minded and the cynics. It is a societal problem. The bad apples in a basket, so to speak, emanate such foul smell that a person looking at it will discard the whole basket with scant regard for the good ones. Indeed who has the patience nowadays to look for the good apples among the bad! Sorry, if I got carried away with my metaphorical thoughts:)
But the problem begins thus…when one is an honest soul, it hurts immensely when one is duped by someone they trust implicitly and a cynic is born! After several such encounters one tends to degenerate into someone no one can trust as well. Unless….they have the strength of character that will keep them honest and trustful inspite of their many adverse experiences. That requires a really strong person and not everyone has the strength of Mahatma Gandhiji! Especially in these times when material comfort is supreme!
Hopefully all is not as bad as it looks. For a person who does a good deed, the joy that deed brings is assurance enough that they are on the right path and they genuinely don’t care for any negative misinterprations their act has provoked. If the soul is content, no one can disturb it. So my thought is that being good and kind will, if not anything else, bring peace of mind and contentment…oops now isn’t that being selfish?!
These are just my humble musings on this subject. I think I have exhausted my philosophical capacity for the month:)
Best Regards,
Bindu H. Vinay
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Mr. Bachchan,
Have been reading your blog since quiet some time. Two things come to mind reading today’s post; First, What is “good” that you talk about and what is “evil”? Isn’t life all about perspectives? Who will decide what is “good” since doing “good” doesn’t always make you feel “good” and vice versa. Secondly, I see a pessimistic way of thinking when you write that “pure minds are on the verge of extinction”. I beg to differ, I think that one pure thought touches millions where as one evil thought touches ten. Again, no proof of my theory but this line of thinking gives me hope, for my future and my children’s future and the future of this amazing human race. And isn’t ‘hope’ all that one wants to continue being..? Just fodder for you and your readers to comment on…
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There can never be light with out darkness. Never a moment of love with out hatred. It is for us to choose the right of path we tread on. You wouldn’t understand purity till you have faced pollution.
This has been my lesson from life and seeing darkness, hatred, polluted minds etc help me strengthen my resolve to be good and honest to my soul. Be good for the goodness sake. I stand before only my God and my soul and see my reflection and not in the eyes of others.
For ultimately no one will come to rescue you, you have to rescue yourself.
I know I am much younger and inexperienced compared to many including you but I’ve also gone through my own tribulations of life and have come out stronger.
Regards…
Rachna
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Standing Ovation ! Well-said, Indians who want to lead an honest, truthful life–you have reflected their thoughts crystal clear, so thank you for that.
June 16 2008
California
(wishing to have a cup of tea with you some day !)
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Hello Mr.Bachchan,
This is Mitul Desai from Canada,as all of us are I am a big fan and follower.
Sarkar raj was a treat to watch and must say Abhi in certain parts was better than anyone in the movie.
I remember you from the “Coolie” accident days when I was only 8 years old and my Uncle (dad’s Brother) Mr. Sharad Desai was one of the Breach Candy unit members (He infact was Chief Engineer for the hospital) ,how the people gathered to wish your well being,i can not still forget your charisma when i met you as a young boy,and I still can’t forget.
I wish you great luck and hoping to meet / see you when you are in canada for the show.
Regards
Mitul Desai
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First para of today’s blog sums up my thaught in words. No wonder…….you have inherited skills of ur dad.
Regards,
Avinash
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(So sorry i replied in the earlier post by mistake!)
Purpose defines every need in every one’s mind. Every boy/girl is exploited with the fact that being cunning is the way to cut through the crowd. I wonder if people could understand that there are some people who do understand that there is something called good will! That some people are not taught that way and they differ from a local ‘banya’ who will not spare you a rupee just because he thinks that you have an intention of stealing that from him!
You are an actor sir, everybody has an idea of you as a good person and a bad. But people who walk on the streets are purely judged by the first thing they have to say to each other if they are ofcourse, meeting for the first time. That is exactly how I will be judged if I walk and ask for help!
I guess you are right. Its like ghosts, people only believe it if they see it!
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Hello Sir,
watched Sarkar Raj today……. dum struk thats wat all i can say after seeing ur performance…. just mind blowing…. the best part was when u point ur hand towards the dead body and a dim light falls on the dead body…. (when rao saheb askes “ab kon sambhalega?) i just loved the way u presented it…. well recently in an interview of urs on Times Now i heard u say that u reply to all ur fans …. waiting wid lots of hop for a reply form u…. m a student of journalism and my biggest dream is to interview you…lets hope god helps me bring my dream come true….
waiting for a reply
all the best sir for ur future projects…
regards
Rakesh Nair
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I always wanted to write something but I never got a chance, but this coloumn of yours addresses todays thinking and it immediately made me to write something.
From the all the entries that you have written, I think this one comes straight from your heart and something that has nothing to do with films or with anyone in particular (which is the best part).
A very nice coloumn, I must say.
One more thing, in Sarkar Raj, I found Abhishek better than you….(this should put a huge smile on your face)
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ok fine.. good stuff.. ure doing well trying to get the ‘im a good person’ votes.
go to sleep old man. its late.
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This is my first time at your Blog , and I am immensenly pleased to read it
.
.
you have allowed us to know who the real Amitabh Bachchan is. This is Indeed a giant step you have taken to remove the Gap between you and us. kudos to you for that Mr. Bachchan.
The positivity of thoughts should not be stopped , just because others don’t think that it does not exists .
Perhaps people like you can be a great Inspiration to teach a common man that it does exists . A person can be less selfish and more generous without any thought in behind for his/her personal gains - I believe this. I follow this and I will believe anyone who is doing so
-Pooja
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hello sir i feel so good reading your blog every day you .it is so good to read your thoughts as if reading your diary and knowing you more and more.i am busy with exams will write you later really really long letter.take care and eat well and sleep well . rakhi london
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do u sleep…Mr. B?????
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Dear sir.
I have a question regarding the IIFA awards. IIFA stands for International Indian Film Academy. Then why is it so centric on hindi cinema? You have stated on many occasions that Mohanlal is one of India’s best actors. The IIFA was launched initially as a way of celebrating Indian cinema. Should IIFA not include Malayam, Tamil etc cinema.
This would not only educate non-indians but NRI who are not aware of the magical performance of Mohanlal’ such as in Keeridam, or the amazing range of Kamal Hasan’s acting like in Nayagan, or wonderous enjoyment of a Rajnikanth film.
I also remember hearing that the aim was IIFA was for Indian cinema to be taken more seriously, how can it be taken seriously if it ignores a vast talent pool. One cannot help wonder whether marketing drives nomitations and awards.
To me it comes down to 2 choices, either open the awards competition to all films in India or re-name IIFA to International Hindi Film Academy.
I do realise you are only the brand ambassador for IIFA, but I think i make a valid enough point for you to consider forwarding such concerns on to the organisers.
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Dear Mr. Bachchan….
Who dares win, or does it matter….
At the end of the day when all is said and done….nothing matters.
For we all have the same eventuality….
As the wise king Solomon said (recorded to be the wisest and the richest king that ever lived) after observing everything around him including his vast wealth and hard work, he excalimed!…..
“EVERYTHING IS VANITY AND A THRIVING AFTER THE WIND!”
So apt….
I watched Sarkar Raj (don’t usually make comment about any film but this here is appropriate). After all his hard work, he lost his most valuable possesions. Sarkar Raj, one by one he lost so many loved ones, including his beloved son. All in the name of politics. Just like it is in the real world. Politics and politicians plays manopoly with peoples lives and there are always casualties, and the casualties are always other people, mainly the innocent by-stander.
For, “EVERYTHING IS VANITY AND A THRIVING AFTER THE WIND”
Nothing is ever resolved. Problems increase and multiply - usually the culprit are the ones supposedly solving the problem…
Hope you rest well tonight….
Rose C
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Bachan sir, get some sleep
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Dear Amitji, asking the questions is important, the answers may or may not come, and the answer may not be important, questioning itself initiates a process of change within one’s mind.
I was wathing out the window the other day, we live by a mountain in Morristown NJ and we have small animals that come by. I saw a squirrel being chased by a cat up a tree, I don’t think the cat is evil. It’s the cat’s nature, it’s DNA, and it has been programmed for many many years. Now I asked, why did the squirrel venture out if it knows the cat’s around, well, the squirrel needs food too. So the squirrel’s hunger is feeding the cat’s hunger, if it makes sense.
Coming back to what you are asking yourself, I don’t think there is scant respect for honesty in society. It’s a matter of convenience. When it’s convenient, human’s will be honest, and vice-verse. An individual comes with a perceived agenda since that’s what is convenient for that individual at that point in time. About basic intellect, I don’t think it is corrupt, evolution has designed it to sustain life and survice. Call it corrupt or kind.
The mind machine cannot be used to conquer itself. Try to not think of a white elephant for the next 15 seconds. See what happens. SO what dones one do ? I think the answer is, oh well, so I thought of the white elephant, or, oh well, I didn’t.
The thing is people judge out of fear, and fear arises out of ignorance and ignorance is harvested through, the human condition. When I was a kid, why did I compare my neat and tidy little notebook to my class-mates ? To feel better about myself, that at some level, I am better than the little guy next to me ? Why that need ? I think it’s an insecurity to some level, and we find external means to cover internal fears.
Perception is relative. Truth is relative. There is no absolute perception and no absolute truth. It is day here and it is night there, and both are true, cause our perceptions are different and our perceptions are difference as where we see it from is different.
The computation mind - which I hope you didn’t mean by basic intellect will never overcome itself - how can it ? It is an anomaly, a contradiction. SO how does one deal with the mind ? I think it’s understanding, saying, there goes Rajesh again, or there goes AB again, taking a back seat, waching our minds, becoming aware of how it acts out being a monkey.
It’s interesting, lets enjoy the ride while we are here. I hear a storm brewing.
Much love (truly, just love, I don’t want anything from you, you have given us enough).
Rajesh.
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Going through this somewhat uncharacteristic post, one can’t help wondering what recent encounter caused you such anguish. It was highly readable, nevertheless, and very well put. Thanks for sharing, sir, and hope you soon tide over whatever or whoever caused it .
If you get to reading this post though, I’d like to take the questions further–doesn’t questioning form the very root of honesty? If we were not to question ourselves (and maybe others too) regarding morality, motives and consequences, will we(or they) not go on perpetuating the same line of thought and deed? Questioning every damn thing in the world has changed it mostly for the better in the last four centuries. So, can we really conclude basic intellect as always being impure and corrupt? Probably not, in my humble opinion.
Substituting subconscious scheming for intellect is another story though. But in that case, why bother if our faith is strong and is yet to be tested?
With best wishes and regards.
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respected sir
i feel that you should be true and honest to yourself
every time you go to sleep and every time you look yourself in the mirror, there should be no feeling of guilt or remorse
the rest will take care of itself
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Hello Mr. Bachchan ,
Just visited your blog section for the first time. I write my own at my website http://www.alizafar.net if you get a chance to visit . Something i thought would be interesting to have you read after reading your latest blog .
Revelations are often in chiselling and polishing what is within;
Than in changing the insides for life’s meanings to fitin;
Chords are often struck when souls are in harmony with life’s external plays;
Than by strumming the strings for public displays;
True paths often form in intent and imaginations regardless of efforts and strains;
Than by blind wants and ambitions without clarity of end games;
Loss is often in holding while essence and reasons evaporate;
Than in any physically separate state;
Dieing is often in numbed souls stuck in purposeless journeys;
Than when souls separate from physical bodies;
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Even altruism that seems pure is viewed as a means to a selfish end in that it makes the person feel better about themselves. I’ve been to many demonstrations and done activism which in addition to hopefully helping a cause, also makes ones life seem useful to society. I know people who have said that protesting does no good except to the protesters themselves. At least in the US, ever since Watergate politicians will never be trusted. Even those which seem honest will probably become corrupted in a system of lobbyists contributing money to those in power in return for favors to their corporations and agendas. You’ve heard the saying “Nice guys finish last”. If they followed their conscience and didn’t take any money, they wouldn’t get elected. Also, whoever has the money has access to the media which is influential in shaping peopl’es opinions. In order to form opinions that aren’t polluted, one has to think outside the box, as they say. One has to have the courage to be unpopular in the mainstream society.
Three thousand miles of wilderness
Overcome by the flow,
A Lonely Restitution of Pavement,
Pomp and Show,
I seek a thousand answers,
I find but one or two,
I maintain no discomfiture,
My path again renewed,
Against the grain,
That’s where I’ll stay,
Swimming upstream,
I maintain against the grain,
Here labelled as a lunatic,
Sequestered and content,
There ignored and defeated,
By the government,
There’s an oriented public whose magnetic,
Force does pull,
But away from the potential of the individual,
Against the grain
The flow is getting stronger,
With smaller increments of time and eddies,
Of new ideas are increasingly hard to find,
You need all that the other has,
Your right to seize the day
But in all your acquisitions you will soon
Be swept away,
Against the grain….
There’s a common consensus
And an uncomfortable cheer,
A reverberating chorus that anyone can hear,
It sings leave your cares behind you,
Just grab tenaciously,
This lulling sense or purpose will
Destroy us rapidly,
Against the grain….
Bad Religion: Against the Grain
(one of the best and most influential punk bands around-from California)
Love,
Rochelle ( Thank you for some heavy thoughts.)
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Amitji, you sounded this time like a discoursing Krishnamurthi - too technical and too complicated to follow…more like a Shoaib Akhtar bouncer! Better follow the course of Osho Rajneesh, as you have done until now, where we can have a bagful of your witty remarks and excellent visuals of past and present to indulge with. Sir, we are the simplest of Mumbaiya filmy fans….the Krishnamurthiaists had shifted their alliance with the Indian arts cinema way ago, which is no more traceable incidentally!
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hmm…lots of things that I ponder as well. I feel like its important to exhibit compassion yourself, although sometimes its hard when you feel like you’re not getting the same treatment from most people. I often have to remind myself that it was my decision to be compassionate and I know that its the right thing to do. If you really dissect the cause behind anyone’s actions, I feel like its only because they just want love. So if you can learn to believe that, its easy to forgive anything. It’s sad that honest good nature is dissected as you say, but theres a learning process for the person who is dissecting. Once all doubts are cleared, then in replacement, faith comes in—might take longer for some.
I wish everyone would use their energy in a good way, however, goodness is only good in contrast with bad. Being good is definitely the harder path.
Theres so much I question; for some things, there are clear answers, and for others, I just have to justify what I think with the best answer i have so far.
I don’t know if you’ve talked about this yet, but how do you see spirituality and religion? Its a pretty broad question and I totally understand if you would not like to post about it in this public medium.
Your posts are really reflective—Its quite enjoyable to read
I was watching Mohabbatein again the other day and would just like to say that you did a fantastic job doing justice to the character. The interactions with Shah Rukh’s character really make the movie refined. That movie is keeper! Its something you can watch over and over again.
Dil se,
Deepti
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Amitabh Ji,
My family (my parents and 3 sisters) always wonder the same things you have mentioned in today’s blog. I can (and I am sure many others) totally understand what you are talking about. I just cannot understand why people spend so much of their time twisting the honest words or trying to think that there is a selfish reason or motive if we are just being human beings. We are at a stage that just being a “human being” without any selfish motives is a reason for other people to ridicule us,look down us or simply call us incompetent. It definitely hurts some times but as a family at the end of the day we always felt sympathetic towards those kind of people. One of my sisters suggested and she even cut off people like you mentioned, from her life and one day she realized that there aren’t many people with her. But I should say she is happy with those few people. To each his own.
How can people put their brain to so much work for simple things?Being honest is so good for any one’s mental and indirectly their physical health.
I may not be as clever as some other people but I am glad that I am able to sleep with a clear conscience at the end of the day. I am sure the other section of people also are sleeping well
Anyways, I enjoy your blog. It is like hearing to my father(but I should say you are better articulated). All my sisters admire the respect you show to your parents.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with all of us! I am sure it will enlighten many of us of many things. Nothing like hearing from a wise and well-read man about his thoughts and experiences. Thanks once again and wish you all the best!
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Sir,
Some people have negativity in their character and their culture.
They are disturbed all the time. They have a tough life!
They need to get well soon.
They are artificial and corrupt. They smoke after every scene…
So much so that I found this person smoking in Mumbai airport under a ‘No Smoking’ board. Poor guy is desperate to be the king of bollywood….so scared that he is doing just 1 film in a year.
Negativity kills…more than smoking
Ese main kya ‘Temptation’ aur kya ‘Reloaded’ hoga.
Regards,
Debashis
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Amitji,
So well written.. I guess lots of writers would get inspiration from your writing.
Take Care
PP
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Also I hope my suggesting or rather giving the answers to a couple of fellow bloogers to questions they had was ok.
See, I have only read your father’s book a couple of weeks ago so the printed words are still fresh in my mind. So it only took a couple of minutes to look the answers up and qoute them for verification. Please don’t think I’m meddling in your business. Hope you didn’t mind me helping a couple of bloggers. That was my intention. None the less if taken wrongly….again I do apologise sincerely if you think I have made this presumptious mistake….
With regrets if I have offended you….
Rose C
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Dear Mr. Bachchan:
Simply beautiful….how eloquently you state the value of principles, and how “colored”it has become in today’s modern society. With your permission, Sir, I would like to print this and share it with my teenage son.
Thank you,
Rama S
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Mr. Bachchan,
The questions are very apt: Why does the polluted minds of others disturb the purity of our own? Why hate on perception?
I ask Why hate for any reason? When it takes so much energy to hate why do we even bother to hate? It is simple enough to ignore or be at least pleasant about it which takes even less energy then hating!
Sometimes I tend to think that those with polluted minds like to spread the pollution just because they can. They feel that if they see the world through darkly tinted glasses why should someone see any beauty when they can not?
I quite enjoyed reading this blog entry!
Thank you,
Reema
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dear sir
truth shall prevail .
most scarce commodity is most saleable n is a prftbl deal n believe me honesty is the best seller in any world be it business or personal life as ths qlty has always been a very precious commodity and always in demand.
simplicity and hardwork alngwth honesty is the icing on the cake and thts wht u have been going on doing endlessly snc saat hindustani days
b it u on tv or yr blog u jst spill sheer truth frm yr eyes and expressions n ths fire of fairness and truth so easily reflects in yr body language n actions and puncutally writing a blog to keep all yr fans updated is one good example of yr sincerity/dedication/commitment.
ths fan of yrs stays in distant land doing business with international co of hghst repute and only greatest virtue worshipped is sincerity/honesty/smplcty followed by talent n hnc pls cheer up THE WORLD IS LEARNING FRM U AND RESPECTING AND ADORING YR SINCERITY AND HONESTY no matter wht may come
best regards
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@@ Dear Mr. Amitabh Bachchan @@
_By the way, don’t you feel a lump in your throat when you call, write and address yourself as Big B?
let others say what they say but when you say it yourself it indeed smacks of your shallowness and looks a tad farcical too, frankly speaking.
If in doubt, please think of someone else indulging in such a thing and see how do you feel about it/him!
Yes! So is the case with you also, for sure.
Similarly, you address your home as mansion- even if it is, do you think you need to mention!
Home is a home and no mansion can be bigger than that. Or, you are taking your feudal roles too seriously! You are conceited for sure Mr. Bachchan.
Even the name of the blog site you have chosen to park your blog is bigadda.com which sounds not only weird but also pretty pedestrian.
May be you would find time and humility one day to mull over the things I point to you as a well-wisher who has closely watched your journey downwards which you may erroneously think to be a journey ‘upwards’.
All the best ! !
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U no where this evil comes from: its all greed and lust. In India especially people have tremendous amounts of jealousy. If we were content within ourselves, this world will be jannat.
Can i just say Sarkar raj was brill. U have been very good in Bhootnath also. Variety should be ur middle name.
Uncle B, what sort of schedule do u work at. i notice a lot of these blogs are written at like 12-1 a.m. when do u sleep, when do u get up?
A Fan, Jaspreet,24
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Dear Amitji
Congratulations on the success of Sarkar Raj, fantastic movie, fantastic performance and now a fantastic response from the public!
Love and best wishes as always!
Pratik
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dear sir
in addition to my previous msg reminding u of yr said story of yr father of poetic justice abt the publishing house which bnkrptd aftr not pyng said dues to yr father
KARMA the truth no human being can escape n jst such realization need to be made n one has to consistently remind oneself of ths bare naked fact of life
anthr great eg has been yrs. INDIA and the WORLD shall always salute u aftr centuries how on truth/sincerity/hardwork u could rebuild yr life at 58years of age on SHEER GUTS AND HONESTY n how amply nature has rewarded you and who says MIRACLES dont happen and you are one LIVING MIRACLE BLESSED BY ALMIGHTY GIFTED WITH SUPER STRENGTHS due to great kindness and sincerity and honesty alngwth hardwork and sheer integrity.
LONG LIVE and this world needs greats like you to show way to the worlds future generations
best regards
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Amit Sir,
very few can have control over emotions, feelings and thought process. very few know general psychology of mind. rest of the crowd is basically slave of thought process. mind one hand is a wonderful item but on other hand its that thing which can go in any direction and if there is no control then it can think anything. humanbeing has to face all kind of feelings from love to hate, satisfaction jealousy, disgust, anger, happiness etc but common mind has no understanding of these things and common mind always search happiness and satisfaction on personal basis and when he cant get it and when he sees his known person has found it then he is filled with jealousy and other ill feelings and thus starts the trap of negative thinking and mind starts functioning in negative side. very few can control this progress of mind in negative side.
There is noone on earth who does not come across these negative feelings and thinking though this is different thing that few can turn that thinking because of their mental power to search rational ways to understand the things. some take help of religious preachings or spiritual morals that its bad and one should not do it.
this is also true that negative is stronger than positive and positive has to be saved. negative has more momentum. a good rational approach is needed.
As your character is shown to say in sarkar raj that dur ke faide ke liye pas ka nuksan bhulna padta hai. people actually follow negative routes to gain short term gains.
they ignore bad doings of their so called friends and think that its not their job to correct them but time’s stick creates no sound. its said that its sinner to bear atrocity and its sinner to see in silence when wrong is being done.
and its also true that moralistic person will have very few friends because mostly people are materialistic and selfish and we all fear to live in minority.
We know our friends are not doing good as far as humanity is concerned but we make us understand that its their life what we have to do.
and wrong things are continued in world.
We all are culprit. You (forgive me for this but it may be true), me, CMs, PMs etc. barely few people have been having courage to point out wrong in society and to stand against bad things.
Rest of us can only think.
this is spiritual freedom which is the solution for your territory of questions. but its dangerous because you get spiritual freedom and then you can not appease falsely your social, political, economical friends. and thats why we all are coward people and live our life with maximum possible peacefullness. we need luxury. if we are unable to bear burden of our cowardice we go to temple, mosque and churches and gurudwaras to seek forgiving of deities and ask for strength.
we go on living in this circus because we are no brave to see clearly eye to eye in mirror and declare that we are spiritually free.
we can not claim, we are the divine flame.
we fear to attain that or even to we fear to try to attain that. we will be alone then and we fear lonliness.
regards
K
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Dear Amit Uncle,
Happy Father’s Day (belated).
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At times, you border pretence. Introspection/self-indulgence is good but not on a point-to-point interaction sphere naa? You know, human beings are complicated subjects. They really are. And like the morning milk, they are not pure… But morning milk tastes good with certain impurities. You art is pure… But human beings aren’t . So why not talk of impurities? Aren’t they suitably more interesting and surely more honest and a direct way of reaching out to you well-wisher (And assure you, I’m your biggest fan though you may think otherwise after going through this message)
Just a thought : Ustad VIlayat Khan is the greatest Sitar player ever, but he too openely criticised and refused India’s higest cilivian honours…
Why don’t you talk about certain controversial issues that need clarification… Guns, Gandhis and Silsila
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dear mr bachchan,
i grew up watching your movies. got inspired by you. always tried to ape you when it came to presenting yourself to the world. watched almost every movie of yours - either in the cinemas or on tv or on vhs cassettes/dvds. most of your movies still continue to entertain scores of people.
ppl may talk trash about you. but, lets not forget that you still mean business (read money) for them. the name amitabh bachchan is synonymous with trp ratings. it means headline news. nothing less. the more they talk about you the more publicity their channel gets. what they do no realise is that the more they talk about you, the more free publicity they are providing you!
your movies bring in the moolah even today. why would every tv channel worth its salt still telecast movies from your prime even today? some channel at some point of time is beaming a movie of yours from the past. why would they do so if you do not mean money to them?
“Why hate on perception. Or is perception the better life. Why judge a state when its reality does not require judgement. Can opinion be formed from what I know from others. Does it not encourage greater pollution.”
these are the thoughts that always run through my mind. never ever been able to figure out answers to these questions. i hope i will, someday…!
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After reading all that…
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT BRO.
MAN. I DON’T UNDERSTAND ANYTHIN.
I GIVE SOME ADVISE. Though who write unuseful complicated essays ONLY WASTE both own and readers TIME. Time is money… i jus lost £25 BROV.
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Repeat: As I posted on previous page couldn’t find.
Dear Sir,
Seen Sarkar Raj. Really a strong story line-up. Intense performances by most of the artists. All because of RGV.
Tremendous job to take out best from all artists except fromVictor Banerji. He too is good artist. Background music was increasing the strength of the story. Editing was somewhat okay. Lighting was making audience uncomfortable (‘Black’ Sarkar Raj). But I agree with all the good remarks that I read in blog.
But I like to write something that I don’t digest in film:
(you may not allow this to appear in blog if you wish)
1. First as Karan Johar pointed out that technical mistake…
As your reflection is seen in portrait of Shankar, it can not be zoomed or tele giving one’s blurring up picture and other’s closeing-up since your reflection is in the same plain as of Shankar. Definitely you were standing behind Shankar’s portrait and was performing. Anyways, technical experts can write this in better way.
2. When all of you were going to village with your convoy, your daughter(-in-law) was sitting next to you. Her hairs were waving with winds and not yours.
3. In hospital, ventilator beeps became irregular after death of Shankar, which never occurs in IPPV mode which is set in this situation.( can be checked with experts). Moreover, the endotracheal tube was loosely fixed.
4. Killer was wearing winter gloves and holding pen in between fingers during thepress conference.
5. You were addressing your huge followers from your mason without microphone though it was expected huge crowd to gather as it was your birthday.
6. Qaazi’s men were busy throwing water on burning electric poles rather than fighting with Shankar and Chander’s men.
7. Shankar started getting closer to Anita though his pregnant wife has passed away few days back.
These are my personal notions and thoughts. I may be wrong. But what I felt seeing the movie, I wrote, Sarkar !
Regards !
Arey! Ek chaay mere liye bhi laana.
(Hey! Bring a cup of tea for me too!)
Sanjay,
Rajkot.
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As said by you sir “I ponder a lot over some of these issues when I notice humans and their behavior. What a great deal of negativity must be utilized to continuously consider evil manipulation and thought. One evil thought would require endless amounts of energy and strength. Would it not serve better purpose if that energy were to be gifted, wrapped in endless reams of good natured paper.
Why does the polluted minds of others disturb the purity of your own. ”
We feel the same questions rising in our minds every second….as if you read our minds…really how true.
If any answers exist for all these questions please do guide us too…so that a skeptical mind can have peace for few minutes and a night of proper deep baby like sleep…
waiting anxiously sir…thanks for putting few doubts of our minds in such explainable wonderful words and making us feel that yes some one also is observing that something is wrong some where.
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yes sir you are right
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Well Sir,
Thats some spiritual thinking on your behalf. The present lifestyle hardly affords man to tread in the right path. The good thing about this is that the more materialistic people become, the sooner they change.
Excess materialism leads to frustration. The more you look to the external world for peace and happiness, the sooner you realize its futility. If people are strong enough to face and overcome the frustration, they will change. Otherwise, they will perish.
– Kapil
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SORRY SIRJI
Trust me I am a very good and sensible person.
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Wow!!! Lately, I myself have been pondering over thoughts on the same lines. You put it magnificently!
I have come to accept that the only way to peace is to let go of expectations(of rational behavior) however reasonable they may be. The only harm unreasonable mean behavior causes is grasp the offended to his ego making his mind stick to thoughts and lungs to hold breath.
Breathe freely and let it go! No point in judging such deeds. If nature dictates as such (survival of fittest), let it judge itself.
We have made our choice and our path is clean and straight to the heart.
Best Regards,
Rajeev
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Dear Mr. Bachchan,
that’s a good post, a good issue that touches our lives everyday.
it is believed that these days evil prevails, in various levels…yes being good and kind is not considered a good thing these days…these are no more the values of humans that should be valued and kept…..modernization has brought many other ‘modern’ values, not all are good.
“who wins”…i have learned that always good wins. even after ages…because that’s the universal meaning of life…life is a struggle between evil and good…evil wins at times…but good wins eventually…so yea..it really does matter..or else there is no meaning for the life we are living.
with love,
Rasha Zayed.
BigB yahoo group.
Cairo, Egypt.
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Hi Amitji,
Our ancient rishi’s has studies it all. They have studied mind and its tendancies.
The mind has following tendancies
1. Anupama (judgement)
2. Pranam (Analysis)
3. Vikalp ( day dreaming)
4. Nidra (sleep)
Once being aware of minds these tendancies one can live in present moment and be joyful!!!
P
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I think someone really disturbed you with their behaviour…..Otherwise, u would never end you blog without writing a single word of affection in the end. Well, we still love you…..Have a great day ahead!!!!
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DEAR SIR
ON A LIGHTER NOTE
EVEN THE MOST CORRUPT LIAR ON EARTH ALSO DESPARATELY DREAMS OF A VERY HONEST KIND DEDICATED AND RELIABLE SECOND MAN
B RGDS
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Hello Mr.Bachchan
I am one of the hundreds of thousands fans around the world who had a privilege to grow seeing your movies and shows (KBC). My Grand