Head wiggling

I am reading yet another book set in India. Even though it’s now “A major motion picture”, it is, in my opinion, not a particularly good book, content- , structure- or language wise. The story is quite superficial, the characters are difficult to identify with and the research not impressive. 

Still, there is something about it, maybe reminding me of other tales I’ve heard or read, or possibly even experienced, stirring something within me. Something elusive, yet real, that makes me want to go there, be there, become absorbed in its overwhelming non conformity, where the improbable is the norm, the unique the standard, and  the average nonexistent. I feel like losing myself in a society unfathomably rich in people and diversity, in culture, religion, language and geography. A country developing so fast in some areas that it is hard to keep up, in others so backward it is hard to comprehend, let alone accept. 

The smells… of decay, sewage, funeral pyres…, the scents… of skillfully prepared and tasty slow food, of trees and flowers…. 

Read Head Wiggling

Dalai Lama

…and if reading No Impact Man wasn’t enough, I just had to go ahead and read The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama. What am I, a masochist of sorts or what? Ladening myself with a bunch of ideals that I either am not able to or, even worse, not willing to live up to? What I hope, I guess, is that some things will seep through to my brain, and eventually manifest itself in, if not major, then at least some positive changes, for me, people around me, and lo and behold, don’t put me down as lacking in ambition, the world in which we live.

And looking at photos of the Lama, you have to give it to him; He does look happy! To comfort me and maybe some of you, I found some quotes of his on the internet that should be possible to identify with, even before our potential future transformation.

“Sleep is the best meditation”

 “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions”

“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection”

“All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness. The important thing is they should be part of our daily lives”

And last but not least:

“The purpose in our lives is to be happy”

More at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/dalai_lama.html

Have a great, and I wish you, a happy day!