Do you believe in astrology ?

Whether I believe in astrology or not ?... I'll say I dont much.
I am not able to understand, how the directions or particular position of various stars in the solar system may affect our lives.... or how these self proclaimed predictioners can make predictions about our future n life, based on stars positions in our birth charts. And how they can assert that wid certain so called upayas , the position of stars can be changed. I really dont understand it. Thou wont lie, a couple of times in life, I myself went to the pandits n performed some upayas also. But truly, I could not fit that into my thought process. Well I think, We all have our insecurities, and these people take advantage of that and we do it beacause we do not see any harm, may be some monetary or time loss. If something bad happenes and you did not follow their advice then we start thinking may be there is some truth. No horoscopes, no pandits can tell about what lies ahead ??? Tell me, at one given time, at one place, many children take birth, the horoscopes for them wud be same with same position of different starts in different houses, Do they all share similar destiny? Nahin na !
I believe we come with a pre-destined life..... Kismet mein jo likha hai wahi hoga, na usse jyada, na usse kam, na waqt se pehle, na uske baad. There's that wise saying na - "Waqt se pehle aur kismet se jyada kabhi kisi ko nahi milta". There is a fixed time for everything, and how the things ll turn out, we can not predict... what we can do is best n sincere efforts on our part.
So I believe in faith, in destiny,in spirituality, in positivity...but in astrology n horoscopes, perhaps not !
Recently I read Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam's Autobiography. I quote few lines from there to share with all - "Quite honestly, I never really understood the reason behind the great importance attached by people to the faraway planets in our solar system. As an art, I have nothing against astrology, but if it seeks acceptance under the guise of science, I reject it. I do not know how the myths evoled about planets, star constellations and even satellites-that they can exercise power on human beings. The highly complicated calculations manipulated around the precise movements of celestial bodies, to derive highly subjective conclusions appear illogical to me". From- WINGS OF FIRE - An Autobiography - A P J Abdul Kalam, page 15.

Disclaimer - This is my thinking. I apologize if it hurts anyone's feelings. Different and even contradictory comments are welcome. To get to know different opinions is the purpose behind this post.

Beauty - Fashion, Slavery and Salvation !!!

Of course beauty is fashion, No way it commands slavery, but yea it can be salvational.
What is beauty ?
Well a common idea suggests that beauty exists in the appearance of things and people that are good. A good apple will be perceived as more beautiful than a bruised one. Also, most people judge physically attractive human beings to be good, both physically and on a deeper level. Specifically, they are believed to possess a variety of positive traits and personality characteristics. Someone said, Girls are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree……….... and they're amazing.Though, people may be good and not beautiful, or beautiful but not good. The characterization of a person as "beautiful", whether on an individual basis or by community consensus, is often based on some combination of inner beauty, and outer beauty. Like most I too agree with this quote -"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart" ~Kahlil Gibran. But at the same....It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.
Why do people deify it?
Do u believe that beauty will save the world by making man refashion himself its image n likeliness???
Beauty may not save the world by refashioning the man, but somehow it acts as a saviour for the beings. Beauty has inspired humans throughout history. Researchers have found that good looking students get higher grades from their teachers than students with an ordinary appearance. Furthermore, attractive patients receive more personalized care from their doctors. Studies have even shown that handsome criminals receive lighter sentences than less attractive convicts. How much money a person earns may also be influenced by physical beauty. One study found that people low in physical attractiveness earn 5 to 10 percent less than ordinary looking people, who in turn earn 3 to 8 percent less than those who are considered good looking. Such kinda discrimination against others based on their appearance is known as lookism. Beautiful people usually enjoy an image-based and/or financially-based prestige which enhances their aura of success, power, and beauty. Though these findings can't be applied to all and sundry, such instances are seen generally. Beauty presents a standard of comparison, and it can cause resentment and dissatisfaction when not achieved. And perhaps this is one of the reasons that people deify beauty.

Face On, Face Off

They say, Face is the Index of Behaviour. Behavior, overt or covert, both are significant. Is the face or our external behaviour always a reflection of our internal behaviour ? If we take it as true, then I wonder on the behavior of many people. Specially abt Jats, as is mostly observed, they are harsh in their tones, rough in their approach, sometimes considered even rude. But equally is popular that they are very kind hearted, very simple, very pure at their hearts. But until this simplicity, this purity, this kindness is shown in words, until this internal behavior is expressed through external behavior, how we can make a show of our complete self ? No one can look into one's heart. What is obvious is true. So it's very important to show what we are. There should be one to one relationship between overt and covert.
Being Jats, as they are described, identified to be rough n tough, harsh; some feel very pride in being rude, rough(molad) in their behaviour. How to know what they are? They'll be judged from wht's seen to others. We let the world know about us by our deeds, by our actions, our responses, our reactions. So if we are rude, we are rough in this face on/show off business, how it's going to make an impact on others, so what we are the most kind, most sensible persons face off.

Experiences of Life

Experiences are part of life, or I should say Life's an experience. Experiences may be good or bad depending on the concequences. But from every experience, we learn something. I personally feel, we learn more from bad experiences. Such kinda experiences or failures in life help us improve for the better. We learn to be more tolerant. Recently I read a book and qouted something from that, which says, Failure is one of the most important ingredient for Success. Thou' its the most painful, but to be really successful, you must face failure.You have to experience it, feel it, taste it, suffer it. Only then you can shine. For once you taste failure, you have no fear. you can take risks more easily. then you don't want to snuggle in your comfort zone anymore-you are ready to fly. And success is about flying, not snuggling. So never be afraid of failures. If it has come your way, it means God wants to give you a real shot at being successful later. Winning always may keep us away from many risks of life, but as well then it ll keep us ignorant of many very important aspects of life and behavior. So when you face a failure next time, dont blame God for the difficult time,,,rather look ahead for the shining glories which have already set the stage for you. AS OLD SAYING "FAILURES ARE THE STEPPING STONES OF SUCCESS".
What do you say.....?

Laptop Bluesssssssssssssssss

It has been almost 2 months since me and my laptop departed. Now only few days are left when we ll be together again... but till then I m missing it like soooooooooo muchhhhhh.
These daily visits of cafes ve bored me, daily a valuable time in evenings go here.
Waiting for yu lappie.....:-)

Why Do We Exist....? Continued....2

Now question comes why a person feels that way?
One of the reasons is the the Defense Mechanism Denial.
Denial is the Ego Defense Mechanism that simply disavows or denies thoughts, feelings, wishes or needs that cause anxiety.One is not able to accept the truth which threatens Ego and can be anxiety producing. The first reaction comes - This is not true. The state of mind at that time is - This can not happen to me !
This is an operation that works on an unconscious level completely to deny that which can not be dealt with consciously to protect the Ego from threatening incidences.