WOMAN : THE REPRESSED

    WOMANHOOD : SOMETHING NEED TO BE REPRESSED UNDER MALE DOMINION? BE SHOT FOR DEMANDING EDUCATION RIGHT WITH MALE COUNTERPART? TO BE SECLUDED BECAUSE MEN UNABLE TO PRACTICE SELF CONTROL OR LOWER THEIR GAZE? WOMAN NEED TO BE SILENCED BECAUSE IT THREATENS MALES’ EGO? WHY IS IT A BEARER OF THE WOMB TREATED WITH SUCH CONTEMPT? WHY SHE IS SCORNED WHEN SHE BEARS THE FUTURE HUMAN BEINGS INSIDE OF HER WITHOUT A SINGLE GRUNT? A WOMAN BEARS THE BURDEN OF PREGNANCY , THE EXCRUCIATING LABOR PAIN AND YET SHE IS SEEN AS THE AGENT OF PERVERSION AND EVIL ?

PROSTITUTION ? WHAT DOES IT SHOW? MEN’S SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN SINCE THE DAWN OF CIVILIZATION…..! MILLIONS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS BEING STRIPPED OF THEIR CLOTHES , TOGETHER WITH THEIR DIGNITY TO FETCH MONEY FOR BROTHELS….. MILLIONS OF FEMALES ARE BEING RIPPED APART BY SADISTIC CRIMINALS. AND SHE WILL NOT HAVE THE REFUGE WHEN HER HUSBAND BATTER HER TO DEATH . IT SERMS NORMAL TO LEGISLATORS AND PRO-LIFE ADVOCATES THAT WOMEN ARE BEARING THE CHILD OF THEIR RAPISTS!

PORNOGRAPHY – ANOTHER MEAN TO DEGRADE , HUMILIATE AND EXPRESS DOMINION OVER WOMEN! IRONIC !MEN HAVE TRADITIONALLY CONDEMNED PROSTITUTION IN PUBLIC BUT ENSURING IT’S CONTINUATION IN PRIVATE! UNSCRUPULOUS RELIGIOUS AND “PIOUS” MEN UNNERVINGLY PUNISH THE BATTERED RAPE VICTIM , PRIDING TO HAVE SERVED JUSTICE TO GOD!! 

MARRIAGE… ” MANGAL SUTRA” IS ANOTHER ROPE FROM WHICH A WOMAN CAN HANG HERSELF TO DEATH! COUNTLESS GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN ARE AT STAKE FOR THE SIMPLE REASON OF BEING UNABLE TO PAY THE DOWRY. WHY WOULD A PHYSICALLY “STRONG” MALE CAPABLE OF CREATING ENOUGH WEALTH FOR HIS FAMILY DEMAND DOWRY FROM HIS FUTURE WIFE?? AND IF A YOUNG WOMAN REJECTS A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL , SHE WOULD BE SCARRED AND DISFIGURED BY ACID ATTACK.

PHYSICALLY BRUISED AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY BLACKMAILED WOMEN DARE NOT SPEAK UP EVEN FOR THEIR BASIC RIGHTS. WE ARE BRAINWASHED BY PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY THAT WE ARE WEAK AND VULNERABLE , AT THE MERCY THE MALES TO SURVIVE. WE ARE MADE TO FEEL THAT WE ARE HERE TO BEG AND SCRAPE BY …THAT WE ARE LESS THAN HUMAN. 

ORGANIZED RELIGIONS FOR MILLENNIA HAS BEEN REPRESSING FEMALES , CONTRICTING US TO ANIMALISTIC EXISTENCE. DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE BEING LABELLED AS SUCH? OR TREATED AS SUCH? OR TO GIVE UP FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS…THE RIGHT TO BE TREATED AS A DIGNIFIED HUMAN BEINGS?

THE QUESTION IS WHEN WE , WOMEN , WILLING TO BREAK FREE FROM SHACKLES OF BRUTALITY?!! WHEN WE WILL DARE TO DEMOLISH THIS DEVILISH MASQUERADES ?!! 

Awakening With Jiddu Krishnamurti

So here I am today reading the thoughts of Jiddu Krishnamurti and my perception about faith and religion is shattered forever! Only a daring soul would venture into uncharted journey to the unknown dimension of existence. And Jiddu Krishnamurti surpassed the bounds of time and space to spread the enlightening thoughts through his books and lectures.

“Without understanding yourself you have no basis for thought; without self-knowledge, what you think is not true.”

‘’There is hope in men, not in society, not in systems, organized religious systems, but in you and in me.”

“Organized religions, with their mediators, their sacred books, their dogmas, their hierarchies, and rituals, offer only a false solution to the basic problem.”

This is the zenith of all human endeavors to grasp the divine essence behind the creation. For those who had run out of the life force and tumbling down into the abyss, perhaps this book will replenish your inner being. It’s all about breaking free from the shackles of falsehood and reclaiming our divine heritage.

The Journey Within

Life is a journey through the different dimensions of existence. The average human experience is limited to perceptions formed through the sensory experiences. However, the physical plane is only a tiny fraction of the whole existence, iI is the manifestation of the force hidden from us. Some of us would develop the psychic abilities through years of spiritual practices. A Yogi would activate the third eye by practicing yoga and meditation. The third eye is the window through which a mortal glimpse into the eternal truths.

It is helpful to remember that this world is not the platform for the game of survival. Our souls take this physical births to experience what the finite elements has to offer and to rise above the existence. Sadhus are those men who had devoted themselves to yogic traditions and asceticism. They have detached themselves from the body-mind complex and became free entities. Sadhus are the immortals who had risen to the spiritual plane by liberating themselves from cycle of birth and death. This is Maya, the grand delusion which offers us temporal bliss. Those who are addicted to the pleasures are ignoring their own mortality. And due to their ignorance, they suffer. This is the cycle of rebirth and suffering which we call Samsara.

We see our fellow human beings enslaved by vices. This world is plunging into deeper darkness and there is suffering everywhere ; famine and war crimes are claiming lives at unprecedented rate. The root of all suffering is desire, as the Buddha noted. Desires mature into uncontrollable urge to attain anything that is attractive to the senses. So these desires become the greed behind the ruthless capitalism and this leads to wars as the instrument of foreign policy. The colonisation of other nations by the imperialist powers are nothing more than insatiable appetite to fulfill their greed.

The whole existence has to undergo the process of destruction. This is inevitable. As the world plunges into the darkness, we are nearing the destruction. The world is collapsing under its own folly. The Avidya (ignorance) has done enough damage to our ecosystem and the planet couldn’t sustain us in the near future. Therefore it’s imperative that we reverse the degenerative process and reclaim our divine essence. The darkness has no substance in itself. Once you have started to seek the knowledge of the Self (Brahman), the darkness dissolves into nothingness.

The seeds that you have planted on your mind seep through the layers of subconscious. Each seed has it’s own gestation period. And each seed will spring into branches of your being. The seeds or impressions on the Chitta (mind) is called the Samskara. Samskara is the activator of our spiritual growth. Pure thoughts cultivated through the practice of Sadhana (mindfulness) are the precursors to Grace. But the process of purification starts with emptying ourselves from desires Then we begin to break the fallow ground in the mind and cultivate it into fertile soil by correct awareness. By tuning the mind to the force behind the existence, we are becoming infused with the divine sparks.

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The Art of Meditation

The mind is an enthralling tool for spirituality, the prime of human awareness which contains the divine light. It can be made into our ally or enemy based on what’s imprinted on it. The mind gathers the residue from what is imprinted on it and it creates dents within the mind. This explains the biases and prejudice. The only way to break away from this pattern is by detaching oneself from the mind and body complex and becoming an impassioned observer. Most of our thoughts have the potential to maim us or destroy our lives if we don’t exercise discretion.

Many people think of meditation as an activity to be pursued after a hectic day. This is a wrong conception of meditation. Meditation is non-engagement with the reality ; It’s the state of being in harmony with oneself. During the meditative state, thoughts are dismissed and the pure awareness devoid of desires is cultivated. It is the process of unburdening ourselves. It is a process of finding the delicate balance within ourselves. During meditation, one would withdraw the senses from the world and simply dwell on the nothingness. However, the beginners are often beset with hindrances during meditation. The mind often wanders off and thoughts scatter. Some people find it difficult and tiring although meditation is meant to be done effortlessly. They often wrestle with the thoughts that form within their own minds and end up getting exhausted. Therefore it’s essential to understand the dynamics behind the practice of meditation.

Meditation is the remedy for the shortcomings in life if practiced with the correct awareness. Personally I have found that there are three main principles behind meditation. This understanding was crucial for me to grasp the concept of meditation.

Becoming Empty

Many would find the idea of becoming nothing quite challenging because our society constantly programs us to be someone/something. This egocentric consciousness is the main obstacle to attain inner peace. We are full of our baggages of idealism which fuel the ego. Our lives tends to revolve around the prestige achieved by material accumulations. Lot of us define ourselves through the religious affiliations. These are the very walls that separate us from the higher power. Through meditation, we learn to relax and forgo the images we have created for ourselves. By emptying ourselves, we are allowing ourselves to experience the new dimension of existence.

Inner Silence

Chaotic minds create the blueprints for disorder. The turbulent mind creates disturbance in the energy field around us and this creates the ripples of violence throughout the world. While the trained mind is attuned to the inner silence and inclined towards “Ahimsa” (non-violence). Through meditation, we learn to calm down the raging storm within ourselves. Through meditation, we are allowing ourselves to bring out the Sattvic (pure & praiseworthy) characteristics from the core of the soul.

Solitude

Most of us are familiar with Yogis meditating in serene environment. However not many of us would realize that the Yogi is alone in his own world. He is tuned inward. He is detached from the externalities. He had been continuously purging the foreign elements imposed on him. That is the true state of a Yogi or Yogini. He or she is self-sufficient to meet the demands of life. Through solitary meditation, we learn detachment which is the freedom from fear and insecurity.

Reclaim Your Personal Power

Trust has become a rare commodity nowadays. We are being forced to analyze the acts of people around us to get clues about their ulterior motives. So this is what the whole humanity is evolving into ; human beings are against each other instead of instilling a cohabitation based on mutual trust. Human relationships are no longer the symbiotic relationship that nurtures but it’s the parasitic snare which enslaves many. It’s not surprising that we are becoming increasingly sceptical of the motives behind those individuals who are constantly chasing after us.

This kind of parasitic relationships drain our energy and resources. In most of the scenarios, the “dominant” ones will keep blocking someone’s avenues for a successful life. These parasites steal willpower of those unwary souls by controlling their mind. Their deceptive voices would keep there poor souls under subjugation and humiliation. This is the appalling conditions under which organizations function. This is the predatory environment that permeates our homes.

I have found our that once people know that you can be easily manipulated, they’ll always seize the opportunity to exploit you. This applies to family members, relatives and friends as well. They know how to read our minds. They know our secrets as well and that will become a useful tool to appeal to our emotions using some “trigger” words. Some of the men gas light their wives, convincing them of their inferiority. And lot of people are investing time and money to demonstrate our inadequacy. This is a very convenient technique of persuading people to act according to their whims.

These repressed human beings are led to believe in the lies that imprison and suffocate them. I’m seeing more and more people living as hollow shells, dejected and hopeless. How often you have encountered man or woman who were once the confident individuals had been forced to become regressive creatures ? There are indeed some people who break free from this kind narcissistic and self-centered individuals. These people are strong enough to walk away from abusive relationships and start new lives all over again.

We often hear the stories of the survivors of violence and abuse and wonder how they’ve managed to liberate themselves. The process of liberation starts with identifying the toxicity level of certain people and distancing ourselves from them. We must detach ourselves from the possessive people. That’s the crucial step to reclaim your personal power. Avoid people who try to isolate you from the rest of the world by bombarding you with their convictions. You are the owner of your mind.

The cycle abuse crumble to nothingness when we dare to question the intrusion into our privacy. These strong willed men and women won’t tolerate those who intrude their private spaces. They are mindful of every single form of manipulation and deception that comes from those who are close to them. A strong man or woman doesn’t allow the sanctity of their private lives to be violated at any cost. A strong person will not give away his or her personal power by blindly believing but actively questions everything.

Let Your Dreams Take Flight

When I was a child, the unknown intrigued me. I was ten years old when I watched a movie based on Christopher Columbus’ story, the person who created a lasting impression on me. I was wondering how this man embarked on a perilous journey with such abandon when everyone else believed that the earth was flat. My science textbooks were filled with the names of inventors. And I was fascinated by their perseverance and their inability to take “No” as the answer. They simply resisted their own doubt and fear, and held firmly unto the visions which propelled them forward.

Sometimes you levitate. It’s an uplifting experience. However, it is temporary and you find yourself back to the familiarity, loathing and cursing the same walls of your prison. And you wonder why such fleeting moments vanish into thin air so rapidly. Raw energy is addictive ; savoring each bit of it refreshes the soul. It’s ecstatic to embark on uncharted journey to the unknown. To leave everything behind and jump into the void. Yes, you’re jumping into the void because you don’t know the consequences of such action. It’s the sheer courage or perhaps the desperation to escape mediocrity!

Taking a leap of faith requires fine tuning into your inner voice. But how do you discern the voice amidst the noise? When we step into threshold of desperate prayers, we enter into unfamiliar zone of discomfort. This kind of prayers done with our souls stretched out! The power of discernment is developed by constantly exposing ourselves to the unknown force that permeates the time and space. Trust the hands of certainty. Inaction and indecision will only erode the potential within you. It’s the time to silence your mind and gather your will to face the unknown.

Social Media & Individuality

I’ve been staying away from the social media for a while and it dawned on me that this occasional break is so necessary for me to think about my life in non-automated manner. This period is crucial to refresh my mind and reflect on the very mechanism that keeps me away from learning to use my critical thinking faculty. I’ve been spoon-fed by the social media. It’s another way to term this brain washing machine. It’s the artificial stimuli that controls the mind.

The crucial tenet in becoming a fully functional human being is learning how to think independently without any interference from the social networking sites. I should be able to express myself fearlessly without worrying on how the destructive power of trolls would neutralize the effect of my voice. Utilizing the time away from social networking platform in constructive ways is the method to counteract the negative impact of the social engineering elements. It is the only way to retain my individuality.

Social media serves as the neutral engagement zone albeit at the subconscious level. The sceptics are well-equipped to evade the nefarious design created by sly individuals. It takes extreme discretion to sift the facts from the “myths”. To desist a neutral stimuli is something that we need to practice in our daily lives. Not everything that appeals to our emotions are constructive but rather it would diminish our ability to think rationally. This serves as the blindfold on the eyes as to conceal the groundbreaking truths.

Those who spend significant amount of time on social networking sites often fail to notice that the whole system is eroding the individuality of each online personality. Our virtual presence is the fodder for the parties who lurk behind the iron-curtains. We know that something is quite aberrant about the information boom but couldn’t stop the flow. Even though most of the people online are the passive “observers”, their minds are easily manipulated by false information which is neatly packaged with certain “trigger” words.

It’s convenient to create a virtual identity in the hyperspace. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult to retain our individuality. Our perception is being nurtured by the inorganic cybernetics. It’s up to you and me to choose in between the two worlds. And the reality is out there..

(Originally published on 6 June 2019)

The Invisible Daughters of Afghanistan

They’re nameless , faceless. Their face should remain hidden , uncovered face is a disgrace. Men loathe the females , they hate their presence. But they have obliged to keep them as their wives so that they would bear them children. The birth of sons are celebrated with huge gusto while the birth of daughters strikes the heart of the fathers with grief.

They are generations of women, who has no glimpse of what lies beyond their houses. The colours and contours of the world had been grayed by the filter on their eyes and the sound of the earth muted forever by the heavy fabric on their head. It’s like being inside hot oven on hot day , when the Sun is unforgiving. This is the kind of life faced by women in rural and impoverished areas of Afghanistan.

In a poor family , a girl is seen as burden since she has no “economical” value as she is forbidden to work and earn a living. Therefore child marriage is rampant , the preteen girls are married off to much older men within their tribe for a meagre amount of dowry. This has endangered many girls for their bodies are not prepared for the consummation of the marriage and pregnancy , resulting in the rupture of vulva , maternal deaths , stillborn babies and miscarriages.

They are locked and put away inside a household , buried alive within the confines of four walls. If they dare to venture out of the home unaccompanied by a male of their household , they would face certain death. They are the prisoner of the past , present and future. They are seen , not heard. Women who are accused of adultery are stoned to death without any solid evidence. School and books are unimaginable part of their lives , next to impossible! Independence from tight grip patriarchal society remains a dreams , never to materialize.

The females toil in the kitchen day long to provide the best meal for their families. It seems to men that women are there to be their unpaid servants , managing all the household chores without any assistance. If they dare to question anything , the husbands would batter them until they learnt their lessons of obedience. After all , obedience to the husband is the obedience to God , so goes the religious blackmailing. The wives lives in constant fear and insecurity , unable to return to their families once they’re married.The women whom had enough of domestic violence have no place to turn to , and therefore succumb self-immolation.

They should never expect to love and to be loved in return. Why would a daughter of Afghanistan risk her life dreaming of marrying the man she love when her family would be happy to slaughter her to preserve the family’s honor? Why would she risk to step into the threshold of school and university when she would be given away in marriage and condemned to be a man’s slave for the rest of her life?

References :
https://www.opendemocracy.net/opensecurity/shabnam-nasimi/devastating-truth-of-women’s-rights-in-afghanistan

http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2016/08/26/more-than-5000-cases-of-violence-against-afghan-women-recorded-in-six-months.html