Blog Post #69 - The Ancient Hindus,Buddhist and Jains were thinking about nothing!

Do you exist?  - Most of us do. Some of us live.

When I asked a colleague what he did last weekend he said ‘nothing’. Nothing?

Do you do nothing?

What is nothing?

The interesting fact is you cannot experience nothing but you can recollect ‘nothing’.

What you did last Tuesday evening 2-3 may be nothing unless there is something interesting that happened. 

 Really , your outlook said you had a meeting or you picked your kid from school, how about 11:40 to 12:15?

You take nothing. You leave something. You exist. Then you don’t exist.

Here are a few different versions from Hindu, Buddhist and Jain philosophy .

Nothing or something:

Abhava means Nothing.  Before Abhava there has to be something or else what is the nothingness pointing to. Bhava means becoming,existing or appearing.

There or not there?

According to Hegarty, the paradox of nihilism is "that the absence of meaning seems to be some sort of meaning

Real or not?

Bhava can be classified as real. Abhava as Unreal.

Contains  or not

For anything to exist it must have

1.      Substance – Dravya – does it have something = mass?

2.      Quality – Guna - does it have any feature ?

3.      Action – Karma- does it do something? Does it move? Does it fly?

4.      Community or Generality – Samanya  - does it belong to a community or can it be feneralized?

5.      Vinesa – Particularity – does it have anything particular to mention?

6.      Inheritance – Samavaya – does it inherit anything from any other thing?

What kind of nothing

1.      Pragabhava i.e. Prior non-existence – house built from brick. Before the bricks were layered out there was no house. After laying the brick voila there is house that means house didn’t exist earlier. Cloth before the cotton is woven.

2.      Pradhvamsabhava i.e. Posterior non-existence  - break a jar you will never get the same jar with the same property.

3.      Atyantabhava i.e. Absolute non-existence  - Never existed – Child of a barren women

4.      Anyonyabhava i.e. Mutual non-existence – this and that cannot exist – Water and ice from the same water/ice body

To exist means

An imaginary idea to explain what it will be like without the existence of a thing.

About 50-60billion died in planet earth most left nothing (the number is according to Sir. Ken Robinson and he said in a tedtalk people who calculated these numbers might have low social life).

Are you ready to do something now.

The next time when you say I did nothing think what 'nothing' from this list of nothingness.

Go do it.

Sivakumar Manikanteswaran

Blog Post #68 - 1=2 How did that happen?

My elder son Arnav has taught my younger one Arush to answer 1 and 2 as the answer to any question .

I am still not sure how Arush knows when he is asked question it is a math question and as I mentioned earlier I have smart kid (this time I am referring to my  2 year old). 

Arnav would ask what is 1+1 Arush will say 2.Arnav will ask 1-1 Arush will say 2. 
I used to ask Arnav what is 0+0 and why is it not 2 zeros which means 2=0 .

Can these be proved mathemtically to show that Iam intelligent and so are my kids.

By the way QED at the end of any proof or theorem means quod erat demonstrandum which means  "which had to be demonstrated". I took pains to prove it - Hence proved is what it means. 

Sometime ago I was asked if I remember how 1=2 worked? Interesting. I thought I might have forgotten but apparently not.

Let                                                            a = b

Multiply by a on both sides                           a ² = ab

Subtract b2  from both sides                         a ²- b ² = ab- b ²

Rewrite a ²- b ² in i  in terms of (a-b)             (a-b)(a+b) = b(a-b)

Cancel out a-b from both sides                      a+b = b

Remember a=b so make a as b                      b+b = b

Now  do the simple addition                          2b = b

Divide by b                                                  2 = 1

QED

Now that we know we can make 2=1 why not also make 2=0 ?


Let                                                   a=b (why not ...let them be the same)
Square                                                          a ² = b ²
Take b ² from both sides                                  a ² - b ²=0 
Rewrite                                                         (a+b)(a-b) = 0
Divide by (a-b)                                               (a+b) = 0
So                                                                  2b = 0 
Divide by b on both sides                                  2 = 0

QED


What went wrong on both these proves?

Keep wondering
Sivakumar Manikanteswaran

Blog Post #67 -Remembering self and Experiencing Self Cognitive traps and Happiness - Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman

Ever Since I read the book 'Thinking Fast and Slow' and watched Daniel Kahneman speak about the Remembering and Experiencing self  - I am trying to understand more on this subject.

 I am not going to call him Danny and make it sound like I am friends with him..although most of my friends explain all theories from relativity to radioactivity with ease except the subject of psychology which is  a tricky one.


Experiencing self is all about now. It tries to answer the question "Are you happy in your life?"

Remembering self is all about reflection/summary. It tries to answer the question "Are you happy with your life?

When the doctor touches a part and asks "Does it hurt now?" - the experiencing self answers the question.
When the doctor asks "Does it hurt in this part for the last few days?" - the remembering self jumps in to answer.

When you take a vacation of 2 weeks if both weeks are similar, the experiencing self doesn't care. It likes the extended vacation.

The remembering self wants something different to store and unless they are different it will treat it as a 1 week vacation. Also when someone asks "How was your vacation?" the remembering self will check against all your previous vacation,stack rank and explain how it was.

It is also critical how an event ends. In a vacation the lost luggage ruins the whole thing.

In a Opera - forget that example -for most readers this one quoted by Kahneman doesn't hold good but let's substitute opera with Basket Ball game.

If the last few minutes were not as enjoyable as the rest of the game - your kid was cranky,your spouse was cranky or you were cranky because your spouse and kid were cranky - it does't matter to the remembering self  . 
It will store the whole experience as unpleasant. 

Well begun may be half done for experiencing self,
Well finished is critical to storing a pleasurable experience for remembering self.

If you live in a cold weather the experiencing self doesn't care. The remembering self will store this information.

Remembering self loves to store more negative information than positive as our brain is wired to place more importance to negative stuff for survival.

How was your experience reading this post? 
What do you remember from this post?

Keep learning
Sivakumar Manikanteswaran

Blog Post #66 -Energy sources - what powers you

My son Arnav asked me why we eat "Iron" . 

I was curious why he was asking this question.

I can't imagine myself eating Iron .. and he showed the chex mix pack nutrition contents( So you know my style of writing always saying my son asked this and asked that- there is only one special kid and that is always your kid and if you have more than one it is the one you are talking about that  time that is most special!)

So this post about is about how we landed up eating Iron?


You are a furnace with limited capacity to store and an ever burning fire inside the belly.

A Famous tamil poet Pattinathar talks about how in Hindu Mythology Hanuman placed fire in Sri lanka and other famous fire and concludes the fire your mom placed is in your tummy.

What does your tummy need? 

For your body to function you need energy. 

You eat food in large quantities called Macronutrients = Carbohydrate,Protein and Fats .
All stuff is broken to sugar which is burnt using oxygen to give energy. 

What is energy? Anything that lets you do anything you want ( So boring but profound).

Your body needs ATP and ADP which is chemically energy.

ATP is the energy molecule that gives energy to the cells, while ADP has one less phosphate group and contains more potential energy because more bonds could be broken. 

ATP is the energy that powers your body ADP is what is left after the energy is released -- and AMP (adenosine mono-phosphate) is the result after ADP releases its energy.

There you go. ADP,AMP and ATP - Do you really care? You should as what gets left is what is in your body (around the belly)

CARBOHYDRATES 

• Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of fuel.
• Carbohydrates are easily used by the body for energy.
• All of the tissues and cells in our body can use glucose for energy.
• Carbohydrates are needed for the central nervous system, the kidneys, the brain, the muscles (including the heart) to function properly.
• Carbohydrates can be stored in the muscles and liver and later used for energy.
• Carbohydrates are important in intestinal health and waste elimination.
• Carbohydrates are mainly found in starchy foods (like grain and potatoes), fruits, milk, and yogurt. Other foods like vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and cottage cheese contain carbohydrates, but in lesser amounts.

Fiber refers to certain types of carbohydrates that our body cannot digest. These carbohydrates pass through the intestinal tract intact and help to move waste out of the body. Diets that are low in fiber have been shown to cause problems such as constipation and hemorrhoids and to increase the risk for certain types of cancers such as colon cancer. Diets high in fiber; however, have been shown to decrease risks for heart disease, obesity, and they help lower cholesterol. Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products.

 PROTEIN 

We need protein for:

• Growth (especially important for children, teens, and pregnant women)
• Tissue repair
• Immune function
• Making essential hormones and enzymes
• Energy when carbohydrate is not available
• Preserving lean muscle mass

Protein is found in meats, poultry, fish, meat substitutes, cheese, milk, nuts, legumes, and in smaller quantities in starchy foods and vegetables.
When we eat these types of foods, our body breaks down the protein that they contain into amino acids (the building blocks of proteins). Some amino acids are essential which means that we need to get them from our diet, and others are nonessential which means that our body can make them. Protein that comes from animal sources contains all of the essential amino acids that we need. Plant sources of protein, on the other hand, do not contain all of the essential amino acids.

(according to Mckinley Health Care http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/macronutrients.htm)


FAT 
Although fats have received a bad reputation for causing weight gain, some fat is essential for survival. According to the Dietary Reference Intakes published by the USDA 20% - 35% of calories should come from fat. We need this amount of fat for:

• Normal growth and development
• Energy (fat is the most concentrated source of energy)
• Absorbing certain vitamins ( like vitamins A, D, E, K, and carotenoids)
• Providing cushioning for the organs
• Maintaining cell membranes
• Providing taste, consistency, and stability to foods

Fat is found in meat, poultry, nuts, milk products, butters and margarines, oils, lard, fish, grain products and salad dressings. There are three main types of fat, saturated fat, unsaturated fat, and trans fat. Saturated fat (found in foods like meat, butter, lard, and cream) and trans fat (found in baked goods, snack foods, fried foods, and margarines) have been shown to increase your risk for heart disease. Replacing saturated and trans fat in your diet with unsaturated fat (found in foods like olive oil, avocados, nuts, and canola oil) has been shown decrease the risk of developing heart disease.



 Micro Nutrients 


Water, Minerals and Vitamins.


From WHO website - Micro nutrients are called micro nutrients because they are needed only in minuscule amounts, these substances are the “magic wands” that enable the body to produce enzymes, hormones and other substances essential for proper growth and development. 

As tiny as the amounts are, however, the consequences of their absence are severe. Iodine, vitamin A and iron are most important in global public health terms; their lack represents a major threat to the health and development of populations the world over

Anti-Oxidants 

When you leave an apple exposed to the air, it turns brown. The damage to the apple is caused by oxygen in the air, and is called oxidation. A substance that can reduce oxidation is called an antioxidant. Antioxidants are said to help your body repair cells and may even reduce the effect of aging. Common antioxidants are nutrients like B vitamins including Beta Carotene, Vitamins C and E and selenium. Foods like grape seed extract and pomegranate juice are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants may be taken as supplements or ingested as food. Most experts believe that getting antioxidants from food is the most healthful way to obtain them.

If wealth is lost nothing is lost, Health is lost something is lost and if character is lost everything is lost 

So what do you plan to do with a healthy body?

Keep eating
Sivakumar Manikanteswaran

Blog Post #65 - Money - Wealth and Rich

I came across this topic again today so I thought I should write about it.

My friend Suresh Mentioned Chris Rock and his talk show where Chris says 

'Shaq is rich. The white man who signs his check … is wealthy. "Ah, here you go, Shaq. Go buy yourself a bouncing car. Bling, bling!"

Shaq is a millionaire getting his millions from Gerald Hatten "Jerry" Buss who is wealthy.

Last 2 spring breaks we were touring US Bureau of Engraving where they make real paper money(real and paper?)

Paper money is made in Fort Worth and in Washington D.C. 

Mint in Pennsylvania makes the change/coins.

The joke that was mentioned in the Forth worth facility during our tour was 'People sometimes make 54 million dollars in 1 hour with high school education'. .. I guess even Ivy league students and Hedge fund owners don't..

It's a printer's job..

My friend Anup gave me this book - Hackers and Painters . I will be quoting from this book for sometime now.. (atleast next couple of posts)

The first revelation the book had on me - everything around you is a computer. Programmers rule this world. Your newspaper is gone.

Your car is now a computer.

Your books are now in e-readers.

I was watching a ted talk - Bill gates has hired hackers who are good in hacking ssl and other complex systems to hack mosquito life cycle. Watch Paul Pablos Holman here 

The geek employing nerds to kill mosquito .. The world is now seen as feedback lifecycles,systems and feedback mechanisms. What does this have to do with Rich and wealthy?

Paul Graham author of Hackers and Painters explains the difference.. very clearly. People think making money is their primary objective.We study for it - from 6 years to 21/30 years about 15 to 24 years. We are supposed to use this knowledge and every other knowledge we acquire on the way to acquire money. Making money is not wealth.

Money is supposed to provide you with 'Time' and 'Comfort'. 

If you are in Antarctica or middle of ocean or in s desert or in outer space (or in parts of texas lie Lubbock where I lived for 3 months!) money wont get you anything. You need wealth. You want to be not Rich with money but wealthy with what you 'need'. 

Money is anything that is commonly accepted by a group of people for the exchange of goods, services, or resources. - according to about.com

Imagine a world without money - you won't. Imagine a world with lots of money and lots of  money only with you. Remember you being rich means others need to be poor. It is a zero sum game. If not what is the point of being rich. Think. Do you want everyone to be rich?

If everyone is rich then everyone gets to enjoy the same comforts.

Physical comforts - nice house,car/transportation,technology,medical facility access

Mental comfort - time to use whatever you want to use it for and the peace of mind to do the same (not to worry about any physical comfort)

We are know the richest men never carried wealth with them when they died. 

I don't know many rich women who died so I won't quote them here.

Wealthy people are not the people we see in nice cars if they are still running behind making money.

If you can choose to do what you want to do and have the means to do the same then you are wealthy. If money stops you at anytime from pursuing this task then you are not wealthy.

Are you wealthy? 

Do you want to be rich?

What is money according to you? - Is it a means or it is an end. If it is a means what does it mean to you?

Sivakumar Manikanteswaran

Blog Post #64 - Winning ,Losing - Lying and Cheating

It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” 
― George Washington


When we were  in the chess tournament last Saturday,Jan 25th 2014 a parent stopped by Arnav and said it is not Winning or Losing that matters. What does matter is you enjoy the game.

I was thinking - really?
My Philosophy has been win the damn thing. Whether you like it or not. Once a slacker always a slacker. There are no points worth showing for not winning. You get valuable lessons but they are useless unless you use those to win. The point is to Win.

The takeaway I have from life and books is all about winners. Winners get Medals,Trophy,bigger paycheck,higher degrees,peaceful life,trophy spouse(not to be confused with trophies) and a Flat tummy.

What?

Yes.  A Flat Tummy. Majority of People high in hierarchy in society have healthy life and a flat tummy. Lower income people and people with stress at the bottom of the food chain eat poorly work mundane stuff and get bigger tummy. (Don't guess my tummy size!..just read the blog)

Three researches - one from UK from department of labor, a Stanford university professor's research in Savannah - the wild wild african sub sahara and lab experiments in research facility (google for or watch 'stress the silent killer' in netflix) have confirmed this theory. Alpha characters get more dopamine more endorphin  more testosterone (needed for both male and female primates and humans) and keeps them healthy and stress free.

“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.” 
― Friedrich Nietzsche


When I was on an assignment to Mumbai in 2003 I met a VP in GTL Navi Mumbai and asked him how come he was slim trim and smiling while we had tight deadlines and his company was bound by contract to deliver. He said oh. That is because I take the work and delegate tension to lower level employees . So true. You don't need UK labor dept,primates and Stanford to confirm the theory about healthy life in top and bottom of food chain.

Bottom line - next time when you are in an all hands in an office meeting, when you see a presidential candidate (forget vice presidential candidates) in US, National figures in any country,International leaders in UN - most have a healthy chemical mix in their body to regulate . Exceptions are not the rules.

Check the picture below

Life is not fair - a friends daughter once said "It's not fair".

My friend and myself said - who said life has to be fair?
Most of us like to win. Kids cry when they lose. Adults do too.

As a race(human race) we like to win.
The secret is to redefine success. Lost an interview. Add score to persistence.
Didn't get a good performance review - attend a Dale Carnegie course.

The fear for most of us should be not to die with a song in the heart.

Henry David Thoreau quote — 'Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.

Hey The quotes are always for men not for women don't ask me and go get planchet or ouija board and talk to his ghost. Here is how one of those boards look





I observed a child cheat in chess today. I asked him to correct it (as my son would have lost if I didn't). We like to win at all cost. Not just that child but all of us.

Is it acceptable to cheat?
It is acceptable to Lie?

If I opened your linked in profile and look - did you do all the stuff that you said you did? Save the company money,get your country out of recession and save the lady,dog and her cat while fixing her issue (Brand loyalty stuff).

Think twice? We all have a limit of what is acceptable lie and not acceptable lie?

Did you have affair with that lady? The answer still resonates even after Clinton left office around the globe. People don't like when other people lie. But do they like when they lie?

What did you tell your manager when you were late? What did you tell you spouse when you didn't get the stuff that you promise you will do? What did you tell your child why she can't have that toy?

I sometimes hear parents says we don't have money so we wont buy the toy. Really?
I tell my kid we are rich and have lots of money and I choose not to give you money to buy this silly toy. He learned the lesson.

While we were in the chess tournament another chess coach approached Arnav and asked him to stop bragging about his 3 consecutive wins  and asked if he wants to be coached for a fee.

Since the coach who asked this was a desi software background guy you can assume he was as rich as most of us and he was just kidding. My son turned around and said 'Play with me. I have lots of money more than 200,000 and I won't give you any of that to teach me". I was impressed. That's how rich people are - have a lot and don't want to give any.

Sometimes kids learn stuff quick and practice while I think thrice to give $1 to the homeless fearing and arguing why how he might use this money and letting him know that I don't have 'change'. I am not sure if I can change but I hope to raise my kids (both of them) more honest than me.

Research points out that some lying to ourselves is necessary. Top sportsmen ,lawyers and other professional keep motivating themselves by claiming they are the best (to themselves). What was observed in brain scans was they have more gray matter .

Here is a fact - for a kid(or a kid in you) to lie - you need to know the truth and the lie. Now you need to cover up the lie with more lies. So in effect you need 2 tracks to be maintained in the brain. Top swimmers even if they are of same or equal fitness lie to themselves they are better than the other swimmer even while observing the other swimmer swim better than them. It helps the swimmer to cheat/lie to themselves that they are good and really better than the other player and it lets them wins.

With superbowl around the corner watch the offense and defense from both the teams and in Super Bowl XLVIII if you see Peyton Manning throw duck - observe his response. He might blame the wind.
Gone with the wind!!!

“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.” 
― Mark Twain

What do you think about winning ?Do share your thoughts.

Go win
Sivakumar Manikanteswaran

Blog Post #63 - Passwords - cyber security accounts locked, Open and compromised

I was in a website yesterday and was appalled by rules for Password.
What do they want for a password - The password you entered is not valid

• It must contain between 8 and 32 characters. Use only characters from the following set: ! # $ % & ( ) * + , - . / 0123456789 : ; < = > ? @ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ [ \ ] _ ` abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz { | } ~

• It must contain at least 1 lowercase letter(s) (abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz).

• It must contain at least 1 capital letter(s) (ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ).

• It must contain at least 1 numeric character(s) (0123456789).

• It must contain at least 1 character(s) from the following set: ! # $ % & ( ) * + , - . / : ; < = > ? @ [ \ ] _ ` { | } ~

• It must not contain more than 2 identical consecutive characters (AAA, iiii, $$$$$ ...).

• It must not contain your user name.

• It must not contain your first name.

• It must not contain your last name

In the name of cyber security we need to understand every website and theiri rules for password. 

You use them every day from the computer to your mobile(if you don't have a password/pattern to protect your mobile or tablet please do it soon) 

Google has some rules for all of us at https://www.google.com/goodtoknow/online-safety/passwords/

Retrieval
Once you set up a password there should be a mechanism to retrieve it - 
accounts will try to send an email or text to your mobile phone.


Some tips from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/technology/personaltech/how-to-devise-passwords-that-drive-hackers-away.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

talks about how retrieval challenge questions needs to be handled. If the challenge question is where are you born - your answer can be "I eat rice" (which I do). Unrelated answers avoids you getting hacked. Hotmail and Dropbox accounts were hacked using Mitt Romney's pet's name. Answering your challenging questions at set up causes you more pain. For challenging questions have challenging answers.

Where to store? - Google docs,drop box,sky drive,desktop,laptop - the answer is encrypted USB. Store passwords and challenge answers in a removable media (remove it ...don't leave it connected)

Some useful tips
Never use dictionary words
Never use a password which is People you know,like and message in facebook
Never add year of birth to your password(2 or 4 digits)
Always log out
Never store the password in chrome or IE or safari or any browser.


When you lose your laptop,phone or tablet don't lose your bank accounts and emails along with it.

What tips do you have for cyber security?

Keep Learning and be safe out there
Sivakumar Manikanteswaran

Blog Post #62 - Adi Shankara and What is the use?

After we dropped my nephew in airport my son Arnav said 

'Daddy it is easy to drop someone at airport but it is hard to see them go away'
The next time we met his friend who had dropped her cousin off he said  "It is easy to say Bye but it is sad to see them go away".

This made me think about Yaksha Prashna . The questions that Yama - the god of justice/death asks Yudhishtra (his son!) are 100 in number. One of the question that Yama asks is 'What is the funniest thing on earth? The answer that was given was - People who are going to die crying for people who died.

Adi Shankara talks about this in Baja Govindam.Punarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranam. The basic idea of Brahamin /Bramam is to attain salvation by moving up the hierarchy from algae to holy human(not holy cow).

Adi Shankara - The Guru of all Gurus in Hinduism. According to Sivakumar Manikanteswaran (Me) if not for him the nation of India and the surrounding regions could have been Buddhist (not that we like dictatorship or Military governments). . the sad reality being any nation that adopts Buddhism is ruled by Military dictators - Japan , China ,Myanmar,Afghanistan (do you remember the 3 buddhas which the Taliban blasted in protest to US assault in 2001 ) Pictures below

Read about those Buddhas at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhas_of_Bamiyan

According to the website below

http://vedantavision.org/bhaja-govindam/bhaja-govindam/bhaja-govindam.html

Adi Shankara's work can be classified into 3 categories.

1. Bhashya: Commentaries on the scriptures such as the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and the Brahmasutras

2. Stotras: Devotional compositions like the Dakshinamoorthy stotras

3. Prakarana Granthas: Introductory manuals for spiritual studies

I would like to discuss about 2 songs composed (music and lyrics? - by Adi = Adi Shankara!)
My favorite song isThotaka ashtakam  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7I1RzMwI2I
I will not discuss about this song here.

We will talk about 

Guru Ashtakam   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JutVlgPS9i8
 and Baja Govindam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4FUQxn4CnY

Lets start with Guru Ashtakam
The catchy phrase for me is Thatha kim Thatha Kim, which roughly translates to What is the use?(The title for this post - What is the use?)
http://www.sathyaprema.com/guru_ashtakam.htm

So what ? - What is the use if you have

Handsome Body
Attractive wife
Fame spread far and wide
Enormous  wealth and stable (like Mount Meru - who knows what that is!)
Wife,Wealth,Childern,GrandChildren,House,relations and born in great family
Expertise in six angas and the four vedas
Expertise in writing good prose and poems
If you are considered 'Great Abroad' (in facebook or twitter or youtube)
Considered rich in your place
Greatly Engaged in virtues and Life
Even if you are king of a great region (corporate equivalent - Board of directors,'C' level - CEO ,CFO,CIP ,SVP)
Served by kings and great kings (corporate equivalent Managing other VPS,Directors)
If you are very famous all over world
Your are know for your charity and fame and world like you (like Bill Gates and Bill & Melissa Foundation)
If you concentrate your mind on passion,yoga and fire sacrife or in the affairs of wealth
You have a great Jewel collection
You have a passionate wife
If your mind wanders in forest or in house of in duties of great thoughts

YOU MUST GET ATTACHED TO THE WORDS OF YOUR TEACHER AND MUST BOW TO YOUR TEACHER'S LOTUS FEET.THAT IS THE WAY TO ATTAIN BRAHMAN.

Ok. Get it?

Adi Shankara knows and understands Guru is important.

Mata,Pita,Guru and Deivam(GOD). The order has always been established as Mom,Dad,Teacher and God.

Adi Shankara focussed on 3rd here.

Also the greatness of Adi Shankara is that he is a Shaivite ('A Shiva Work shipper) who wrote about Shiva songs,Shakti - Goddess songs and Vishnu (Govinda,Krishna et all).
Bajha Govindam is a Vishnu song. At the height of the fight between Hindu fractions he dominated the scene by writing about all the gods and demigods of Hinduism.

A physically fit health freak who travelled from Kerala to Kashmir by foot. I think twice to walk to the neighbourhood park.


Remember the context - Adi Shankara is walking in city of Kashi and finds a teacher repeating sanskrit language grammar rules (substitute this with arithmetic,algebra,physics laws or whatever you like). So verse 1 talks about that....but the whole Bhaja Govindam song bring the meaning of attachment and usefulness.

There is the story of Valmiki which brings this point to life(life point to point) - if you do anything for others-others will enjoy the fruits but may not approve the means and accept its consequences. So profound. Think about it..

From Wikipedia

The Uttara Kanda tells the story of Valmiki's early life, as an unnamed highway robber who used to rob people after killing them. Once, the robber tried to rob the divine sage Narada for the benefit of his family. Narada asked him if his family would share the sin he was incurring due to the robbery. The robber replied positively, but Narada told him to confirm this with his family. The robber asked his family, but none agreed to bear the burden of sin. Dejected, the robber finally understood the truth of life and asked for Narada's forgiveness. Narada taught the robber to worship God. But, as Lord Vishnu forbid the divine sage Narada from preaching the Ram_Nam mantra of salvation, Narada cleverly wrapped the mantra as "Mara-Maram". When continuously uttered it would become the moola mantra "Ram". The robber meditated for many years, so much so that Ant-hills grew around his body. Finally, a divine voice declared his penance successful, bestowing him with the name "Valmiki": "one born out of ant-hills" (Valmikam in Sanskrit means Ant-hill).

Here is the meaning of Bhaja Govindam as written in http://www.kamakoti.org/shlokas/kshlok19.htm

1. Adore the Lord, adore the Lord, adore the Lord, O fool! when the appointed time (for departure) comes, the repetition of grammatical rules will not, indeed, save you.
2. O fool! leave off the desire for accumulation of wealth; create in the mind, thoughts about Reality, devoid of passion. What you get - i.e. what you have achieved through your past deeds - with that, satisfy your mind.
3. Seeing the seductive female form, do not fall prey to frenzied delusion. That (female form) is (but) a modification of flesh and fat. Think well thus in your mind and again and again.
4. The water on the lotus-leaf is very unsteady; so also is life extremely unstable. Know that the entire world is devoured by disease and conceit, and smitten with sorrow.
5. As long as you have the ability to earn money, so long will your dependents be attached to you. After that, when you live with an infirm body no one world even speak to you a word.
6. As long as there is breath in the body, so long people in the household ask about one's welfare. Once the breath leaves, on the destruction of the body, the dependents dread that very same body.
7. When a boy, one is attached to sport; when a youth, one is attached to as young woman; when old. one is attached to anxiety; to the supreme Brahman, no one, alas, is attached!
8. Who is your wife? Who is your son? Exceedingly wonderful, indeed, is this empirical process! Of whom are you? Who are you? Whence have you come? O brother, think of that truth here
9. Through the company of the good, there arises non-attachment; through non-attachment, there arises freedom from delution; through delusionless-ness, there arises steadfastness; through steadfastness, there arises liberation in life. 
10. When youth is spent, what lustful play is there? When the water has evaporated, what lake is there? When the money is gone, what dependents are there? When the truth is known, what empirical process is there?
11. Do not be proud of wealth, kindred, and youth; Time takes away all these in a moment. Leaving aside this entire (world) which is of the nature of an illusion, and knowing the state of Brahman, enter into it. 
12. Day and night, dusk and dawn, winter and spring come repeatedly; Time sports, life is fleeting; yet one does not leave the winds of desire.
13. Why worry about wife, wealth, etc., O crazy one; is there not for you the one who ordains? In the three worlds, it is only the association with good people that can serve as the boat that can carry one across the sea of birth.
14. The ascetic with matted lock, the one with his head shaven, the one with hairs pulled out one by one, the one who disguises himself variously with the ochre-coloured robes - such a one is a fool who, though seeing, does not see. Indeed, this varied disguise is for the sake of the belly. 
15. The body has become decrepit; the head has turned grey; the mouth has been rendered toothless; grasping a stick, the old man moves about. Even then, the mass of desires does not go. 
16. In front, there is fire; at the back, there is the sin; in the night, (the ascetic sits) with the knees stuck to the chin; he receives alms in his palms, and lives under the trees; yet the bondage of desire does not leave him.
17. One goes on pilgrimage to the place where the Gañgá joins the sea; or observe the religious vows with care; or offers gifts. But if he be devoid of knowledge, he does not gain release-according to all schools of thought-even in a hundred lives.
18. Living in temples or at the foot of trees, sleeping on the ground, wearing deer-skin, renouncing all possessions and their enjoyment - to whom will not dispassion bring happiness?
19. Let one practice concentration; or let one indulge in sense-enjoyment. Let one find pleasure in company; or in solitude. He alone is happy, happy, verily happy, whose mind revels in Brahman.
20. For him, who has studied the Bhagavadgitá even a little, who has drunk a drop of the Gañgá-water, and who has performed the worship of the Destroyer of the demon Mura (viz. Ùri Køúïa) at least once, there is no tiff with Yama (the lord of death).
21. Repeated birth, repeated death, and repeated lying in mother's womb - this transmigratory process is extensive and difficult to cross; save me, O Destroyer of Mura (O Køúïa), through your grace!
22. He who wears a dress made of rags that lie about in the streets, he who walks in the path that is beyond merit and demerit the yogin whose mind is given up to yoga revels (in Brahman) just as a child or as a mad-man.
23. Who are you? Whom am I? Whence have I come? Who is my mother? Who, my father? Thus enquire, leaving aside the entire world which is comparable to a dream, and is essenceless.
24. In you, in me, and elsewhere too, there is but one Viúïu (God). Vainly do you get angry with me, being impatient. See the Self in all things, and leave off everywhere ignorance which is the cause of difference.
25. Make no effort to be either at war with, or in league with, enemy, friend, son, or relative. If you want to attain the status of Viúïu (Godhood) soon, be equal-minded towards all things.
26. Leaving off desire, anger, greed, and delusion, make self-inquiry; who am I? They are fools who are without Self-knowledge; as captives in hell, they are tortured.
27. The Bhagavadgètá and the Sahasranáma should be sung; the form of the Lord of Lakúmè (Viúïu) should always be meditated on; the mind should be led to the company of the good; and wealth should be distributed among the indigent.
28. One easily takes to carnal enjoyment afterwards, lo, there is disease of the body. Although, in the world, death is the refuge, even then one does not relinquish sinful ways.
29. `Wealth is no good'; thus reflect always; there is not the least happiness therefrom; this is the truth. For the wealthy, there is fear even from a son; everywhere this is the regular mode
30. The regulation of breath, the withdrawal of the senses (from their respective objects), the inquiry consisting in the discrimination between the eternal and the non-eternal, the method of mind-control associated with the muttering of mantras - perform these with great care.
31. Being devoted completely to the lotus-feet of the Master, become released soon from the transmigratory process. Thus, through the discipline of sense and mind-control, you will behold the Deity that resides in your heart.

Jaya Jaya Shankara
Hara Hara Shankara
Keep LEarning

Sivakumar Manikanteswaran
.

Blog Post #61 - Game theory in everyday life - what games are you playing today?

Very interesting Concept and I got this best book "Rock,Paper,Scissors" by Len Fisher.

I didn't see the movie beautiful mind and if you did or didn't you should know John Nash and Nash's equilibrium.

Why is it important to learn game theory?
Because you like angry birds? No.
Because Len Fisher is a good author. Yes.
Because it is useful and interesting. Yes.

Prisoner's dilemma is the basis of most of the game theory. Let us learn about that today.

Watergate scandal - Nixon as president of US secretly wanted to bug  Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate complex on June 17, 1972 which 5 people were tasked to do.

Long story short Nixon denied then accepted the act/cover-up and resigned.
What does this have to do with Game theory?

Bernard and Frank were 2 of the folks who were involved in the break in and got caught by cops in watergate hotel.

The prosecutor offered both Bernard and Frank (who couldn't communicate to each other ) the following
similar to the picture below - the numbers are not the same/true.


If Frank accepts and Bernard doesn't then Frank gets out of prison term = Free and Bernard is going to Prison for long time (20 years).
If Bernard accepts and Frank doesn't then Bernard gets out of prison term = Free  and Frank s going to Prison for long time (20 years).
If both accept then both get shorter prison term (say 8 years as below)
If both don't accept the crime then both get shorter prison term (say 6 months below)

The best thing that can happen is for both to shut up!! but this means that both have to trust the other person will not accept!

You and your brother(sister or friend) have taken stuff got caught and were in this dilemma... not that you were in a prison. Can you trust your brother/friend or sister that would co-operate ?

John nash won nobel prize for game theory.

Game Theory is played in market place between companies.

Look at the example below..Which company will spend R&D money on a new business platform?

Microsoft and RIM(not in business anymore?- makers of blackberry) as a group vs. Apple and Google. You can create own for Apple Vs. Google and Since I like them both I will pitch them against my 'paycheck' platform provider company Microsoft.(remove RIM who cares)

Rock Paper Scissors is played on a everyday basis during 3 way negotiation. In a real estate deal you bid for a house and you think it is between you and the seller. The seller gets another offer... there you go.. now there is a game between 3 people - buyer,seller and the competing buyer. Rock,Paper,Scissors..

I cut you choose:
If two kids are fighting for a piece of cake,ask one kid to cut and the other to choose. If you have chores around the house split it into 2 sets of chores and ask your spouse to choose. 

If someone doesn't take the last piece of cake in a tray (or the last piece of samosa in our parties) then you are playing a game too...


There are 7 deadly dilemmas

Tragedy of commons - Multi person Prisoner's dilemma. 

If there is a common place where every person who owns their cow are allowed to graze then adding one more cow by any of the owners adds to the problem.
Think water rations in Texas - if we all  follow the water regulation and water our grass when there is a drought all of us will feel that our grass suffers. 

Few of us can water and break the law and it might still not have an effect. If everyone breaks the law then there will be no water. Got it?

Global warming,Over fishing - lots of complex problems between nations have this game behind them. 
Benefits of credit cards while some are in the credit trap
dvd piracy - some people have to go to theater for rest of us to watch pirated(or original dvd.)
Can you spot Tragedy of commons next time when you witness the same?

Free Rider - Taking advantage without contributing

examples - 

Standing in a sports or non sports events and blocking other people's view while enjoying a better view for ourselves

Burglary

Not joining a trade union and still enjoying benefits

Disarmament - People wanting to disarm a country would still benefit if the country makes arrangement for protection - Singapore doesn't have to have a big army while the treaty with US will help it get the massive structure to protect it.

Peter Ustinov commented - "Corruption is nature's way of restoring our faith in democracy"

The author of the book talks about a case where few people share one secretary and run to her creating emergencies. She is the shared resource and everyone wants to be the free-rider and she dealt with it by 

"Lack of planning on your part does not justify an emergency on my part". 

This is a good way to deal with free-rider and with anyone who demands anything from you without giving you time to plan/respond.

Battle of Husband and Wife (google to know this game) - 

When you (the male) want to go to a movie or watch tv or go for a game (Which man doesn't want to sit and analyze,men have lots of choices in how to watch sports - few want to play though and they go inside the TV and become players ) and your wife wants to go shopping(Which wife doesn't want to go shopping? Women have lots of choices in the shops they would love to shop) who wins?

Chicken

When 2 people walk towards each other in a sidewalk , when Russia and US face off with weapons near Cuba whoever steps out is a 'chicken'. In a fight with anyone in your life whoever is ready to compromise has to tackle the 'chicken' problem. It takes a Mahatma to be human!

Volunteer's dilemma 

When asked for a volunteer if some one volunteers you are not required to volunteer.If no one volunteers you are not safe - you are now part of the pool.

When was the last time you volunteered ? Was it forced volunteering? Think about it.

Stag Hunt

in the meantime Stag Hunt is the best and highest reward structure that is all about collaboration. 4 people can kill a stag or deer. One person can kill a rat/mice. Only when 4 people collaborate - you get the point.. forget eating animals back to real life. 

On the other hand - Prisoner's dilemma was about reward and Stag Hunt is about Risk. 

How many senators will vote against Patriot act in 2000?

If you are in Tibet, each person who wants to talk to a westerner has to think about Risk of getting caught by police (because his neighbor might be a spy) and Urge to pass their thought.

These games at the highest level are mind games played by humans.

Animals play simple fight or flight responses. Humans play deadly games which are not easy to comprehend.

What games do you know?
Which ones do you play?
What strategies do you use?
Can you share them? 


Keep Learning
Sivakumar Manikanteswaran