Deepasthambam Mahaachryam

Originally Posted by kanaka Raghavan

Nice post.Very interesting.

Dear Kanaka,

Thanks for the appreciation,

Regards,

TDU

Originally Posted by Vysan

Dear TDU,

This very much happens in the Corporate world.... Sometimes we are forced to remember our family and other financial commitments....

Nice post... This happens in day to day life....

Veda

Dear Veda,

Thanks for your appreciations. Yes, I know it has been happening in every sphere of life.

Regards,

TDU

Originally Posted by malspie

TDU,

I do not agree for the SAKE OF IT.

I always find a way express myself.

And my boss appreciates it, I have been reporting to the Director of the Company for the past four years.

All you need is the courage and proper words to express yourself.

Dear malspie,

I am glad that you do not agree. Now I can say to you 'Deepasthambam mahaacharyam' since I also need to survive in IL.

Regards,

TDU

Hi TDU,
Yes I have had to face the situation in the past. Growing up, I have heard this story from my father as well.
I have been with bosses who are not open to independent thinking and encouraged only those who promoted their view (whether right or wrong)

Many folks do this esp. here in the US because of their situation (whether it is to keep their visa or because they are in the wait for what they think is the ultimate green card - which btw is supposed to bring ever lasting happiness! :) )

But don't you agree it is part of our culture? Whether it is in relationships(take MIL case) or politics or wherever there is a hierarchy, traditionally, subordinates are to 'respect' the higher ups.

One small example - I did schooling in India. We were always taught to be 'obedient' and respect the teachers .. even if she is a terrible witch :) Teacher was always right, always did the right things and never made a mistake.
The teachers expected the students to follow what they teach, and there was no question of 'questioning' the teacher. (in most cases)
I am not saying I had very negative experiences in school growing up. I had some wonderful teachers, and I am indebted to them for who I am today.

But the jist is - There is no place for independent thining in our culture. We are supposed to go by the flow and not be against it. There is even one saying 'ezhhuthappuram vayikkaruthu' meaning 'do not read what is not taught'.

Where as my preschooler here in the US is taught very differently. He is encouraged to be creative and think differently. Children are expected to question what they don't feel right and to stand up for one's beliefs. (there is no such thing as a stupid question)

Mr. TDU I would like to hear your comments on this.
Regards,
Mythili

Originally Posted by mythili

Hi TDU,
Yes I have had to face the situation in the past. Growing up, I have heard this story from my father as well.
I have been with bosses who are not open to independent thinking and encouraged only those who promoted their view (whether right or wrong)

Many folks do this esp. here in the US because of their situation (whether it is to keep their visa or because they are in the wait for what they think is the ultimate green card - which btw is supposed to bring ever lasting happiness! :) )

But don't you agree it is part of our culture? Whether it is in relationships(take MIL case) or politics or wherever there is a hierarchy, traditionally, subordinates are to 'respect' the higher ups.

One small example - I did schooling in India. We were always taught to be 'obedient' and respect the teachers .. even if she is a terrible witch :) Teacher was always right, always did the right things and never made a mistake.
The teachers expected the students to follow what they teach, and there was no question of 'questioning' the teacher. (in most cases)
I am not saying I had very negative experiences in school growing up. I had some wonderful teachers, and I am indebted to them for who I am today.

But the jist is - There is no place for independent thining in our culture. We are supposed to go by the flow and not be against it. There is even one saying 'ezhhuthappuram vayikkaruthu' meaning 'do not read what is not taught'.

Where as my preschooler here in the US is taught very differently. He is encouraged to be creative and think differently. Children are expected to question what they don't feel right and to stand up for one's beliefs. (there is no such thing as a stupid question)

Mr. TDU I would like to hear your comments on this.
Regards,
Mythili

You are right about bosses encouraging those who promote their view. As far giving respect to teachers is concerned I never felt anything wrong. But, with incompetent bosses though I was prepared to respect the chairs they were occupying, I couldn't respect them as individuals.

You are right about people from India agreeing with bosses in U.S for their survival. It is difficult to find people like your pre-schooler.

Regards,

TDU

I could not stop analyzing this story. I think that there is an another possible way of looking at the story than many replies for this post. I think it is a good example on how one-thing can be looked in different way, say positive side and negative side.

1. First, are those poets wrong? I don't think they are wrong. Just say it again... The King ordered to erect a lamp post. The poets praised the King for that. And they got gifts. Now, with this gifts, the poet's family can eat for sometime. Is it not due to the oil lamp? So, due to that oil lamp, some family could eat to their stomach at least for few days. So, is it not true then? In fact, I could not stop admiring the King and the learned poet depicted here. I would say that he understandingly said those words with wit. The King also a learned person so that he could enjoy that wit and shower gift to that poet too. I could not compare this with people keeping quiet infront of their manager for the sake of their job. If somebody says that "Manager, I need money and need to keep my job safe. So whatever you said is right" - only this statement can be compared to 'deepasthambam mahaacharyam' - if at all it is taken in derogatory meaning.

2. Lamp has a lot of spiritual significance in hindu culture. There is a separate thread about lighting the lamp in IL. I also remember elders saying that if the temple in the village is dark (without proper lighting of the lamp), the village people would suffer. Why cann't there be some significance in the order of the King to erect a lamp post?

3. I could also remember another story about king Janagar. King Janagar is a great saint but he lived amid world pleasures. Once there was a great fire in his palace. First a servant came running and told him that the entire palace is in fire. The king was so calm. Again after some time another servant run to the King and told that the fire came near. Again the King was so calm. After sometime the fire came very close to the King. At that moment, just with a blow of his mouth, the King extinguished the fire. If the Kings single blow from the mouth can extinguish that ravaging fire, why can n't a lamp lit by a King make the stoves burning in many homes in his country? (I am a top to bottom believer of the puranas and these saintly stories - sorry if this argument don't fit to you).

4. It is said that if a Yagna is done correctly, it will bring rain soon. I have read many people telling that it happened - even while performing the Yagna itself. I understand the basics behind that. Even lighting the lamp is also like a yagna. Why cann't it have signifigance in bringing light to many people's life?

In my life I have came across situation where two persons complain about each other - the reason being the same instance. Just due to the difference in the way they looked the the same instance, they were angry with the other person. Just by the way we look at the life, it can be happy or sorrowful. If I cann't look at the positive view of anything, before blaming, I ask the question. From the Divine's grace, the answers comes. To be happy in life, it is important to learn to look at the positive side only.

If it is true that without God's grace not even a single atom can move, how can there be anything bad happen. God! Please let us see the good always and in everything.