International Student Ambassador Initiative...

I often wonder, what makes mankind so successful among rest of the animals? I believe it is the human interaction which has given us the power to share ideas. Generations after generations, these ideas took shape and structure in what we call today is education. As a person from a different culture and country I had a wonderful opportunity to come to Ireland for my education and learn the way of life here. You and I as citizens of this world have this moral obligation of understanding and creating bonds with people of different cultures and traditions and take home with us something best. We could be a team for a cause, we all agree needs a voice it deserves...education! My recent visit to Berlin, I had an opportunity to talk to a person who was surprised to know my interest in German movies; but I was more amazed when he knew Sanskrit (ancient Indian language)!! Fortunately my work takes me to people beyond my field and share and experience some lighter moments with them. Incidents such as these make us realize that a greater worldwide view on diverse cultures is essential and can be a life long experience.

My university, University College Cork (UCC) offers an ingenious way of doing so through an International student ambassador. Through it I intend to meet and interact with people from different walks of life as a representative of my country-India and my university –UCC. As a student ambassador I desire to listen to the needs of the students and address them. I love being part of UCC and its annual events. Through my participation in such events I could socialize with people and take up new responsibilities. Also, presently being post-graduate students committee (PGSC), Tyndall national Institute, UCC I intend to expand my horizons beyond UCC and take up new challenges. It would be nice to represent something which I love to be part of. A vision today will be for an impact tomorrow.

Well...on a lighter note who doesn’t want to learn cooking or singing a melody from land far-far away...

- Ricky Anthony

My Mind...

Many years ago, in an english class, we were asked to write something on the topic 'My Mind'. At first it was daunting task to write on a something so absurd. But I ended up writing 4 pages on it, I guess I had more to write than I could ever speak. 

The first thing that comes when I think of my mind (or any mind) is that its infinite. There is a difference between mind and brain/intelligence. Brain is not infinite, as it collects data through experiences and experiments/learning. But mind is. Mind is the collection of ethics called consciousness.  I remember having discussions about this. Most of the time I am judged 'religious', which I am completely not. Neither would that be spritual. But the real question is what is consciousness. What governs it? I don't have the complete answer, neither does anyone. Consciousness I feel is a higher state of mind governed by ethics.So what governs ethics, it does change from people to people. It also changes from place to place. I believe, every human has an inherent knowledge with which it comes into existence. That knowledge is deeply routed inside us. It gets hidden as a child grows up. This consciousness is sometimes awakened by religious texts or meditation, but in reality it was always there. These texts or meditations, can never give you the consciousness you were born with until it is looked within. So, ethics are governed by a higher source of energy, some call God. But I would say a unlimited energy source from which everything has been derived. But there is a catch, meditating or being religious can make a person self-righteous and hypocrite; taking oneself away far way from the consciousness. The truth is in the end only the intention matters. If a toddler hits a father, the father forgives because the toddler never has a bad intention. So, if my works are not in-sync with my words I go further away from that consciousness. Hence, it gets hidden with time. I believe these dictates, forgiveness without intention of revenge, love without intention of possessiveness, helping without intention of any return, there is increase in humility with more achievements etc., which are essential for peaceful human co-existence.

Random Thoughts!

Moments ago I was listening to this beautiful piano solo (Remembering April). And out of nowhere I thought what will happen to all the things that I know, or I have witnessed or what ever my humble soul has learned.  Will they all perish with me one day? Is everything that one learns and experiences in his life has to go? That train of thought took me my one of my favorite sitcoms, +The Simpsons . I realized how Grandpa Simpson bores his young grandchildren with his WWII stories. Then I had a sudden realization. A man experiences and keeps it to himself because he cherishes them to be his own. But when he knows that it is all that is to give at the end of the day, he shares them. Not to receive accolades, but to make others have the same feeling he has inside. To experience the same experience. These are all he has to give which are his own. But the truth is one makes his own experiences in life, his own stories to tell and his own gifts to give. The gifts which only the giver himself could ever understand. If life is a canvas; the painter alone can draw it...

Commandments

There are rules everywhere.....are they really necessary? Well, maybe for those who don't have their own. The question is what governs a man commandments? Should it defined by the law of the state?.....or by the one most profitable one?

I looked into myself and found my own one. Something governed by ethics and consciousness and hence are very personal. But I wonder how long should a man adhere to them...even if they bring losses? I didn't have an answer for some moment. But then I looked back into my life. And I found something hidden and yet known to me for long. I understood that time is the biggest leveler. It gives me back what I  gave once. If its kindness to someone, then it is indeed repaid. If it is effort, then its fruit, if it is faith and then its miracles. There is no mystery in life, but only commandments set forth by you and for you which will never be dependent on any other living soul.

 

Genesis

Well....it just an opening, not a grand one obviously. Before starting this blog I was wondering why people start one. I guess everyone has a different reason. I have mine...people change, because circumstances change, this changes our thinking and our approach towards a problem. This blog will help me retrospecting my past experiences, no matter how small and insignificant and how I dealt with them. I hope I will be able to do justice to this moment though, which compelled me to start this blog!!

It will neither be a personal one, nor the one which would involve the professional characters of my life. All it will ever speak of is my thoughts...thoughts of hope and despair, dreams and reality..but with an ultimate goal of seeking a higher purpose of my life in this world.