Tell me about your mystics ....

A wise man once said, "Tell me about your mystics and I will tell you how wise your people are ... "

Well, this is the same wise (wo)man writing the rest of the post ! But really, of all the achievements of a people it's not the technological, architectural, social, or cultural achievements that sing true praise of them but how many mystics lived among them and how well they treated them.

For all other achievements are of no real significance if their relationship with God is not intimate ... Which is why we all should be proud to be Indian !

I am interested these days in the religion of Judaism. I would love to know what their mystics were like ...

Selfish vs selfless ??

Since childhood we are taught that selfless activities - like helping people in need, are better than selfish activities - buying tons of candy for yourself !

But are these so called selfless activities really selfless ?

Some of them are obviously selfish ones - like when rich people give to charity and get extensive coverage for it and some of them are not so obviously selfish - like say in the case of anonymous donors who do not feel comfortable being recognized ....
But they remain selfish as long as they derive something out of it - recognition, fame or even a quiet warm feeling deep in your own heart.
Is a truly selfless act possible at all ?
What about the person whose concept of is self is so all-encompassing that he treats the whole universe as him-self. But wait a minute in that case it becomes a truly selfish act !

So I guess there is nothing that is truly selfless ....

The Path to salvation is a razors edge

The Path to salvation is a razors edge - So says the Katha Upanishad.
Somerset Maugham's razors edge tries to make a story around this. I remember reading this as a kid; and I remember being really impressed by it !
I saw the movie just now and I must say that while it was an interesting movie it had nothing to do with the Katha Upanishad or salvation or even a razor's edge ( literally or figuratively)
I guess this is what happens when someone tries to write about something they have no clue about !
Alas the job of salvation is not a rosy one filled with adventure and drama. Sometimes it's long and tedious and needs tremendous patience. Like the job of a scientist, sifting through a bunch of data ....
Or so I assume ...
But it is like a razor's edge. It's so easy to go off track and wander for eons !