Marketers actually believe the jargon they speak and then go around making others believe their claimed bible of buzzwords, research, actions and sales. Then trade magazines are published for the advertising and marketing community, where they analyze the latest brand campaigns, TV commercials, print ads; and these magazines are also filled with incestuous adulation of who has become a creative director where, who has become a CEO, what are they currently doing. So not only do advertisers and marketers spend their whole lives making suckers out of the general public about their products and services, they then make suckers out of themselves and their colleagues in the fraternity, by supplying the latest information and gossip to the trade magazines about their so-called “creativity”, brand campaigns, analysis and thoughts on “new” trends. Sometimes it seems like an utter waste of energy, giving your life to selling soaps, financial products, washing powders etc. But I guess even advertisers and marketers have to make a living. But would it not make sense, to simplify lives, their own and the lives of the millions they may affect. Simple truths can be told in effective ways. “Creativity” is not the birthright of only creative people in advertising agencies. It is the soul of every person.
Month: March 2010
Thats How It Is
I keep seeing Happiness and only Happiness. Even where I “recognise” unhappiness, I know at its root is only happiness.
I keep seeing Abundance and only Abundance. Even where I “recognise” non-abundance, I know at its root is only abundance.
I keep seeing Love and only Love. Even where I “recognise” non-love, I know at its root is only Love.
When I see, recognise and understand my root beat, I know there is nothing I need not see, nothing that my look need transform, nothing that I need segment.
At my root my bliss changes everything, and nothing. That’s how it is.
Even the Illusion Can Be Transformed
Most of us keep our spirituality hidden, cloaked or under our skin. Deeply powerful spiritual beings or deeply attained spiriutual teachers, will stay away from commenting on the political theatre, the current state of geo-politics or on a good sports match (there are of course many exceptions). From the ultimate perspective, these are pure illusions and probably worthless or “worthful” occurrences. But here is my point – why is say politics kept separate from spirituality – in either your mind or anyone’s mind. It’s not like we can be spiritual beings in a vacuum, can we?
We are spiritual beings in the constant present moment, creating and impacting the world we live in and celebrating our SELF and the universal SELF in all. Therefore we should consciously bring our spirituality into the world in all areas right?…politics, business, marriage, education, manufacturing – EVERYTHING REALLY. How will politics get transformed globally, if we only leave our spirituality to our meditation sessions (and I am a great believer/practitioner in/of meditation, make no mistake). Isn’t it time we let our light shine through in the illusion of the world, as it stands today, so that even the illusion can be transformed?
Matheran – Hillstation or Horseshit?
Matheran is a small hill station tucked away on a mountain, about a 2 hours drive from Mumbai. It is symptomatic of all hill stations in Maharashtra, that have fallen by the wayside and become a nuisance to travelers. There is a complete nexus of people trying to rip you off, whether it be the car park (there are no cars allowed in Matheran, you need to park a few kilometers away and then either walk or use horseback…more on that later), the horse rides, the hotels which are overpriced and give you abysmal service in return, to even the medical tablets you may buy over there. The tourist who visit Matheran (and this applies to all hill stations in Maharashtra) are not seen as people contributing to the economy or to the livelihood of the people living there, but more as people who can be cheated, twisted and robbed. It is fairly obvious the local people have a complete nexus and are hand-in-glove with local officials to perpetuate this scenario.
Most people talk about how Matheran is beautiful because its one place where cars are not allowed. Now while this is great, I do not believe this is due to any eco-sensitivity of the local people or officials; its more that the horse owners “mafia” have a strong hold on the place to perpetuate and force you to use their horseback services at rates and prices that are set arbitrarily, altered based on what background you come from and which car you drive into the car park.
No wonder tourism in Maharashtra has fallen so low, and India itself cannot up its tourism profile. Even a small country like Singapore attracts 4-8 times the number of tourists that the vast land of India attracts. Unless we respect and appreciate tourists, are kind and polite, make places tourist friendly (at the same time preserving local sensibilities and culture), not much will change. While we believe we are a culture based on “Athithi Devo Bhav” (The Guest is Like God), in practice we are culture which practices “Chor Devo Bhav” (We are Robbers, So Rob the Guest First).
Dennis Taraporewala 