Tenzing had become a friend , he reminded me of a long lost uncle , a fuzzy , charming yet curious character , was he going to be my guide around the mountain paths of Dharamshala .The sun was about to set and I made a lsat dash towards the office block . I was told that the Dalai Lama will give public sermon on the 17th of May , right now his son is sick and the holiness wishes to tend to his son , who needs his special attention .” Can I make a application , you know write a letter to him , I have so many questions I want to ask the great man , please you have to help me .” I almost stumbled over the table , as I tried to explain my predicament to the security guard at the office . He only nodded and said ,” I am sorry no visitors till the 17th you come to the public sermon .” Well I had missed a chance again nevertheless I could get to take some snaps and pictures of the Holy man on the 17th of May , with that thought I ventured towards my Hotel a small guest house called Sagar .

The night is cool here around 19 degrees and the streets get quite most shops shut down by 8:00 pm and the town goes to sleep , summers is the peak season in this part of Himachal , so one has to make hotel bookings in advance , I for one forgot that and ended up hovering from one hotel to the other just looking for a room . My room is neat with a double bed , but no Wifi with a bath and table , along with a pair of brown sofa’s well for Rs 1600 bucks it was a steal especially during the peak season .I was starving , and immediately asked the helper to get me two platES OF idili and sambhar . The food arrived in it’s own sweet time , the door bell rang and I opened the door to my utter surprise and some how with sweat amazement . At the door stood the lean Tenzing , my mad monk from the monastery .” Food , yes ! It is very important , now you get south Indian here also in the extreme north on the mountains .’ He laughed and entered my room .” But you , I left you at the monastery , you chase me till my hotel room , you do have magical powers then .

” I let him come in and make himself at home , Tenzing was my mate , my Bon master who would acquaint me with the wonders of the valley and it’s ancient traditions .I sat him down on the sofa and gave him some water to drink .” You are. Also a writer , I see you have a fine laptop their , true creative person , my Shiva Bhakta my Hindu friend . Tenzing was being extra kind and I still could not get over the fact that he was here with me in my room , no doubt wanting to teach me some other life’s many lessons .” Have you ever wondered what sorrow is , mean really thought and felt the emotion of sorrow , it is a very deep almost poetic experience , pain and sorrow are transcendental experience , which every human being goes through with greater or lesser intensity .” He tried to  explain like a old should master , yes he was the Bon master indeed . Tenzing had this habit of making grand gestures with his hand as he tired to explain the easter mysticism to me .” But the pain that hurts the most is the one that is self generated , that is to say , you hurt yourself , their is no cure for that , who can save you from hurting yourself , no one right .” , he paused to take a sip of cold water from the glass and then very carefully placed it on the table .

“ Today was tiring my old friend , but the night is still young come lets go for a walk around the parks , night can be a very enlightening experience  , it is at. Night when the occult powers are at their peak and the mountain air gives it it’s special breeze .Come with me we go for a stroll .” I thought the man was doing , I had hardly finished the idli’s he had got for me , for my dinner and now he wanted me to take a walk with him . I nevertheless relented to the offer and followed him step for step , he had very long strides that were still strong after the entire days hectic activity .” Most suffering in the world is self inflicted and that is because we see ourselves as the body , which is a very limiting experience , as a body has boundaries , it can only seeks pleasures of the world .” The man went on with his sermon with self. Assurance , he looked like some one who knew what he was talking about , or atlas he mad you believe that , Tenzing had a balanced tone and modulated his voice to give his talks that extra bit of zing and picturesque imagination .

It’s as if he wanted you to see visually what he was taking about . So it was me and my magical monk floating the streets of the quite town of Dharamshala at the wee hours of the night .’ You too it seems suffer from a pain , a deep pain through deep suffering , but yours too is self inflicted .’ He looked into my eyes when he said that , he looked deep with in my eyes .I was taken aback at that retort , almost startled , even astonished how did he know about my personal pain and suffering , man this man could almost read my mind it seemed . Yes indeed my pain existed the brutal murder of my father and the aftermath where my life was left in tatters and my soul completely crushed . Was I not here to seek answers from his holiness about my fathers unfortunate and brutal death . What should I do , should I forgive the murders , what of me then will I be able to forgive myself and absolve my soul of all that befell on my dad . Was it this pain of mine the monk was talking about , he had struck a cord with in me .” It is true my pain is self inflicted a sort of guilt , like dogs bone it is stuck somewhere in my wind pipe . It’s a kind of blockage in my internal consciousness .

How do I get rid of this then .” I looked back into Tenzing eyes turning my torso toward him , my face blank and without expression searched for answers from him .” First jean to identify with your pain , then slowly watch it the more focused you are when you watch your pain , you will see it will slowly disappear like a cloud in the sky , just melt away .” Tenzing said this and then suddenly bent and stooped to pick up a few pebbles . “ Now just watch me throw these sones into the valley , let me try if I can hit the mountain pick , .” He took a huge javelin thrower stance and with a whip lash threw the stone into the valley towards the mountain peeks . The pebble flew into the sky upwards making an arc and like a projectile began to loose altitude till it disappeared into the crevices of the valley itself .” Now I show again , you just watch the pebble , nothing else just concentrate on the stone and its trajectory with full focus , just watch it again and again more closely , here I go again .” He threw the pebble again with all his might , his shoulders were powerful , well he had made the wishing wheel go round and round with great speed . This time I was alert and just focussed hard on the stone , to my wonder it became slower through the air , it’s like it lost speed and went into slow motion mode , everything looked slow , it seemed that the pebble would keep hanging in the air .” You see that is what watching does it slows thing down it is an antidote to tackle pain it’s the ultimate pain killer specially the type you carry in your heart , just watch and be a witness it will disappear .” He put his arms around me , Tenzing was a bit taller then me by a few inches .

” Did I tell you the story of the great Tibetan monk and holy man Drupka Kunrey , he was a great man who walked the roof top’s of the Tibetan mountains , I tell you his story . He is the reason why the phallic symbol is so popular in Bhutan and that part of the world .” It seems my monk knew his ancient history .’ You see Drupka soon found out after his meditation’s and prayers , that pain could only be transcended by pleasure . As these were twins of each other they went hand in glove , first one then the other pain follows pleasure .The phallic symbols that you see on roof’s and walls everywhere , is the symbol of pleasure as in sexual drive and pleasure which is available to us all , in abundance without paying for it even .Thus in the ancient Bon tradition we believe e that the antidote to pain and suffering is pleasure and only pleasure .” He paused to see how much I had gathered what he was talking about , I sure took my time to absorb his sermon on plain and it’s transcendence through pleasure .

Yes my magical monk had done it again he had given me my second season the Lesson of Transcend pain through pleasure .

Chapter One: The Lesson of Attention

He was tall of height and slim of waist , his legs lean and long , his strides assured  and steady as he paced around on the courtyard as if looking for something on the floor . He had beads , a Mala in his hands , as he twisted and turned his figures doing his morning Jaapa . I had waited long for the Dalai Lama , three days in Dharamshala it was he I was most eager to meet . As I kept my camera close to me , to take pictures of the many monks who resided in this monastery . But my eyes came back again and again to witness this rather tall and lean monk , who seems to be in. A bit of a hurry . He took three circles around the courtyard often mumbling to himself as if he was reciting some great Buddhist Shloka . The cemented corridors where a bit empty today , I was told the the great man was a bit of wether and will not be able to give his daily sermon today , the ceremony was postponed for another day. I felt at ease now , the tension of seeing the great man had evaporated . I kept my camera bag on a ledge and sat down on a wooden bench that faced the massive courtyard , by back was now facing the mountains of maclaud ganj as the sun came up from the eastern sky.

Its as still cold and the air was fresh and breezy . I gazed back again at the monk of the courtyard as he kept taking his rounds , his strides long yet steady as he mumbled the mart’s to himself . His shloka’s vibrated in the air as he moved from one edge of the monastery to the other edge , his eyes lowered as if staring at the floor , his gaze was not on his surroundings , but turned inwards with in himself . It’s as if he was not searching for anything outside but looking for answers from within . I was fascinated by him , he wore the traditional maroon robe with a yellow and orange shawl raped around himself . He wore black leather shoes which helped him too walk briskly around the courtyard .

One , two , three he kept talking his rounds at times he would stop abruptly and step towards the giant wishing wheel which adorned the entrance of the courtyard . All of a sudden with a sudden jerk of the head he would look at the wishing well and then smile , and even laugh as if to say , that he had found what he was looking for . He would then  violently move his hands around the metal cylinder and twist and turn it with all his might , with all the power that came from his shoulders . The wheel was red in colour with yellow and green marking , it was littered with Buddhist text , sone ancient mart’s and sutra’s where inscribed on it .These were chants of good luck and of happiness , anyone who twisted the wheel will be blessed by the heavens . The Monk wanted his share of the blessings it seemed . So he pushed and pushed the wheel till it went round and round and round on it’s merry way . The monk had to keep pace with the wheel and his long stride’s turned into a rhythmic dance . He was ecstatic and screamed with joy as the wheel whizzed passed his ears , his hands running and rotating it with great haste .He had more then made up for the wishes he could collect in a life time .

Then with sheer exhaustion he stopped to take a breath . I started at him and then my eyes ran to the other end of the courtyard , where two teenage bhikshus sat with bald heads staring at the sky . The sun was out and some folks sleeping on mate’s and old quilts got up steadily to usher the morning . Again the routine would start , the route of life . The mad monk by now had sat down on the floor , as he pressed his feet , he was tired for sure . So many rounds he had taken in the morning , his mediation and kappa’s where complete . He had made all his wishes and now he was ready to face the day . I sat on the bench and stared at the play in-front of me , at times taking pictures and at times contemplating the fate of the monks and the people who lived in the monastery . The office block was still shut and would remain so , their was no task today from the Lama , and no chance of seeing Richard Gear . But for me it was the madness of the monk  that got my attentions , as a slowly plodded word the exit gate of the monastery , i was no doubt frisked by the two police men at the exit . The security is tight here , the Lama is a known figure and a potential target , he needs security at all times .

My Mad Monk as if on cue mad his way behind me , as I walked down the steep slope out side the monastery which was littered with tea shops ,selling bread , bun and thupka .” You seem to be new here , are you from the city .” The mad monk inquired as I stared across at one of the tea stall , he tapped me on the shoulder and extended his hand as if to shake and greet me . I responded in kind and we formed a connection of mutual trust and understanding .” I am Tenzing from Tibet now I live here in the monastery with the Holiness .”he smiled and he said this , he had established that he was a local Monk and knew the place well .” I am a teacher and I teach the ancient religion go Bon , it is very old very very old .” He said gleefully as if trying his best to get my attention .My eyes constantly aired at the horizon overlooking the valley and the mountains .People had started coming out of their houses and shop owners Bagan trekking torsos their shops , some selling artefacts , some robes and the others book’s . Their was a bakery and continental breakfast joint on the left , some Americans seems to be enjoying eggs and sausages their .” You have been here two days , looking for the holiness , but o luck today . No problem you meet me , I will teach you all about Bon and how unlike you we do not burn our dead .” He said with a set augured look , but how did he know my religion , I could be a muslim or a Christian or a Jew or a Zoroastrian , hell people could take me as an Egyptian also . He no bout saw the Mala of Rudraksha warped around my neck , he would have known that I was Shiva’s child .The Rudraksha had given it away , he knew I was a Hindu . “ Great how did you guess that we burn our dead , how did you know i was a Hindu .” I tried to entice him into telling me more .” Well the Mala , it is the rudrakhsha beads  , you worship Shiva . He is as ancient as Bon , the Adi yogi the greatest Monk .” He knew what he was talking about and almost transported me to a time beyond time .

“ No !  In Bon we just leave our dead around the mountain side to be eaten by dog’s and birds , the bodies go back to dust the way they should , you see many wild dogs around the mountains they have all teated blood .” Hw posted his fingers towers the distant mountain peaks . To me he looked more lie a Shaman , he wore a blue woollen cap on his head and had two cheerful dimples on either cheeks .” We also et our dead , you know the aghodi’s eat dead bodies to purify their should , in-fact they live near the dead inside the cremation ground , they survive on the ghats and the alms given to them by the relatives of the dead .’ I tried to form a connection .” Then Bon is not so much different then the ancient Hindu Vedic Practices .Do you guys believe in an afterlife or do believe in re brith .” I wanted his two bit now .The Monk tired to steady himself and then took out his Mala from a deep pocket buried inside his robe , which was almost falling from his waist .” We believe in samsara , brith death and then rebirth the cycle continues . What did you think I was doing going round and round the courtyard , the wishing wheel it is the symbol of the samsara the cosmic reality that just goes round and round .” He moved his hands elaborately to form circles , and then moved them anti clock wise as if to make sure I got the point of the circular nature of existence .

The sun had been beating down fora while and the market place was abuzz with tourists and locals alike .” I am hungry , and I need to charge my camera . Come we have some tea and noodles .’ I asked Tenzing to follow me to the near by tea stall . We sat on a narrow wooden bench , Tehri were plastic chairs and a few worn out tables . A old Tibetan women was making tea while her young sun filled water into a metal pot , no doubt it would be used for making noodles later.Their Tibetan flag plastered on the wall’s with ancient buddhist scripts transcribed on the roof of the tea stall . I sat comfortably with Tenzin at times watching the TV , they were playing some old footage , where a sermon was being given by Karmapa Lama , he is second in like of the thrown .I felt distracted almost wanting my smooch to stop it’s rumble , I mean we could wait to discuss religious philosophy , before that I need my food .” You are very impatient , you see in life only good things come to those who wait , you need to wait for results , for fruits of your efforts , it’s like making fine wine or whisky , you neat a raging process , slow maturing process and then the delicate tastes and juices will appear .” He said as he picked up his cup of tea to take the first sip .” I know my mind is like a monkey keeps jumping up and down and round and round from one tree branch to another . I do deep breathing to stay my self and to calm things down .” I explained to Tenzing the deep breathing technique . He stood up and gazed at me as I huffed and puffed and turned my stomach first filling it with air and then deflating .” You are an expert , a Shiva Bhakta no doubt you have control on your breath .” He then clapped his hand and said “ You are as mad as me , your deep breathing technique very funny , I like it .” Tenzing looked at times to please me , I could not figure out who was entertains who . My eyes moved toward the the edge of the stall the old Tibetan lady came up and offered me a plate of biscuits which I gladly had , dipping it into my cup of tea .” Tenzing what a famous name it was the great Nepali Sherpa who took Edmond Hillary right on top of mount Everest .

I also meet you on top of this mountain , you have greatness in your name my friend .” I again tried to form some sort of connection  between me and the mad Buddhist monk who specialised in Bon religion .” You see God is not some one sitting up their , he is all around us , the plant , the bird the dongs the humans all living beings are his manifestation . But we do not see this reality as we are restricted with in our humans form which has boundaries , the reality is boundless .” It seems that my Bon master Tenzing was just warming up for a lecture ,” Oh! Yes once you realise that you are limitless and not lim tied by the body , that is when real freedom enters your soul , that is when you can really feel free and full of existence itself .” He wanted to go on and waited to see weather I showed any interest in his words .” I know that feeling I use to get that feeling while doing the laughing meditation . But one has to eat and live , one has to work and thus one has to come back to the boundaries of the human body . “ I tried to explain a bit exasperated , as I realised the limitedness of the human form . Some how we humans have always wanted to be limitless , boundless and be more then what we perceive to be .” Here I give you this book , it is the scripts of Bon , you will get great philosophical knowledge through it .” Tenzing tried to peddle his book to me , I had already spent Rs 50 on his tea and biscuits and now he wanted me to spend Rs 100 on the book .” Yes even a Monk has to eat , all living creatures have to eat .” He looked at me as if wanting my sympathy .I took out a note and stuffed it in his hand , he looked at me with joy and took my hand ,” Come I take you back to the wishing wheel , make your wish with my blessings it will come true .” We stormed out of the tea stall and slowly tried up the narrow by lanes of the hill back in to the monastery courtyard , by now it was well past noon .The wishing wheel sacred at us as Tenzing moved his Hands around it and then slowly pushed it so as to generate a steady rotation .” Come come oh! Shiva Bhakta as what your hearts desire and it will be done .” He was eager that I make a wish .” I wish to meet his holiness before I leave this ancient valley .” It was as if the energies whirling around the wheel would make my wish come true .

I looked around to see the Monk , but he had vanished , I turned to the court yard and walked up a flight of stairs , their was a bit of Panic in my hear as I lost site of my ancient Bon friend , but soon I found him . “ Tenzing show me the golden Buddha , I am told it’s one of a kind .” Tenzing turned around and looked behind my head m he pointed to the stature which almost stared at me from the adjacent . Yes this was the golden Buddha , I at once prostrated in-front of it and did it almost a dozen times to give my respect in the traditional Buddhist way . I was almost panting but as I gained my senses after the prayer , I lost site of Tenzing again .

I walke down the same flight of steps and walked on the edges of the court yard the two teenage Bhikhu’s sat by the side , now they seem to be engrossed reading from pages of some ancient text . They kept chanting and moving their hands up and down lining forwards and then backwards in a rhythmic movement , muttering their shloka’s that they red out from the text . The buzz reversed in the air as I came closer to them the sound are clearer and sharper . They took no notice of me , they were consecrating their energies on their breath and on the words that came out of their mouth . I almost lost myself seeing these tender beings so engrossed in there daily rituals and practices . It’s as if I had lost time , I felt no need to look for Tenzing , I assure he is here somewhere , my panic had subsided as I stood mesmerised by the two bald teenage Bhikshu’s , who still had not noticed me .

Immediately my hand went around my neck as I looked down to see if I was wearing mine still , to my amazement it was gone , yes  my Mala had disappeared from my neck . Hell Tenzing had whisked it off me , jus taken it from around my neck .” This is the magic of Bon , this is natures magic , you Mala is here in my had .” He dangled the holy Mala in-front of my face .Tenzing had stolen it while we were engrossed in conversation , but when , how ,where man this guy was a smooth criminal .” I have many tricks my friend this is just the being , see you did not even know that it was gone , taken from you unaware , you had no clue I had whisked it off you .” He pored and laughed at his slight of hand  , this man was not only a Bon monk he was a magician of sorts and he had tucked me of my Mala .

“ But when did you take it , I was clueless , you are smooth and so are your bag of tricks .’ I wanted an answer an explanation .” Easy while I was pushing the wheel and you are making your wish , you were so engrossed in prayer , you did not realise it was gone , I had removed it from your neck , it’s and ancient Bon trick only comes with hard practice .” He smiled , this man kew his craft .” You are a  Mad monk first you run around in circles , then. You circle around wishing wheels , then you disappear and reappear with my Mala .You seems more like a ghost then a Bon Monk ’ I said intrigued by Tenzing’s mannerisms.

‘“Well I have a great man’s name and I can do great magic tricks this is just the being , in-fact this was my first lesson to you about The ancient faith of Bon . The lesson is attention , you lost attention and therefore lost sight of your Mala . Attention is of paramount importance , whatever you give attention will grow and what ever you take attain lion away from will fall out of your world , by given attention you can create and recreate your own world over and over again as and how you please .” Tenzing thus explained the First and Primary concept of Bon it’s First lesson the lesson of attention.

Just stumbles into a beautiful site called blogtakradio.com , now that I have been blogging for four years , I still remember my three years working for a radio station in Delhi and Mumbai as a producer . Well blogtalk is a podcaster and creator of online radio talk and music shows . It started in 2006 and has since grown to over 24 million ,listeners and over 10,000 blogtalk show hosts . The company also syndicates its top shows to national tv and radio stations . I was stunned how easily I could podcast my own talk show , all I had to do is sign up and then choose the various plans that they had on offer . The first plan is free and gives you 15 min of talk time . They have a plan for $ 100 a month and a premium plan to . With a few clicks you can start your own talk shoe . Their are a certain defines categories of course , that include food , spirituality , religion , art etc and one has to build the name and content of the show specified by these categories . I choose travel as my category even lifestyle would be a good category , as a travel blogger I had the brand name of the show tikku’s tarvelthon  , now all I had to do is read out my blog posts and e books to my authors with passion din a entertaining manner , some sound and music beds and I would have my sound file ready .

This can be uploaded on your radio talk shoe channel . You can also send invites to people to dial into your show and start conversations across the globe .The show tells with my blogging and is a perfect blogtak show , a travel show ever I take the listeners through my travel journey using my diction , music and sound beds , it would turn out to be entertaining . I could link it to my current blog , so people can listen in directly and even participate in the show .Their is a RSS feed facility and depending on the package you have chosen , you will get a stipulated Amos t of hours to broadcast , you ill decide on the time and day slot .

I found this an exciting way to take my creative work further for blogging to e books and now blogtalk . I also think audible for making talking books is also something which I should explore further , but for me I want try blog talk for now .

If one goes through ancient Vedic text or our stories of Krishna , Rama and even the Mahabharata we  hear this word constantly MAYA . In Mahabharata we have Krishna the ultimate Mayavi a man who brings mystic and mesmerises people with his bag of tricks . He beheads Shishupal with one stroke of his Sudarshan chakra and becomes taller then the castle dome when Duryodhana ask he be arrested and made captive .He flies  in the air and throws Draupadi an unlimited peace of cloth  that she wraps around her as she is being disrobed by Dusshasana  . In old Vedic scriptures this world is also called Maya or an illusion . The yogi’s say the world is not what you see through the five senses , that is an illusion , their is an unhidden world of nothingness that is the ultimate reality .Here we see the world becoming an illusion , this has been stated by Krishna in the Geeta as well , that we are here for a limited time and most die not even being able to connect with the ultimate reality and the final truth .

Maya is the great illusion a magic trick of sorts a wool that is used to cover our eyes , as we walk though life oblivious to the real reality .In the Ramayana we also see Maya , people say that the oldest text of the Ramayana state that Seeta lived with ram at the forest in the form of a Chaya . Here again illusion and Maya is at play . Mahrich turns into a golden deer to draw Ram into the forest . Ravana and his army have many general’s with occult powers and use of Maya was prevalent amongst the Rakhshasa in that time .To break the Maya you have to be like a seer who sees things as it is or as they are .

A much used name amongst the women it smells of mystic , hidden charm with all the illusion of an alternate reality .Maya is also another name for Goddess Parvati .Here she is the consort of Shankara the Adi yogi the man who has perceived the ultimate reality , a meditator who has seen the world as an illusion and escaped it’s Maya to sit at mount Kalash so that he can meditate till eternity . She is his wife in the Purna stories MAYA with the ultimate knower , the man who has pierced the illusion.

That is why most Indian’s get impress with fake saints and sadhu’s show their magic tricks to them , people seek these Godmen because the believe they have some greater powers . The Sad Baba was famous for his Vibhuti act , ash would come out of thin air and drop from his hands onto the devotees forehead . That people though was MAYA , and he is hailed as a great mystic by many followers .A deep yet esoteric word steeped into our ancient texts and mythical tales Maya is the great illusion , it will be spoken of for ever and enjoy a scared place in our hearts.

Maya is also the name of the indigenous people of Mexico and south America . They are the natives of this region and were a very advanced civilisation for their time . They had mad some incredible art , temples , buildings and also developed their own script . But today even that is an illusion as you can visit Mexico to see the remains and ashes of this great culture that once thrived .

East has always been the land of seekers , if you closely look at the main eastern religions Hinduism , Buddhism , Jainism , Bon , you will find that they all talk and support an after life . These religions propagate that man does not have one birth and death cycles , he goes through infinite cycles of birth and death . As it says in the Geeta , the body made of the five elements is just like a piece of clothing . As in life man wears and then discards his robes and clothes , the body will also be discarded one day and all that will remain is the soul , the eternal the light or the atman as they call it in Hindu Vedic philosophy . This cycle can only be broken through self realisation and through spiritual practices called the sadhana . So is the same in Buddhism they call this cycle of life and death Samsara and the moksha who go into spiritual search are looking for Moksha when their soul merges with the superconscious and becomes all and divine . Buddhism also has the birth and death theme , so does Jainism for that matter propagated by Mahavira . The body is a piece of cloth and what happens to you in the current life is cause of Karma that you have collected over many past lives . The events that unfold in this life maybe to balance out the Karma done in past lives .That is why many a times we are stuck to ponder why such things good or bad , negative or positive are happening in our lives . We try to re collect what are the reasons for this , but are left wondering . The answer is simple , you carry your deeds , actions and karma’s as the soul moves from one body to anther or for that matter one life to another . The vents that unfold , happen due to also karma’s of past lives .

That is why the east is always seeking liberation , they are seeking enlightenment . Now that they have many lives to live and many more karma’s will unfold , the current life is just a dream till another one unfolds . These religions thus talk of detachment , to be in the world but not of it . Their is no need to fetter or worry , this life is no more a face from start to finish , as it itself is eternal and is never ending the cycle has no beginning and no end . This life is. to all , it is a collected karma of past life .This detaches you from things and events as you just witness them unfold , you know and are reassured this will happen again and again in a cyclic form .

The western religious philosophies Christianity , Judaism , Islam have the concept of heaven and hell and things like the judgement day or the day of the Qayamat . They see this life as one life birth to death and then you will be judged for your actions by a benevolent god . According to your actions you will be given heaven or be doomed to the hell fire .They have a fear component in them . Follow the laws of the Bible or the Quran strictly or else prepare for hell.This life is all topi have to do good and get a ticket to paradise as it were .The West is looking outward where as the east has always searched inwards , that is the way of the Yogi or the Guru .

In Judaism you have the law of the Tora their holy books along with Genesis. It states that Judaism pre dates even Christianity and that Christianity is an of shoot of Judaism . The religion began more then 3800 years ago with a conversation between GOD and Abraham . The father as it where of the jews . They were then given the Tora a book of commandments and laws that would govern the religious community .Here again is the concept of Garden of eden as heaven and Ghinnom is the hell where the soul is damed to great fires .Make sure you do enough good not to burn for ever .

What people like OSHO were doing was the combine the two Western and Easter halves into one wholistic philosophy meant for the entire human race .A new man was what he was creating the Zorba the Buddha . A man steeped in both spiritual and materialistic philosophies . That was the new way or the new path .

change.org is anther great petal that I explored today , it’s a portal dedicated to tasing social awareness through change . You can pick and choose any cause , education for the poor , garbage free cities , stop plastic pollution or just want to keep the Juhu beach clean . Environmental issue , gay rights , rape , crime in neighborhoods anything that will change the society or your neighborhood for good , you can make your own petition and get pole to sign it . The petition is open to all the millions of users and followers of change.org . The more signatures you have for your cause the more power for the petition . These petitions have to be clearly worded , what is the issue and why will it benefit society or bring greater good for mankind . Make sure you think your petition though and frame not correctly and concisely . It makes sneak to attach and bright picture on your written words , use images that coney you petition and the vision behind your cause .Once that is done you will be asked to share it on Facebook through twitter and other social media handle , you can also post it on your blog and add it to your back page of your e books .

Then you have a huge database of politician’s , social workers , business barons , celebrities who the petition will be handed to .These are the people whop will make changes to the. Laws or local rules and ask government agencies to act and abide by the cause of your petition . As I said more signatures you have the quicker change will happen at the ground level . Through change.org every citizen has the power to create change at least in his/her local environment . It is a great tool and is being used extensively by government agencies , NGO and local bodies to create awareness of issues that need to be addressed by our society at lease . The website runs on donations and advertisements .

A great tool can be used by individual’s and business to bring about social change .

Now that I am in the fourth year of my blogging journey, I have realised how important it is for one to be still, totally relaxed, just watching your thoughts doing absolutely nothing, free from pain or misery just within oneself gay and happy. The more you rate time the better your doodling. So what is Doodling you ask, it is doing something not for the sake of achieving something, it has no objective, but has a vision and a form. You can write blogs thats the best way of doodling, one can draw cartoon’s, some enjoy making sketches, some write poetry, others like to play with paint, and some just want to make rangoli in the back yard. Doodling is the most meditative state you can reach during  the day, when you are just yourself, no goal no purpose just ideal time staring at you from afar. I try and even in this stage most of the time in the day especially in the night of mid afternoons, thats when your creativity is at its best and ides drop into your head like email’s in your mail box.

Just doing things for the fun and joy of it no pressure to achieve. no goal to attain, the very attainment becomes the goal. The doodles express your inner world and joy or even fears but they come from a very deep core, their interpretations also vary, but their substance and juice remains esoteric yet meaningful. Doodling is expressive and is a definite art form, it’s just happy idling of time, a state of non doing and non achievement.

Most masters, thinkers and visionaries will tell you about this paradigm which is totally about non doing and one can sink in this zone for days on end. I have been their many times so I should kn ow, it can be madness but with a fragrance and bloom. Weather you are drawing Donald Duck, Fuzzy the bear or just plain Spiderman, you need to be most relaxed and at ease to get some really breakthrough idea’s this is what doodling facilitates it opens up certain un tapped pores in the mind and the motor nerves you begin to have your own unique take on every thing.

Using of the body and the sensation of touch makes it an even greater experience. Imagine just playing with clay on a potters well, trying to make a pot. Or sitting half naked on a floor covered with white canvas, throwing  streaks of colour on the canvas and trying to make a pattern or an abstract image. Jumping up and down in a bucket full of grapes, may be just simply baking. A bread or a pie. Doodling is food for the soul and the more you do it more joyful you will be, I can do it for hours on end and it has only benefited my well being. So as far as I see it wasting and ideating time is the in think. Go out their guys and just doodle the day through let your inner creativity come through.

One of the biggest expense for a web–series is food  , you need ton’s and ton’s of it and all of it during the actual shoot . If you can get a food sponsor who fits the bill for the food lunch and dinner during the shoot , you really reduce your expense . I expect a shoot of 15 days and the food sponsor needs to feed 30 people everyday that includes film crew and actors . That roughly an expense of 2.25 lakhs in all .

In exchange you can offer free publicity to the food joint as in product branding in the web–series script , logs on all videos and publicity material . As a bonus you execute an event “ Evening with the Stars .” at the outlet where known faces and actors of the web–series will interact with the customers of the eatery .

Some one from the unit can volunteer with the pick up and delivery of the food packages . If one can execute a barter for food a lot of the cost of the web–series can be trimmed .

The thing that has been most debated since mankind evolved is Dharma . Weather it be the Vedic scriptures the upanishads to the great religious texts both in the east and the west , dharma has been widely debated . What is my Dharma or the right thing to do when you meet situations , tricky challenges in life , how do you decide what is right for you , because what is right for you to do may hurt some on else or may be wrong for others . We live in an interconnected world and society were actions of one effects others , though a ripple effect . As society we are interdependent on each other as a ecosystem , so my right can be your wrong . No were do we see this conundrum more at play , then in our mythological and religious theories . From Mahabharata and Ramayana all stories we see each character debating dharma . Weather be it Arjun in the Geeta or Bhishma before the war , in Ramayana you had the great samvad between Ravana and Kumbhakarna . Dharma has been widely debated what road does one take and what could be the consequences of each road taken , this invariably results in a persons Karma . Dharma automatically translates into Karma .What you sow is what you will reap , most of us live at very low level of consciousness and are mechanical wit our decision making we are thus not aware of our actions let alone the consequences of them.

When you decide and act at a deeper level of understanding you will get your answer to what is right for you your charm as it were . Remember it has to come from a deep insight and intellect after evaluation . When you cat on your dharma be ready to understand the consequences of the acting and the resultant karma you create . As it were the consequences are for you to bear and they may not be pleasant but you must be ready to take the hit .Except the result of your action fully then their is no need to worry . Remember in the world their are no friends and no enemies , everyone is associated with each other through. Bond of interdependence you are your own friend and your own enemy .So as long as you can decide on your Dharma form a deeper level you will k now it is the right thing for you to do . The consequences both ways are for you to suffer pleasant or unpleasant you cannot put the blame on others and the world due to the resultant actions of your dharma , it is only for your to understand and bear . In the Mahabharata all characters were attached to Their Dharama and that resulted in them being on either side of the war , some with the Kauravas the others with the Pandavas they had decided their road and the karma was for them to bear.

Both Karma and Dharma are eastern philosophical principles and it was we who taught them to the west these are purely Easter philosophical principles that the west absorbed . Karma says as you so you will reap if not in this life in the next life . The principle has a sense of justice attached to it , if you feel some one has worked you and done bad to you , karma reassures you that that person will suffer one day for their actions .Karma is thus like divine justice , as theological theory that States that their is a natural way of justice that the universe meets out to all of us and the universe is always eves dropping on us like a ever present policemen nothing escapes it’s eyes .

In Christianity we have the confession box were one can confess their sins infant of God and Jesus and be relived of their sins . We as Hindu’s do the same by cleansing our sins in the Ganges , the karma’s of the past are waged away so new karma can be generated and the cycle goes on endlessly .

Now that I am exploring ways of making a web-series I thought it only prudent to check out ways that one can make money from uploading videos to platforms that pay you for the number of views , hours watched , videos rented or bought . So I decided to explore the options and find out more .The top eight sites that support video monetisation are as follows .

Daily Motion : It has a 70% profit sharing program and one can upload good quality edited video’s . It streams ads on the videos and also allows people to rent the video through video on demand . It has a monetisation plan just like the youtube partner program and your money is wired through PayPal .

Vimeo On Demand : This os 90% profit-sharing model , you need to own full copyright of your video and you can sell your video or people can buy and rent it . Eligibility criteria is that you need to have a demo pro account that cost $ 17 a month . You will have full control on the pricing of your video and will get analytics to track who is buying and who is viewing your video .

Amazon Direct Video : This is a profit sharing program where you create a separate channel through your amazon account , you can check into any of their royalty programs . You get moneyfor hours view , video’s rented and bought through there site . Amazon will promote your video to many countries especially the large US market . Payment is made into your bank account through EFT or Wire Transfer . Their is a list of countries where it supports payment currently India is not on their list but if you have friends in US or UK you can give their bank details and they can wire the money to your Indian account . Make sure you read the list of countries where amazon supports payment . Also read the content policy and technicals about the quality of audio and visuals , amazon direct does not support. 4K UHD currently and only supports till 1080p HD .

Envul : This site lets you earn for every 30 sec of your video watched , but it focuses on gaming video and you should have all the copy rights . The payment is made through PayPal .Though it’s monetisation program members can earn $ 3 for every 1000 views . But it scents only gaming based videos .

Youtube : The most popular of all you can be part of their Youtube creator program and also link your Adsense to it to monetise for ads .But you will not be part of the youtube monetisation program until you hit 1000 subscribers.

You also have twitter and facebook ads through which you can monetise your videos but the monetisation services are only available for US citizens and Indian citizen cannot benefit form it .

Make sure you read the details of the content guide line policy , technical specifications , royalty programs and eligibility criteria of all these video platforms before you create your channel and start video uploads .