On "overrated inspiration"

When Saugoree uncle left comment on my post quoting Khushwant Singh (here), I recalled 2 things for which I always remember Khushwant Singh. Although I have read his writings here and there for many years, his one article is always near and dear to me ( How To Live and Die - here). Another thing is his advice to writers that: "You should write everyday as writing everyday will make you a better writer (than others)".

It took me to Argentinian artist Milo Lockett. When I first read his interview, I was little jolted on his initial statement that: "Inspiration is Utopian". But as he further explained: "What you need is to do your work everyday. Some days you will be less passionate. You may make more mistakes, but mistakes will make you a better person. Key is to do your work everyday".

I was lucky to have good teachers and seniors during my training. I was given one advice which worked like a magic for me. I was told to read every day no matter what - Christmas, New year, birthday, sad day, someone's funeral or vacation - READ EVERYDAY - anything related to subject - 5 minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes. I have done that for last many many years and I can assure you, it did not only make me a better physician but a better human being.

As they say: Inspiration is 1% and perspiration is 99%.

Last, but not the least. In cricket's history, Pakistan's Wasim Akram was one of the real legendary bowler. I honestly believe, no one ever came close to him in swing, line-n-length, yorker and varieties. Not Imran Khan, Dennis Lillee, any West Indian furious  or even Sir Richard Hadlee. Wasim said a beautiful thing: "In life, luck will just open the door for you but rest of the journey is all your hard work and practice everyday".

On 'web of love'

On "Zameen ka bojh uthane wale"

Nasir Kaazmi ka aik shyr hai

ye aap ham to bojh hain zameen ka 
zameen ka bojh uthane wale kya hue

Bohat waqt lag gaya mujhe ye samjhne main ke - Zameen ka bojh uthane waale kaun log hote hain?

Ye woh log hote hain jo apne kaam se mukhlis (honest and sincere) hote hain. 
Jin ki apne kaam se lagan 'Bartar az ande-shaaye sud-o-ziyan' hoti hai
Unhe is baat ki fiqar nahi hoti ke maal ban raha hai ya nahi - aasoodgi milti hai ya nahi 

Ye woh log hote hain, jo apne kaam ko ibaadat samjh ker kerte hain

A beautiful Quote on Urdu

اگر آپ اردو سیکھنا چاہتے ہیں تو عشق کر لیجئے اور اگر آپ عشق کرنا چاہتے ہو تو اردو سیکھ لیجئے ۔۔۔

خشونت سنگھ۔۔۔.

An opinion on man and woman

I have an 80 years old very wise friend who is now retired, but very widely traveled and experienced with life. We frequently get engage in lengthy conversation after my work on and off. He made following comment from his experiences in life. I don't agree but it is worth sharing.

"Man may not take it seriously if he comes to know his woman likes another man in her heart as far as she is not sleeping with him. And woman may not mind if his man is sleeping with another woman as far he does not give her any place in his heart".

(Agree?)

On "Neki aur Badii"

Aik din hamare babaji ne kaha

"Buraii se hazar gaz dur raho, magar us ki nafrat ko dil main jagah banane na do"

Main ne kaha: "Babaji! buraii se nafrat to achhi cheez hui. Aap ki ye baat theek nahi lagti"

UnhoN ne jawab diya: "Beta nafrat ka jazba bakhud aik buraii hai. Badi ki illat (reason) neki hai. Badi ki apni aakhri manzil neki hai - neki ka suraj buraai ki ghup aazmaishoN hi main chamakta hai. Buraii hai to neki hai. Mere rab ne kisi cheez ko be-wajah paida nahi kiya - Zaher ka piyala tha to suqraat hai".

Aur phir  Maulana rumi ka ye shyr gungunane lage 

Aao aao, jo bhi ho tum aao aao 
mutlashi ho, aabid ho, rehbaani ho 
is karwaan pe mayoosi ka sayaa nahi
hazar ahed ke khaain ho
phir bhi aao,   aao aao

A Quote

(I don't agree with the second part of the quote but still it is a strong statement)

A Quote

Can't promise, it's Minto. But very strong

Marvel of Surah Baqarah 94-96

Reza Aslan is again in news as he is starting a series of his travelogue of religious exploration on CNN. I tend to agree with him as at the end, it is all about belief that either you lean towards accepting a divine power or not. This let me go back to my own experience and readings of different religions, cultures and societies. I firmly believe that no part of the human existence is left without divine intervention - whether it is a far flung village in Africa or a high mountain of Tibet. Reza wrote a beautiful article as a prologue to his series: "Why I am a Muslim" (here). I am in same boat as he is.

Nothing makes me believe in Islam except Quran, as Umar Bin Khattab famously said after listening Surah Haqqah that it can't be a human made poetry (It is a very poetical surah). I start reading Quran to affirm my atheism and agnosticism, but at many places I had to close book and wonder about it's teaching. Surah Asar had a massive impact on me, though I am still a very confused spiritualist but those two simple lines are core guiding principal for any human life.

My biggest shock came when I reached Surah baqarah ayat 94 to 96. Being a man of science, I always believed that humans will eventually conquer many diseases, and life span of humans will go up to 1000 years, once gene therapy takes off. I saw that prediction right there.

I took some flakes when I wrote post of Pir Shams Multani (here), but in truth human journey is far from over. Many more catalogs of human intellects, war and peace, destruction and resurrections, death and misery, happiness and achievements, many more civilizations alike Romans, exploration of far corners of universe and star wars have yet to be written.

Abhi picture baqi hai mere dost

An added advantage of being a parent

Its almost midnight and I am tired and exhausted - but wants to write this short post as I think, this was an extremely smart observation, today I heard at NPR.

"Being a parent is not only a very profound experience but simultaneously it makes you desperate to make this world a better place".

Good night.

A quote

"If you want to strike water, you don't dig six 1-foot wells; you dig one 6-foot well." ~ Buddha

Shortcut to Ishqe Haqiqi

"Babaji! hum jese sahal-pasandoN ke liye ishqe-haqiqi ka koi shortcut nahi?

"Hai, bilkul hai - magar zara mushkil hai - aur mardoN ke liye thoRa ziyada mushkil hai"

"Woh kiya?"

"Sachhe aur khaalis ishqe-mazaji ka tajarba"

"Aesa kiun?"

"Are pagle! jo aik aurat ka na ho saka - woh aik khuda ka kese ho sakta hai"!