Thursday 22 May, 2008
Sunday 18 May, 2008
John the Baptist...
"I solemnly assure you, history has not known a man born of woman greater than John the Baptizer." Jesus says in Matthew 11:11. Why this rarest of rare compliment? May be John might have been Jesus' teacher too in some way. John also seemed to have noticed the greatness of this 'disciple' and so introduces him to his other disciples like Andrew and John. The appreciation of their master and the special introduction might have led them closer to Jesus and they in turn bring their siblings to Jesus.
The depth...
"... there still remains more for them to say and understand. There are depths to be fathomed in Christ. He is like a rich mine with many recesses containing treasures, and no matter how men try to fathom them the end is never reached... The Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God..." says John of the Cross in his Spiritual Canticle, Red B str 36-37 [Breviary, Vol I, p 39*-40*] This mine and the treasure hunting imagery is far less inferior to the fulfillment/pleasure seeking of man and woman in one another in their conjugal relations. And no one has ever exhausted in this search. May be physically one is, but never in his internal quest which we can call spiritual! It is indeed a spiritual search through the medium of the body, a search for the 'being'/soul of the other to lay hold of it, to grasp it to have a grip over it and so on. May be because of this incongruency, where the ordinary men and women fail, the mystics succede!
J.A.T. Robinson's "Honest to God" sheds light on the depth aspect of reality in contrast to the height aspect as in 'Our Father in heaven...'
"And the Word became flesh..."
"The word is not made flesh, but the spirit is made stone, music and poetry," said Walter Kaufmann in his "Religion - in Four Dimensions-Existential, Aesthetic, Historical, Comparative" p. 358 (Readers Digest Press, NY 1976). In this book while trying to glorify the Jewish religion, he seems to be biased against Christianity. The above statement seems to reflect that tendency.
John 1:14 says: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." Yes, it is the word which becomes flesh. Not the uttered/expressed word alone is word. All the words/concepts need not find expression as words. Words are also expressed in actions. One can say without any hesitancy that actions are unuttered, unexpressed words indeed. And the action par excellence of a man and woman together is one of the most powerful of all unuttered words. And this act is nothing other than their conjugal act which gives birth to a child. So, we can say with certainity that word becomes flesh. Augustine in his sermon 293,3 says: "If i think of what i want to say, the word is already in my heart." [Breviary, Vol II, p.98] 11.12.2006
Saturday 17 May, 2008
Claims on the Jewish scriptures and other heritages..!
Though Jesus, a marginal Jew, claimed to have come not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, Jews have never recognized him! They are still waiting for the 'Messaiah'! Yes, his early disciples too were Jews like him, from the fringes. Exceptions were there, but they were not coming in the light! Saul turned Paul was rather a zealot, an eccentric, though learned, as he claimed to be. He seemed not to have seen Jesus in his life time! He stole/hijacked the entire movement and the apostles, including Peter, were seemingly sidelined by his 'genius.' His wide travels and almost half of the NT books speaks volumes on his impact. What we see thereafter is more of 'Paulianity' than Christianity!
In God's name...!
"... our fathers were put to the test to prove their love of God." Jud 8: 21
Should a 'God' need to test people? If so, what is special about God? In what way God is different from man? Who/what actually is God after all? There seems to be as many answers to this as many people there are on this planet! And pitifully they faught on this different concepts about God and even accepted death - somekind of suicide! Waulter Kaufman in his "Religion in Four Dimensions" p. 85-7 narrates an incident: 'The Fall of Massada' in A.D. 73 as reported by Flavius Josephus is in revolt (of Jews) against the Romans. "We were the first to revolt against them (of course on religious grounds) and are the last still fighting them." To avoid Romans catch them alive and be treated as slaves, they preferred death. Thus some 960 died. They killed one another!
Should a 'God' need to test people? If so, what is special about God? In what way God is different from man? Who/what actually is God after all? There seems to be as many answers to this as many people there are on this planet! And pitifully they faught on this different concepts about God and even accepted death - somekind of suicide! Waulter Kaufman in his "Religion in Four Dimensions" p. 85-7 narrates an incident: 'The Fall of Massada' in A.D. 73 as reported by Flavius Josephus is in revolt (of Jews) against the Romans. "We were the first to revolt against them (of course on religious grounds) and are the last still fighting them." To avoid Romans catch them alive and be treated as slaves, they preferred death. Thus some 960 died. They killed one another!
The wife - the radiant sun of the family...
The family has its own radiant sun, the wife. Hear how scripture puts it:
The grace of a wife will charm her husband,
her accomplishments will make him the stronger.
A silent wife is a gift from the Lord,
no price can be put on a well-trained character.
A modest wife is a boon twice over,
a chaste character cannot be weighed on scales.
Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord
is the beauty of a good wife in a well-kept house.[Sirach 26:13-16]
Yes, the wife and the mother is the radiant sun of the family. She is this sun by her generosity and gift of self, by her unfailing readiness, by her watchful and prudent delicacy and all matters which can add joy to the lives of her husband and her children. She spreads around her light and warmth. And if you can say that a marriage augurs well, when both partners seek the happiness of the other rather than their own, this noble feeling and intention is more especially the quality of the wife, althought it concerns both husband and wife. It is born of the very pulse of her mother's heart and its wisdom; that wisdom which if it receives bitterness, gives only joy; if it receives belittlement, returns only dignity and respect. It is like the sun which brightens the cloudy morning with its dawning ray and in its setting gilds the evening shower.
The wife is the radiant sun of the family with the brightness of her glance and the ardour of her word; a glance and a word which gently enter the soul, bending it and making it softer and lifting it out of the tumult of passion, and recalling her husband to joy in the good and familiar conversation, after a long day of uninterrupted and often painful work whether professional or agricultural, in commerce or in industry. The wife is the radiant sun of the family by her natural candour, by her simple dignity and by her Christian and decent behaviour, as much as her collectedness of mind and uprightness of heart, as in the subtle harmony of her bearing and her dress, in her becomingness and in her behaviour at once reserved and affectionate. Little signs of feeling, shades of facial expression, ingenuous silences and smiles, an approving movement of the head, give to her the grace of some choice and yet simple flower which opens its petals to receive and reflect the colours of the sun.
If you could only know what deep feelings of affection and gratitude such an ideal wife and mother arouses and imprints in the hearts of her husband and sons!
[from a talk of Pope Pius XII to newly-married couples; from the Breviary, Vol III p.80-81]
The grace of a wife will charm her husband,
her accomplishments will make him the stronger.
A silent wife is a gift from the Lord,
no price can be put on a well-trained character.
A modest wife is a boon twice over,
a chaste character cannot be weighed on scales.
Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord
is the beauty of a good wife in a well-kept house.[Sirach 26:13-16]
Yes, the wife and the mother is the radiant sun of the family. She is this sun by her generosity and gift of self, by her unfailing readiness, by her watchful and prudent delicacy and all matters which can add joy to the lives of her husband and her children. She spreads around her light and warmth. And if you can say that a marriage augurs well, when both partners seek the happiness of the other rather than their own, this noble feeling and intention is more especially the quality of the wife, althought it concerns both husband and wife. It is born of the very pulse of her mother's heart and its wisdom; that wisdom which if it receives bitterness, gives only joy; if it receives belittlement, returns only dignity and respect. It is like the sun which brightens the cloudy morning with its dawning ray and in its setting gilds the evening shower.
The wife is the radiant sun of the family with the brightness of her glance and the ardour of her word; a glance and a word which gently enter the soul, bending it and making it softer and lifting it out of the tumult of passion, and recalling her husband to joy in the good and familiar conversation, after a long day of uninterrupted and often painful work whether professional or agricultural, in commerce or in industry. The wife is the radiant sun of the family by her natural candour, by her simple dignity and by her Christian and decent behaviour, as much as her collectedness of mind and uprightness of heart, as in the subtle harmony of her bearing and her dress, in her becomingness and in her behaviour at once reserved and affectionate. Little signs of feeling, shades of facial expression, ingenuous silences and smiles, an approving movement of the head, give to her the grace of some choice and yet simple flower which opens its petals to receive and reflect the colours of the sun.
If you could only know what deep feelings of affection and gratitude such an ideal wife and mother arouses and imprints in the hearts of her husband and sons!
[from a talk of Pope Pius XII to newly-married couples; from the Breviary, Vol III p.80-81]
Another thought provoking joke...
One day, Adam sat outside the Garden of Eden shortly after eating the apple. Looking up to the heavens he said, "Excuse me God, can I ask you a few questions?"
God replied, "Go on Adam, but be quick. I have a world to create."
So Adam says, "When you created Eve, why did you make her body so curved and tender unlike mine?"
"I did that, Adam, so that you could love her."
"Oh, well then, why did you give her long, shiny, beautiful hair?"
"I did that Adam so that you could love her."
"Oh, well then, why did you make her so stupid? Certainly not so that I could love her?"
"Well, Adam no. I did that so that she could love you."
God replied, "Go on Adam, but be quick. I have a world to create."
So Adam says, "When you created Eve, why did you make her body so curved and tender unlike mine?"
"I did that, Adam, so that you could love her."
"Oh, well then, why did you give her long, shiny, beautiful hair?"
"I did that Adam so that you could love her."
"Oh, well then, why did you make her so stupid? Certainly not so that I could love her?"
"Well, Adam no. I did that so that she could love you."
Friday 9 May, 2008
அன்பே கடவுள்...!
பகல் முடிந்தும் பாசம் தணியாது
தழைத்தோங்குதிங்கே.
நிழல்கள் தொலைந்தும் நம்பிக்கை குலையாது
பயம்கூட பறந்தோடுதிங்கே.
யாரையும் மறவாத மாதவனே
அன்பின் இதயங்களை ஆட்கொள்க.
துயிலும்போதும் துயிலெழும்போதும்
அருகிருந்து காத்தருள்க.
இருள் சூழ்ந்தாலும் அணையாத தீபமென
இரவிலும் ஜொலித்திடுக.
ஒளியிழந்த கண்களுக்கு ஒளியாக
விழியாக விரைந்து வந்திடுக.
அன்பினில் ஒன்றாகி உண்மைக்கு சான்றாகி
அன்பே இறைவனென்று
அகிலமெலாம் சாற்றிடுக
அவனருள் பெற்றிடுக.
[கட்டளை ஜெபப்பாடல்கள் தொகுப்பிலிருந்து மொழிபெயர்ப்பு]
தழைத்தோங்குதிங்கே.
நிழல்கள் தொலைந்தும் நம்பிக்கை குலையாது
பயம்கூட பறந்தோடுதிங்கே.
யாரையும் மறவாத மாதவனே
அன்பின் இதயங்களை ஆட்கொள்க.
துயிலும்போதும் துயிலெழும்போதும்
அருகிருந்து காத்தருள்க.
இருள் சூழ்ந்தாலும் அணையாத தீபமென
இரவிலும் ஜொலித்திடுக.
ஒளியிழந்த கண்களுக்கு ஒளியாக
விழியாக விரைந்து வந்திடுக.
அன்பினில் ஒன்றாகி உண்மைக்கு சான்றாகி
அன்பே இறைவனென்று
அகிலமெலாம் சாற்றிடுக
அவனருள் பெற்றிடுக.
[கட்டளை ஜெபப்பாடல்கள் தொகுப்பிலிருந்து மொழிபெயர்ப்பு]
TAMIL
There are some 6000 languages estimated to be in vogue.
Of these only 6 languages taught civilization to the world.
Among these only Chinese, Tamil, and of late Hebrew do renew themselves coping up with the scientific advancements.
Tamil is more than a regional language, and it is in fact an international language.
Out of 40 BBC language broadcastings, from India only Tamil and Hindi are used.
Again, out of the 42 Chinese broadcasting languages, Tamil and Hindi are used.
UNESCO's Courier Paper also used only Tamil and Hindi from Indian languages.
Tamils live in over 60 nations of the world.
Tamil is national language in Srilanka and Singapore.
Of the Indian Web languages, Tamil is almost leading.
Tamil web/ online-university seems to be the only language based web university.
[from 'Thamizh manne vanakkam!' in Anantha Vikatan, p.39 of 20.12.'06 issue.]
Of these only 6 languages taught civilization to the world.
Among these only Chinese, Tamil, and of late Hebrew do renew themselves coping up with the scientific advancements.
Tamil is more than a regional language, and it is in fact an international language.
Out of 40 BBC language broadcastings, from India only Tamil and Hindi are used.
Again, out of the 42 Chinese broadcasting languages, Tamil and Hindi are used.
UNESCO's Courier Paper also used only Tamil and Hindi from Indian languages.
Tamils live in over 60 nations of the world.
Tamil is national language in Srilanka and Singapore.
Of the Indian Web languages, Tamil is almost leading.
Tamil web/ online-university seems to be the only language based web university.
[from 'Thamizh manne vanakkam!' in Anantha Vikatan, p.39 of 20.12.'06 issue.]
குழந்தை..! தாய்மை..!
"ஒவ்வொரு குழந்தையின் முதல் சிரிப்பிலும் ஒரு செடி பூக்கிறது, ஒரு மேகம் உருவாகிறது, ஒரு இசைக்குறிப்பு தோன்றுகிறது, ஒரு நட்சத்திரம் பிறக்கிறது, சொர்க்கத்தில் ஒரு ஜன்னல் திறக்கிறது..."
"... ஒரு பொண்ணு எங்கே வேணும்னாலும் தேவதையாகலாம். ஆனா, தெய்வமாவது ஒரு குழந்தையை பெறறெடுக்கும்போதுதான். என்னை பொறுத்தவரையில் தாய்மை உணர்ச்சியும், குழந்தைகள் தர்ற மகிழ்ச்சியும்தான் இந்த உலகத்தை இயக்கிட்டிருக்கு."
"பூமணம் கொண்டவள் பால்மணம் கொண்டாள்
பொங்கிடும் தாய்மையில் சேயுடன் நின்றாள்..."
"குழந்தையும் தெய்வமும் குணத்தால் ஒன்று
குற்றங்களை மறந்துவிடும் மனத்தால் ஒன்று..."
"தாயில்லாமல் நானில்லை
தானே எவரும் பிறந்ததில்லை..."
"அம்மா என்றழைக்காத உயிரில்லையே
அம்மாவை வணங்காது உயர்வில்லையே..."
"... ஒரு பொண்ணு எங்கே வேணும்னாலும் தேவதையாகலாம். ஆனா, தெய்வமாவது ஒரு குழந்தையை பெறறெடுக்கும்போதுதான். என்னை பொறுத்தவரையில் தாய்மை உணர்ச்சியும், குழந்தைகள் தர்ற மகிழ்ச்சியும்தான் இந்த உலகத்தை இயக்கிட்டிருக்கு."
"பூமணம் கொண்டவள் பால்மணம் கொண்டாள்
பொங்கிடும் தாய்மையில் சேயுடன் நின்றாள்..."
"குழந்தையும் தெய்வமும் குணத்தால் ஒன்று
குற்றங்களை மறந்துவிடும் மனத்தால் ஒன்று..."
"தாயில்லாமல் நானில்லை
தானே எவரும் பிறந்ததில்லை..."
"அம்மா என்றழைக்காத உயிரில்லையே
அம்மாவை வணங்காது உயர்வில்லையே..."
சிவமே என்றிருந்தேன்...
சிவமே என்றிருந்தேன்
சக்தியென நீ வந்தாய்
முக்திபெறும் முயறசியெலாம்
யுக்தியிலை என்றுணர்ந்தேன்!
சக்தியென நீ வந்தாய்
முக்திபெறும் முயறசியெலாம்
யுக்தியிலை என்றுணர்ந்தேன்!
சிலுவை அடையாள செபம் [வேறு]
அன்பின் அடையாளமே சிலுவையே
சிலுவைக்கு பொருள் தந்த இயேசுவே
அன்புடன் வாழ அருள் தாரும்.
சிலுவைக்கு பொருள் தந்த இயேசுவே
அன்புடன் வாழ அருள் தாரும்.
அனைத்தும் கடன்...
அனைத்தும் கடனே வாழ்க்கையில்
அம்மா அப்பாவுக்கு
ஆசிரிய பெருந்தகைகளுக்கு
இன்னும் இயற்கைக்கும்
ஈசனுக்கும் கடனே!
உங்களுக்கும் நண்பர்களே
ஊரார் உலகோருக்கும்
எனதென்று ஒன்றுமில்லை
ஏழ்மைதான் மிச்சம்!
ஐய்யமின்றி சொல்வேன்
ஒருவரையும் மறவேன்
ஓதுவேன் உங்களுக்காக
ஔடதமென கடவுள் காக்க.
அம்மா அப்பாவுக்கு
ஆசிரிய பெருந்தகைகளுக்கு
இன்னும் இயற்கைக்கும்
ஈசனுக்கும் கடனே!
உங்களுக்கும் நண்பர்களே
ஊரார் உலகோருக்கும்
எனதென்று ஒன்றுமில்லை
ஏழ்மைதான் மிச்சம்!
ஐய்யமின்றி சொல்வேன்
ஒருவரையும் மறவேன்
ஓதுவேன் உங்களுக்காக
ஔடதமென கடவுள் காக்க.
Thursday 1 May, 2008
மீனவர்களுக்கு 'ஸ்மார்ட் கார்டு'
"ராமேஸ்வரம் மீனவர்களுக்கு ஸ்மார்ட் கார்டு வழங்க திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. வானிலை காரணமாக திசை மாறி செல்வது, எல்லைக்கோட்டை தாண்டுவது போன்ற இடர்ப்படுகளிலிருந்து மீனவர்களை உடனடியாக காக்கமுடியும்." என்று அமைச்சர் சாமி தெரிவித்தார். [தினமலர் அரசியல் செய்திகள் 0௧.0௫.௨00௮]
சைக்கிளில் மீன்களை விற்பவர் யார்?
தமிழக சட்டசபையில் மீனவர் பிரச்சினை தொடர்பாக எழுந்த விவாதத்தின்போது அமைச்சர் சாமி அதிமுகவின் ராமஜெயத்துக்கு அளித்த பதிலில் குறிப்பிட்டது: "... நான் பிறப்பால் மீனவன். பதினைந்து ஆண்டுகள் கடலில் சென்று மீன் பிடித்து வாழ்ந்தவன்..." [தின மலர், தமிழ் நாடு அரசியல் செய்திகள் - 0௧.0௫.௨00௮]
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