We eat, drink, play, work and sleep. Animals perform these actions too, then why do we deserve to be called ‘humans’? What really distinguishes ‘us’ from ‘other creatures’ is our intelligence, that is, our capacity of learning, understanding, thinking, planning, solving problems and reaching to conclusion. But the irony lies in the fact that this attribute, our cognitive ability – the attribute that distinguishes us from ‘animals’, is the attribute that we ‘humans’ use the least.
I can envision a lot of you wondering, “..Ahmm but I think…”. Oh, yes you do. But what do you think about? The new movie? The new book? What you should wear? What you should have for lunch? Your Weight? Do you really think that you are doing your intelligence justice? He, who does not discover his purpose of existence, does not deserve to be called intelligent and, hence, does not deserve to be called a ‘human’.
We are living in an era of deception. What appears to be one thing is in reality something totally different. We are living in a grey world camouflaged with beautiful colors. Like winged-insects we are attracted towards these beautiful lights, not knowing that these lights are in reality burning flames, waiting to devour us. We have eyes, yet we do not see.
Like herds of buffaloes, we move with the flow, oblivious to the fact that the river ahead is a haven of alligators. Without thinking, we pursue the trails of those ahead. Most of us do not even have an aim. We are not aware where this flow will lead us. All we have is an illusion of greener pasture across and ignoring the fact that we may perish we jump in the river ahead.
We are traveling on a boulevard of delusions, lies and deception. We are the fuel of this system of fetid illusions. We need to pause, wakeup and ‘think’. For it is only then that we would perceive this world in a different light. It is only then that we would observe the patterns connecting. It is only then that we would ascertain our purpose of existence; for without a purpose we are no better than a bunch of wandering ‘animals’.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Brainwasher
“All media exist to invest our lives with artificial perceptions and arbitrary values” – Marshall Mcluhan
“The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”- Malcolm X
The ‘mass media’ is a weapon far more powerful than any weapon on earth. All other weapons force a person to either surrender, get injured or in extreme cases to lose his life. The media is the only weapon that makes a person surrender and at the same time also takes away his life, without the person even realizing that slowly but steadily his beliefs and values are being compromised and shattered.
If we glance back at the road of our ‘mental evolution’, we would realize that much of our perceptions have been molded and crafted by this weapon of mass influence. The media tells us what to wear; the media tells us what’s cool and what’s not cool; the media tells us who is right and who is wrong; the media tells us what to eat and what not to eat; the media teaches us how to talk and how not to talk; the truth is, that media and therefore, whoever is controlling the media, has been controlling and influencing our perceptions, our beliefs, our values and consequently our whole life.
The media has been injecting us with venom ‘little by little’, always enough to keep us in a trance and not so much at any one time to make us scream. It assesses the amount of poison being accepted by us through polls and adjusts the flow accordingly. Slowly and steadily it intoxicates our conscience and builds a wall around it, for the conscience is its only enemy. Once it traps our conscience, the battle is then too easy. It questions our perceptions and the beliefs that form those perceptions and gradually replaces them with new beliefs and new perceptions. Without realizing, our culture ‘evolves’ into a totally different culture.
Ever wondered why every new generation is worse than the passing generation? Why the acts that were considered immoral by the previous generations are considered normal by the new one? Why every passing generation resort to wearing less and less clothes? Why the world is becoming more corrupted day by day? An analysis of the ‘evolution of media’ would reveal you the answers to this so called ‘controlled mental and cultural evolution’ of mankind.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Ahwale Duniya
Aalim bana hai jahil,
Jahil bana hai aalim,
Yeh kaisa zamana hai, ya Rab!,
Kai dewana bana hai haakim.
Jamhotiyat nai bakhsha hai,
Yeh nizam dehriyat ka,
Kai paise ki parestish per hai aaj,
emaan insaan ka.
Ki wafa ki umeed,
Us bewafa sai,
Jo ibn-e-adam kai roop main,
Aks hai shaitan ka.
Karta hai kia tu shikwa,
Bhari mehfil main, Arsalan,
Yeh sab tu karam hai,
Tere apne aamaal ka.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
LIFE – Take the F out and its all a LIE
Life does not honor promises. One moment she is with you, inviting you on a never ending journey, promising immortality, serenity and bliss, the next moment she just disappears leaving you broke, crippled and forlorn.
We spend a major portion of our time planning and working for the life ahead, not knowing whether the ‘life ahead’ is a reality or a deception; not knowing whether these colors are real or just an illusion. Every morning we wake up and walk this road of deception not knowing when we would fall into a trench. A trench that would end it all; a trench that would make all our assumptions invalid; a trench that would be a beginning of a life that never ends.
This life is a whirlwind of emotions. One day we are happy, confidant and sure, the next day we are sad, frustrated and confused. We spend our lives trying to figure out a way to be on the ‘happy, confidant and sure’ lane, only to later find a sign signaling ‘closed for maintenance sorry for inconvenience’. We present theories, conceptions and misconceptions about our idea on how to lead a perfect life when we ourselves are not sure whether the road ahead is smooth or wrecked; whether that bridge will bear our weight or collapse; whether that ‘perfect’ exists or not.
This sometimes makes me wonder, why do we still plan and prepare for something that does not exist; why do we still follow life when we know she will deceive us. Perhaps, we are all blind; oblivion to the fact that this is a delusion; a fallacy fed into our vulnerable system; a lie passed around for centuries. I hope and pray that we could all open our eyes before our train crashes, for then it would be too late.
We spend a major portion of our time planning and working for the life ahead, not knowing whether the ‘life ahead’ is a reality or a deception; not knowing whether these colors are real or just an illusion. Every morning we wake up and walk this road of deception not knowing when we would fall into a trench. A trench that would end it all; a trench that would make all our assumptions invalid; a trench that would be a beginning of a life that never ends.
This life is a whirlwind of emotions. One day we are happy, confidant and sure, the next day we are sad, frustrated and confused. We spend our lives trying to figure out a way to be on the ‘happy, confidant and sure’ lane, only to later find a sign signaling ‘closed for maintenance sorry for inconvenience’. We present theories, conceptions and misconceptions about our idea on how to lead a perfect life when we ourselves are not sure whether the road ahead is smooth or wrecked; whether that bridge will bear our weight or collapse; whether that ‘perfect’ exists or not.
This sometimes makes me wonder, why do we still plan and prepare for something that does not exist; why do we still follow life when we know she will deceive us. Perhaps, we are all blind; oblivion to the fact that this is a delusion; a fallacy fed into our vulnerable system; a lie passed around for centuries. I hope and pray that we could all open our eyes before our train crashes, for then it would be too late.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Life
He opened his eyes for the first time, beyond the cluster of beaming faces, his gaze landed on a bright light. It was yellow; no, it was green; wait, maybe it was blue. It was the most beautiful thing he had witnessed. He fell in love with it. He tried to extend his arms towards it, striving to touch it, but his limbs were too weak and the light too far.
He grew strong and learned to travel. He tried to crawl towards it straining to reach that light but it was still distant, too far for him to reach with his outstretched arms. He strived hard, stretched all his limbs but to no avail. He was not strong enough to gain its possession.
He nurtured, convalescing strength and acquiring knowledge he tried to reach the light with more rigor and extreme devotion. Designing models and inventing tools, he thought he was close to achieving that feat and possessing that gift. The gift that would set him free, give him power and enhance his abilities. But the closer he reached, the light moved further away.
Frail limbs and aching bones did not stop him in his endeavor to bag that light. It was now an obsession; an ambition so strong; a disease that only death could cure. But the light was still far, too far for his weak limbs to grab.
The day had come; he had to leave. The escorts were here. His time was over but the eyes were still fixed upon that light. Floating upwards, he glanced down to have one last look at the stunner. He could not believe it; it cannot be true; no, how could that happen.
The light did not exist. It was a mere mirage; a speck of dust; a swirl of delusion; a magnum of deception; a lie, beautifully camouflaged; a rancid dream so beautifully enwrapped that it seemed real. He wanted to cry but there were no tears. He wanted to scream but there was no one to hear. He wasted his life running behind an illusion, a path that had no end.
He grew strong and learned to travel. He tried to crawl towards it straining to reach that light but it was still distant, too far for him to reach with his outstretched arms. He strived hard, stretched all his limbs but to no avail. He was not strong enough to gain its possession.
He nurtured, convalescing strength and acquiring knowledge he tried to reach the light with more rigor and extreme devotion. Designing models and inventing tools, he thought he was close to achieving that feat and possessing that gift. The gift that would set him free, give him power and enhance his abilities. But the closer he reached, the light moved further away.
Frail limbs and aching bones did not stop him in his endeavor to bag that light. It was now an obsession; an ambition so strong; a disease that only death could cure. But the light was still far, too far for his weak limbs to grab.
The day had come; he had to leave. The escorts were here. His time was over but the eyes were still fixed upon that light. Floating upwards, he glanced down to have one last look at the stunner. He could not believe it; it cannot be true; no, how could that happen.
The light did not exist. It was a mere mirage; a speck of dust; a swirl of delusion; a magnum of deception; a lie, beautifully camouflaged; a rancid dream so beautifully enwrapped that it seemed real. He wanted to cry but there were no tears. He wanted to scream but there was no one to hear. He wasted his life running behind an illusion, a path that had no end.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Independent? Think Again
Independence as described by a dictionary means the state or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence; exemption from reliance on, or control by, others; self-subsistence or maintenance; direction of one's own affairs without interference. Going by that definition, only God is truly independent. Therefore, independence can only be inferred as a relative term as an entity / country cannot be truly independent.
As the history states, Pakistan acquired its independence from the British Empire on 14th August 1947. But is the country really independent? Independence from the British Empire would mean a freedom from dependence from English laws, rules, regulations, norms, ideology, culture etc. Basically a discharge from reliance on, or control by, everything and anything British. However, much of the constitution and norms of the newly established nation were derived from English laws and customs. Moreover, even the official language of Pakistan is English. Is that what is called independence?
The Country is dependent on the IMF, World Bank and the ADB for sustenance. The two current ruling parties in Pakistan are headquartered in England. The previous president of Pakistan is currently residing in England. Was not this the country that Pakistan acquired independence from?
Lord Macaulay’s address to the British parliament on 2 February 1835 reveals some astonishing facts.
The culture and mindset of the Pakistani nation is pretty much what the British actually planned it to be. So even though apparently, Pakistan maybe an independent country; however, sub-consciously this country is beyond doubt a truly dominated nation.
As the history states, Pakistan acquired its independence from the British Empire on 14th August 1947. But is the country really independent? Independence from the British Empire would mean a freedom from dependence from English laws, rules, regulations, norms, ideology, culture etc. Basically a discharge from reliance on, or control by, everything and anything British. However, much of the constitution and norms of the newly established nation were derived from English laws and customs. Moreover, even the official language of Pakistan is English. Is that what is called independence?
The Country is dependent on the IMF, World Bank and the ADB for sustenance. The two current ruling parties in Pakistan are headquartered in England. The previous president of Pakistan is currently residing in England. Was not this the country that Pakistan acquired independence from?
Lord Macaulay’s address to the British parliament on 2 February 1835 reveals some astonishing facts.
The culture and mindset of the Pakistani nation is pretty much what the British actually planned it to be. So even though apparently, Pakistan maybe an independent country; however, sub-consciously this country is beyond doubt a truly dominated nation.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Think, Think, For it is Your Right to Think
The human mind is a powerful device. It is because of this mind that we boast to be superior then others. It is this mind that has boosted our ego and made us blind and it is this mind, or rather the lack of use of this mind, that is leading us towards devastation.
I sometimes wonder that these thoughts lingering in my mind; are they my own or are these thoughts injected into my system somehow by someone who does not want me to think. By someone who does not want me to use my brain. By someone who does not want me ponder deep into the realities of this world. By someone who does not want me to reach the conclusion that this world is temporary. By someone who does not want me to conclude that this world is too perfect to evolve by itself. By someone who has blindfolded me with a colorful rag and wants me to believe that these colors are never ending. By someone who has entrapped me in a cage of glass, placed in a room full of treasures, so that I spend my life trying to get to the other side.
What have I done to fight this someone who is trying to steal my thoughts? Who is trying to take this very possession away from me. I have bought a television, thinking that this great invention would connect me to the world and somehow make me more intelligent, wise and civilized, ignoring the fact that maybe this is the tool, ‘the most prized possession’ of that someone who wants to control my mind. Maybe this is the gadget that this someone is using to hypnotize me, to lead me astray from my purpose of existence, to make me believe what he thinks is right, to get me involved into useless discussions, to take away my freedom of thinking from me.
What do I do next? I delve into my library of fiction. I evaporate into a world of fantasies that this someone has created for me, pushing me more away from the realities of this world. To sink into a world of desire, lust and greed, that somehow, by some means, slowly but steadily develops into an obsession, that somehow corrupts my mind, that by some means creeps into my system and augments my expectations. This someone heightens my expectations to such an extent that they will never be fulfilled.
What do I do next? I go into depression. What is depression?; it is a state in which my mind is completely useless. It is that state in which my mind is the most vulnerable. It is this moment that this someone utilizes to inject his thoughts into me. Slowly, like a magician this someone inculcates his thoughts into mine, changing my perception about the world. For what do I do when I am depressed; I watch movies, I watch TV, I read, I go out and in some cases I resort to medicine and drugs that further cripple my mind and make me more vulnerable. Depression is a glorified name that this someone has given to the state of being unhappy, of not being satisfied and content with what one has.
This vicious cycle continues, day in day out. It somehow draws me further away from my purpose of existence. Look around you, this world is too flawless to evolve by itself. The physics and geometry too calculated to emerge by chance. Do not gaze far, just look in a mirror; the reflection is too impeccable to evolve by itself.
Think, think; before it is too late. Think, for it is your right to think. Think, for it will set you free. To conclude, I would leave you to think who that ‘someone’ really is.
I sometimes wonder that these thoughts lingering in my mind; are they my own or are these thoughts injected into my system somehow by someone who does not want me to think. By someone who does not want me to use my brain. By someone who does not want me ponder deep into the realities of this world. By someone who does not want me to reach the conclusion that this world is temporary. By someone who does not want me to conclude that this world is too perfect to evolve by itself. By someone who has blindfolded me with a colorful rag and wants me to believe that these colors are never ending. By someone who has entrapped me in a cage of glass, placed in a room full of treasures, so that I spend my life trying to get to the other side.
What have I done to fight this someone who is trying to steal my thoughts? Who is trying to take this very possession away from me. I have bought a television, thinking that this great invention would connect me to the world and somehow make me more intelligent, wise and civilized, ignoring the fact that maybe this is the tool, ‘the most prized possession’ of that someone who wants to control my mind. Maybe this is the gadget that this someone is using to hypnotize me, to lead me astray from my purpose of existence, to make me believe what he thinks is right, to get me involved into useless discussions, to take away my freedom of thinking from me.
What do I do next? I delve into my library of fiction. I evaporate into a world of fantasies that this someone has created for me, pushing me more away from the realities of this world. To sink into a world of desire, lust and greed, that somehow, by some means, slowly but steadily develops into an obsession, that somehow corrupts my mind, that by some means creeps into my system and augments my expectations. This someone heightens my expectations to such an extent that they will never be fulfilled.
What do I do next? I go into depression. What is depression?; it is a state in which my mind is completely useless. It is that state in which my mind is the most vulnerable. It is this moment that this someone utilizes to inject his thoughts into me. Slowly, like a magician this someone inculcates his thoughts into mine, changing my perception about the world. For what do I do when I am depressed; I watch movies, I watch TV, I read, I go out and in some cases I resort to medicine and drugs that further cripple my mind and make me more vulnerable. Depression is a glorified name that this someone has given to the state of being unhappy, of not being satisfied and content with what one has.
This vicious cycle continues, day in day out. It somehow draws me further away from my purpose of existence. Look around you, this world is too flawless to evolve by itself. The physics and geometry too calculated to emerge by chance. Do not gaze far, just look in a mirror; the reflection is too impeccable to evolve by itself.
Think, think; before it is too late. Think, for it is your right to think. Think, for it will set you free. To conclude, I would leave you to think who that ‘someone’ really is.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
The Land of Pure
Pakistan - The land of pure is dubbed as one of the most corrupt nation of the world. But the irony lies in the fact, that the nations which classify this country as corrupt are the pioneers of corruption. I have never been so fascinated and thwarted, at the same time, by the history and attitude of a nation. This country has been looted by its custodians and public alike for the past 60 years. Perhaps, looted would be an understatement. It has been ransacked, perchance, more by its custodians than by its people. Any other nation might not survive such perfidy. Yet, this nation is still standing and the very passion of its inhabitants resurrects it, time and again, from its deathbed. This is what is truly fascinating about this nation.
Over the years, this nation has faced extreme intricacies, both internally as well as externally. The country has never left the limelight of this world’s ramp. By hook or by crook, this stunner has always been the center of attraction. It seems as if this nation’s creation was for a purpose. The mere inception of this nation is nothing less than a miracle. Its endurance and escalation has amazed many. Disappointing is the fact that, over and over again, it has been attempted to suppress and demolish this nation. Nevertheless, this nation has survived all these endeavors. Which has mesmerized one and all, and I hope it will continue to do so.
Over the years, this nation has faced extreme intricacies, both internally as well as externally. The country has never left the limelight of this world’s ramp. By hook or by crook, this stunner has always been the center of attraction. It seems as if this nation’s creation was for a purpose. The mere inception of this nation is nothing less than a miracle. Its endurance and escalation has amazed many. Disappointing is the fact that, over and over again, it has been attempted to suppress and demolish this nation. Nevertheless, this nation has survived all these endeavors. Which has mesmerized one and all, and I hope it will continue to do so.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Cry of a War Tot
Dedicated to the children of all war affected areas...
Why is it so dim?
Why is it so gloomy?
Why isn’t anyone cheerful;
To sight me smile?
My abode is dark;
My glee masked;
I heard there’s a sun;
Somewhere shining bright.
What is that noise?
What is that sound?
Why do I heed;
People blaring outside?
I screamed, I cried;
The tears have now dried;
I heard love existed;
Somewhere outside.
Why is it so dim?
Why is it so gloomy?
Why isn’t anyone cheerful;
To sight me smile?
My abode is dark;
My glee masked;
I heard there’s a sun;
Somewhere shining bright.
What is that noise?
What is that sound?
Why do I heed;
People blaring outside?
I screamed, I cried;
The tears have now dried;
I heard love existed;
Somewhere outside.
Friday, June 05, 2009
We Are All Hypocrites
Standing in front of the mirror, I wonder, if that is really me or something I wanted to be. Somehow, the reflection did not bequeath a true depiction of the soul inside. It is a conflict and war, that mankind has fought for centuries- ‘The war of heart and soul’. A war that few have won; a conflict that few have resolved. It’s an art that few have mastered, the art of taming the heart. Save a few herculean beings, we are all hypocrites.
We tend to be what we are not, we preach what we do not practice and we practice what we do not believe. It’s an enigma that I truly despise; it’s a sin that I want to believe I do not commit. Yet, the reflection portrays a different image. The image of a person infected by the germs of this vicious disease. The image of a dying soul empowered by decadence and crime. The image of a ‘human race’ being engulfed by its own greed and lust for power.
Our characters are molded to the instance, defying our inner beliefs. Even the chameleon is awed by the changing colors. This constant change of wavelength along the spectrum often makes us forget our true self. The reflection I seek in the mirror is a mere mirage. The true self hidden deep inside, buried in the heap of fabrication and pretense.
A voice inside me keeps calling, striving hard to stir my conscious. But the voice is too weak, unable to pierce the tomb it is obscured in. Or perhaps I do not want to hear it, for the reflection says it all. I cherish the pleasures of being a hypocrite.
We tend to be what we are not, we preach what we do not practice and we practice what we do not believe. It’s an enigma that I truly despise; it’s a sin that I want to believe I do not commit. Yet, the reflection portrays a different image. The image of a person infected by the germs of this vicious disease. The image of a dying soul empowered by decadence and crime. The image of a ‘human race’ being engulfed by its own greed and lust for power.
Our characters are molded to the instance, defying our inner beliefs. Even the chameleon is awed by the changing colors. This constant change of wavelength along the spectrum often makes us forget our true self. The reflection I seek in the mirror is a mere mirage. The true self hidden deep inside, buried in the heap of fabrication and pretense.
A voice inside me keeps calling, striving hard to stir my conscious. But the voice is too weak, unable to pierce the tomb it is obscured in. Or perhaps I do not want to hear it, for the reflection says it all. I cherish the pleasures of being a hypocrite.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Paradox of Humanity
The word humanity as described by a dictionary is the quality marked by compassion or sympathy for human beings or animals. Apparently, it is the quality or state of being human. If true, this statement creates a paradox and so do millions of statements linking the word human with compassion, sympathy or love. The more I look around, the more contradicting this declaration appears. Humanity, if instead associated with envy and rivalry, would bequeath a better elucidation.
Any sphere of life, be it, education, sports or daily routine, a child is time and again reminded that he has to perform better than others and is consistently compared with other kids. This behavior is nurtured into the innocent and subtle mind of a child from the day he enters this fetid nightmare enshrouded with false magnificence. Apparently, this behavior is dubbed competitiveness and is looked upon as a positive feature and any child not possessing it is considered dull, anomalous and dim-witted.
Then, why be astounded with the current atmosphere of treachery, frauds, murders and wars. Were not we ourselves who promoted rivalry in the form of competition and thus, induced envious behavior. Were not we ourselves who cultivated the notion of ‘being at the top’ in those innocent minds. When they grow up to be the Hitlers, Bushs and Zardaris, we take the liberty to dub their behavior as inhuman. Why criticize them and not ourselves, when this system, that we so cherish, is the one that’s breeding such (non)humans.
Competition, being promoted as a positive characteristic, is in reality leading to an evolution of egocentric human beings. I fear, if not curtailed, this would eventually lead to a time when these dictionaries would have to ‘adjust’ the meaning of the word ‘human’.
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