The Four Principles of Indian Sprituality
20 May 2012 2 Comments
in Reality, Social, Uncategorized Tags: chance, creativity, Friendships, India, Karma, Kenya, Life, quotes, Spirituality
1. “Whomsoever you encounter is the right one”
This means that no one comes into our life by chance. Everyone who is around us, anyone with whom we interact, represents something, whether to teach us something or to help us improve a current situation.
2. “Whatever happened is the only thing that could have happened”
Nothing, absolutely nothing of that which we experienced could have been any other way. Not even in the least important detail. There is no “If only I had done that differently…, then it would have been different…”. No. What happened is the only thing that could have taken place and must have taken place for us to learn our lesson in order to move forward. Every single situation in life, which we encounter, is absolutely perfect, even when it defies our understanding and our ego.
3. “Each moment in which something begins is the right moment”
Everything begins at exactly the right moment, neither earlier nor later. When we are ready for it, for that something new in our life, it is there, ready to begin.
4. “What is over, is over”
It is that simple. When something in our life ends, it helps our evolution. That is why, enriched by the recent experience, it is better to let go and move on.
I think it is no coincidence that you’re here reading this.
If these words strike a chord, it’s because you meet the requirements and understand that not one single snowflake falls accidentally in the wrong place!
Be good to yourself.
Love with your whole being.
A Billion Reasons for Africa!
05 May 2012 Leave a Comment
The new Coke advert is something out of this world. With the Safaricom advert last year showcasing this beautiful country called Kenya, we thought it took the cake. The marketing team at Coke should be congratulated for coming up with an advert that not only resonates with us, but the rest of Africa as a whole. It conjures up feelings of pride and sense of belonging. Most of all, it voices what everyone already know; Africa is the big thing!
There are a billion reasons to believe in Africa
While the world shakes and stumbles; Africa dances to a different beat
For Every Bank bailed out; 2 million Africans send money back home
1 in 5 European Football players is African; and millions more are ready to shine
As the authorities try to tame the internet; Africa becomes the most mobile-connected place on the planet
The World’s most admired man is African; so the worlds beautiful woman
For every international band trying to sell a song; 5000 African bands go live
While the world turn grey; we live in full colour
While the world worries about the future; 1 billion Africans are sharing a Coke
So let’s appreciate Africa, lets appreciate us!
(Watch it here)
Excellence in Church
06 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
We woke up early enough; after all it was Sunday and we were going to give thanks and worship the Lord. Sunday has a way of progressing a bit slowly in the morning (with the aid of laziness from our part) and it was no surprise that we were leaving the house at 09.45 am for a service 15kms away that begins at the same time. While in the car, we own up that we are late and decide to wait at home for the second service for the simple reason that, this particular Church in Sandton, Johannesburg closes its main gates 15 minutes after the service has began.
What? I was completely taken aback. Where has this ever been done and do people adhere to it? Are they not offended for being ‘chased’ (for lack of a better word) from the house of God; a place where we should be able to find refuge and rest anytime? Wasn’t closing the door tantamount to ‘chasing’ away people of God and possibly some lost souls that could have been harvested for Christ?
As these questions ring through my mind, I pause to reflect on a value that I hold dear; that of excellence. Derived from the word excel, it means to surpass, or be exceptionally good at something. Critics have decried the possibility of achieving excellence as humans are growth beings who are “works in progress”, hence the impracticability of the concept of excellence.
Where and when do we apply or even demand excellence – in school, at work, in relationships, marriage, and friendships. The big question is why not in the church? Should the church demand excellence from the faithful just as it’s is required in other aspects of our everyday lives? Spiritual excellence encompasses a greater vision of the self. Whether or not we can achieve excellence in religious or spiritual matters is an argument for another day. What we can attest to however is the fact that we can start on the road to excellence; whether we finish it or not in our lifetime still remains to be seen.
Individual Vs Collective Responsibility
The steps to embedding excellence start with ensuring individual responsibility. It’s is said that the creation and promotion of excellence is a personal responsibility and I totally agree with this concept. A few weeks back, someone asked me how I would ensure people adhere to certain set standards in the organization for the overall achievement of goals. Personally I ascribe to the school of thought that promotes individual responsibility. Communal responsibility ensures we are our brother’s keeper but in some cases, it promotes individual laxity. This therefore means that by closing the door 15minutes after the start of the service, this church has broken down responsibility from collective to individual to ensure adherence.
Essentially, my argument here is that the vigorous energy we approach our work with, we should channel it in the same measure to God. How is our relationship with God if I may ask. Do we respect, honor and nurture it the way we do our professional work? What should it take to ingrain excellence in the house of Yahweh? If it means closing the door to late comers, so be it my friends.
Have a blessed Good Friday and Easter Monday.
I Do +
04 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
Verity finally got the ring she had waited for Edward to spring up with. Oh’ the many years of waiting and dropping none too subtle hints finally yielded the result she had wished them to. Unlike Victoria, and Vanessa (her two sister whom she referred to as ‘evil spinster step-sisters), she would be walking down the aisle with her prince charming in a few months. Finally, all the planning in her imaginative head would be translated into action; from the color scheme, imported dresses, personalized vows, to a star studded guest-list; no cost would be spared.
So the calls, text messages, emails, facebook updates and tweets started……(more)
Black Monday
24 Jan 2012 1 Comment
First they were six, now they are four; from Ocampo 6 to Ocampo 4 (or Ekaterian 4). The line in the sand has been drawn and its up to the suspects to step up and prove their innocence. There were cheers and tears from the North to the South and from the East to the West. Kenyans were held at ransom, what with the ICC confirmations coming being made today at 1.30 pm; we all held still untill that moment that the chickens came to roost. 
Whether you were a cheerer of a jeerer, we all should be ashamed to be Kenyans today. It is today that we have proved that we are not able to handle our domestic affairs as a country. Although one of the dissenting judges felt the cases could be heard and dealt with in Kenya, the fact that our administration four years down the line has not reformed the police nor formed an independent tribunal could have served to sway the other two judges of our inability to handle the cases. This is why we should all be ashamed.
Not all is lost however. The fact that no Kenyans ran around in the streets demonstrating, cheering, looting or stoning people and property shows how mature we have become (or how Ocampo’s name drives shivers down our backs). What we take from this sanity that ethnicity for the most part is intrumentalized.
It’s often said that there is nothing bad as a wounded soldier for he has nothing to lose and will hence fight tooth and nail to the bitter end. This is very true of “two of the four most wanted” who have already come out to declare their intentions to appeal the ruling immediately.
Political pundits position that if there will be any struggle in the future it will be a class or a generational war. There is an urge to rid the country of recycled geezers calling themselves leaders and voters are pushing towards having a president that can ‘twit’ and ‘poke’. So let’s sit back and witness the inter-play between ICC confirmations and the local politics.
Table for one
18 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
I read somewhere that 25 is the ‘Quarter Life Crisis’ age. I was surprised that this was a shared belief since I recall last year telling my older friends that I felt like I was going through some sorta ‘quarter life crisis or something’; after which we laughed it over of course.
But once I saw my ‘doesn’t drink’, ‘never smokes’ guy friend order a cold Tusker halfway through a maturely smoked cigarette, I realized that this really is the most conflicted time of anyone’s life-working your ass off for your big break, trying to move out of home and what not… During what I think was and could still be my quarter life crisis, I was going through some serious motions of ‘Am I on the right path with my job?’ ‘Shouldn’t I be saving my money?’ ‘How long am I going to sit in this drastic relationship-no wait………more
Hello 2012
22 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
Its about time……
to look back at what we set out to do,
and see how far we have come.
Its about time……
to wish away our worries away,
to look to the future,
to court the possibilities,
and to embrace the new.
Its about time……
to have appreciate 2011 and look forward to a blessed 2012.
The Great Rift Valley – Lodging in the Wild
09 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Travel Tags: Accomodation, Great Rift Valley Lodge, Holiday, Kenya, Naivasha, Rift Valley
The drive from Nairobi’s central business district (CBD) was excruciatingly slow; literally, the cars were moving at the so called ‘snail pace’. The traffic snarl-up on university way was worsened by the newly created lanes which motorists were using with no order. After a long 35 minutes within the CBD, we finally make it out of the city without further ado thanks to the museum hill expansion.
Out of Nairobi we drove, watching like eager children on a school trip as the buildings were quickly left behind. A sure discussion opener that politics is, conversation flowed in the bus with proponents and opponents of the discussion topics at each other’s throats. I passively listen for a while and drop off to reflect on my thoughts, and within no time, we were branching off to a dusty road off the Nairobi-Naivasha highway.
The 20 minute dusty ride does nothing to prepare us for the beholding sight at the top of the mountain that is the Great Lakes Rift Valley Lodge. Oh! Is all my lips could form. The dazzle is further illuminated by the array of lights forming a picturesque sight in the midst of the dark night.
Further up the road we drove and finally arrived at the immense gates. From here on the road is concrete carpeted, leading up to the lighted reception. A warm towel is placed on my hand – to cleanse away the dust and provide a small warm pleasure to drive off the biting cold. As my left hand dumped the used towel, so did a glass of fresh juice land on my right hand. Unbelievable how fast the service was.
The rooms were a marvel sight; great mix of modern day architecture fused with colonial style homes. The small kitchenettes, the TV room, the fire-place decked sitting room, the small laundry area and the bedrooms filled with mahogany made beds, gave it a feel worth every ‘exorbitant’ shilling we were charged.
To say breakfast was a queen’s affair would be an understatement. The 5 types of fruits at the beginning of the buffet table was followed by freshly squeezed juice, hot and cold jars of milk, oven fresh loaves of bread and honey coated cereal. The protein section was overwhelming to say the least; we were torn on whether to start with the traditional sausages and eggs or try the arrays of meats that we could never have imagined can be served anywhere before 12.00 noon.
If you are a golfer, then you sure will be home here. Use of the course is a membership only affair though; we hence didn’t get to try some wild moves just for fun. Plenty of entertainment is however available…… (to be continued)
To pay or not to pay
10 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in Politics Tags: Kenya, KRA, Mbadi, MPs, taxes, Teachers
Finally the teachers got their demands after a one week relentless strike, albeit the constant utterances by the finance minister that the government was broke; only to approve a few billions of our money to cover the tax areas for the unabashed Members of Parliament (MPs). Oh how I wish I had the luxury of choice where the tax debate is concerned. Would I pay my taxes? Am sure you are wondering, so am I. On one hand, am devilishly thinking how the 30% my employer religiously chops from my salary every month would go a long way in filling a few holes in my purse. Oh how I would get that range rover I have saved for the last nether years, or go for that maasai mara trip I have promised my beautiful self as a reward for my hard work. The things I would have done are just indescribable!
On the other hand, the angel in me lifts the curtain and I see how my enjoyment of the great animal movement, would keep some children out of school. I see how Thika road would still be a dream and of course, our shameless MPs would not have a cookie jar to dip their hands into (the more KRA makes the more they demand for themselves!). Irrespective of the last thought, am proud of being a tax payer. In more ways than one, I unlike Hon Mbadi et al keep a child in school and will cruise on Thika Highway knowing my two cents contributed to development. My unknown status except as a pin number in the KRA database notwithstanding, I celebrate myself as a tax compliant Kenyan
Women, men and bars……..
23 Aug 2011 2 Comments
in Reality, Social Tags: Bars, cat fights, clubs, men, partying, women
Hanging with a couple of friends recently, two things strike me in the club that was teaming with people hoping to dance the night away. There is a lone man seated on the table to our right and right next to his table is an equally lone woman. The man with his drink is looking completely comfortable in his element, with a couple of ladies directi
ng smiles his way. On the other hand, the lady is all fidgety, always scrolling her phone and sure checking her old texts to pass time.
Assessing the scenario in front of me, I wonder, why the man is looking high and mighty while the lady’s look is one of desperation; like she will graciously thank God if someone could appear and rescue her from the prying eyes (including ours).
It’s a bit comical how different men and women are perceived in society especially in matters that could otherwise be considered sinful! The bible is clear that all sin is equal regardless of the act or actor. Funny enough when a man goes to the bar every day, he is just whiling a few hours away or for the cynics, staying away from a nagging wife. Let a woman be seen in the same bar twice in a row and her fellow women will the first to accuse her of plying the oldest profession. The growing litany of feminists would cry foul from the above scene, and would argue that in today’s society, women have as much rights as men; to prop themselves up and swing by the bar and throw back a few tequilas and sip a round martinis.
From this am reminded of a gross situation in a popular club in Kitale where two women wrestled to the ground fighting for a man. One accused the other of ‘stealing her husband’ while the accused maintained that she could not steal what was already hers. It was just another cat fight until the accuser on seeing that the club management siding with the other woman, stripped her clothes, an act that is significant of a curse in African customs. All these were happening while the man in question was quietly nursing his drink in a corner!
So is society biased? Maybe or maybe not; men and women are just different in actions, words, genetic makeup. Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte in sex and the city attest to the fact that women can actually do what men do (maybe even better) – the sex, the alcohol and the money, all in a jiffy! Well, we in this part of the world better take baby steps in getting there, because when we arrive, we might actually be surprised to learn that we got more than we bargained for.
