The Mahabharata is one of the two great epics of ancient Indian literature, the other being the Ramayana . It's a complex and multi-layered text, with stories, teachings, and philosophical lessons that have shaped Indian culture for thousands of years. At its core, the Mahabharata is a story of the Kurukshetra War , a grand battle between two groups of cousins—the Pandavas and the Kauravas —but its scope goes far beyond just the war itself. 1. The Core Story (The Kurukshetra War) The Mahabharata tells the story of a dynastic struggle for the throne of the kingdom of Hastinapura . The two main families involved are: Pandavas : Five brothers—Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva—born to the King Pandu and his wives. Kauravas : The hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, the blind king of Hastinapura, led by the eldest son Duryodhana . The rivalry between the Pandavas and Kauravas escalates, eventually leading to the Kurukshetra War , a massive battle ...

  The idea of personal belief and individual freedom in matters of religion is a fundamental aspect of many modern societies that uphold principles of personal autonomy and freedom of thought. The notion that religion is a deeply personal and private matter is often rooted in the idea that individuals should have the freedom to explore and practice their own beliefs without external coercion or imposition. In a pluralistic society that values diversity of thought and belief, it is important to respect and uphold the rights of individuals to hold their own religious beliefs without interference or pressure from others. This includes the right to choose one's own faith, to practice it in a way that is meaningful to the individual, and to change or evolve those beliefs over time. Imposing religious beliefs on others can lead to coercion, discrimination, and infringement of personal freedoms. It can also undermine the rich tapestry of beliefs and practices that exist in diverse soc...

Blind faith, the unquestioning belief in something without evidence or reason, can be incredibly dangerous. When individuals or groups adhere to blind faith, they often become susceptible to manipulation and exploitation. In some cases, individuals may use religion and belief in God as a shield to justify committing crimes or unethical acts. This misuse of faith can lead to the concealment of wrongdoing under the guise of religious righteousness. When blind faith is exploited in this way, it not only obscures the truth but also undermines the core principles of morality and accountability that are essential for a just society.   It is crucial for individuals to critically examine their beliefs and not use them as a cover for harmful actions, as blind faith can easily be weaponized to perpetrate injustice and evade responsibility.   It's a curious irony of human existence that we are born with incredibly complex and capable brains, yet many of us often fail to harness the...

  Failed Government or failed Democracy? What would you call it when my freedom of speech is not allowed to be exercised? What would you call it when my opinions are considered racist due to my skin color and theirs are never? What do you call it when my privilege as a citizen is measured by my skin color? What do you call it when my tax contribution means lesser due to my skin color? What do you call it when my government decide what I should study, AGAIN due to my skin color? What do you actually call it? I am tired of this divide and rule nonsense created by the former Prime Minister who pretends that nothing is his fault and apparently flabbergasted with the behavior of his UMNO colleagues. Bear in mind that the politicians are using Corona virus crisis as an excuse for authoritarian controls and that is totally disgusting.   Malaysia has always been defined by ethnic politics since independence. 2018 was seen as a historic turning point. An election that overturned ...

Could we have saved a life?   I received a call to help two single mothers with some groceries living in Tronoh. It was supposed to be a normal routine, where I go and deliver the groceries and off I go.   The picture you see is where one of the   single mother live with her 5 kids without basic utilities. It's not even the the lack of basic necessity that I couldn't wrap my head around but how she lost her first born.   As I was leaving after unloading the groceries, she pointed at the second   picture and said her oldest son hung himself a week ago because he was depressed that he could not put food on the table for them.   I believe my heart stopped for a moment and I could not think. I just looked at the lady and didn't know what to say. Would it have made a difference if I had come a week earlier? Would he be alive? I don't know but I am feeling so   shitty.   He was 22 and probably if someone just looked harder at his situation, he might be ...

THE BATH OF DEATH or what is also known as 'Senicide'. A common practice in India till to date especially in villages. Many questioned how is this cruel compared to euthanasia? Who do we blame? Can education alone solve the social issue?  What sickens me more is, they justify this sinful act saying it is the will of God. It has become a lucrative business in India.  Well, read on what exactly is done to elders by their own children who look at them as burden.  The body is massaged with coconut oil, castor and sesame oils, usually at dawn. After this, the person is given a cold bath and put to bed. The body temperature soon dips, often to a lethal extent. After 15 minutes, the person is made to drink a few glasses of tender coconut water and a glass of milk. This causes renal failure. In a day or two, the person catches a fever and dies. If the oil and coconut water failed, the person would be given a glass of mud mixed with water or a bun which will be forced down their t...

  Is it all that is needed or is it enough? John Lennon wrote a  song  called, “All You Need is Love.” But he also beat both of his wives, abandoned one of his children, verbally abused his gay Jewish manager with homophobic and once had a camera crew film him lying naked in his bed for an entire day. Years later, Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails wrote a  song  called “Love is Not Enough.” Reznor, despite being famous for his shocking stage performances and his grotesque and disturbing videos, got clean from all drugs and alcohol,  married one woman , had two children with her, and then cancelled entire albums tours so that he could stay home and be a good husband and father. One of these two men had a clear and realistic understanding of love. One of them did not. One of these men idealized love as the solution to all of his problems. In our culture, many of us idealize love. We see it as some lofty cure-all for all of life’s problems. Our movies a...

People are trying to tea ch each other  to be tolerant of gays. I'm not ok with that.  I am gay, and I am not seeking to be "tolerated." You  tolerate  stupidity or  an annoying neighbor but I am not something or someone you  tolerat e. Understand that sexuality is as wide as the sea. Understand that your morality is not law . Discomfort or hatred towards gay community still remains a persistent problem in today’s society and it is becoming more and more alarming. The problem is that we live in a society where everyone is presumed to be heterosexual/straight and as a society, we still believe that everyone fits comfortably into a male or female gender category but the reality is clearly quite different. Like racism and all forms of prejudice, bigotry against gay people is a deadly carcinogen. We are pitted against each other in order to keep us from seeing each other as allies. Why? What is it about gay people that disturbs you so much and you are willing t...

So, what is "normal,”? It’s basically whatever society considers acceptable based on their beliefs and the standards they've set. But does that really make sense? And where does our right to be ourselves fit into all of that? And then there's homosexuality - do people just wake up one day and decide to be gay? How do we wrap our heads around this? There isn't some magic gene that determines someone's sexual orientation. Your DNA can't tell if you're gay or straight. It's not just about biology, psychology, or life experiences - sexuality isn't a conscious choice you make, it's just a part of who you are. No one really knows for sure what causes someone to be gay, just like how you know you're straight. Some people still believe being gay is a choice, often pointing to religious reasons, but that's not entirely accurate. Old prejudices and fears play a big role here. Even if we acknowledge that sexuality exists on a spectrum, many sti...

In the simplest explanation, Consciousness is awareness of internal or external existence . We have made a   great deal of progress   in understanding brain activity, and how it contributes to our  behaviou r but conventional science aren ’ t able to explain consciousness. IF MIND IS MATTER...,there was an approach rooted by the philosopher Bertrand Russell   Bertrand Russell   and the scientist   Arthur Eddington  in 1920 ’ s .  I t turns out that physics is confined from  telling us about the   behaviour   of matter . M atter has mass and charge, properties which are entirely characteri z ed in terms of behaviour , attraction, repulsion and resistance to acceleration ,..correct? Apparently p hysics tells us nothing about what philosophers like to call “ the intrinsic nature of matter ” , how matter is in and of itself. It turns out, then, that there is a huge hole in our scientific world view where physics leaves us completely in ...