Word of the week (5): Calumniate

Calumniate (verb): to make false and malicious statements about; slander.

During research for a synonym for the word, “slander.”

It is rather unfortunate to see some honorable politicians sometimes resort to calumniation for political fame.

Word of the week (4): Equanimity

Equanimity (noun): mental or emotional stability or composure, esp. under tension or strain.

Commonly used word by my Dad.

It would help to maintain our equanimity through these turbulent economic times.

Word of the week (3): Surreptitious

Surreptitious (adj): obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized.

Came across this word while playing a game of synonyms, where we research for new words.

Bill’s surreptitious affair lead to the impeachment action against him.

My favorite writings...

Imagine growing up in a family where your morning begins with prayers and meditation. As a kid maybe you don’t know what you are doing but as you grow up you don’t know how else to do it. I guess all I am trying to say is that you grow into it and this routine becomes part of who you are.

I grew up in an environment where philosophical and spiritual discussions have been an integral part of our life, but little did I know that what was being discussed around the kitchen table, by the fire place and circled around the bonfires in our backyard, constitutes to be spiritual or philosophical.

For me these were just discussions that probably every family has. All that I knew and understood then was that I was being a part of my family or a group discussion that sometimes intrigued me and at other times I felt totally lost.

Guess sometimes some things, attitudes or beliefs form a vital part of our existence and our environment, such that we don’t even realize that what we are growing up doing is actually a form of formal study.

As I was growing up, I really started to enjoy reading philosophical and spiritual text. I say text because sometimes what may appear as a few lines or a phrase may hold the essence of a deeper meaning/thought. Where the interpretation of that text holds the key to getting to the depth of the words just like the beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Over the years I have grown fond of reading about a branch of philosophy called ethics. It’s interesting to know that ethics is by no means a plain and simple distinction between the right and the wrong. It’s more than just black and white.

As a matter of fact there exist so many different theories and thoughts that define and establish the benchmark for human actions – what’s moral and how our actions should follow.

A renowned philosopher and one of the most prominent defender of Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill’s writings have had a profound impact on me.

His philosophical theory of Utilitarianism defines the basic moral principle ought to be the one that promotes the greatest happiness of the maximum number of people.

He very interestingly equates happiness with pleasure, which makes one look at his theory as having a hedonistic value. But as I read and analyze his work in depth, I began to differ on the hedonistic view because Mill talks about pleasure for all and not just pleasure in a selfish way.

With the way we are heading in the direction of “The World House” and globalization, I think his philosophical approach is more in tune with our lives today.

Over the years I have felt that philosophy and spirituality are overlapping concepts in many ways than one. This is very true in my life at least, where at times it is hard to draw a fine distinguishing line between the two.

Not too sure if one leads to the other stream of though or study but there definitely is an undercurrent or a union of some sort, where they blend and compliment each other.

Where philosophical readings give me food for my thoughts and help as a guide towards exploring, developing and enhancing my virtues and recognizing the virtues of people around me.

On the other hand spiritual readings are a reason and force behind my sustenance and endurance.

When I picked up my first spiritually motivational book, Change you thoughts – Change your life by Dr. Wayne Dyer, little did I realize that I will end up having a collection of all his books and reading those over and over again.

Dr. Dyer’s writings have helped me evolve as a person. His writings are a combination of philosophy and spiritualism. He motivates and encourages you to knock the door from inside in order to see the light outside and to seek the answers. In other words, open your heart to find the joy that you seek.

What was a piece of reading initially turns out to be my life style now.On one of the talk shows, he recited a poem that stirred a lot of hidden emotions in me and I would like to share the same with you:

The Cookie Thief

by Valerie Cox

A woman was waiting at an airport one night,
With several long hours before her flight.
She hunted for a book in the airport shops.
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see,
That the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be.
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between,
Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

So she munched the cookies and watched the clock,
As the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock.
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,
Thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I would blacken his eye."

With each cookie she took, he took one too,
When only one was left, she wondered what he would do.
With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh,
He took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other,
She snatched it from him and thought... oooh, brother.
This guy has some nerve and he's also rude,
Why he didn't even show any gratitude!

She had never known when she had been so galled,
And sighed with relief when her flight was called.
She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate,
Refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.

She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat,
Then she sought her book, which was almost complete.
As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise,
There was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.

If mine are here, she moaned in despair,
The others were his, and he tried to share.
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

How many times in our lives,
have we absolutely known
that something was a certain way,
only to discover later that
what we believed to be true ... was not?

Word of the week (2): Serendipity

Serendipity (noun): an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

One of my communications professor uses this word frequently and it’s very interesting when she uses it in context with life.

The renowned scientist, Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity is a classic example of serendipity when he accidentally stumbled upon the most important scientific equation of all times.