Interesting

the outcome suggests that perhaps there are four main manifestations of ‘interesting’ (broadly speaking):

Common things in life in a common way
This is the very familiar, not particularly groundbreaking, but if it’s done better than everyone else (e.g. like the Japanese who value perfection and continuous improvement) it's interesting. Could also include icons, classics and vintage for example.

Uncommon things in life in a common way
The idea is new and unfamiliar, but the design/execution is familiar, so that people can still relate to it and find it interesting.

Common things in life in an uncommon way
The vision of George Washington Carver above. The idea is familiar, but the design and execution is renewed/refreshed. Quite possibly the holy grail of interesting to the mass market.

Uncommon things in life in an uncommon way
Abstraction and ambiguity. Because the idea and the execution are both unfamiliar, we have no direct frame of reference to guide an interpretation. More likely to interest imaginative artsy folk.

Also just to note that I’m not suggesting that something has a definitive classification here, or that it won't vary person by person. Further, idea and design/execution cannot be neatly separated – they are ultimately bound to each other. But sometimes it can still help to artificially split them - and then piece things back together again when no one's looking ;)

The Power of Prayer

Prayer is a good way of humbling yourself and letting go of ego hassles. Once you pray, you acknowledge the supremacy of a higher power, much greater than you, who can be given the streins of your life. Prayer is a way to get rid of the ego that an individual possesses in the daily transactions of his life. Prayer followed by action is a strong antidote to all the ills affecting mankind. If you pray, but do not act, then you will not be exercising your ‘purushartha’ or your right to change your destiny. With the help of prayer you can also alter the plans of karma that you might have accrued in this or your previous lives.

The main obstacle for happiness, peace or prosperity is the ego, brought into focus by the mind. You have to strike a fine balance between how much you submit and how much responsibility you take for your own actions. Prayer is also a means of healing by which you can change the course of destiny. Prayer should not make you meek or submissive, as is generally the case, but certain mantras and japas, bring out the radiant force within each person and help him to face the challenges life throws at him. To smile in the face of adversity, to be happy in the general scheme of things, to be happy at simple pleasures of life is to pray. Prayer need not be just the manual lip-synching of empty words. The words must carry meaning and must change your thoughts and actions.

To be of strong character amidst chaos, to see the light in any grim situation, to be a beacon of light and positivism is to pray. To understand your function and role you have to play out, to understand the relationship between the individual ego, the world and the Almighty is to pray. To question, seek out, test theories, adapt to change, participate in this pluralistic game of the God, is to pray. Have you started praying yet?


neha singh

original content:
The Power of Prayer