The Monkey Mind

 Online Learning is more popular than ever. Social distancing has bolstered its influence as fear of COVID-19 is growing continuously. Especially in developing countries like Nepal, where the health system is still poor, this has been an alternative to traditional learning. Yet, its suitability is equally questioned on its viability in terms of factors like economy, socio-psychological, poor infrastructure, and such.  Physical presence has been part of our learning process be it formal education or vocational. Besides that, as social beings, we learn through "physical" communication, competition, and co-operation. Only when we are there like actually there, then we feel we are part of the learning process. It is considered part of our social life where we enjoy the physical presence of others. Why do most of us prefer hard copies of books rather than online PDF/E-pub? Why we make time for friends to have a cup of tea? It is because we give importance to the presence that can

  Plato, "Knowledge is the statement adhering three aspects: truth, justification and belief." Besides truth, justification and belief, knowledge should be measured based on the value. To understand the value, first there is the need to understand information. Everyone has a myriad quantity of information on the tip of the finger. How? Its' the internet! The internet offers us a lot of information. But its value based on the amount is questionable. In turn, how much of the information can be knowledge? Valuable in terms of person, his/her needs, time (immediate/in near future/situational), place (education/work/spiritual palace), material significance (income/investment/expense), knowledge is so understood. It is then inferred as the information i.e. valuable to a particular person/group for a particular purpose for a particular time/place. Thereby, knowledge is a untapped resource until put into use, on the basis of which human endeavors are started, continued and then

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Helen Keller American educator Helen Keller overcame the adversity of being blind and deaf to become one of the 20th century's leading humanitarians. And she did it with her lifelong teacher and friend Anne Sullivan. Their first memorable moment was when Keller learned to spell "W-A-T-E-R" with the help of Anne.  That beautiful moment opened her to an entire whole world she did not know existed. Here is one of the rare videos recorded sharing their experience together:   Later Helen wrote world-renowned books like The Story of My Life (1905) with help of Anne and her husband, The World I Live In (1908), Out of the dark (1913), Light In My Darkness (1927), and many more.  S he traveled to over 35 countries and changed the lives of millions with hope and courage. She taught the world even those who are differently able can help others, bring lasting change, and share happiness.   It is strange but true, by giving we a

"We are beings of habit. Without a doubt, we live in the comfort of familiarity. It makes everything so much more easier to live in a routine. Yet life is not only about constancy. We need to change according to the changing world."  Like a truck slamming you in the middle of sidewalk change comes knocking on the door. COVID-19 came with a bam, then isolation and now loosening of the lock-down. Of course there was tell-tail signs. Yet, like everything else, we normal people choose to ignore it. It is what we do. We look up at tragedy of Civil wars or starvation. We pity those mentioned in the news headlines one day. Then, live our life as usual another. It is the nature which we cannot undo and we are powerless to bring big changes ourselves. Only when it has effects to our personal world and thereby "us" then we take steps to adjust our personal space to adapt to the inevitable change. With the prolonged social isolation, we have changed the way we do things. We ne

Surprised? Yes, silence is not silent. In each waking hour and each snoozing moment, we are not alone. There continues to exist a buzz of thought bubbles marking its presence in our minds. They bump one upon the another- which neither ceases nor rests. They either rise up towards light or get pressured down towards the depth of darkness, where everything goes on to be...towards an end..or an endless loop. Thus, minds search now and then for respite from this constant buzz. People practice meditation or yoga, go for a vacation or volunteer. They search for a different sort of sound, the sound of harmony in mind and body. Sought towards reaching a balance of physique or psyche (or both), thereby finding a sense of connection, a sense of conviction i.e. of self. Found so in the sound of silence, that search comes to an eventual conclusion only time can tell.  What we see, might just be the trick of light that hoodwinks the mind. Some words tantalize even the sharpest mind. Time passes in

 " Kindness is the sunshine in which the virtue grows. In the presence of eternity, the mountains are as transient as the clouds. What light is to the eyes – what air is to the lungs – what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of man."   -  Robert Ingersoll"     The beauty of kindness is not simply about giving, it is giving willingly. It brings meaning to life with solidarity, especially to those who are lonely. With a helping hand, none have to suffer alone. As pain is deeper than happiness, lasting lifetimes, kindness makes that throbbing lonely pain bearable.  Love, one of the absolute truths brings life and kindness makes that life see the goodness of the world, see the beauty in it. With kindness, we can not only see but also truly feel all that is beautiful.  And like anything beautiful, the beauty of kindness is ephemeral and thus is memorable and thus  is worth treasuring.    The path of kindness is free others to free oneself. Money is the easier way to

" Do not ask. I will tell no lies.. Truth. For one it is and for another it is not.  At a level it exists and after that it does not. That is the relative truth based on which normal people like us live day after day.   Without resonance with the inner connotation it feels vague. Validation is thus so required for it to be universally accepted. Still even after universal validation, there lies the doubt, the question , the idea that something is wrong. For the mindset of a man is never constant, priorities change, underlying needs vary, simply we change, with time as we have to. Happily ever after, the sweet words at the end of a fairy tail, promises of the forever, pleasing to the ears they are but they will not hold true until so fulfilled. Reality is so absurd, so twisted, until and unless, we experience it , it is just another nightmare we try to sugarcoat with the fairy tail of promises that promise of forever         Most of us, survival is the truth and other than that we d