Derivatives

-18 C feels like -28 C first look

2012-01-15T18:04:00.000-08:00

Saw movie Beauty and the Beast 3D today -- thorougly enjoyed. The glasses which they give in Bangalore are not always scratched, I got nice glass here today, enjoyed the 3D experience.

The idea was to try metro (called LRT here) to reach to Cineplex (CO Sunridge Spectrum) Did some google and noted down the details
the weather channel didn't encourage to go out.
"-18 C feels like -28 C" packed myself up and ventured out, there was little snowfall and wind blowing on face and my nose freezing.
Reached the station on 7th street and searched out the ticketing machine, the waiting train passed, next train
was 10 minutes away, I was amused by seeing
heating points thanks god :-)

wat all people have done for survival.

The ride was good and I had to walk some distance, google satellite view had showed best option was to walk through sunridge mall to reach cineplex. Still walking is not good idea here in winter :-) :-)

ಮುಚ್ಚು ಮರೆಯಿಲ್ಲದೆಯೆ

2010-05-29T23:24:00.000-07:00

I heard somebody sing this once at a function once. I was bowled over by the lyrics; However I had to call up a friend to understand the last para :-) words like :

ನಾಂತ -- na + antha (not sure of this fully)

ನಾಕ -- heaven

ಪುರುಡಿನಿಂದೆನ್ನ -- vruddhi +yindenna

ಮುಚ್ಚು ಮರೆಯಿಲ್ಲದೆಯೆ ನಿನ್ನ ಮುಂದೆಲ್ಲವನು
ಬಿಚ್ಚಿಡುವೆ ಓ ಗುರುವೇ ಅಂತರಾತ್ಮ
ಪಾಪವಿದೆ ಪುಣ್ಯವಿದೆ ನರಕವಿದೆ ನಾಕವಿದೆ
ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸು ಓ ಗುರುವೇ ಅಂತರಾತ್ಮ || ಮುಚ್ಚು ||

ರವಿಗೆ ಕಾಂತಿಯನೀವ ನಿನ್ನ ಕಣ್ಣೀಕ್ಷಿಸಲು
ಪಾಪ ತಾನುಳಿಯುವುದೆ ಪಾಪವಾಗಿ
ಗಂಗೆ ತಾನೋದ್ಭವಿಪ ನಿನ್ನಡಿಯ ಸೋಕಿಂಗೆ
ನರಕ ತಾನುಳಿಯುವುದೆ ನರಕವಾಗಿ || ಮುಚ್ಚು ||

ಶಾಂತ ರೀತಿಯೊಳಿಮ್ಮಿ ಕದಡಿರುವುದೆನ್ನಾತ್ಮ
ನಾಂತ ರೀತಿಯು ಅದೆಂತೊ ಓ ಅನಂತ
ನನ್ನ ನೀತಿಯ ಪುರುಡಿನಿಂದೆನ್ನ ರಕ್ಷಿಸೆ
ನಿನ್ನ ನೀತಿಯ ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಆನಂದಕ್ಕೆ || ಮುಚ್ಚು ||

Listen to the song here....
Mucchu Mareyillade - Pushpalatha
Music Director: Mysore Anantha Swamy
Lyrics: Kuvempu

Dil to Baccha hai ji Lyrics

2010-02-26T11:31:00.000-08:00

Gulzaar's Lines which I like the most are highlighted :-)
Rahat has sung this song beautifully, I sing the first para more than the second.

Aisi ulji nazar unse hatt ti nahi
Daant se reshmi dor katt ti nahi
Umar kab ki baras ke safaid ho gayi
Kaari badari jawani ki chatt ti nahi
Walla ye dhadkan bhadne lagi hai
Chehre ki rangat udne lagi hai
Darr lagta hai tanha sone mein ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji
Thoda kaccha hai ji
Haan dil to baccha hai ji
Aisi ulji nazar unse hatt ti nahi
Daant se reshmi dor katt ti nahi
Umar kab ki baras ke safaid ho gayi
Kaari badari jawani ki chatt ti nahi
Ra ra ra ..

Kisko ptaa tha pehlu mein rakha
Dil aisa baaji bhi hoga
Hum to hamesha samajhte the koi
Hum jaisa haaji hi hoga
Hai zor karein, kitna shor karein
Bewaja baatein pe ainwe gaur karein
Dilsa koi kameena nahi
Koi to rokey, koi to tokey
Iss umar mein ab khaogey dhokhe
Darr lagta hai ishq karne mein ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji
Thoda kaccha hai ji
Haan dil to baccha hai ji

Aisi udhaasi baithi hai dil pe
Hassne se ghabra rahe hain
Saari jawani katra ke kaati
Piri mein takra gaye hain
Dil dhadakta hai to aise lagta hai woh
Aa raha hai yahin dekhta hi na woh
Prem ki maarein kataar re
Taubah ye lamhe katt te nahi kyun
Aankhein se meri hatt te nahi kyun
Darr lagta hai mujhse kehne mein ji
Dil toh bachcha hai ji
Dil toh bachcha hai ji
Thoda kaccha hai ji
Haan dil toh baccha hai ji

Vimukthi Movie and Samvadha - Shrusti Ventures

2010-02-14T19:32:00.000-08:00

One of my friend called me to watch this movie, I went only because my sister was also accompanying. Nowadays I am being very careful in choosing Kannada movie. My last try SuryaKaanthi I couldn't sit in the theater for more than 30 mins.

Vimukthi is a classic movie; I liked it. The part before "8 years after" was dragging. I found nothing curious in the first 20 minutes, Atleast I was expecting the director to explain the mysore shaili painting in detail but I thought it was laymannish. May he would have thought introducing some more character or filling Dr. character with more humuour.

Depiction of kashi, layered caracter of Bhavana(I don't remember the protagonists name), Archana's dialogues, Ramakrishna's character - I liked these

P Sheshadri has got 5 national awards for his five movies great achievement.
I will watch his other movies.

Samvadha didn't go that well, The audience was basavangudi gandhibazzar aged people they were debating on ideologies and Electra Complex, and some people were not stoping at all with thier own experiences. I would have wanted to listen more from Sheshadri and more about the movie; screenplay, editing camera work etc.

Mobile Number Portability + 3G

2009-11-14T23:44:00.000-08:00

Mobile Number Portability will come into effect from new years eve, Looking forward to this one, This may change the scene of service providers in GSM and CDMA arena. Especially CDMA.
http://www.medianama.com/2009/09/223-rules-criteria-for-applying-for-mobile-number-portability/

With 3G auction almost underway one would see usage of services in another half year from other providers airtel vodafone!!??. Atleast that would spurt more services and plan for customer especially in the area of data rates. With data rates reaching masses social networking would explode.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/telecom/Auction-4-slots-of-3G-spectrum-in-all-circles-says-Mittal/articleshow/5213999.cms

I have been a loyal customer of airtel for 7 yrs now(mobile+ landline+ broadband + digital tv). May be because i didn't want to change the number :) and service was satisfactory. With the signal quality, service, tariff to relationship centres the experience is telling me check for other options :-)

Male Nintu Hoda Mele

2009-10-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

I love the lyrics, esp:

manasinalli chru jaga bekide...

kelali hege tiliyadagidie

sanna hatava madide hrudaya eedina..

...hudukale beke tiliyadagide

Milana mp3 song listen + downloads

Yaava Mohana Lyrics

2009-10-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

I was listening to this song from America America, awesome improvisation from the bhavageethe version... Honestly I like both version, and the lyrics

Bhavageethe version

Yaava Mohana Murali - Rathnamala Prakash

Music Director: Mysore Ananthaswamy

Lyrics: Gopalakrishna Adiga

America America movie version

The IT Mascot & Metro

2009-05-30T01:30:00.000-07:00

May be you have heard about these about official carrier and mascot of IT; A kid crying at a bus stand and insisting mom, not to get into a bus other than Volvo; Unnoticed animated expression seeing Volvo on his route to office, like landing in corner house, checking menu your tongue is juiced up. Plump IT crowd getting into Jam packed Volvo towards ITPL even when Blue bus is insight. Me ditching evening office shuttle. My friend DN quitting Mys train travel, reaching in 2 n half cruising at almost 100 on express way. Recommending Volvo bus for airport travel not only for cost factor but for service. Get in anywhere with a hand signal The Volvo BTS Bus.

This time in Delhi I had sufficient time to check the metro. I started with Dwaraka -> Kashmiri Gate, then Rajiv Chowk and nearly spent half a day travelling in Metro, yes to beat the heat also :-) . I liked everything with metro; the security check the way people got in, the time it took, frequency, security instructions. Having traveled in metro around the world (Paris Frankfurt NY) It felt truly world class.

Imagine what revolution, transportation n connectivity could bring around in India, domestic flights (just think about the domestic air connectivity US offered) express ways, metro, Volvo buses.

SARPASS

2009-05-19T11:37:00.001-07:00

SARPASS Trek: Having chai at balcony of Manu Deluxe Hotel not Hotel Decent :-) , Manali. I had all the time in the world to write something about my trek and trip, Started jotting down, For first two days I had written two and half pages… naaahhh T20 is running, Let me keep test cricket some other time. Okey here they are; some imprints which are darker than others from my wierd memory.

Kasol; Watching IPL match on a small 1x1 ft, a pack cigarette(I don't smoke u know) and chai back 2 back, my company; Babaji and Punjabi shop owner , sun setting under snow covered peak on one side and river gushing on the other. I spent 3-4hr sitting there. (I asked the puffing Baba sitting next to me , What his name was; Shaking his head he Instantly answered: Babaji kehlo, Anyone having mudi in these areas be addressed as Babaji)
Facilities Shitting routine: My morning ritual would start very early, get out of the sleeping bag and for some time be in a trans state making up my mind to venture out in freezing surroundings,. OUT now, no other choice, survey for a right place away from the crowd, yes unmarked. Start digging a pit (atleast scratching the surface like a pit formation) put a do not disturb board and hahh now mark it. Strangely I was satisfied using tissue , All my previous attempts at using tissue outside India were futile ones in comparison to you know using H2O.
Climbing the last few km to Germi, after eating out packed lunch dibba our guide insisted on moving on under heavy rain. I tried helping one person for some climb and saw was the last one of the 43 strong parade. With hunter shoes footmarking kichidi and rain fully spoiling the z-z track, everybody was making his own route climbing on four legs almost vertically. Few times gasping for breath I had thought I have reached my physical limits. I didn’t know what I was doing and how I was moving ahead there.
Wearing the same Jeans for 15 days continuously, (50:50 Only had a track pant other than the Jeans) :-) I know what you have started thinking, I had more than suffient pair of inners though.
Dreching in freezing rain, All my clothes were wet and I had to wear the wet pullover and wet track pant and get inside sleeping bag to survive the next days. Initial few hours shivering and trying to sleep the whole night. Heh Morning my pullover and trackpant were dry and ready for next day.
Sliding down SARPASS with back side fully wet and butt almost frozen
Tilalotni camp; Morning I spent 15-20 mins to wear rock hard frozen shoes, It was as if you are trying to put ur legs into stone mould.
Eating magg;. at the lunch point near to our peak. I was wondering how much (World is Flat writer Friedman would have written how even himalayas are flat) globalization has creeped in. Nestle patented product being made ready in 2 mins on oil stove carried on back by an local villager on snow clad mountains, Our trip Guides helping them with cutting onions using a local version of swiss knife.
Hunting for a hotel room at Manali. Landing in Manali I was mobbed by people suggesting me a hotel. Went aside to autowala and made a deal to show 5-6 hotels in range of 300-500. After checking 6 hotels zeroed down to the last one. Hotel Manu Deluxe,.
Staying cozily a full day at Manu Deluxe room in Manali , pouring outside, same way discharging profusely from my back side opening nonstop 7-8 times may be (shouldn’t eat too much on streets) In case be properly hydrated
Flight back 2 Blore: I was trying to talk almost anyone in my viewsight, My neighbour, putting full effort to sleep, trying all the angles and positions :-). Suddenly my mind went in thought of what if flight blasted mid air, Within seconds body 2 ash, fine powder. Pretty instant, Also tried experiencing it. May be one would not even get to know when he got charred. Bad one I know :-) This may happen if you trek too much, BEWARE.

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/vishwa.g/SARPASSPics#

ಮಾಯೆ ಮಾಯೆ

2008-12-05T23:55:00.000-08:00

For swami who reminded me many times to write this
ಮಾಯೆ
ಪ್ಯಾರಾ I
ಸವಿದೂ೦ದು ಕ್ಷಣವದನು ಮತ್ತದಕೆ ಹ೦ಬಲಿಸಿ
ಮೆಲುಕುತ್ತ ಸುಳಿಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕು ಒದ್ದಾಡಿ, ಎದ್ದು, ಬಿದ್ದು,
ಉಸಿರು ಭಾರ ಶಕ್ತಿಯಿಲ್ಲ ಅಣು ಅಣುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಹೆಗೊ ಎದ್ದು,
ಕಲೆಕಲೆಕಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ಬಿದ್ದು, ನಾ ನಿನ್ನ ಸೆರೆಯಾದೆನಾ
ಮಾಯೆ, ನೀ ನನ್ನ ಆವರಿಸಿದೆಯಾ
ಪ್ಯಾರಾ II
ಹಿ೦ದೆ ಹಿ೦ದೆ ನಾನೆಡೆದು, ಗೊತಿಲ್ಲದ೦ಗೆ
ಸೆರಿ ಮ೦ದೆ ಮ೦ದಿ, ಹುಚ್ಛೀದ೦ಗೆ ಆಡಿ
ಹಿ೦ಡು ಹಿ೦ದೆ ಒಡಿದೆನಾ, ನಿ೦ತೆನೆಲ್ಲಿ ನಾ
ನಡೆದೆನೆಲ್ಲಿ ನಾ, ನಾ ನಿನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಿದೆನಾ
ಮಾಯೆ, ನೀ ನನ್ನ ವ್ಯಪಿಸಿದೆಯಾ
Manuscript had IIIrd para also; was on Bhavana prapancha..
Couldn't get that in line with the theme If it had any :-)

2008-10-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

Passive smokers of meltdown fire - Part I

In thick of things, this issue is knocking hard and loud on everybody's ears; everyone of us have been passive smokers of this ongoing meltdown.

There are multitude of indicators to this "Global Economic Crisis";

High commodity prices(notably oil and food); global inflation; a substantial credit crisis

increased unemployment; the possibility of a global recession.

Let try understanding the macroeconomics in "Lehman" way

Subprime Mortgage Crisis

Say today you go for home loan from a bank, the bank will disburse you based

on credit worthiness and book risk (in case you default). Okey now investment-banks

buy these loans and package it for investors (via Collateralized Debt Obligation Mortgage Based Securities), Now the risk is distrubuted.

My Home Loan -- Bank -- Investment Banks -- Investors

------------------------------------------------------

EMI check --> commission-->commission --> interest earned

Cause of subprime lending (Subprime -- not so banked--lower credit rating)

more defaults, Banks booked losses and selling of MBS resulted in liquidity crunch Investment

Many of the investment banks had lended 30 times than networth, They don't come under liquidity norms pressed by central banks (say RBI in our case, Bank in India have to keep 25 % of investors money under bonds and maintain liquity of 9%)

In laymans terms Lehman Brothers lays flat on ground.

Eyebrow raisers:

The value of U.S. subprime mortgages was estimated at $1.3 trillion as of March 2007
By January 2008, the delinquency rate had risen to 21% and by May 2008 it was 25%
22% of homes purchased (1.65 million units) were for investment purposes, with an additional 14% (1.07 million units) purchased as vacation homes
Rating agencies lowered the credit ratings on $1.9 trillion in mortgage backed securities from Q3 2007 to Q2 2008
Reuters reported that global inflation was at historic levels, and that domestic inflation was at 10-20 year highs for many nations
In 2007, 40% of all subprime loans were generated by automated underwriting

For Further Reading:

http://www.hinduonnet.com/mag/2008/10/05/stories/2008100550010100.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_crisis_of_2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subprime_mortgage_crisis#Economic_background

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Subprime_Crisis_Diagram_-_X1.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Financial_Leverage_Profit_Engine.png

Lyrics: Jaane Tu ya Jaane Na

2008-06-07T00:39:00.000-07:00

Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
Kabhi kabhi Aditi zindagi mein yuhi koi apna lagta hai.
Kabhi kabhi Aditi wo bichhar jaaye to ek sapna lagta hai.
Aise mei koi kaise apne aansu o ko behne se roke?
Aur kaise koi sochle everything's gonna be ok?

Kabhi kabhi to lage zindagi mein rahi naa khushi aur naa mazaa.
Kabhi kabhi to lage har din mushkil aur har pal ek sazaa.
Aise mein koi kaise mushkuraye, kaise hasde khush hoke?
Aur kaise koi soch de everything gonna be ok?
Soch jara jaaneja tujhko hum kitna chahte hai.
Rotein hai hum bhi aggar teri ankhon mein aansu aate hai.
Gaane to aata nahi hai magar phir bhi hum gaate hai.
Ke Aditi maan kabhi, kabhi saare jahan mein andhera hota hai;
Lekin raat ke baad hi to sabera hota hai.

Kabhi kabhi Aditi zindagi mei yuhi koi apna lagta hai.
Kabhi kabhi Aditi wo bichhar jaaye to ek sapna lagta hai.
Hey Aditi Hasde hasde hasde hasde hasde, hasde tu zara.
Nahi to bus thora thora thora thora thora, thora mushkura.

Tu khush hai to lage ke jahan mein chhaayi hai khushi.
Suraj nikle baadlon se aur baatein zindagi.
Suun to jara madhosh hawa tujhse kehne lagi.
Ke Aditi wo jo bichhad-te hai ek na ek din phir mil jaate hai;
Aditi jaane tu ya jaane na phool phir khil jaate hai.

Kabhi kabhi Aditi zindagi mei yuhi koi apna lagta hai.
Kabhi kabhi Aditi wo bichhar jaaye to ek sapna lagta hai.
( Hey Aditi Hasde hasde hasde hasde hasde, hasde tu zara.
Nahi to bus thora thora thora thora thora, thora mushkura. )-5

Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai

Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai, Jaane Tu Mera Kya Tha
Tu Hi Mera Har Pal, Tu Hi Har Lamha Tha
Jaane Kaisi Kashish Hai, Jaane Kaisi Khalish Hai
Kyun Yeh Saans Thami Hai, Aankhon Mein Kyun Nami Hai
Hai Dosthi Humko Yakeen Tha, Hai Yeh Dosti Aur Kuch Bhi Nahin Tha
Hai Kaisa Dard Naya Sa Kyun Dil Lagtha Toota Toota Sa
Jaana Dil Jaana Kaise To Meine Na Jaana
Yeh Pyar Yahin Hai, Yeh Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Jaana Dil Jaana Kaise To Meine Na Jaana
Yeh Pyar Yahin Hai, Yeh Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai, Jaane Tu Mera Kya Tha
Tu Hi Mera Har Pal, Tu Hi Har Lamha Tha

Oooo Hothi Thi Tujh Se Saka Har Din Ki
Teri Dopehar Se Shyam Ki Dhun Thi
Hothi Thi Raathein Teri Baathon Mein Khoye
Tere Khayalon Mein Jaage Aur Soye
Tu Jo Nahin To Kya Raha

Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai, Jaane Tu Mera Kya Tha
Tu Hi Mera Har Pal, Tu Hi Har Lamha Tha
Jaane Kaisi Kashish Hai, Jaane Kaisi Khalish Hai
Kyun Yeh Saans Thami Hai, Aankhon Mein Kyun Nami Hai
Jaana Dil Jaana Kaise To Meine Na Jaana
Yeh Pyar Yahin Hai, Yeh Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Jaana Dil Jaana Kaise To Meine Na Jaana
Yeh Pyar Yahin Hai, Yeh Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

2007-10-01T22:32:00.000-07:00

Gandigiri…

-The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

Why this article?

Since we got a holiday, cause of this man and we are all opinionated about Gandhi, Aren’t we? :-)

Aye mamu phir Gandhi ke bari mien patti pada rahan hai…school se padh padh ke takh gayen hai…

ayyo papa Gandhi mundedu, bayalli beralitre kacchakku baralla

am not for Gandhi

hate him

What made up our old man Mahatma (essential nutritional constituents) **

**tit bits…, gyan and sweets to be taken in small doses OR as directed by your dog

Truth / Non-violence

“I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and Nonviolence are as old as the hills. All I have done is to try experiments in both on as vast a scale as I could. In doing so I have sometimes erred and learnt by my errors.”

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

"There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for."

Vegetarianism
Brahmacharya
Simplicity / Humbleness

“Speak only if it improves upon the silence”

Faith

“We need to be the change we wish to see in the world”

“If my faith burns bright, as I hope it will even if I stand alone, I shall be alive in the grave, and what is more, speaking from it!”

“Criticism and controversies “- How can we not touch on this facet

Concept of partition

Of the partition of India to create Pakistan, he wrote in Harijan on 06 October 1946:

[The demand for Pakistan] as put forth by the Moslem League is un-Islamic and I have not hesitated to call it sinful. Islam stands for unity and the brotherhood of mankind, not for disrupting the oneness of the human family. Therefore, those who want to divide India into possibly warring groups are enemies alike of India and Islam. They may cut me into pieces but they cannot make me subscribe to something which I consider to be wrong [...] we must not cease to aspire, in spite of [the] wild talk, to befriend all Moslems and hold them fast as prisoners of our love.

However, as Homer Jack notes of Gandhi's long correspondence with Jinnah on the topic of Pakistan: "Although Gandhi was personally opposed to the partition of India, he proposed an agreement [...] which provided that the Congress and the Moslem League would cooperate to attain independence under a provisional government, after which the question of partition would be decided by a plebiscite in the districts having a Moslem majority."

Rejection of violent resistance

Gandhi also came under some political fire for his criticism of those who attempted to achieve independence through more violent means. His refusal to protest against the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Udham Singh and Rajguru were sources of condemnation among some parties

Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one, as this, ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth - Albert Einstein

UNEDITED

Brahmacharya

Proper Meaning: The full and proper meaning of Brahmacharya is search of Brahman. Brahman pervades every being and can therefore be searched by diving into and realizing the inner self. This realization is impossible without complete control of the senses. Brahmacharya thus means control in thought, word and action, of all the senses at all times and in all places.

A man or woman completely practicing Brahmacharya is absolutely free from passion. Such a one therefore lives high unto God, is Godlike. I have no doubt that it is possible to practice such Brahmacharya in thought, word and action to the fullest extent.

Comment: Life without Brahmacharya appears to me to be insipid and animal-like. The brute by nature knows to self-restraint. Man is man because he is capable of, and only in so far as he exercises self-restraint. What formerly appeared to me to be extravagant praise of Brahmacharya in our religious books seems now, with increasing clearness every day, to be absolutely proper and founded on experience.

My Brahmacharya: I have practiced brahmacharya for over thirty years with considerable success though living in the midst of activities. After the decision to lead the life of a brahmachari, there was little change in my outward practice, except with my wife…..

My brahmacharya was not derived from books. I evolved my own rules for my guidance and that of those who, at my invitation, had joined me in the experiment. If I have not followed the prescribed restrictions, much less have I accepted the description found even in religious literature of woman as the source of all evil and temptations? Owing as I do all the good there may be in me to my mother, I have looked upon woman, never as an object for satisfaction of sexual desire, but always with the veneration due to my own mother. Man is the tempter and aggressor. It is not woman whose touch defiles man, but he is often himself too impure to touch her ……

I am experimenting. I have never claimed to have been a perfect brahmachari of my definition. I have not acquired that control over my thoughts that I need for my researches in non–violence is to be contagious and infectious, I must acquire greater control over my thoughts

Vegetarianism

Advocacy: I not only practice vegetarianism, but also a strict control of one's palate. A man who wants to control his animal passions easily does so if he controls his palate. Unless we are prepared to rid ourselves of stimulating, heating, and exciting condiments, we shall certainly, not able to control the over-abundant, unnecessary, and exciting stimulation of the animal passions. If we do not do that, we are likely to abuse the sacred trust of our bodies that has been given to us.

Rational: Let me state in all humility that vegetarianism is not irrational. Rationalism is not the same thing as rationality. Rationalism is sometimes extremely irrational and lands us into logical pedantry. The reduction is often asked, "Science has now proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that there is life even in plants. What sense is there then in objecting to eating flesh?" Could there be a more ludicrous argument? Could we on that account justify cannibalism? Because we eat vegetables and cereals, is it reasonable to argue that we could also eat the flesh of the members of our family? I trust, you will agree that this kind of argument does not hold water.