Pointer

Zen philosophy insists that truth has nothing to do with words. It likens truth and words to a moon and a finger, respectively. Buddha says that though the finger can point to the moon’s location, it is necessary to look beyond the finger to see the moon.

Being obsessed with the pointer is pointless. More often than not we tend to spend too much time in analysis of the pointer. If we are discussing whether things are better or worse, we generally get stuck in the validity of concepts and models.

 

Surely it would be better to step out and experience something directly. The map is never the territory. It is just a pointer based on a belief, a perception, an image or a thought process. If the map is right, we reach our location. But if it is incorrect, we have to discard the map.

 

Most of the time, our map keeps changing depending on the position we are in and our desired destination. It is okay to have a map, only as long as we know it is a map. It is more important to connect to real territory… to step beyond the pointer!

 

Too often, we allow the pointer to become an addictive restriction. Whether it is our own ego, life purposes or larger community concerns, we would be better off if we move beyond the pointers and embark on the journey of real experience.

 

To discover fresh frontiers

Move beyond the pointers!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Excursion

As members of State Board of Samraat Club International, our monthly meetings are on Wednesday evenings. However, this month’s hosts, Pandurang Gaokar and Kamlakant Wadyekar invited us on Sunday to their beautiful village of Chorao! They arranged for an amazing experience starting with an excursion.

We moved around in a boat, through the mangrove side of Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. We saw birds, fishes and a rich bio-diversity. For most, it was a first time experience to move around a village which we had often passed through. The joy on our faces stood testimony to the beauty of the returns we received.

 

Excursions make for interesting insights and engaging experiences. The short journey or trip, especially one taken as a leisure activity, is a deviation from our regular activity or course. We end up noticing the woods we pass by.

 

We have an excuse for not taking enough excursions: we don’t have the time! We deny ourselves the opportunity to unwind and get energised by a journey of discovery. We should choose to explore and widen the cone of our life to include fresh insights.

 

Interestingly, the word ‘excursion’ comes from the Latin roots of ‘ex’ and ‘currerre’, which means ‘to run out’. We should ‘run out’ of our routine to involve in explorations of environment, heritage, lives and livelihoods in our immediate and nearby locations. They will lead us to distant ones as we embrace the happy habit of excursions.

 

Run out of the routine, step out into the sun

Exciting excursions await you on a trip of fun!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Unsung

 In a recent concert, vocalist Shakuntala Bharne took time between her renditions to introduce on-stage and off-stage team members! She gave interesting information of their role and their experience. She mentioned that they often remain unsung!

 The term ‘unsung’ refers to the ones who are not appreciated for their contributions. They are often not noticed as they may be positioned in the background or not in view at all. Their efforts to enhance the song may be significant but they remain unsung!

 

The onus is on the one holding centre stage to ensure that they are identified for their role which may be unseen. They must ensure that the players of various roles and responsibilities are duly recognised by the audience.

 

So every time we sing to acclaim and applause, we must share the credit with the ones who help us perform. We must bring them to the fore and share their input that leads to the impact. None who helps the performance must go unsung.

 

We must learn to share credit and appreciation and applause. It leads to sharing of dignity and rights. We must share it with those who work hard yet get paid less and receive no appreciation for what they do. We must ensure that they do not go unsung!

 

Acknowledge those who help you scale the rung

When we grab exclusive credit, they go unsung!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Sore Loser

Elections for the Presidentship of an organisation seemed lopsided with one contestant claiming sure victory. He and his supporters confidently rattled off various factors that seemed in their favour. However, the result was otherwise.

The shocked loser started blaming everyone and everything. He found fault with many things. He blamed others for his loss. He was a sore loser!

 

Nobody likes to lose, but there is a line that should never be crossed… the line between amateur and professional, child and adult. In the heat of the moment, it is not the greatest athletes that shine through, but the best people.

 

Sore losers are competitive about everything. They throw a tantrum when things don't go their way. They try to put the blame elsewhere. They dwell on the situation for longer than they need to. They discredit the actual winner. They get personal.

 

Being competitive isn’t a bad thing, we all want to succeed, but we must know that in reality we can’t always win. Accept that that’s okay – it’s a normal part of life. If you’re a sore loser, it’s maybe because you struggle to manage your emotions in the moment.

 

Acknowledging that you’re a sore loser is the best place to start. Then, make a conscious effort to not react negatively when you lose. We should focus on creating a rational and positive mind-set. Losing a game or an election isn’t the end of the world, so credit the winner and say well done!

Be a truly gracious sport in every game…

Don’t be a sore loser with excuses lame!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Heritage

The word comes from ‘that which may be inherited’ from Old French. It is pertinent to note the component ‘Heir’ which obviously refers to something that is inherited… meaning passed on by someone else from the sometime of days gone by.

Anything that is received from contributions of someone else cannot be squandered away. It has to be retained and maintained… it needs to be restored and secured for the future. To be careless of heritage, is to we lose the valuable fruit of the efforts of our ancestors.

 

Not all heritage may be desirable. It may have negative experiences attached to it. There may be pain or hurt involved in its birth. Nevertheless, it will offer wisdom if we choose to learn lessons instead of blindly glorifying it.

 

The past tells us where we have come from… it does not tell us where we will go! Our future is determined by the way we learn from what has happened before. We must embrace the positives and we must distance ourselves from the negatives. But we must learn either way!

 

May heritage and its lessons lead us to wisdom. When heritage is destroyed, the lessons are lost. Hence we should take care of all heritage: natural or man-made. But the biggest learning comes from the heritage called humaneness… Let’s ensure that it is passed on!

 

Heritage is a great teacher of what happened before

The positive will lead to lessons as will painful sores!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Farewell

JCI (Junior Chamber International) is an organisation for young persons between the age 18 to 40. Last year JCI India started SMA (Senior Members Association) to reconnect older members. At a recently held SMA Conclave, Ashraf Ali Nizari was addressing the valedictory ceremony as Chief Guest. 

He informed that the term ‘valedictory’ was drawn from a Latin origin ‘valedicere’ which means ‘to say farewell’. When conclaves conclude, the delegates disperse while bidding farewell to each other. Ashraf pointed out that it would be pertinent to bid farewell to all that was preventing us from moving ahead.

 

He asked the delegates to bid farewell to the smug situation of stagnation… to the plateauing of aspirations… to the unwillingness to adapt… to the reluctance to learn new knowledge and skills… he urged the audience to find new meaning and purpose to life by ‘saying farewell’ to all that was preventing full-on living.

 

We restrict ourselves when we do not let go of the fetters that are forged due to a slow-down in mid-life. The chains are in the mind and it is there that we have to break the shackles. But  before we say farewell to the fetters, we must first know of their existence.

 

We must identify what restrains us from our passion, potential and possibilities. We must own up to the yokes that burden our progress. When we say farewell to friends and colleagues, it is with an intention to meet again… but with fetters, it should be a final farewell!

 

To all the fetters that frustrate your feet

Say farewell to those and do new feats!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

60 seconds

The One Minute Manager is a bestseller by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. The book tells a story of three techniques of an effective manager: one minute goals, one minute praise and one minute reprimands.

 The three simple tools, each taking 60 seconds or less, but can tremendously improve how managers do their job: getting people to stay motivated, happy and deliver great work. Each takes only a minute but is of lasting benefit.

 

The conciseness or the shortness of expression increases effectiveness and efficiency. On the other hand, long windedness leads to ambiguity or divergence. While brevity ensures focus and clarity, long-windedness leads to confusion in the communication.

 

Those who speak less often speak best as they get to the point without beating around the bush. Most speak more because they seek to impress the other. But we must remember that it is more important to express aptly.

 

Hence we must speak for less than 60 second every time we communicate goals, praise or reprimand. The one minute frame works for other things as well: giving instructions, sharing feelings, presenting ideas and the list goes on.

 

60 seconds is more than need

When focus you seek to feed!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis