My Views On Jesus

Time to time there had been controversial publications about the existence of Jesus, character of Jesus, real life of Jesus and so many. In past two weeks, I came across couple of movies like “The Last Temptation of Christ” and “The Man from Earth”. The movies has reminded me well of the time of reading the books “The last Temptation of Christ” and “Da-Vinci Code” years back. Also to rethink about how Jesus should be. In the prologue of “The Last Temptation of Christ”, I still remember author mentioning like the whole book as his imagination of how Jesus would have lived – a pure fiction. During the peak days of “Da-Vinci Code”, there was one priest who mentioned in the interview something like – these are kind of sieve to filter our true-believers as they would not be wavered by it. I would rather look at this as a chance to re-define the beliefs.

Jesus – God or Human

I am not a person who likes to look at Jesus as God. I would prefer to look at Jesus as human, with all human senses and emotions. If Jesus was God, there is no point in calling him as one among us; His crusification is nothing big. Probably, “The last Temptation of Christ” is all about that – author considers Jesus as human, being tempted to all the worldly pleasures. When you look at Jesus and then look at things he has done, it makes more challenging worth making him God.

Last Sunday during church, I just came across a weird thought. According to church, it’s a sin when you are not doing something good you can to others. Then, during his first miracle of his life (during marriage at Cana), Jesus was reluctant to do anything claiming it was not his time yet. It was Mary who forced him to do it. Can’t we look at it as human, procrastinating? So also we read in bible about Jesus whipping the money changers from the temple. So Jesus too had emotions, he too cared for his feeling and values. If Jesus has not taken it personal, he would not have lost his anger.

Even during the last hours on cross, of the last 7 sayings on Christ, Jesus speaks emotionally of personal life, which has nothing to do much with God during - “Behold your son: behold your mother” and “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”. These makes more human. Jesus cared about his mother and he too is showing full trust on God. These all shows to me Jesus as a man just like one of us, who has everything just like us, but he was at the end able to move to win most of them.

Mary Magdalene

From the movie: The Last Temptation of Christ

Her name was not referred as many times as number of controversial books published on linking her with Jesus. Everyone was interested in hooking Jesus with her. I still don’t know the reason. But I would definitely like to see Jesus as married – be it to Mary Magdalene or any other woman. That makes him so human. There is something I dislike to Buddha – when he went in search of getting enlightened, he decided to run away from all his responsibilities including as a son, husband, father and king. Buddha just walked away one day in search of his happiness breaking the heart of everyone around. But Jesus was emotionally attached to people – Mary Magdalene was with him during last moments of Jesus whatever was their relationship was. It makes Jesus much more adorable if Jesus could marry a whore knowing she is one.

Judas

In bible, we don’t see much good about Judas but can see only miserable statements about him. Judas was even identified as the betrayer in bible. So it’s clear that, even the apostates were not able to forgive Judas – one among them. So I don’t think Bible will give true personality of Judas. Bible describes Judas mostly as greedy and as man of no qualities. There could be definitely some reason even if Judas was so and again “The Last Temptation of Christ” has given the best possible character for Judas – the best companion of Jesus, who loves Jesus and betrays Jesus as his duty.

I would say Judas should be a man who heard his inner voice. For whatever reason he betrayed Jesus – money or whatever it is. But when he knew what he has done was a mistake, he had the courage to admit that in front of the counsel before he committed suicide. May be Judas, never knew Jesus will be crucified because of his act.

Bible

Bible is a holy book but I would firmly believe there were some adulterations done on it before publishing it as it. Even if there was minor references which could result in questioning Jesus as God could have been removed due to the political and religious situation at that time. And once the bible got published and Christianity was popular, Church had never an option to correct anything as it result in questioning her own existence. Even Church has admitted, she was corrupt and lost it track during different times of history and for the same reason John Paul II had apologized.

Whatever be it, Bible like any other holy book just repeats the same thing - “Do unto others as you would have them do to you”. It’s not important to make Jesus God or not, it’s not about whether Jesus did miracles or not, it’s not about having a final judgment or not, it’s not even about being atheist or theist. It’s about keeping yourself happy and also making your fellow being too happy.  

Whatever it’s there in bible, whether Jesus is God or not, or was he married or not, doesn’t make much difference to me. My belief is all about being good to others and be happy about being so.

I would like to quote my friend’s way of defining the life after- “Don’t live too good, as in case there is no life after; don’t live too miserable, as in case there is a life after. So take a middle path”. Safer option when Christianity offers a purgatory.

Hunger Civilized Man

It has been long time since writing something other than code and some signing some official papers. The though of writing a blog has been In my mind for a while but could not think of anything and even ended had to scrap after writing one. My brain works best when I am alone – bath, walk to office and best of all sleep. There were even nights on which I woke up in the middle of night to do work as I came across some solution.

This time bathing time helped me to get something to write. Long back - back to school days – the first things on which I have written ever for myself was on HUNGER. Though I don’t have the copy of that, I would like to recollect that one and how I feel now on the same. 

Man and his Past

In the beginning of man history, I could consider human as no different from some stray dogs we see around every day. All it has to think of fight for its food and sleep somewhere where rain never hit them. Human should not be much different from them either. Wandering through forest eating what ever they got – may be from vegetarian, may be meat, may be I don’t know. Might be human, being social animal, should have stayed together and remained in the same place as long as they had hunger was overcame. At some point of time or other, they might have wanted to remain in some place and remain in the same place longer. That could be the beginning of cultivation. I cant even give a possible reason how they knew rice or wheat was for main-course which has to be cooked compared to fruits and vegetables.

Obviously if you decide to stay in a place long and grow your own food, the second basic need of man also needs a betterment. Caves wont be anymore enough. A better place to stay and more importantly to store your food was inevitable. And human started with the construction – starting with easy wood -palms to later mud-clay to more and more. This should have civilized people much more. Just like any organization of 10 people not needing rules but as it becomes bigger rules and laws are inevitable. The hierarchy comes in. Distribution of work comes in. This settled life has brought in the virtues and vice. But resulted man in making lazy not to travel anymore or and killed the love for adventure.

Once started to settle down and doing farm, the life was much easier. He was less bothered about food or shelter. He started discovering and inventing things. Religions, industrialization and now digitization have taken up the world over the years.

And Now

I would like at it as, hunger being the base reason for his development. But most people on earth doesn’t spend their time to feed their hunger or any of his basic needs. I don’t even spend 20% of my salary on food, so would be most of the middle-class or better family. And we don’t our hunger, its more of obsession towards food. If not, all these restaurants, KFCs, McDs would have risen up. Then it was scarcity of food but sharing mentality and now its other way.

And most people live our social-status not life. They don’t know why they do what they do it. I am also belonging to same group of humans, but neither will me nor do you change. Because we love comfort. Because we love comfort.

(I feel after writing the whole of this, it was bit boring. Sorry for those who felt the same )

Life in a Start-Up

One year back, I was working in a well established Software firm which was as old as me and most known name in the domain. As most in the industry, I wanted a switch after working for almost 3 years due to xyz reason. After long pursuit, I cleared an interview and soon a second one – both Start-ups. Now it was time to make the big decision - whether to join a Start-up. Positives like best time to take risk as a still a bachelor , would be great chance to learn things and obviously better financial benefits while the risk factor and delay in higher studies made the decision hard. Its funny when you ask others about opinion – “You might not get salary for some months”, “It will be great experience”,  “Be ready for everything” and so on. My best motivator was brother who gave his verdict - “You go and join. But if something goes wrong everyone including me will blame you alone”. So that’s it, go for your gut-feel and I joined a START-UP!!

First day

I reached by 9:30 at office and I was the only one over there. But my first day memory is mostly about the lunch. As a senior-pro recommended we went in search of a restaurant “Unde ka funda”. We had to walk around the streets to find it and after taking 2-3 wrong roads we reached there. It was a “thattu-kada” – which can’t accommodate more than 2 tables and you were actually in the kitchen. Luckily for me, someone decided to move to another Chinese hotel. And there is something special about my date of joining – it was my birth day too. So I had my cake cutting ceremony also.

But in long run terms, office was a house and in I sat in all men’s room, 4 bachelors and CTO- who was crazier than us. It looked like a room of friends rather than a bunch of professionals sitting around. I was the only one in the team who worked on my domain and there was a guy to help me who wont be in office more than 4 hours in office a week. For a person who had set up Php just once in my life, it was a difficult days.

Funny Days

Soon I too was part of the “family” and family was growing fast. It turned out like when we plan for a release - it was discussions, lunch and table tennis at office and coding from home at night. Usually my days were from 6:30am to 11-12pm had soon changed 8am to 1-2am. Best part was, every discussions always had an objective and will achieve it unless a lady cries. In an office of 12 people, you can see people reaching from 9am to 12am and leaving from 5:30pm to 9:30pm on a normal day. But will have lunch always together. Partying was so frequent that you can expect 4 in every month.  My roommate had asked me couple of times even, “So when to you guys actually work, you have party every other day”. It doesn't matter how much you are drunk or what time you reach home, everyone will be online for next hour. There are times I reached home after 2am on consecutive days - first after party and second after release(not the other way).

But when you come to work, there is no compromise either. Sometimes a requirement comes to you and will have to be delivered overnight. You can expect a call at anytime of the day or night and have to be available. I was luckiest one the engineering team to get the least of those calls at midnight. One of the guys had to resolve an issue at midnight just 2 days after his marriage!!

Each one of us had learnt a lot during the period. As there is zero-politics, everyone one is ready to help and co-ordinate. You can pass your work to someone also very easily but will have to accept when someone passes to you too. 

Professionally you can trust anyone, but as in any friendship if someone calls you and say there is a serious issue when you are busy, you can be sure that a false call because he would have solved the issue earlier.

Tough Days
If you ask me about the tough days in last one year, I dont remember a single one. During last release done on a Saturday night, I decided to do it from office and was the only one left at office. But when CTO has sms-ed and called me multiple times asking for the status in the night even when he was in for a movie his wife. And after movie he came to office just to drop me home. He had to wait for another 1hour before getting everything stable. There was also a lady  to test everything throughout the night from home. On worst of releases, when you are backed-up so much, you will never feel the pressure or being cornered.

There is another phase which most Start-ups usually have. When a serious issue comes, employees saying - we are in trouble and we made a wrong decision joining here. Very next day, when looks good the same guy could be saying we are going to be Millionaires soon. But for us, it was smoother compared what many of friends had - there are moments of anxiety but always looked like, we could fix it.

Its all fun to work with people who care for each other and is ready to complement each other. I always believe, I am quite often granted more than even what I wished for and after one year in the start-up, I am its is top on that list.

My Over-night Bus Rides

I have been in Bangalore for almost 3.5 years now. And being a Keralite, home is always a night journey away. And as one of my colleagues exaggerated, if you cannot find me office, you find me in one of the highways to Kerala. On an average I use to travel home once on every 3 weekends. And I have always travelled in bus. I would like to share some of my funny and memorable days in the bus.

My General Learning

There are some general rules:

Rule 1: Ladies can’t travel when a guy is sitting next to her.

Rule 2: Your bus will never reach even 30 minutes after departure time on a usual day

Rule 3: Bugs are free entertainment in bus, be prepared for that

Rule 4: Last row in the bus is the worst seats in the bus, and ladies are “Weak Sex”, so can’t sit there either.

My First Trip

First time I came to from home, I did not know about the bus service. So have booked a KSRTC Super Express Ticket. To tell you about the bus, bus is having shutter for windows, no pushback or cushioned seats. Not aware of the climate in Bangalore either, I came in the thinnest shirt. And in the bus I was the only passenger except some people who travelled between some intermediate points. It was damn cold in the bus, tension of attending an interview and lonely travel – altogether it was one of my worst trips.

Rule 1 can have exceptions

Rule 1 can have exceptions but people always look at with wrong eyes. Once when I was planning to travel home, as usual have asked couple of my friends whether anyone who was travelling so that can go together. But one of my friend’s friend – Stephie - was travelling and did our ticket together. We were not close but quite familiar to each other. The travel was not much eventful in the initial phase. We had usual chit-chats regarding office, weekends in general and so on. Stephie was a bad sleeper in bus according to her. It was so cold in the bus, and I was smart enough to have the jacket. But Stephie didn’t have anything thick to help her and being just a friend’s friend, I dint even bother to offer her my jacket.

After reaching Palaghat, somehow suddenly the rear glass of the bus broke. Don’t ask me how a glass can break itself. But all I can say is it was Kerala SRTC A/C bus. But nothing to worry, when I returned back Bangalore next night, aluminium sheet had replaced rear glass! But the funny the thing was my co-passenger didn’t wake from the sleep nor she knew the glass has broken till I told her. But she cant sleep in the bus!!

But the journey is not yet over. Finally we reached Thrissur, and we had to get down there. We stood to take the bags, the guy sitting in the back seat was signalling something to me with his eye. I dint get what he was trying to say. He was having a smile as if he was found out something big in life. He was still giving me some instructions, but this time with his hands. OMG!! He was totally misunderstood us. The problem was some part of her inner was popping out of her salwar around her shoulder. I was not the culprit but ….! I am not sure whether he knows me or my family as we got down at the same stop. And the next question was how will I tell her about this. We never had such talks between us. I dont know how I signalled her, but somehow I conveyed the message. It was the most embarrassing moments. But till now I haven’t told her about the source of the message. 

A lady who booked Driver’s Seat

Sometime back when I was coming back from home, I lady got into bus. She started searching for her seat. A man looking like his dad was helping to locate the seat. To speak about her, she looks like a proper local girl – in salwar who has a crisp slang and loved food (her physique says so atleast). She had booked ticket online and has booked one of the worst seats – the window seat in the last row. The seat will have only half the push-back effect. She don’t want to sit there and she found the conductor single seat empty. So she declared, my seat was a single seat when I checked in the website but it was conductor’s seat. Then she changed her stand, it was a single seat on the right side. There is only one single seat in the entire bus, unfortunately driver was already sitting there. Or has the KSRTC selling driver seat too!! She was shouting and might turn into a tears soon.

She is not going to her original seat. She just sat on conductor’s seat. It was like saying to conductor, if you want your seat back, arrange me a good seat. So conductor has to start negotiating with her for his seat. She was not going back, he gave up. By then there were some KSRTC officers in the bus. They just tried to be the smartest sales men and here comes the offer – if anyone can give their seat to the girl (she is nowhere near maturity to address as Lady), I will give you window seat. Suddenly roars of laughter raised in the bus among strangers. Everyone in the bus knew which was the “window seat”. So conductor of the bus had to move to the least accessible seat in the bus – the “window seat”. If it was an old man or lady I would atleast thought about offering my seat but not to such person. 

A night of Fun

It was one of our classmate’s marriage and four of us – Manu, Treesa, Bhavani and me were travelling to Kerala together and Saleesh in a different bus. None could sleep or perhaps it’s better to say, no one will let others sleep. Every 5 minutes, someone has to make sure others are also awake. When you are making noise and disturbing others, it wont matter much. We were giggling, giving missed calls or sms to someone just sitting across and all idiotic things possible.

We reached Walayar at the checkpost around 4am. It always takes some time there. As men can use any road side as toilet, Manu and me didn’t have to search for toilet. But the ladies needs proper rest room. So we decided to search for it. So Manu will go to somewhere and ask someone for a toilet leaving all the 3 others together and then when he came back, I went to search. I asked in the shop/hotel first. Manu went to the police station asking for a toilet!! We, all four then went into a lodge and even before locating the toilet, we decided to walk back. No luck, and have decided to give up the plan. Bhavani was having a soar-throat and we went to hotel to get some Vicks or so. When we asked the guy overthere, he told us, “just go inside, straight thru the door”. Bhavani almost started walking, then she realized, “why should I go inside his house for a Vicks tablet”. Then we repeated, we need “Vicks”. Oh, he thought we were asking for toilet for ladies and we saw a lady coming out from the door, who was travelling with us. So all problems were solved – girls found the toilet, Bhavani got Vicks and Manu had a tea. By then bus was done with formalities at the checkpost and we resumed the journey.