Is it wrong to be Selfish?

Lately I came across a person whom I got acquainted with recently declaring that being selfish is a matter to be! I just wondered through my mind these few days about the comment made in public. This person was very confident about this particular feeling and conveyed it in a way that intrigued me. If I may, this person is quite strong in both physical appearance and personality. From the facts that I know this person is quite successful in life. Does that give any reason to be proud of being selfish?

I just went to find the meaning to describe selfishness. Putting personal beliefs and desires ahead of others' feelings and desires are being described as selfishness. And to see there were more questionnaires  on this subject than I wondered.  From my past experiences I'm quite aware that there is no exact Right or Wrong but I wanted to give a thought to this concept. 

I taught myself that being considerate about other fellow human beings was the right thing to do. Sparing a little thought wouldn't harm! Well I eventually valued being unselfish. I tried to find that quality in others too and praised it whenever I saw it. But one day, as usual in life, I got hurt badly by trying to safeguard another's feelings and i thought that may be the price I got to pay. 

But that was a long time ago. I'm not quite sure why I feel so intrigued by being selfish. I think may be you need to be a little selfish too. This world holds quite too much to handle at once and on the long run hurt is inevitable. I guess lets be a bit selfish to the extent that it preserves our identity and not be hurtful to anybody around us. May be that person I mentioned is someone like that. I hope for the best.

Vesak Day; a moment to think...

Today according to the Sri Lankan calender, The Vesak Day and tomorrow is day after Vesak. It is a national holiday in Sri Lanka and a significant day in the year for a Buddhist.  The Wikipedia also has given an insight for the meaning of the day mentioning that it is "Buddha's Birthday". I'm not sure whether it is actually an appropriate definition for Vesak. True that Prince Siddhartha was born on a Vesak Day. And Prince Siddhartha gained the knowledge of the Truth on Vesak Day, enlightenment which made him Lord Buddha. And then life of Lord Buddha spreading the message of Truth, the understanding of the meaning of all those questions arose within the search of spirituality. The passing away of Lord Buddha is the third significant happening on the Vesak day.S o its a combination of all these incidents that make Vesak Day an important day of a Buddhist's life.

Even though I mentioned "A buddhist's life" I'm not quite certain whether it is really correct. The preachings of Lord Buddha always demanded clear understanding rather than some blind belief on the teachings. Buddhism always required logical thinking and understanding of deeper meanings. I think in most Asian countries it says that you are born to a certain race and a religion. And truthfully that is how I got my religion. BUT when a person matures in life there should be the right to decide on his/her beliefs as much as he/she gets the voting rights. I strongly believe that Buddhism shows a helpful pathway with logical thinking, for a better development of spiritual life. An insight of the truthful meaning of life itself. 

My opinion for Vesak Day 2010 will be that we all take a break from our daily routine and step out of our box, think about how we live. Are we being truthful to our beliefs and understandings of life? Are we living as true Buddhists? May be that will uncover some new understanding which we all lacked in our lives.

My shift in life..

Actually I'm not sure when I posted last time. But I know it has been a hell of a long time. So many things has changed for me and actually I've changed my country of living too.

I reside in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA now. This is my second week here and dear, my life has changed a lot than I thought. I'm living with my husband who is reading for his PhD in Purdue University and I'm here with my baby girl (I got a baby girl last July!!!) and its really cold here!

I left my job last December, which I enjoyed doing. Nobody liked the idea of leaving it but I had no choice. I was determined to come to my husband as soon as I could ever since he left the country in last August. I had no life without him. Our baby girl was growing so fast and I wanted to share all this new experience with him. And I knew deep down in my heart, it was hard to live without Keith. He is my inspiration, my guiding star. And I knew he too needed us with him. So we made a decision. We would take the risk and live together.

It was tough. I had to do all my documentation work and everything alone. True, all my family and Keith's family helped me in every way they can. My job was something I was hard to give up on. I had to undergo a few operations and there were times that I just lost my breath! I was not sure whether I would make it. With so many deeds to figure out with a lot less time as my baby was too small to leave with anybody and go running.

Finally, I made it. I'm happy with my family now, Keith, Hazelle and me, under same roof. Things may not be easy for us, but I think we better be together and face obstacles than living seperate afraid of problems.

Hail Sri Lanka!

Finally, remainder of LTTE in international community has accepted that their so called leader is Dead!

Well, I should say they took a way long time to admit defeat. All those malicious intentions of tarnishing our country's image in front of international community was a good hell of a joke for them. Now see whose laughing!

Tamil People in the world, see what they wanted to do to our country, in which we all lived happily some time ago. Lets come back and build this nation. This is your country as it is mine. Do not just be a refugee to another nation when you have a place to live as a normal citizen.

Hail Sri Lanka!

Good to be back...

It really took me a long time to allocate some thought on posting but I think I missed quite a few chances on blogging certain things I wanted to share.

But now, I'm a happy bird. From one end, my motherland is a free nation! Isn't that happy enough?
After more than three decades my motherland, Sri Lanka is enjoying freedom from terror. War against terrorists is finally over and thanks to our brave soldiers, at the cost of their lives, we here in Sri Lanka enjoy freedom today. Hail the Hero's of War! May they be granted everlasting peace and health and prosperity.

I'm quite out of words these days as the joy and hope for a better future has made my vocabulary a bit frozen.

Long Live Sri Lanka!

After a break

It is some time that I made a post for last. I was stuck with my exams last couple of weeks and could not spare time to make a comment.

As a Banker in Sri Lanka, the only paper qualification that is recognized is the Certificate in Banking and Finance and Diploma in Banking & Finance which are held by the Institute of bankers of Sri Lanka. At some banks this qualification is vital for career development but some banks don't encourage so much as all Bank employees do assume that they have life long jobs in this industry! (atleast in Sri lanka!) Nevertheless, many are doing these exams to get a qualification and well that is exactly what I'm doing in a way. I do need a banking qualification to go for my next promotion and I'm working for that!

But I assure that the teachings are much more typically Sri Lankan style and most are not relevant to the day to day banking industry other than Laws and regulations. Marketing and management subjects are out of date and they haven't given enough notice for that. But as it is the only qualification, most intend to follow this. But the practicality is doubtful..

Negative IDR.. Country is going down.

It has been a while since I posted last but due to too many reasons I couldn't neatly find a time gap to occupy myself in writitng a note.

In the meantime many things caught my attention which I thought I should view my ideas during the last week or so. One such thing was that Fitch ratings, the international rating agency, has revised its rating on IDR of our country from 'stable' to 'negative'. This created a bad sign of cyclone in the Government officials as they denied this negative rating. The pin point was that the global crisis of credit and the lack of liquidity was creating them to spend more foreign currency than they used to! Well, they obviously have forgotten why the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is standing there.

Ultimately the current situation will create more debtto this country and the future will be more devastating than it should be. Unless the CBSL act independantly (without influence from Government that is) and with the aid of the intelectuals, this crisis should be overcome. If not the circumstances will be much more serious and ultimately the general public may be the final deprived group.