Religious fanaticism - A lack of confidence?

"You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They know it's going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogmas or goals, it's always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt."

This interesting paragraph from the book I’m reading currently Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance makes me think of the religious fundamentalism that is sweeping, not just India, but the world over. Be it Hindu fundamentalism, including the Bajrang Dal and the Shiv Sena, or the Islamic organizations like Al Qaeda and JEM who perpetrate violence in the name of religion. They talk about their undying faith and belief in their respective religions and their holy books. They urge people to follow those traditions and make anyone who doesn’t follow these traditions their enemy. They say all of their tradition is being replaced by ‘western culture.’ Come to think of it, it does this show their lack of confidence in their own culture? Their goal of an Islamic state or a Hindu rashtra gets diluted with the spread of western influences. Is this why they resort to fanaticism?

Empty soda can pen holder

A lazy Sunday afternoon.

Two empty soda can bottles.

Nothing better to do.

Out comes a soda can pen holder.

Baba Ramdevji, now can your empty Ayurvedic medicine bottles do that?

Oh yeah, happy birthday to me

Unused potential

My life till now has been wasted potential. Or more correctly, unused potential. Like a dedh-volt battery lying in an unused torch I haven’t been able to use my energy and ability to provide light, if not for others, even for myself. Due to some reason which I do not remember I have been pushed under the darkest of the farthest corner of the shop. My only companions are cockroaches and ants. A friendly little mouse rocks me back and forth when it tries to nibble the plastic switch off the torch I’m in. Other than that I lie still. I do not know how long I have been lying here. I don’t know how much of my energy is still left. All I know is that I’m in the wrong place. All I know is that I have to get out of here. I’m waiting for the day when the shopkeeper will find me, look at me, check if I’m still working. That day I will brightly shine into his face and lighten up his shop and it will be the happiest moment of my life. I have waited long in this damp dark corner. If I can now only push, push the torch into rolling out in the open. Help me little mouse. No I must learn to do this on my own.