Prad

a figment of his own imagination

Prad

we are all figments of our own imagination.

that is why it is a good idea to cultivate that imagination. without imagination, we become trapped by knowledge and become intellectual casualties. imagination sparks within us adventure, courage, vision and compassion.

“i imagine, therefore i evolve!” (… or at the very least, i imagine i evolve)

  • 1952/10/27 (apparently) arrives on planet earth
  • upto 1968 exists as introvert in many forms (and generally continues to do so)
  • 1969 encounters thomas henry huxley, mr. spock, don quixote (man of la mancha) who are to have profound influence on subsequent existence
  • 1971 makes racket playing badminton and tennis
  • 1972 becomes lacto-ovo vegetarian
  • 1973 reads aldous huxley’s island and sees possibilities not visualized before
  • 1977 starts teaching career in high school which lasts for 18 years and encompasses physics, math, special education, computer science (some students still serving long detentions)
  • 1982 tries to send student to serve as proxy for marriage, but is unsuccessful and is forced to go himself
  • 1987 arrival of first child, pericles, who causes hectic household to settle down and think of things that really are important
  • 1989/10/29 birth of son, kyron: humbly accepts standing ovation from students at school for achievement two days later
  • 1990 becomes strict vegetarian after going to local earthsave presentation
  • 1990/10/09 pericles flies away out the door. we search for him in vain for months. where are you my friend, or do you sit silently on my shoulder all these years?
  • 1995 we all move to vancouver island in british columbia.
  • 1996 towards freedom is created
  • 1997 receives new teaching assignment when kyron chooses to home school till he is 20
  • 1999 -? preparing to add more to this chronology
  • tutor math, physics, computer science
  • assist in changing diets, habits and lifestyles
  • develop into existence worthwhile visions we all have
A Chess Story

This is a tale about some interesting characters and their playing of that game of life.

This story was initially conceived by Sangeeta as a present for a friend (who never got around to seeing it), but was written largely by prad many years ago. Sangeeta will be illustrating it sometime in the next several decades. If you know your chess or your life, you are welcome to play it out.

A Way to Rama

The delightful Hindu story of a somewhat creative way to salvation.

There was once a very evil robber who had committed atrocities galore. He had come to the realization that he was in big trouble with a large account of bad karma due to his egocentric activities.

Buddha and the Limping Lamb

An eternal story from the life of Buddha the Compassionate One.

There are many stories told about Buddha the Compassionate One. They carry the eternal message with a simplicity that any child can understand. Here is one of those gems.

Cup of Tea

A wise lesson poured out of a teacup.

A prominent western philosopher had come to Japan to study with a zen master through an exchange program. The two of them sat down for a traditional tea.

Dogs in Heaven

A universal story from Hindu mythology about dharma.

There is a very beautiful story from the Hindu mythology’s Mahabharata that provides an insight to the meaning of our existence.

Food Combining Simplified

An easy to understand article on the principles of food combining.

This article summarizes some food combining principles from chapter 26 of Shelton’s book The Science and Fine Art of Food and Nutrition. Shelton advocated strict vegetarianism (also known as dietary vegan) as well as eating foods in their natural raw state.

For Men Only

An article concerning the difficulties men have after reaching a certain age.

This article will be of no interest to women and children so they needn’t read any further. This is a masculine issue that we do not usually wish to discuss openly. It is an awkward matter and appears unavoidable once we reach a certain age.

Importance of Improvement

Should we help ourselves or should we help others?

People sometimes get into a tizzy about whether to help others or help themselves. There is no need to see the issue as an either-or.

Jewel in the Dust

A sparkling lesson in distinction.

A man and his wife having lived into their old age chose to leave behind their worldly possessions and follow the path of spirituality. They lived in the cleanliness of poverty filling their days with praying instead of preying.

Kiyreagle

The story of a car who flew again.

The story of our encounter with a 1981 AMC Eagle!

Magnificent 7

Seven words that inspire!

Here are 7 words to contemplate as you travel through your life.

Meditating Simply

A simple easy-to-use approach to meditation.

Meditation is a real chance for you to connect with yourself. Most of us go through life knowing the person we spend the most time with, the least.

Narad to Nirvana

A story to learn much from about two yogis and the messenger of heaven.

There is an ancient Hindu story about the messenger Narad who used to travel between heaven and earth to maintain ‘communications’ so to speak. On one such trip to heaven, he happened to go past two yogis practising in an effort to prepare for Nirvana. Each asked Narad to find out how long he would have to wait.

Natural = Good ?

An examination of whether what is natural is necessarily good.

Some well-intentioned people create arguments by equating the concept of natural with the concept of good. I say they are well-intentioned because it is by no means done out of malice or prospects of winning debate points. However, the equation is not valid. In fact, within philosophical circles it is known as the ‘appeal to nature’ fallacy.

Not a Spoonful of Sugar

An amusing story about how Gandhi taught himself an important lesson.

Gandhi’s “become the change you wish to see in the world” is unfortunately one of those horribly misapplied items that is circulated with wild abandonment by some people who feel they’ve suddenly been struck with enlightenment. The idea nevertheless is a good one provided one understands what it really means and where the phrase really has relevance. Below is one such instance.

P Equals M C Snared

A most lucid account of the important role of physics with due respect to other 'sciences'.

This work came about as a result of having to defend two venomous onslaughts on the nobility of physics. Unfortunately, certain people don’t seem to realize the universality of this simple truth - physics is everything! The word physics means the knowledge of nature and nature is all encompassing.

Paper Folding for the Practical Person

A photo essay illustrating a particular paper folding technique.

The process of folding paper is a rewarding one since it provides an opportunity to exercise one’s creativity within strict outcomes. Furthermore, the finished product of this activity has various utilitarian applications as will be illustrated in the second part of this article.

The Battle

A profound moment when Krishna teaches Arjuna on right conduct.

We revisit the famous conversation between a warrior and his charioteer before the battle of Kurukshetra.

The Loincloth

An amusing story about a wannabe holyman.

There is a delightful story told by Sri Ramakrishna about a man who chose to become a sadhu (a holy man who relinquishes worldly possessions and takes a vow of chastity).

The Mahut God

An instructive story from Ramakrishna about devotedly listening to God.

Once there was a holy man who had many disciples. He taught them well and revealed how God is in all things.

The Rosebush

A model to be effected by oneself ... may be with a little help from some friends.

A rosebush can show the many opportunities one can pursue, if one stays honest and aware.

Time Management Essentials

Managing your time has a lot to do with figuring out who you are.

“I’m too busy!” “I don’t have time!” “I have too many things to do!”

The Wallet

An amusing story involving my grandfather Prafulla Kumar Basu.

My mother related this story to me about my grandfather. She lived in his household as was often customary with East Indian families in the 1900s. These extended families were usually quite closely knit and often mutually supportive. My mother adored her father-in-law and it was through her that I found out about his character.

The Poor Rich Girl

A little story about the noble devotion.

Buddha asked his disciples to help the poor during a great famine. A very wealthy man spoke up, “Not all my wealth can feed the hungry - there are so many!”

Thousandfold

A story of what you receive when you give.

There is a fine story of a poor old lady who was selling some fruit she had gathered in order to make ends meet.

Understand Me

An education on understanding.

A zen master was teaching a class.

The Ailment

The way of a sage.

The following is a well-known tale from the Liezi attributed to Taoist Lie Yukou.

The Stone

An understanding of God.

Nanak was a travelling guru. He visited many places in India, Arabia and Mesopotamia.

Pradbird

The rescue of an eagle.

We used to live near the water when we moved in 1995 to Duncan, BC on Khenipsen Road, beside a First Nations area. It was a very nice place, except for the hunting and fishing that took place there.

Cosmic Soulmates

Engaged in the eternal dance of the universe!

While I tend to be agnostic, there are many aspects of various religions I admire, a viewpoint which permits one to not hold arrogant perspectives like ‘my religion is better than yours’.

Digital Dexterity

How to get reasonably good on the internet.

You want to get good on the internet so you can get things done effectively and efficiently. This article will show you how.

Internet Discussion Strategies

Various strategies to keep in mind when engaging in e-discussions.

The following article (taken from the ESA website) provides large number of ideas and insights into animal rights (AR) discussions on internet forums which are useful for both the beginner as well as the experienced communicator. While the items here are not directly related to writing eletters, they may help individuals engaged in general discussions both on and off the net (and not just in the area of animal rights).

Fallacy in Animal Rights Discussions

Logical fallacies that appear in animal rights and vegan discussions.

Fallacious argumentations in animal rights and vegan discussions are identified according to the rules of logic. This guide exposes standard logical fallacies that repeatedly appear and demonstrates their invalidity.

Going and Coming Back

A true story about one way to look at life.

This is a story we often tell to those who feel they have suffered a loss of a loved one of any species.

Hacking the Fireworks Firewall

Ending fireworks frustration requires understanding the game.

Fireworks are a severe problem for many: wildlife, farm animals, pets, people with PTSD and anxiety. They are seen by some as a traditional and/or cultural means of celebration. Hence, jurisdictions often allow such activities which are a blatant abuse of an individual’s basic rights.

Sidney Island Deer

Investigating the Parks Canada deer slaughter on Sidney Island.

In 2023 Parks Canada decided to slaughter all deer on Sidney Island British Columbia. This page provides information, resources, and updates on what is an unethical process on many levels. Sign the petition to Save the Sidney Island deer. The page is still in construction.

Catzenjammer of the Vegan Kind

Stigma associated with feeding cats vegan diets is neither necessary nor appropriate.

(Image generated by Microsoft Designer.)

This article deals with confusion and distress that can materialize for humans who put cats on vegan diets.

Scuro

The tumultuous story of how a Fiat joined our family!

A long winding adventure that tells the tale of how a 2024 Fiat 500e became Kyron’s first car.