Across the sky and beyond ! ?

Are we alone?  Extraterrestrials, aliens, intelligent civilizations and UFO’s yet to be identified by human beings but staring down constantly and menacingly at the earthlings below have considerably robbed man of his peace and serenity.  What could exactly be their next likely move is nobody’s guess but the issues though vague and gigantic are also abstract and cumbersome and quite capable of posing a dilemma to human beings on the question of life, universe and its security.  Incidentally, at the present juncture man can hardly afford a star war by making good use of its razor sharp beams to annihilate the trespassers, since such a venture could jeopardize the impending plans and programs intended to explore the remaining planets or satellites as the case may be.  

Obviously, a priority for earthlings in the immediate context would be to dispatch a census team with expertise in the field of assessing the numbers from far without so much as even revealing the intentions, strategies or the stockpile of available ammunitions.  Needless to say the imminent or constant danger of a likely gatecrash by aliens on a peace loving human civilization safely tucked away in a far off planet called Earth looms large in the horizon. Would these extraterrestrials contemplate altering their course away from this dreary planet called Earth or will they shyly keep drifting off and on along far off skies to escape detection by human beings for many more centuries and keep the earthlings panicked for an indefinite period of time?

Weary of a monotonous life on a planet that opens up to a vista of infinite universe having complex dimensions and harboring as much myths and mysteries, unfolding unto an acutely measured finite intelligence, man is restless for innovation, excellence and an angelic perfection. He accepts the myths, mysteries and superficialities revolving around life and the endless domain of an infinite universe over which he alone has a deemed right to move around.  Nevertheless, he senses the pinch of having to contain his intense curiosity within the periphery of a solar system which hardly matches the millions of galaxies and similar solar systems staring on to a miniature world consisting of few planets that give company to man’s abode namely the earth!

Held back possibly by human nature and the vastness of this endless universe, man has been creating mysteries for himself on the topic of alien civilization!  In his eagerness to clinch that streak of innovation to life and aspects concerning the universe, man looks up for succor from divinity which eludes his imagination. Unable to obtain answers to puzzles engulfing his world of imagination, man resorts to floating rumors regarding alien civilization.

In effect, man is baffled by mysteries of mysterious dimension. Myths centered around UFO’s, extraterrestrial life, aliens, Bigfoot, abominable snowman, Sasquatch, loch ness monster, lake Champlain monster, Piltdown man, Roswell, Area 51, Antigravity aircraft, Crop circles, Bermuda Triangle and Life on Mars.

Wild guesses, imaginations, surmises, theories – they all go with the wind. The world is too large a force and human beings too finite a lot.  There is therefore, no way to provide answers to scores of puzzles confronting humanity. Depending wholly or partly on Science alone is a futile bid to satisfy human curiosity. With a finite world of fanciful imaginations raking up much of what could best be left to the creator to provide answers and solutions is, time and again, making man a victim of his own hallucinations.   Hence the only path left for human beings to set at naught the idiosyncrasies cascading copiously down in to a fortified citadel of human imaginations and conjectures is through guarded reasoning and divine inspiration!

Curiously though, human beings are apt at giving names, shapes and if required a blue-print as well to trace the course the aliens, extra-terrestrials or UFOs take to survey the earth’s crust. This adds a thrill to a totally monotonous life of adventures on an otherwise barren planet that is earth.  Incidentally, depending totally on Science to prove the veracity and movements of ghost elements across the sky or the universe would be asking too much of a depleted archive that man notably possesses. 

Obviously much of the theories and mammoth predictions regarding aliens and extraterrestrials hitherto fabricated, haunt man in to evading a direct access to these gigantic illusions for fear of a confrontation with a far more intelligent or better equipped beings.  As such, man is prompted to exercise caution on the issue of aliens to avoid any likely potential that could devastate the Earth.  Incidentally, much talk under gossip lingers on what might actually exist than less about what has fundamentally transpired through illusions and imaginations.

However, man is determined to unravel the mysteries through gossip and hearsay by keeping the intelligent beings aloof from contaminating the earth with destructive potential that could generate pernicious outcome to earthly beings.  However, curiosity apart, man is constrained to adopt a wait and watch approach before plunging headlong in to a furnace of eruptive predicaments.

More than a human touch to the topic of ‘other worlds’ or ‘extraterrestrials’, the subject would need divine inspiration which is unlikely to meet its demand.  Who then can provide succor to the intelligentsia of this inferior planet that could quell the overwhelming curiosity which intermittently captivates human beings and their reasoning?  The latest trend by people and astrologers around is to explode views in the form of news that predictably enhances the fictional wisdom of both young and old. So came up a new topic to chew upon, namely ‘UFO’s’.

Even after many centuries of research and explorations, man has miserably failed to find even a single form of life within the immediate precincts of the solar system. The latest episodes relayed by the Rover  instruments which landed on Mars on 6^th August, 2012, being the closest planet from Earth, has dashed all hopes or arguments of finding life or life form on the planet and in its stead merely expect to obtain data on rocks and its sediments. However, up till now none of the probes have revealed the existence of life on the planet or likely inputs which could envisage the existence of life anywhere around the solar system, what to speak of intelligent beings.

Are we alone?  This is one gigantic and immediate question which man has been grappling with ever since news and rumors got floated by individuals and groups, both reliable and unreliable, on the question of sightings of unidentified flying objects observed in the sky, to the utmost curiosity of sky-watchers and public alike.  Ever since the revelation of UFOs came to be floated during the last couple of decades or so, allegedly by scientists, stargazers and even by curious people from different walks of life, this rare but fascinating phenomenon has captivated the minds of humans to a large extent. There has also been an extraordinary hype created by rumormongers who swear by their own life the veracity and appearance of such intelligent and extra terrestrial beings that are said to be much more advanced than the earthly humans. 

All efforts to come in to contact with these alleged space-men or intelligent species have proved futile.  Nevertheless, more and more people have started taking considerable interest in the fantasy of these made-to-look-like aliens and their alleged spaceships scanning the skies with a purpose hitherto unknown to their earthly neighbors.  Instances of such recordings are, as of today, far less than the quantum of gossip. However, sightings of these mysterious objects date back to, it is so believed, as far back as the beginning of time – to put it more precisely – infinity, though this particular subject received publicity only till recently when newspapers started flashing news and accounts as confirmed by pilots, sky-watchers and space explorers.

Incidentally, despite much gossip and debates that follow rumors regarding UFO’s and extraterrestrials hovering in the skies and atmosphere over the earth, there have been no worthwhile inputs or convincing answers to the recurring question and phenomenon regarding aliens and intelligent civilization in the outer space.  So bewildering is the flight of human imagination and stories gathering with gossip and rumors about spaceships reportedly having been spotted over empty locations and far off skies or even alleged soft landings at places away from human habitation that even those who expound the theory of UFOs and their likely intentions set about by beating round the bush, giving reference to mythology, religious beliefs or even fanning the very fire they cannot put out.

It is indeed difficult to fathom the existence of intelligent beings elsewhere in the universe but it would also be peevish on our part to underplay the possibility and existence of such images elsewhere, since humans are yet to traverse the length and breadth of the universe as of now. Moreover, even by admitting, in part, the movement of such extra-terrestrial beings within or without our solar system, it would be too early for one to conclude the exact nature of their intent and purpose, which should, in fact, caution man from going all out after these alien movements. 

Due to poor visibility or on account of odd hours, it is believed that human eye or camera has not been able to capture the arrival and activities of these aliens or to detect the physical appearance of the extraterrestrials as alleged or their spaceship for correlating facts with incidents. However, one cannot discount the possibility and existence of such extra-terrestrials or their likely intent at keeping a low profile or maintaining a respectable distance away from earthlings since proximity to either of them is fraught with pernicious consequences.

However, what one might gather from the frequencies of such alien visits and related rumors on the part of earthlings is that either the world needs to stay awake to a new dawn of confrontation with a civilized lot or alternatively attach a wee bit of humor at the failed sequences of alien trips since last many centuries. Incidentally, it has added more monotony to the curious human beings for many decades now than less expenditure and fuel for the ill-planned trips that have resulted in unsuccessful itineraries and aborted attempts by visitors. 

Nevertheless, looking to the immensity and vastness of the rumors floated and the intricacies of the hype involved, which in effect surpass human comprehension, one needs to anticipate some sort of a message from either the visitors above or the guests below that could either spin a thriller or allow the humans to gloat over an error to finally set the ill timed judgment on course.  It is altogether another matter to be contemplated on the repercussions of a confrontation, whether the message comes from aliens above or the inquisitive human beings down below, the world definitely stands to lose if care is not taken to analyze the tidings so intended to be conveyed by visitors making shadowy depictions time and again. 

This becomes all the more essential owing to the frequency of such alien visits or reports so emanating from the general public. Moreover, it is of utmost importance for man to get deeper into these mysterious appearances, if any, to set at naught the truth about these sightings or hearsays on UFOs, so that the world may be acquainted with the exact nature and intent of these mysterious sightings. One may also add that the more one delves into the issue, the more astonishing views of diverse people would confound the situation. One must not also lose sight of the fact that man is yet to reach out to heights and horizons away from the tiny solar system that he is in, so that allowing the imagination to float around or beyond the skies that wrap the solar system can only add a dimension or two to the present state of man’s finiteness. Incidentally, as of now the intermittent headlines in newspapers or gossip by rumor-mongers only go to confuse the situation, so much so media goes agog time and again with full-page write-ups on one or the other of such encounters and the ecstasy dies down after the news is read, more on account of the abstract nature of the news or due to man’s inability to verify such matters.

Whenever such news items appear in newspapers, people sit with their eyes glued to paper reading away passionately with puzzled eyes and avid minds in the hope of collecting as much information on the encounter as possible, but on reaching the bottom of the paper they realize that their knowledge is back to where it was when they first started reading the piece. Still, the interest does not die down and they await another piece of installment on a related topic!  Do extra terrestrials really exist?

But sooth – can we really assure ourselves that no any form of life exists anywhere in the space?  

UFO sightings date back to as far back as 1561.  Despite much rumbling by people and elements humming on the same old topic of UFO sightings time and again, the alleged intelligent beings have not crossed over from space or planets for an interaction with the humans.  If the UFO’s are genuine and real, then the aliens surely would have an intent or curiosity to check in to earth atmosphere for acquiring knowledge.  In the absence of any conclusive evidence to establishing the existence of aliens as made out from time to time, It would seem a futile bid both on the part of earthlings to keep mounting a eerie suspense in the minds of human beings since it would hardly seem logic for alien or intelligent beings to appear and disappear after traversing for so many centuries all the length and breadth of the universe and after having crossed over from planets outside the solar system merely to view the Earth and return.

These intelligent beings – if they did exist – would surely have developed better techniques and attitude to interact with human beings or earthlings by now – say after more than 100 years to place at the least.

Moreover, aliens – even if they existed – would not wait for indefinite period in order to make contact with live beings across the universe since curiosity is everybody’s butter.  However, for last many centuries stories of UFO sightings have remained merely in the minds of people without them making the first move for which they started on a sojourn.

Man talks big but breaths heavy on the impending doom the universe is destined to absorb within its stride. All the record of phenomenal successes and inventions hitherto attained by human beings would lose their steam once the universe gets rocked by the eternal doom that is bound to strike the universe sooner or later.  Similar would also be the predicament of the aliens, if any, to have existed and become extinct without having achieved that for which they existed.

Incidentally, man is faking truth in to theories, illusions and imaginations. Theories are being cooked up to attain cheap fame, reputation and popularity. Theories of extraterrestrials are amazingly being blown up to suit imagination of finite beings, many of whom can hardly make both ends meet, but are mercilessly dragged in to gossip and myth at the cost of their own peril.

The greatest myth unfolded ever is the fact that man has survived for millions of years all in one piece, on a planet that hangs precariously suspended from nowhere, despite all odds staring at it.  Dangers not from its core alone but from outer space as well.  Is it therefore, possible to assume that a more intelligent being and an immensely better & sophisticated civilization make its appearance from nowhere at the very fag end of time and pace?       

Has man assumed so much of significance as to ignore the hand of a super human power who would necessarily have wrought all the wonders of creation?  Has man achieved the potential to spin theories of creation of an infinite universe of immense dimension and size merely by projecting a fanciful assumption?

Big Bang has all the ingredients of a remote myth and a bluff far more than a figment of imagination, where things are made to happen on its own for no specific reason at all.

Many crucial aspects of the ‘Big Bang’ theory advanced by Scientists and star gazers in order to explain away the formation of sun, stars and planets besides emergence of life on Earth have been debated for ages.  Despite various arguments advanced in support of and against the Big Bang theory, there is no conclusive evidence to clear the air of the mysteries haunting human beings.  Resultantly, the theory of big bang has been lying subsided with no definite clue to the origin of the universe and life.

Man has become an easy target for Scientists and star gazers to vaguely explain off the myth, mysteries and theories of evolution on earth.

Wild imagination of life and bacteria fossils as traced in the rocks alleged to have fallen from space is too superfluous an imagination and as much wild a claim vis-à-vis the truth of creation and the existence of the Almighty,  since the same life forms or organisms could have as well been picked up from the earthen crust or atmosphere as well.  Therefore, it is never a conclusive evidence to say that life form may have developed elsewhere on other planets or heavenly bodies and got transmitted to Earth.

Going by the Bible which alone proves to be the inspired text available to mankind, God Himself and personally created man without having recourse to an agent or angel to qualify His creation or add fins to His Omnipotence.  If man does occupy a place of extreme proximity to Almighty and His Grace, as is the case, then he would surely have been acquainted with existence of other beings elsewhere in the universe, if not of his own, at least through spontaneity of divine good. This has never happened. 

If we do accept Bible as the only Supreme and Holy Text inspired by God Himself, then we ought to also believe that, had there been intelligent or similar beings elsewhere in the universe, then such elements would not have merely kept flying about for amusement, rather they would surely have made contact with earthlings, which have not happened up till now. As such, it is best for human beings to allow the entire concept of UFO’s to rest within the archives of myth and mysteries. 

What the present day generation ought to lament about is that, despite man arriving at the threshold of a golden twenty-first century era, he is yet to identify the unidentified flying objects that are taking him farther away from the real element, the sole cause or to put it precisely that common cause which alone has the potential to remove barriers and boundaries that separate man from man, society from society, nation from nation and world from the universe! That common cause which has the wherewithal to impart the much needed unity in diversity, spirituality in times of mistrust and peace at all times.  His pace and haste are way apart from the common goal for which the universe came in to existence.

Partake of that element, the common cause, a sublime path through a life of Ethics soon to hit the net under a new supplement to Ethics, Manners & Etiquette.

Ethics, Manners & Etiquette - Leaf - 2

In an animating and bountiful display of divine architecture, God put together an entire universe, all in one piece and that too out of nothingness. No measurements were taken, no adhesive used either; He fixed the massive stars and planets all in one go, at locations which remain unexplored by man even to this day. The basic elements which went in to piece together an infinite universe comprising all forms of life were eternal love, divine truth, omniscience and omnipotence. Incidentally, the creation of universe by the Almighty was preceded by God chastising the devils for their act of rebellion against divine will.  Through this one act of creation the Almighty established a dividing line which separated divinity from humanity, infinite from finite and spirit from matter.  And man, as the ruler of the universe, was positioned at one edge of the finite world while the other extreme came to be occupied by Satan led by Lucifer and his bad angels. 

The only barrier that separated one from the other was death in the case of human beings and eternal damnation for the devils.  However, neither had the liberty to stray in to the domain of the other without the explicit nod of the Almighty.

It may be worth recalling that God created angels in His own mystical image thereby ordaining them to exist with all splendour, radiance and resplendence in the company of other angelic spirits much like God Himself.  After many millions of divine years, God decided to create the universe and all creatures with it. This done, He gave charge of the universe to his supreme creation namely man.  The bad angels under Lucifer could not withstand the Almighty lavishing love sublime on human beings ranked below them.  A section of such angels rebelled against God which act of theirs attracted the wrath of Almighty who ordered His archangels to banish them out of the celestial bliss in to a state of deprivation in hell. 

Relegated to a nadir of abysmal existence and having forefeited their right to exist either as part of an infinite realm or in a finite world with human beings as company, and having been made an outcast, detested by all, deprived of a graceful existence, and above all having lost the grace and favour of God Almighty Himself, Satan has had to resign himself to his eternal fate and languish for ever in hell in solitude and damnation.  Satan in his attempt to obviate his antipathy towards human beings contemplated a plot to avenge the drubbing and humiliation received at the hands of Almighty by successfully driving a wedge between man vis-à-vis his creator, the Almighty and Everlasting God.

Incidentally, Satan deemed it an ignominous scourge to exist within the periphery of infinity under abject deprivation. Forelorn and despondent, having been denied access to human world and pushed to leading a life as evil spirits within the narrow confines of eternal doom, he made good his plan of floating unproductive and hazardous elements in to the world, with an eye to wean away as many of the human beings in to his domain, namely hell. To this end he put in his all, by toiling day in and day out so as to make man his fodder and the world an eyesore to his own creator.

Hard-work, devotion, dedication, patience, spirit of denial, sacrifice and to top them all perseverance. Virtues in abundance!  You name them. He has them all – the Devil!

If there is any single trait that we ought to learn from the devil, it is perseverance. As a matter of fact, perseverance is an attribute the devil is so possessive about and would not dare part with even grudgingly for a no-return. He has been on the job for millions of years, industriously straining his lacerated physique, toiling hard in the hope of weaning away as many humans into his abstract world of despair and devastation. A ghost of an enigma and an outcast of divine wrath, devil can never abide by the dictum of God or His angels. He observes no law; obtains no justice. Like a live and pale shadow, he goes about his chores profusely pining for the lost bliss of celestial serenity. Having squandered away his divine gift, he has been destined to survive in isolation away from the bliss of divinity and God! And the greatest slight he has had to bear was creation of the universe and man followed by his redemption.

Satan has been on the prowl ever since the beginning of creation.  Being barred by God Almighty from making direct contact with human beings, which act could spell disastrous for the weak creatures namely man, a malignant Satan indulged in proxy war directly on human beings but indirectly on God. He did this by floating pernicious instincts that could rent apart the honour and dignity of human beings and by infesting the universe with a spell of pointed discord, malaise, destruction, devastation, melancholy and death upon man in a manner that could leave the humans vexed with a life of indignity and dishonour.

We live in a universe that was wholly and graciously gifted to man by God Himself through an act of predilection.  However, the host who caters to man is the devil himself who has the entire universe hijacked for his amusement, in a manner that the universe might appear lacerated and famished as Satan is. There is therefore, no wonder that life provides a lot of disconnect among human beings which are but an outcome of misperceptions, misunderstandings or misprojections by people and nations who deem it their exclusive right to abide by each one’s temperament.  Incidentally, the emerging trend among human beings is indicative of a colossal departure from the strategic design and divine will originally outlined by God for man and the universe. 

Strategic meddling and rampant maneuvering in core aspects of creation as also in the overall activities of man by Satan, by and large disturbed the rhythem with which life first started.  Moreover, the devil wasted no time in twisting man made laws and faking judgements to suit his sinister designs in order to pit one against the other.  An avalanche of divided perceptions lashed the citadel and the fortifications of man’s inner trust and mutual harmony, all of which took a beating at the dexterous manipulations by Satan.  Even the huge strides made in the field of Science and Technology did not stand up to the quantum expectations of a civilized world. In his effort to augument the prospects of a pompous life, man started eyeing to attain excellence. Excel he did, but his inferior instinct gave the game away.  As is bound to happen, when shine starts enveloping the universe, the darker elements take advantage of the sparkle.  An arrogant man found himself groping through a vicious circle of his own make in an attempt to buy himself peace and tranquility, which was not to be.  For by the time comfort and luxury of his choice showed up, life had altogether become a haphazard trap wherein man’s interaction with other human beings drew flak, as a result of which he only met with stumbling block at every cross road. He was unable to proceed with errands without doling out largesse in his manners, approach and attitude with people in order to keep them in good humour for having his way.  Incidentally, man strayed far too much in to a realm of peevishness; thanks to an imp playing his part exceedingly well to the detriment of man and the universe.

In this context, it needs to be emphasized that the goodness of God is infinite.  The onus for all the perils and hazards including the curse of destruction, devastation and death falls squarely on the one only adversary of God namely Satan, who deliberately played false with the fate of man and pinned him down to such a state of helplessness.  God as the supreme Good can only vouchsafe to protect the free will endowed on Satan and his entire creation including man. Satan has been untiringly sawing the seed of pain, suffering, discomfiture, discord, death, and likewise inflicting heavy casualties on human beings through natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, volcanos, tsunamis or other perils and even displacing the good due to man by delaying the sequence of peace, happiness and prosperity.

When Satan engages a proxy to play host to guests (read human beings) who have been gifted with the entire universe by Almighty Himself, man has every right to assert his prowess to overcome the hazards so placed by Satan.  Whatever situation the world may be in as of today, is on account of man’s mistrust of his creator or on account of his towing a different line.  This needs amendment.  As of today, the world is a divided lot with one side wholly and flourishingly following the diktat of Satan. On the other hand there is hardly a handful of faithful ones following the precepts of the supreme Creator.  Obviously a tussle would always exist between the two in the form of competition or prod. What may then emerge would be grotesquely a blurred picture of misunderstanding by some, high handedness by few and a host of evil instincts let loose by Satan creating havoc for the just ones.  A finite man loses count on all aspects but God does not.  When a close relative of his passes away man appears overcome with grief, whereas when someone else far away falls victim to another’s misadventure, he merely looks on with casual approach.    There is need for introspection. There is need to open up to a universal conduct, a universal approach and a universal attitude. 

Man was created by God out of love and predilection that he might bear testimony for the infinite love bestowed on him through His eternal and divine truth manifested in His omniscience and omnipotence. Being the only heir to an infinite creation, man is greatly indebted to and owes total allegiance to God only. As such, his primary objective ought to be to strive towards greater glory of God which can best be achieved through a life adorned with human attributes namely ‘Ethics, Manners & Etiquette’.

Survival is vital for existence for it is the flavour of life, a flavour which lingers on till you fade away from the world; in like manner flavour or survival demands dignity, which being the cream adorning one’s life and which caters to one’s ambitions and aspirations. With cream and the flavour in hand, one only needs to give shape to the material aspect which makes the difference viz. the goal one sets for oneself.  The voyage you are on should not be anchored until you attain a wholesome success, a renowned fame and an envious reputation which should shape your destiny and provide the needed impetus to the onward thrust, add dimension to your thrill and confer on you a cause for celebrations.  So destine your future with élan, bestride an elegant world of sophistication, profess a broad outlook, lead a circle of your closest friends with dynamism and allow your future to smile on you to the delight of your near and dear ones with a new episode titled “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette – Leaf – 2”.

A unique concept styled ‘Ethics, Manners & Etiquette’, minutely framed to broadly include all the required features intended to give one and all a direction on how to go about their journey to fame, reputation and success and savour the glory of a carefree life is submitted herein for the benefit of everyone.  Every attempt has been made to include all categories of people in to paving the way for a pleasant and peaceful destiny.  Special care has also been taken to bring about an environment for coexistence of all sections of people from every walk of life and people from all disciplines, irrespective of category, profession or standing in the society, to enable advance with a secured identity of their own.  With the world progressing at a fast pace and the demand for absorbing knowledge, experience and competence far exceeding the schedule and timeframe as determined for each, the elite who would stand to succed in life would have to minimize inordinate delays in tackling certain areas of expression and articulation. It is of paramount importance that we keep in mind the effectiveness of clear-cut expression, communication and articulation. 

One should also bear in mind the time-frame by which one needs to devise ways and means of skipping unnecessary and time consuming work out so as to keep abreast of the challenge being faced by the present day generation, which far exceeds one’s capacity, capability and speed.  Seeing the need for people to cover extensive stretches of ground before arriving at a plausible distance of one’s goal, attempt has also been made to give a boost to a virtuous life far surpassing the normal stretch of mediocrity and lack of professionalism.   With the standards having fallen far below the affordable levels, and which would necessarily warrant an increased and enhanced foresight by both young and old in attaining one’s goal, and for providing a cosmopolitan approach to people and their lives, every minutest of details have been taken care of so that a Chapter for the reform of life and attitude of people may reach every section of people so as to benefit equally one and all. 

The overall features have been meticulously framed and a pattern adopted with rigorous exercise keeping the need of time and generation.  It is important to remember that progress in life demands novelty in approach, positive interaction with people and ability to communicate with people with grace. Any let up in projecting oneself with ease could result in decline in one’s image which can psychologically affect the momentum, the focus and resultantly tardy the progress. ‘Ethics, Manners & Etiquette’ attempts to formulate this exercise whereby people with determination and skill may not lag behind in attaining the pinnacle of glory to the advantage of themselves, the society, the nation and the world.  The purpose and aim in defining the theme for success of all is to place everyone within the parameters of a vocation for achieving recognition so that the entire exercise would tantamount to a life-long experience that would necessarily come to stay for the betterment of people who matter in a society.

The moment you step out on to the road, be sure, you are being watched by hundreds of people from different walks of life. These may constitute businessmen, professionals, educated, uneducated, powerful, influential, prominent or high-ranking and besides of course, your neighbors, acquaintances and the list goes on to level up to the present day population.  However, it is up to you to convert people’s looks or advances in to a line up for your friendship. And what would you make of this line up, an archive? Friends make up your day-to-day strength to surmount problems in life. Be sure, your attitude test starts the moment you are on the road to achieving a goal. 

Life does not provide a magic for attaining position, authority or for fulfillment of one’s dreams.  Likewise, a path to recognition, an achievement, fame, success, reputation etc. has to be traced through tireless efforts combined with determination and skill.  An accomplishment of any of the aforesaid glory, when achieved by way of a virtuous life, dedication and competency will alone add milestones to your lingering reputation and herald an era of joy and fulfillment.  Such a disposition alone would positively make an impact on your life and a supreme acknowledgement of your achievement endorsed by those who would later on flock to you for guidance.  People who feel inclined to taking up such challenge, ought to brace themselves up for any eventuality mindful of the fact that nothing comes free in life and mediocrity and half-heartedness would serve no purpose till you achieve the goal set out for yourself.  Your adversaries would strike when and where you least suspect.  Ostensibly the unscrupulous or wayward elements may even attempt to drift you off the mark. And the extraordinarily gutsy elements might even attempt a cakewalk or a free ride over your self-respect and good demeanour.  Be not dismayed nor should you lose heart, for even as you renew your efforts to gain control of yourself, the necessary windfall boost will come your way for “the reward for hard work and a dedicated effort is always decided by the giver of life, the creator”.  You only need to accomplish your part i.e. the endorsement of God’s will and the world is yours!

In our dealings it is vital that we be prepared to face people of diverse nature and category be it in age, education, culture, view or social standing. Even so, it is of paramount importance to be on extra alert always while maneuvering to achieve our errand or submitting a view at the disposal of others or even at soliciting an advice or opinion.  Remember, on most occasions your activities would be suspect in the eye of shadowy elements or proxies who may or may not have your good in mind and hence vulnerable to attempts of sabotage by shrewed and dastardly elements lying in wait for people on fastrack.  Never lose sight of your goal, for you are there not to reverse a process or to distance your destination, much less to sideline your means to achieve the end. Remember, your end is your success and means your attitude. If you persevere in your focused approach, you stand chances of enhancing the prospects of a glorious end through “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”.

Our elders aver that “idleness is the mirror of the devil”.  In the same breath they also caution us that “excessive speed gets one nowhere” (Chinese proverb).  In order to tread on a safer alley to avoid tripping over inadvertently we need to adopt a focused approach, lest the enemies catch us unawares and consequently our progress get hindered.

Maya Angelou is on record with her “I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God’s will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility at a commensurate speed”.

A caution, therefore, for those aspiring to attain their goals is to remind oneself time and again that their activities are always under the scanner of the evil elements and an occupied mind is as much prone to devil’s agents.  Once you decide to plunge in to the arena of competitiveness, you would have to get accustomed to tremors from the devil’s proxies who would not sit idle till you fail them.  You would be playing a battle of wits. Things could drag you to embarrassing moments.  However, such adversities are bound to prop up time and again for the devil knows well that the proxies engaged by him would never reach the final destination but are bound to fall back somewhere in the race.  Beware of the prod by the devil.  Utilize your weapon namely patience, fortitude, forbearance and valour.  He who rides rough shod over your integrity would get weakened with the passage of time. Take an earthly assurance that those who battle your integrity today, belittle your esteem, make light of your self-respect and those who do not heed your courteous gestures and moves would one day stand in awe at the sparkling image you would radiate even as the pursuit of your goal would reach near fulfillment.  They would then hang their heads in shame at the folly of having played foul throughout. 

As for a solemn assurance, you have the convincing words under a divine assurance from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself who said “I am the way, the truth and the life” when he emphatically taught that -

Mathew 5:10-11

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

People who wish to advance in life; they would have to be on their toes keeping humour and cheap talks at bay. Be of a focused mind as well as maintain a focused approach with determination that can surpass falling prey to attempts by people with inferior instinct at demeaning your self respect.  The unruly and treacherous elements could exploit your attitude to the hilt. Always remember, you are there in your interest and your interest is your goal, to be achieved at all costs. Dare them, and the evil shall vanish at Godspeed!

However, in order to achieve a vertical climb, in order to attain the glory of fame, honour and reputation, one requires a soul mate – to be precise a friend.  A friend who would qualify to be one when you grope about for solace of trust, one who would have the sanctity within capable of linking the finite with infinite, a friend who would have an image of your reflection, image like yourself which would satisfy your craving for perfection, human perfection – him you might term a friend.  A friend who would remind you of yesterday, satisfy your today. And above all a friend who would assure you of a tomorrow. Such a friend would have the potential to not only boost your image but even to add a chain of like friends to your following and even multiply the number to form a circle that would allow you a free interaction as also enhance your prominence, your prestige and your prospects.

When you need a favour, be it material or even if it be of a spiritual nature, of all the neighbors around, you sure can count on your friend to deliver and he alone will do so diligently.  A time tested mutual friend would always have your interest in equal measure as his.  A friend would be a friend in life, a friend in adversity and a friend till infinity who would have no qualms about making sacrifices to any extent for a friend who can buy our trust even to death.

Chieri is a tiny hamlet on the outskirts of Turin in Italy.  It was a quiet evening on the night between 3 and 4 April, 1837.  John Bosco, now Saint Don Bosco (1815 - 1888) was seated by his study table, engrossed in reading and recollection. Alongside the study was a dormitory with nearly twenty seminarians of his age, preparing for a night’s rest.

All at once a thunderous eruption rent the air. Strong winds lashed at the latched doors and windows flinging them wide open. There was rattling sound all around. The impact was beyond comprehension and the magnitude beyond human confabulations. The entire apartment shook below the feet or so it appeared. An earth quake of such magnitude could be understandable, but a heavens quake was never desirable, especially at a time when the young seminarians were retiring for a night’s rest after a hectic day’s schedule. The roaring winds deafened the curious minds in to exchanging bewildered looks all around as also at each other unable to gasp for breath at such astonishing developments that confused their minds. In short, it was a night portending unforeseen disasters.  Then as though from nowhere in the vicinity, a tender glow of celestial light wafted over an otherwise hilarious heaven. All eyes were fixed on to the gush of light steaming out of thickened heavens. As light spread out with swirling intensity, a soothing melody followed by a mild tune chimed out of the flooded lights, generating bliss like radiance all around. As the humming of music died down in streaks, a soft voice echoed out of nowhere. “Bosco, my friend – I am saved”. The voice echoed away in to distant night and the music retreated in to timeless memory. The serenity of the night returned while the nearly two dozen youngsters sat clustered around each other unable to fathom what the mirage was all about. The entire episode brought about a thrill of horror in to the advancing night.  However, for Don Bosco it was a unique event which rendered his conviction a consummation.  He recognized the voice as that of Luigi Comollo, an intimate friend and colleague who pursued his studies in the Seminary where he passed away on April 2, 1837.

Luigi Comollo and Don Bosco had casually entered in to a pact that whosoever passed away first would return to convey to the other where and in what state he was.  Born on April 7, 1817 in Pra, Cinzano, Italy, Comollo pursued his studies in the Seminary where he passed away on April 2, 1837. Within two days of his passing away Comollo hastened back to earth to fulfil the promise made by him to Don Bosco, his most trusted friend. 

St. Don Bosco on various occasions referred to the episode narrated above. However, on all occasions he cautioned his students and colleagues to refrain from making such a pact since it was fraught with dangerous consequences for the very reason that the two realms of humanity and divinity are poles apart from one another and any attempt to bring them together could jeopardize the equilibrium of the lesser denomination viz. human nature or the universe.  Nonetheless, the readers would do well to carry away a great lesson Don Bosco himself wanted to teach others viz. the totality of selfless love for a neighbour which we in human terms call ‘friend’.  It would have been nearest to impossible for a person to return to a finite realm of human existence after having left the world whereby the soul of a person had parted from the human body.  By coincidence, there is reason to believe that this may perhaps have been one unique instance of a pact arrived at between friends and a logical fulfilment of pact under peculiar circumstances despite tremendous odds to the contrary.

Much stands debated though, but man’s attempt to piece out an exact or closest definition or identity of friend have always made him rely on the one only inspired Holy Book, the Bible.  Who is a friend? 

Friendship accords us a plank. Friendship provides us with an opportunity to theme our lives.  Friendship shapes an occasion to repose our trust in someone who would match our image and likeness, of the resemblance that God made man. Much of what we profess, much of what we learn and all of what we own, we owe it to a friend or friends, young or old, inferior or superior, opponent or well wisher.  Only a negligible percentage of the knowledge we possess is the outcome of our own hardwork. Friendship provides us with an exercise that moulds our thoughts, our deeds, our experience, our years, our lives but above all our own attitude.

Fame, success and reputation can only stem from a well founded base embedded in knowledge, virtues and congeniality.  Ethics is an exercise in this direction.  Much of the resistance we encounter in practical life arises out of our rigidness born out of arrogance or ignorance.  But if we succeed in bending our perspectives uniformly with a mellowed voice, an appealing tone, a pitch with a rhythem that can chime in to the ears of others, an entreat, a request with regret for intrusion, then there are chances of a success in mollifying an adversary or breaking the freeze in people’s attitude.

“Ethics, Manners & Etiquette” are traits which render man a specie apart from all other creatures roaming the earth or hovering the skies.  Although the three characteristics namely “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”  merely complement each other, yet what goes a long way in moulding one in to an upright man in the eye of the society, as also the one single aspect which prominently distinguishes a person as extraordinary from the other human beings is Ethics.  Ethics forms an integral part of any dignified living while the remaining two namely Manners & Etiquette merely feature as compliments to the former for purposes of decency and decorum in life.

Having arrived at the threshold of Ethics, it is important to point out how for trifles we are in the forefront, eager to demean others, to strip people of their dignity without the least respect & reverence for what they are or for what they merit or for what they command. In our eagerness to promote our ‘ego’, we push people in to pits of despair and devastation, not even allowing them to make amends for slight and finite errors. Attitude demands a greater degree of tolerance, which we all lack.  “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette” covers much for bringing about herculean change within such capricious people who make no bone of their attempts to browbeat people who deserve utmost respect.

Ethics is an esthetic art which enables one to sense, evaluate, judge, concur or act morally, justly and accurately with a positive frame of mind as also in a disciplined manner on issues of common interest relating to spirituality and human life.  Incidentally, Ethics relates to acts of perceiving, deliberating upon, deciding or acting on any aspect of divine or human life within the frame-work of morality and virtuousness. Although the term ‘Ethics’ is commonly referred to philosophically as the art of deciding the right and wrong side of life and resultant activities but in real life it encompasses a wider perspective having a larger meaning to supplement one’s ability  and to infallibly deal with all aspects concerning life. 

How ethics came to be born? After many million years of existence in solitude, God descended over the universe of infinite time and eternal matter.  For a moment the essence of time, infinity and eternity came to a standstill and the clock of creation started ticking for man.  It was at this juncture that God created a positive concept called man. He did this in His own image and likeness.  He then infused in to him a soul which portrayed the grace and radiance of divine presence within his human physique that constituted man in his prime stage of creation.  This way man came to exist.  However, after man’s fall from grace due to treacherous connivance by Satan, man imbibed certain idiosyncrasies wholly and exclusively owned by the devil whereby the body of man got contaminated in to a naked waste with ruined countenance prone to decay and destruction.  The curse of Satan got the better of man and man lost the grace, favour and right to evoke the grace of the Almighty.  Ethics was born the day our first parents disobeyed God.  The structure of man’s composition changed to mere flesh and blood ultimately destined to end at the instance of devil’s spitefulness.  A man who, through no fault of his, was drained of his graceful and sublime senses, made to part with the gracious instinct endowed by God and made to fall through unfathomable depths of meanest instincts imbibed from the devil himself. That same man is now destined to rise in pursuit of a goal, fame, success and reputation through a novel standard envisaged as the one only path to ascending the pinnacle of glory and which is now brought to you under a new episode titled “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette – Leaf – 2”.

Ethics is all about moral values, positive psyche, conscious assessment, dignified approach, broadened outlook and a host of other virtuous connotations, all comprehensively envisioned and effectively positioned with conviction and grace.  Dignity of every person grows with reason and realization, much the way he advances in age and wisdom.  The root element and the depth of dignity lies in age, reason and realization as also the manner in which a person conducts himself, the maturity he reveals within and the equilibrium he projects with utmost ease.  A well founded base possessing advantages like knowledge, virtue and good demeanour can stimulate a person to ascend to heights of fame, success and reputation with ease.

Ethics is a unique apparatus capable of monitoring human instinct, human senses and negativity in life. Human nature is prone to insinuation by way of circumstance, temptation, prod, nag, goad and similar antagonizing attempts to divert one’s goal, attention or focus. Be you of steady mind and never allow such negativity to gnaw in to key areas where you need to focus your thrust or where you have achieved partial or full success, for it is never easy to recover a lost ground.  However, valiant people will bypass all such temptations and forge ahead with determination and thrust.  Maintain your mental equilibrium and all adversity will fade away with the passing of time.

“Ethics, Manners & Ettiquette”, if linked to practical life, the very chances of survival of law and the courts would appear bleak. Remember, in your pursuit of your goal of your choice, every aspect of life would be on your side including state, law and administration because you hold the flame of ‘honesty, simplicity and truth’ of the like of ‘silence, simplicity and steadfastness of resolve’, under your banner “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”. 

And what is a law that has done precious little to make man conscious of his duties and responsibilities towards society? What after all is a judgment that needs years to arrive at a manipulated truth? Seeing the time lag between the first motion and the final judgment, it can safely be inferred that considerable manipulations have taken place with the passage of time vis-à-vis the incident, the place of occurrence and the circumstances of a crime. Moreover, a judgment too is passed based on deliberations by Counsels, where even the judge would never have steered out of his seat to arrive at a just judgement or to hasten a process of justice. In a nutshell, a ridiculous instance of delivering a wrong judgement!

Incidentally, man has become a mere spectator and at best a casualty under the vigilant eye of law and justice, allowing innocents or those without criminal bent of mind to become one or to languish in jails or at best silently bear the ignominious pain of death and devastation under fabricated laws and judgments.

Devil is aware that the only power on earth capable of resurrecting, restructuring or renovating and rebuilding the creation back to its original shape prior to the first sin, is God Himself who alone can dispense justice to humans.

Be focused for your destination is nigh. You cannot change your features, but the attitude you can, at nobody’s expense. With the universe galloping towards an unknown destination, with its original features disfigured having encountered a perilous journey through millions of years in succession, the only trust you can repose is in yourself, your attitude, your good demeanour to arrive safely at your projected destination. In order to counter the evil that you might come by at appropriate intervals there is only one solution to rely on, namely “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”.

Your magic is in your own hands and if you have the courage to hold aloft the trinity flame of “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”, then fame, success and reputation will be yours to reach out for. The magic has to be evolved by you and this can best be achieved through a process of everlasting consequence. Hence await the next episode of ‘Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”.