Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Imaginative Sense


I was chatting with a friend trying to understand her approach to the various arts that she has tried out. Was interested in knowing the art in which she felt she could create something out of nothingness versus when she had to use something as a reference. Just thought that she brought out the crux very well; the subconscious process behind it all, so decided to put her thoughts up here. Cut pasted her thoughts from gtalk below.

"I suppose that in any activity that requires sensual stimulation, imagination will probably be the artist, without needing to copy something else. But those that need rationality in some sense may curb imagination.

To experience a superb sunset you don't need to compare it with how it looked yesterday and whether today is less perfect. You're sense has passed its judgement without external comparison (senses being their own artist). But if you wanted to see if that big beautiful sun's color is depicting a rainy or sunny day (rationality required) then comparison with a sunset on a rainy day would be required. So when senses rule, imagination is manifest to its fullest as opposed to when you want to SEE the perfect and not necessarily FEEL it." - Margaret Desouza.


Sunday, July 13, 2008

Desiderata


A friend sent me this poem by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be
greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career
however humble;
it is a real possession in the
changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you
to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham,
drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.


by Max Ehrmann


Saturday, July 12, 2008

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Thank you for the poetry

Joined a new startup called Amagi. Its founded by the founders of Impulsesoft. The previous startup that I worked in and that got acquired by SiRF. Was wondering what to tell my everyone that I've worked with for the past 5 years at Impulsesoft then SiRF. I tried to summarize it in the email below without trying to be too corny :-)

[snip]
Its been 5 years since I met most of you guys. But more than the duration there have been so many opportunities to look at people’s approaches to various things; the quiet, the humorous, the mechanical, the poetic, the romantic, the restless, the passionate, the fearless, the brave, the courageous, the lucid.

Different approaches which have helped me to approach various things, not just work.

Poetry begets (inspires) poetry. Thank you for the poetry.
The Hand
Paper Monster

Thanks,
Alistair
[snip]