Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: materialism

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Monday, December 23, 2013

QUALITY OF LIFE = STANDARD OF LIVING + PLANE OF LIVING

From my “Philosophical Approach to Life” Archives - some musings I wrote around 6 months ago, once more, for you to ponder on:

YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE DEPENDS ON YOUR PLANE OF LIVING

Philosophical Musings

VIKRAM KARVE

PLANE OF LIVING versus STANDARD OF LIVING

Dear Reader, tell me, what is your plane of living ?

No - don’t get me wrong.

I am not asking you about your standard of living.

I know you have a decent standard of living.

I am asking you about your plane of living.

Your “standard of living” depends of various material factors like how much money you earn and wealth you have, where you live, the possessions and comforts you have – your home, your car, the gadgets you possess, the number of servants in your house, the schools your kids go to, your clubs, your lifestyle, your consumption levels.

You know what I am talking about when I say “standard of living”.

However, “standard” of living alone will not guarantee you a good “quality of life”.

There is one more factor involved in determining your “quality of life”.

This factor is called: “plane of living”.

A good “standard of living” will give you physical comfort.

A high “plane of living” will give you intellectual, emotional and mental satisfaction.

What is the meaning of “QUALITY OF LIFE”

“Quality of Life” comprises two aspects:

1. Standard of Living

2. Plane of Living

In a nutshell:

“quality of life” = “standard of living” + “plane of living”

So remember - increasing your “standard of living” alone will not improve your “quality of life” - you need to enhance your “plane of living” too.

Many people may have the same “standard of living” but only those who live on a “higher plane” truly understand and enjoy the “quality of life”

I saw this in the Navy - all officers had the same “standard of living” but it was only a few who were enjoying a higher “quality of life” because they knew how to enhance their “plane of living”

It was also ironic that some officers who had been promoted to high rank had a lower “plane of living” than some passed-over officers who had mastered the art of living on a higher plane, and therefore were enjoying a better quality of life than the so-called “successful” officers.

PLANE OF LIVING

What is “plane of living”?

How do enhance your “plane of living”?

How do you live on a “higher plane”?

Think about it - close your eyes - reflect - figure it out for yourself.

Sure, I will discuss this soon in my blog.

Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - May you enjoy the best Quality of Life and a High Plane of Living in the New Year 2015.

VIKRAM KARVE

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

NB:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Did you like this blog post?

I am sure you will like the 27 short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAIL
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

COCKTAIL ebook

If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com and vikramkarve@hotmail.com

Twitter: @vikramkarve

Monday, August 12, 2013

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF YOUR LIFE

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF YOUR LIFE

A Story

VIKRAM KARVE

I once met an officer who regretted not making full use of the navy.

He felt that he had incurred a great loss because he did not exploit all the entitlements, facilities and perks offered by the navy.

For example, being a non-drinker he could not enjoy his monthly subsidized liquor quota and neither was there any provision to encash it.

He wondered how much financial loss he must have suffered because he did not utilize this attractive perk throughout his long career of over 30 years.

He talked regretfully about other entitlements and perks too, which he felt he had not exploited optimally and thereby he had suffered so much financial loss, albeit notionally.

In order to cheer him up and enliven his spirits, I told him this story:

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF YOUR LIFE

One day, the man went to visit a colleague convalescing in hospital after heart surgery following a massive heart attack.

Fascinated by the sophisticated and luxurious facilities in the hospital he asked his friend how much it cost.

“Over five lakhs,” the patient said.

“My God – that’s expensive. How can you afford it?”

“Medical Reimbursement,” the patient said.

“Medical Reimbursement? Does that mean that you have to pay nothing for all this?”

“Of course I don’t have to pay from my own pocket – they pay everything. That’s why I joined the medical insurance scheme – you too are a member, aren’t you? So even if you have a heart surgery they will pay everything.”

After he returned home, the man kept brooding and appeared to be in low spirits, so his wife asked him what was wrong.

“I have lost five lakhs!”

“Five lakhs? Where? How did you lose five lakhs?”

“Suppose I had a heart attack then I too would have got five lakhs worth of medical reimbursement. I have lost five lakhs just because I did not have a heart attack!”

Dear Reader:

Close your eyes, reminisce, and calculate all the “losses” you have made in your life because you did not “avail” of things you were entitled to.

Have a look at the balance sheet of your life and tell us what is the profit and loss account of your life?

VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

NB:

Did you like reading this story?
I am sure you will like all the 27 stories in my book COCKTAIL an anthology of Short Fiction.
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com

Twitter: @vikramkarve

Saturday, May 4, 2013

CORRUPTION MADE SIMPLE - A Mathematical Formula for Corruption

CORRUPTION IN A NUTSHELL

A FORMULA for CORRUPTION

Musings

VIKRAM KARVE

A FORMULA FOR CORRUPTION

One morning while browsing through my old diaries I chanced upon something interesting – a formula for corruption told to me by one of my colleagues long back which I had jotted down in my diary.

Corruption = Monopoly + Discretion – Accountability

Or simply put:

C = M + D – A

where

Corruption (C) equals Monopoly Power (M) plus Discretionary Power (D) minus Accountability (A)

I had posted this earlier in my blog.

After observing the proliferating corruption and scams, I thought about it and realized that I had missed out one very important aspect - TRANSPARENCY.

Yes, I feel that TRANSPARENCY can help reduce corruption especially in this age of Information Technology and Internet.

So here is my revised formula for CORRUPTION

Corruption = Monopoly + Discretion – Accountability – Transparency

Or simply put:

C = M + D – A – T

where

Corruption (C) equals Monopoly Power (M) plus Discretionary Power (D) minus Accountability (A) minus Transparency (T)

Do have a look around and see for yourself whether this formula is really applicable.

Or would you like to add some are other factors too which contribute to corruption?

HOW TO CONTROL REDUCE AND ELIMINATE CORRUPTION

Going by this formula, it seems to be very easy to reduce corruption, isn't it?

In order to reduce corruption, you simply have to:

1. Reduce Monopoly (by increasing competition)

2. Eliminate Discretionary Powers to give or to withhold largess (by fair and participatory decision making)

3. Fix precise and proper Accountability (by proper rules and regulations)

4. Ensure Total Transparency (especially thorough widespread use of Information Technology).

If it is indeed so simple to control corruption, then why don't we do it?

WHY CORRUPTION IS NOT BEING CONTROLLED

The reason why no one wants to control corruption is quite clear.

Most people, especially the powers-that-be benefit from corruption.

In fact, a large section of society, so many people, thrive on corruption.

And nowadays there is no social stigma attached to corruption.

If you look around, you will observe that so many corrupt persons who are involved in scams and amassed huge amounts of wealth seem to have a respectable place in society and enjoy great social status.

This is because in the present-day social scenario, it is the triumvirate your Power, Wealth and Fame which determine your status in society.

In today's world, things like honesty, integrity and character will not earn you much respect.

In fact, you may be dubbed a fool if you are honest and straightforward.

So many people benefit from corruption.

So why should anyone want to eliminate corruption?

Think about it.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Did you like reading this blog post?

I am sure you will like all the 27 stories in my book COCKTAIL an anthology of Short Fiction.
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Twitter: @vikramkarve

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

HOW MATERIAL AND EMOTIONAL TRAPS SPOILING YOUR JOURNEY OF LIFE

ART OF LIVING TIP

HOW TO TRAVEL ON THE JOURNEY OF LIFE

HOW MATERIAL AND EMOTIONAL TRAPS SPOIL YOUR JOURNEY OF LIFE

Less Baggage Better Travel - A Teaching Story on the Art of Living

VIKRAM KARVE

Dear Reader: Here is one of my favorite teaching stories on how to attain enlightenment (or Nirvana)

VOW OF CELIBACY

A worldly man seeking Nirvana, true enlightenment, renounced worldly life, took a strict vow of celibacy which was the sine qua non for attaining enlightenment.

He then headed for the hills to live an ascetic existence of a hermit.

He found a secluded cave and began his simple contemplative meditative life surviving on natural wild vegetation in the forest and began his journey towards his quest for enlightenment.

One day he noticed holes in his robe and discovered that there were lots of rats in the cave who were chewing off his robes.

The rats soon were nibbling at his toes disturbing his meditation.

Perplexed, he went down to town and consulted his Guru who said, “No problem. It’s simple. Get a cat.”

“A cat...?” asked the seeker perplexed.

“The cat will take care of the rats,” the Guru said.

So our wise man bought a cat and took it up to his cave.

The cat took care of the rats and the wise man was undisturbed in his quest for enlightenment.

A few days later the cat had eaten up all the rats, and famished, the cat started moaning with hunger.

The constant moaning and crying of the cat again disturbed the wise man’s meditation so the seeker again rushed to consult his Guru.

“Get a cow,” the Guru advised the seeker.

“A cow...?” the seeker exclaimed in astonishment.

“Yes. The cow will yield milk with which you can feed your cat and satiate its hunger,” the Guru said.

Now the seeker would spend some time milking the cow, feeding the cat and then settle down for his meditation.

A few days later the cow stopped giving milk and mooed loudly.

The cat too had started moaning again and disturbed by the moaning of the hungry cat and mooing of the starving cow the wise man ran to his Guru once again to seek his advice.

“Buy some seeds, plant them, tend to the plants and the crop will give food for the cow and you,” the Guru said.

The seeker planted the seeds which yielded food both for the cow and himself.

However now the man had to spend so much time tending to his garden, feeding and milking his cow, and giving milk to his cat, that he hardly got any time for meditation.

He rushed to his Guru who once again had a ready solution, “There is a young widow – poor thing she is destitute. She will look after everything and you can meditate in peace and attain enlightenment.”

It was indeed a wonderful arrangement – the young widow looked after everything, the garden, cow and cat flourished, and the wise man was undisturbed in his quest for enlightenment.

One day it began to snow, the temperature fell to sub-zero, and the young widow started to shiver owing to the biting cold.

Soon she could not bear the bitter cold any longer, so she snuggled into the wise man’s bed and tightly embraced him as that was the only way for her to keep warm.

Now tell me, which man can resist the tight embrace of an attractive woman in the prime of her life...?

The vow of celibacy lay shattered and there ended the wise man’s quest for enlightenment.

And with all his new possessions (the cat, the cow, and the woman), the seeker returned back to the material world and began to live a worldly life from where he had began his journey towards enlightenment to attain Nirvana.

The “wise” man was back to square one, much “wiser”...!

MORAL OF THE STORY

I once read somewhere that “the lesser the baggage the better the journey” and I am sure you have read the Indian Railways motto Less Baggage Better Travel.

I think this applies to our journey of life too.

We seem to carry too much baggage, all types of “baggage”

(material baggage, emotional baggage, tangible, intangible,

the “baggage” of power, wealth, fame, ego, pride ...

the “baggage” of painful relationships,

the “baggage” of the past,

the “baggage” like the debris of broken relationships ...

all types of “baggage” which contaminate our minds and inner self).

And it is this “baggage” that inhibits and spoils your smooth and enjoyable journey through life.

Maybe this apocryphal teaching story is apt to illustrate this point.

So, Dear Reader:

Unburden yourself of all your “baggage”

and

TRAVEL LIGHT ON THE JOURNEY OF LIFE

The Lesser the Baggage, the Better the Journey

VIKRAM KARVE

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

Did you like reading this story?
I am sure you will like all the 27 stories in my recently published book of short stories COCKTAIL
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve

Monday, December 23, 2013

QUALITY OF LIFE = STANDARD OF LIVING + PLANE OF LIVING

Monday, August 12, 2013

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF YOUR LIFE

Saturday, May 4, 2013

CORRUPTION MADE SIMPLE - A Mathematical Formula for Corruption

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

HOW MATERIAL AND EMOTIONAL TRAPS SPOILING YOUR JOURNEY OF LIFE

ART OF LIVING TIP

HOW TO TRAVEL ON THE JOURNEY OF LIFE

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