Human becoming!

A bulbul feeds on chillies and a squirrel on papaya!

The Bulbuls normally came to the feeding station in our garden in the morning and fed on the banana fruit; since a few days most Bulbuls avoided the feeding station. They look for other food sources as shown  in the first few photos above. 

The squirrels have not changed the pattern. They would feed on the banana or papaya fruit!

I wondered what would have made the Bulbuls to avoid the feeding station!

I happened to notice some movement around the feeding station one night and the fruits that were still left in the feeding station were not there in the morning. Our domestic helper told me that an Indian ceveat, an animal belonging to the cat family is on the prowl at night, coming from the rubber plantation, in search of food and water. They leave behind a scent which some birds are averse to. No wonder that the Bulbuls avoid coming to the feeding station ! 

Since we started ringing a bell at night a few times and positioned a blinking light on the path a Ceveat normally takes, there is a respite for a few days now. The Bulbuls are not still back in the feeding station. 

The squirrels do not seem to be mindful of strange odour!

The circumstances affect behaviour and practices. 

Yesterday, while driving home after shopping, a car driver slowed down in front of us and he did that a few times, which is what made me think that it was intentional. I happened to read about bullying of women drivers and senior citizens on the road by a similar behaviour in the recent weeks.  If one were to honk or stop, they come to accuse and demand money by threatening to report to the police for rash driving!

Having known about this tactic, I slowed down allowing other vehicles to overtake. 

Who are these people who resort to bullying others on the roads! Those who look for cash for their indulgences!

The police who watched the behaviour of some drivers seem to think that, most of them are young people with habitual offending behaviour!

I watched the proceedings of the Indian parliament for a while yesterday. I watched a few debates which were engaging and meant to call the attention of the government for a relook at the policies. I also noticed confrontational presentations!

Words communicate; words can also hurt! I wonder whether there is sufficient attention given to think about how what we say sounds in the listener's ear!

We live in a season and climate, when wealth gives people power and authority. The richest man on earth, who is a US citizen is now a companion to the president of the USA, who gave a press briefing asking people to work for 100 hours a week to make wealth.  

To reduce a human beings to be only a mind or a skill machine without a feeling for his body, soul and spirit is dishonouring human becoming, by integrated living practices.  The Artificial Intelligence is at the threshold in most frontiers of science and technology. If that were to dominate and submerge humans to be its tool, we shall loose humanhood of friendships, caring, empathising, enabling, and serving!

What endeared Mother Teresa to people was her graceful service,  and mindful attention to the needs of others, by living a simple and austere life ! 

Human civilisation attended to attribute humans a philosophy of life and cause to exist in a civil society, where others, rich or poor mattered. 

Each of us has a soul; the society has also a soul! Are we loosing both!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)