Destined to Win!

How do people achieve what they do? Lets not take the celebrities or their quickfamed children. Lets analyse the common - next door boy and gal! One interesting point to observe is that, they would have had a tough childhood! Tough being relative from one person to another. Second, they would have been through innumerable situations in life - where they would have had to progress to the next level. Sometimes - its by choice, mostly, the situations are by destiny.

My favourite D word - DESTINY!

Sounds very vague and illogical at first glance! Are we really destined to do what we end up doing? Is it not that we go through a path of complicated choices and end up choosing at every stage? Choices we take are usually compatible with our core fabric. The fabric which entails the sum total of all our traits/emotions/feelings and skills - dormant or existant. No one comes to this world empty handed. They come - yes - with loads of invisible skills. It takes time for the world to recognise it, for the world to appreciate it and most importantly for the individual to come to terms with it!

When I look around myself, people who surround me in the avatar called 'friendship' - I have to say, some of them stand out like the North star! Outstanding qualities, extraordinary personality, very young yet as mature as it gets. Smart, committed, focused! I can go on. Some of these qualities, in themselves, take a lot of time and effort to identify, build and sustain. But having all of them as a package, is truly worth wondering, what is the secret behind all of this??

"The Himalayas" didnt happen by chance! It wasnt a fluke. It happened because of the consistent situations it had to face when two continents collided and continued to push each other, over many years. Steve Waugh once famously observed that whenever he walked in as a batsman, he was always nervous. But he also had the thought that like him, everyone else was equally nervous, if not more. This simple understanding made him play at relative ease and helped him mentally succeed in most cricketing situations - as history would tell! (Not sure if you have ever been on a cricket field. I have and trust me, this thought works like a charm!)

There are certain thoughts which are different and unique and when we possess those, our ability to deliver - be it in any sphere of life - is magnified enormously. Some of us already have it and dont know about it. Some of us do! Battles and wars are fought in the mind! They are won there too!! So, if ever you are facing a tough situation in life, think about that extra special quality you possess - something which is invisible yet holds matter! That is what will help you achieve what you are destined to do.

What is, never is! What isnt, ever is!

The elasticity of relationships!

The equation of life doesnt come simpler than this! Last Friday, in an Economics session - I learnt this - in as many words - "the elasticity of supply and demand".

Simply put, it means eat as much as you are hungry and when you consume just the right moment, you will have that indicator! Its called Belch point!

Over the week, I was all alone at home, family was in Mumbai. Reminded me of the "Robinson Crusoe" days in Bangalore and London - using only a part of the apartment - with yummy food from the "home delivery" route! The period of solitary refinement also helped think about my college days - when there was an era of friendship, fights and festivity-less breakups! I am not talking only about myself. Its also a story of a good group of friends and not so good friends around me in college! Observing most of them - from a distance - one could have an unbiased opinion of what was going wrong, what was going right and what was simply not even taking the name of going!

Typical trends of an economic cycle include the initial phase of growth with increasing growth rates. This corresponds to the new found interest and energy levels, when we meet someone special or potentially special! We get to know them well, it ofcourse take time to finely present mainly our "pure positive" side to him/her. It can be said that during this phase - we hardly get angry or impatient - even if it meant waiting endlessly in the rain for the dude to turn up!

Then comes the period of growth with decreasing growth rates. This is economics. In life, we slowly tend to have got a complete perspective of the individual in question and we are forming our opinions on where we want to take this. Its not anyone's fault that this phase tends to be the way it is! Lets safely blame the economics theory for it!

Then comes the third and most important phase - growth is at zero percent or tending to zero percent! Voila - we are at the decision point! Its either a make or a break, at this phase! From this point on, either it can be a period of indecision or status quo - in the relationship - no one wants to take the last move - or - the decision is made and its time to wrap up!

In all this fun and frolic, in a typical economic model, everything is measured in Dollars, Euros and Pesos! In real life, we measure this whole experience in terms of smiles, tears and utter pathos!

Enter the Theory of Elasticity!

What does this say - this says if the price of a product is increased or decreased, there is a definite impact on the supply or demand of the product! (Let me spare you the pain of going further on this!)

So, if for example, there is a certain relationship in consideration. Lets say - father and son! If there is a specific decrease in the time, importance or quality of experience by the son, as the father is extremely busy on a given week, there is an immediate impact seen in the behavioural pattern of the son! That would be: unable to cope with the change initially, but gradually getting impatient, upset and angry with poor busy dad. (Being a dad isnt an easy job, let me tell you!) So what happens effectively is that - the elasticity of relationship has an direct proportion between the experience of the son and the time spent by the father!

Lets take the ever green example of two individuals in college! Raj wants to be good friends with Revathi! Raj is putting in a lot of time and importance but nothing really seems to be clicking! Plotted on a supply/demand curve, this would a case of supply being more than the demand in question. Hence it seems like Raj is overdoing it or in extreme cases, even seen as stalking the poor gal! The more he does it, the further away Revathi would go! Though good at heart, he is poor in Economics and hence cant get the Belchpoint right!

Applying a touch of Indian Cinema here, instead of products "ice-cream" and "cinema tickets", there is increase in "wine" and "whiskey". This impact of decrease in demand for one product influencing the demand for another product - is called "cross elasticity of products"

To make it interesting, lets take a different pair now - Priya and Prakash while the context remains the same! Priya is interested in being friends with Prakash but has a certain level of demand - Prakash doesnt meet it, either in terms of the quality of experience or time! What happens here is that the elasticity is inversely proportional, because you just dont know whats the upper limit! You are always on first gear in a F1 race! The slower you are, the bigger the task of catching up in the race, leaving alone winning!

There are a lot of exceptions in this elasticity theory! The most prominent one being, George (on debut) wanting to be friends with a Miss College XYZ - Sherry! (I should stop watching Indian movies!) Leave alone the money factor - what is more important to note is that George will want to do all that is needed, irrespective of quantity of time or the importance Sherry attaches to him! This kind of blind "impractical" approach is called "Perfectly Inelastic Demand" - in Economics. No matter, if she meets him or even knows him - George's committment and interest remain absolutely intact!

Dont want to write a book on this, do I?! Its also getting too late in the nite!

Be it any relationship - with a friend/parent/neighbour/stranger - and "money and social status" remaining constant - the first and foremost step is to understand the demand curve and the supply curve and find the belchpoint! Demand curve being the emotional expectations of your target partner and Supply curve being the energy and effort you invest into the relationship.

Once you know what the belchpoint is, it becomes very easy to evaluate, what it takes to get the attention 100%. From then on, its a simple case of maintaining the effort and energy at the same levels or working it out - depending on the elasticity!

Simple, scientific and hopefully succint! This economics crash course should help you analyse your relationships, using basic graph skills (remember your 6th Std. Maths Teacher who always gave a 10 mark problem for graphs) and mathematical analysis of where you want to take it!! If you still dont make considerable progress - its absolutely inexorable! I wonder if there should be a subject on "Applied Economics" in schools - well lets keep that topic for another weekend!

A Diamond to shine!

They say, every message, every thought, comes at the right point of time; certainly indeed to the right person. Its never a second late or early - at the same time, its not to your neighbour or to your relative.

Attempting to 'file life' into specific areas of reasoning or analytically adapting once's senses to interpret incidents around us is one 'divine' difficulty in this materialistic world of ours. Having got the time to do that, and to reach out to others to help with the decoding of the DNA of our life's chronology of incidents, there indeed seems to be some ultimate motive behind it all.

The drama we enact, has a racy screenplay, only that we know it only scene by scene. Aspirations on knowing how it will all end or how it could end is mostly beyond the powers of human comprehension. Or atleast thats where the limits of our 'conscious comprehension' end.

The journey of our souls - transmeating across different body forms - as explained in my earlier blog - 'Sarvam Anityam'; is indeed graded against certain levels of understanding or competence, forming the 'cut-off' point for moving to the next stage of enlightenment. All of us reading this blog, are in one such phase. Quite certain, most dont know or dont realise this, difference between 'knowing' and 'realising' detailing the fine line of 'reviving one's inner divinity'.

Its just like a switch in us, which lights our soul, making it look beyond the materialistic world and even beyond the reach of flesh and blood. That superior purpose is why we are all living for.
A millionaire never necessarily will influence the gradation of his life's value against that ultimate purpose of learning. Nor would a poor man have a quota towards the same.

Its all fair in life. To one and all.

Tough to defend in a scientific discussion, hard to prove in day light - there indeed exists a concept called 'reincarnation'. The closest we come to this, is in certain movies. But the reality is we are all acting in one such 'reincarnated' role, in one such mega movie; OURSELVES. For some, it may be just a few times, for others the time taken might be longer. But in all, we are all donning a new face, a new set of human relations, a new set of situations. The core US is still the same.

'Dasavatharam' or ten avatars (in translation) is probably the minimum number of reincarnations one soul has to undertake. For the journey to purfying it, isnt easy and takes time and effort, in the right direction and at the right time. We all have a diamond inside us. The same size, same shape. The effort into purifying our souls, manifests itself into 'shining one face of this diamond'. Thats simply why, one person is different from the other. The number of surfaces shining in one, will not be the same as the other. But in effect, we are all the same, when we reach the final act of 'complete purification'.

Aatman or the 'living soul' can become Paramatman or the 'ultimate soul'. Just a word needs to change here. Time taken would simply be a minimum of 'Dasavatharam'. Not only for Kamal Hassan, for the rest as well.

Bond to Billa!

The exertions of a 'well used to' lifestyle can be far-reaching when you step out of it. That was and is my feeling in the past few weeks. Having moved away from snowy London to the 'Land of the Hot Sun' - Chennai, the transformation is much bigger than what I had given it room for.

When you lose something, it doesnt just go away in a second, it slowly starts to fade away. Like the gentle water current carrying the lotus away, a metre an hour. Have got to a mode of 'forgetting' what happened in London - work/life and otherwise... memories come to me now and then.. but then they are on the decline.

A new city, new lifestyle, new role - thats called a 'package' of purpose. Much needs to be seen as to how I am going to come in terms with these alterations in my 'carbon foot print'. Atif Aslam has become my new soulmate singer. Having heard him first time with the 'Tere Bin' song, he has helped me go across different spheres of emotions - especially during this 'change over' phase. Enroute to office today - heard one of his songs on FM, and much has to be said about his influence on getting me to react and express my interflicting points of view in my own sphere of influence.

While this phase will go, for sure and I will get used to life in India, there are those faces and minds - with whom I have worked through issues - big and small - over the 1000 day era; faces with exceptional minds and even better comraderie. They will not be forgotten, not today, not ever. Honestly thats the edge of the sword piercing through me - as can be said - the edge is the one which makes the most impact. Life is always only as worth as the quality of the people with whom we spend it!!

My sun gods - though are in vicinity. Rahman and Rajni are all over the place - thanks to the power of the box called 'television' and its spouse - 'cable tv'. Not much unpacking has started as yet, and thats going to also take its toll - when artifacts of the previous 'era' are going to haunt their way through my memory cells, revitalising the moments which can be frozen for a lifetime.

'Bond to Billa' is the road taken - whether some U-turns are possible or it is strictly one-way, nobody is sure of it. Neither am I. (For the sake of the western audience - 'Billa' is the name of a RAJNI action movie; and Bond is ofcourse 007)

For now, the F-WORD is to 'Follow the flow'. Inspiringly enough, its not too rapid.

Be the change!

A normal routine each day. Take the train from my home and go North and then, by the time you have got comfortable and are moving to the inner zone of your morning meditation (read 'snooze'); at Kennington, forced you indeed are to switch over to the platform beside and wait for the Charing Cross branch. (I always end up taking the Bank branch, call it co-incidence or conspiracy.)

It was one such un-impressive journeys, a few days back, and the train halted at Oval. In came a lady with a dog. She came in and was helped with the heavy dog by a co-passenger. Once she got in, the person sitting on the corner seat, gave her a place, the gentleman he proved to be. The lady made the huge black dog sit down near her feet. She made sure that the dog wasnt blocking the way or touching the by-sitter's legs.

By this time, the train had started moving and I was standing across this lady, standing near the pathway door, between the coaches. I was looking at her with quiet intent, not because she was beautiful, not because she had a good dog, but because she was smiling with what seemed 'inner happiness'. A pleasant smile, it was indeed. She seemed to know something which was different, something which was so reflective of pure satisfaction. Probably she was enjoying her train ride or she was going to meet someone important and was happy - I will never know. As I kept looking at her, she wasnt looking back at me. She simply couldnt. She was blind.

There are moments which freeze in your life, moments which you really dont understand much from, but still know 'just about enough' to realize its teaching you something significant. This was one of them.

In the land of America, Obama was having a tough time with the media on his pastor and his blunt comments, pro-racist and anti-american. And the noose was getting tighter by the day. News channels were scanning the pastor and his speeches 10 times per hour. It seemed like this was more important than anything else to the American news editor. Sitting on my sofa couch, I was following this story keenly and was disappointed Obama was getting the rough end of the stick. It obviously wasnt fair.

The tide turns. Obama marks the time and the hour to make his 'retaliatory' speech. Its aptly called the 'race and unity' speech. I had come back from work, that day, and was trying to scan how the speech went, and finally got a youtube link and was seeing him deliver it. Surely, it wasnt an ordinary speech - political or american. There was a much more significant and 'basic' message in the words he uttered. The chronology of events were all coined up in the best possible way, so were his body language and the way he orated, going about, from 200 years back to this day.

Aptly, this speech, is suggested, as being 'the speech of our generation'. It has evoked a response far too significant, and far too historical. Stunning was the reaction to see it live - I felt like he was just 'too good' to be a human. He truly had his MOMENT of RECKONING.

The two contrasting episodes, only made my brain cells work overtime. Here was one lady, who could have easily fallen into the vaccuum of the 'unseen' world but was living life as normal and still managing the 'most' pleasant of smiles one can ever see. Here was a man, who delivers a speech, which comes out not just addressing the current problem, he is faced with, but has all the right words and meanings to be placed in 'history's place of honour'.

Both of them are fighting their own challenges. As is typical with every human, we always think our problems are the worst. But the beauty of it all is that they dont think they will lose and they hence wont. They know they have to change the world, but to initiate that, they become the medium for change.

'Be the change' is their motto, inked in the unspoken smile here and emphasised by the uttered speech there. But its only all the same. When it comes to action, both have won their wars hands down. Both are equal heroes in my 'hall of fame'.

By their actions, both have changed their lives, their immediate environment and inspired many people in their generation like me. A simple step, taken in the right direction, never sounded light. Its always heavy and has helped guide others towards it too.

The Sabbath Hour!

Super Tuesday 2 came and went. In Australia, India went on to snub the 'cry babies' of their napkin award. History in the making certainly, but this tour was so acrimonious from the first day the Indians left for Australia - the victory is sweeter million times over. Ofcourse thats the Indian in me digging in!!

Harbhajan has become the kind of revolutionary player, and anything said or hurting him has transcended to every Indian as a personal insult. Strange as it sounds, I was not too happy to see the Australian fans booing him on the fence. But what matters is who has the final laugh. India has truly accorded this victory second only to the world cup win. The kangaroo has been reigned in and its the era of the Tiger. The Indian Tiger!! - ironically, the 'animal' species is supposedly on the decline in the subcontinent!

Across the Pacific, Obama lost Texas and Ohio, but still managed to maintain the delegate lead over Clinton. I guess in that sense, its a draw here. No concrete win to either little Dave or mighty Golly.

As I sat pondering over where my next blog was going to come from, I had to answer some queries which have come my way in the past few days. Some of the readers think that it takes me ages to write a blog. Well, to get the facts right, it takes 30-45 min to write one blog, complete with all editions - the small exclamation and the final fullstop. So please stop moaning that I have too much time at my disposal for getting this blog up and running.

The fact is that, every single one of us has enough time to do that ONE activity - outside work, outside family - which makes us feel satisfied when we hit the bed at nite. The one activity which keeps us going within ourselves ; doing justice to the 'hidden' talents, to the very basic meaning of 'genetic variation' that gives us our individuality - truly and simply!!

Call it a habit of doing crosswords on the way to work - trying to read some books day in day out - regularly watch that one tv serial, enjoining the emotions it brings out - dancing to good music - watering plants like there is a drought on earth - blogging your heart out - sports activities during the weekend - swimming a mile a day - the list is endless.

What translates into this habit of ours is an outcome of our 'reptilian' instincts. This activity will help us either feel confident about ourselves or help bring out the positives 'intellectual-wise', something which we need to keep the inner glow going. Close your eyes for a moment and you will immediately realise that UNIQUE activity - the gateway to our INNER HEAVEN.

Ok. We know what we need to do. Whats the conversion ratio like here? Pathetic and appalling. Why is it so? Quite easy to say this. Its become a hidden rule these days, that to spend time for oneself is not that encouraged as it could be. The average Indian woman, finds it difficult to take time every day, out of the busy schedule which engulfs her. Husband, children take her for a jolly ride and she gets on board due diligently. I would say, she is the one who needs a break most importantly, to help refresh herself a bit.

Men are not that far off. Maybe they are running behind completing tomorrow's task by today evening or they are planning of day after's meeting. Its always becomes thinking of 'whats next' that 'the present' becomes a pre-extension of 'the future'. Not that I blame them for it.

This is the nature of the game we call 'Life'. Onsite, on the third rock from the sun, its all about how the solar system operates. If only the earth was a bit slow in revolving around the sun, one day wouldnt exactly stop at 24 hours. That might just mean, that we probably get, say an hour, the SABBATH hour, to do the activity which will keep our internal engines running with a spirit of joy and satisfaction.

The SABBATH hour. To those who believe they can slow down 'mother earth' to get extra time, the editor recommends a good doctor in your locality. But for those who want to live within the constraints and yet find this hour, well, its all about your willingness to let go of something very low in the 'daily priority chart' - which can be done tomorrow.

No one will know that the task has been put on hold. No one neednt care either. Its your life and you know whats best for you. Married, single or mingling! The divine fact is that today will never come again. If you can do anything to keep yourself happy, the difference you will make around you will easily double or triple.

Whether you sign in to save the INDIAN 'TIGER' or not, first sign in to save 'yourself' and let your heart smile. A smile that has been rightfully earned. BY YOU AND YOU ONLY.

40 minutes.

Playing God!

Not a day goes by when we dont think/thank/curse or blame God. If anything by that description exists, is a totally different perspective. The fact is that we do include and embrace this concept as if it were an extension of our day-to-day life. Life, in its truest manifest is really a miracle, no one denies - but to 'offshore' its success to a '3rd Party' source called 'God' isnt 100% fair. It wasnt fair during the days of the Harappa culture, nor it is in our current 'nuclear' landscape.

Nothing of this thought was in my mind when we went out to have fun at the pottery class in Merton Abbey. The one hour journey it was, it revealed a lot more than just pots and pans. It all starts with a piece of 'clay' - something which we can easily ignore if found in a dirty road corner. How often have we seen this in odd places, never to even consider it worth thinking about!!!

When this totally irrelevant and insignificant thing was placed in the centre of a wheel - even then nothing major was different about it. Start the motor and then - lo' behold - you are creating 'something' out of 'perceived nothing'. The first few moments would be dealt in creating a solid base and then you go about expanding your dreams and thats creativity at its finesse.

Its only a matter of time when the right composition of 'water','clay' 'circular motion' and most importantly - 'your intent' helps create a totally valuable thing. Its as good as bringing something to life. Initiating life, is how I would term it. Once this blueprint is done, its time to take it off and then let it dry and settle. The shine would be applied over this piece in a matter of a few days. Thats when it takes one of its many positions in someone's world as 'my nanny's favorite tea set' or 'my doggy's food plate', as the case maybe. Thats light years from where it all started!

My wife created a very good bowl, but when she was trying to take it off the wheel, probably a minor dent was made to the outer surface. She was very specific about it as she knew it had happened. To me, it was invisible as the ether that surrounds us. I never saw it. To clarify, even if I did manage to see it, I wouldnt have thought of it from an 'imperfection' perspective.

'Zoom out a bit' and look at each human as starting off as that piece of clay. The right amount of 'ingredients' are put to create his core constituent - soul - and the next steps are to expand laterally into other spheres of 'individual personality'. No two humans are the same, neither are two bowls. All of us have some imperfections, caused intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes these 'not good enough' qualities in us might not be looked at, in the same way, by others.

Irrespective of what we have in us as 'pre-paid', we can always 'top-up' our lives, by finding ourselves different situations, in which we best-apply the 'messages' of 'our mobile life' - making the experience worth it to others. Even the material world we live in, tells us this simple thing all the time. The Karmic life was always preaching this even before the wheel started spinning.

The wheel of God!

Every aspect of why we are, has a reason and cant be changed. But nothing of what we can be, has a cut-off limit. The eagle never touched the sky and never will! The waves never got tired of 'reaching out' to the shore. Simple things in nature reveal the power within. Understand this and move on to make your dream and all the while, reach out to as many people as possible and touch their lives for the better. In simpler words, start 'playing God'.

If you play it seriously enough, this is probably the one game which wont just end...not today...not tomorrow!!!

The Karnan checkmate!

A lot of times, we tend to identify who our friends are, by the way they interact with us. Friendship is literally the most common opportunity of a 'mind' to connect to another. That extra thought, that extra smile, that little help to show that he/she cares is all that makes friendship tick. Its not everyday that life goes through an up and down. People who tend to stick with you when they are up will not necessarily be the same crowd who will stick with you when the chips are down.

Now thats a fact and thats a fact underlined!

In today's fast paced world, expecting someone to help you, at times of need is a difficult proposition. Only the rarest of rare characters, out of the many lot, who would be with you in a moment of joy, will stand by you. There is this story of Karna - the mythological character in Mahabharat, who tends to express this point of view very well and till his death. Standing by Duryodhana through the thick times and thin, Karna epitomises the 'gratitude' and promise owed to one's friend. He is arguably a more powerful role model than the Pandavas, because his conviction and his character was tested more than them.

O' Maula Mere, where is my Karna. I only need one such person and I can overcome anything in this world, my heart felt through the last few days! Tough situations always tend to bring out the tougher person in me. And I am glad that this time, it also helped re-define my Karna'n sensex in the share market of 'friendship'. I am no Duryodhana, ofcourse! But I am sure, everyone of us would like to have that one person who will always be there for us when we need help.

Luckily in my case, most of the people whom I could turn to, were really true and helped me with a lot of advice and insight. All is not lost. All, except a few, whose locus has been plotted permanently outside my 'dosti' rekha....! How did I feel? Well, you know by instinct who is genuine and who isnt. I would really say, our heart felt feelings always need to be crosschecked with the 'mind' man inside us. Most often the latter would tell a few point blank truths.

Respect is certainly a 'two-way highway'. One must complete the circuit both ways within one's lifetime. 'Necessity' bound characters will always be around us, trying to exploit and use our resources for their needs. Identify such weeds and help save the farm from a poor harvest.

In this life of chess, everyone around us is either black or white. Identifying what colour they are will only become clear when its time to 'check'. Thats the moment of reckoning. Thats when you will feel yourself saying - "the Karnan checkmate!"

Rare words for a rare occasion.

Sarvam Anityam!

Its been with me for a long part of my life. I have always believed in it. I even think its a feasibility. I am talking about re-incarnation. Life begets life, only to change the physical container when the other decays. This kind of thinking is very much common amongst most South Indians. Its probably something to do with ancient stories about Vishnu and his ten incarnations? ( I dont know! )

If re-incarnation were actually a fact, which science hasnt yet caught up with - how would it actually operate? Is our Karma a part of which body form our souls would take in the coming lives? Will Karma infact dictate how many lives any given soul should have?

The maths behind Karma has to be simple. It has to be:
Sum (All good actions you initiate) = [Sum (Your bad actions) + Sum (All good actions others reciprocate for you)]

This ofcourse is my first cut equation and not necessarily something I am absolutely convinced.
If this were the baseline on which our souls operate, the trick would likely to be in being as close to ZERO as possible.

If we have a higher value on the Left hand side of the equation:
Sum (All good actions you initiate) - then, our souls probably have some part in deciding which body forms it can choose - from a selective list with some pros and cons against each detailed.

If we have a higher value on the Right hand side of the equation:
[Sum (Your bad actions) + Sum (All good actions others reciprocate for you)] - its more than likely that the value would be assessed against the range for each level of body form.

For example - if we have the hierarchy of life forms as follows:

Plants
Non Plant but smaller insects/animals
Medium animals
Advanced animals
Human beings

(Please note that its not the size of the life form which we should relate to here, its the ability of the mind (in the various levels of life forms) to act and to undo actions, as it sees fit.)

If we have a RHS value which is not subscribed to be within the acceptable range for 'human beings' then probably the body forms offered would be from the next lowest level and this would be recursive until a suitable range is found out.

If we actually look at this kind of mathematics behind re-incarnation (actually believing for a moment, that this is a fact) - there are 2 important points to derive:

1) Each and everyone reading this blog, has a soul which has started its journey from a plant and has done various levels of body form swap and passed every required range to move on to the next level in the hierarchy.

2) What comes after 'human beings' in the hierarchy? What next?

There is a general impression amongst us that life is to be lived positively! We therefore try to associate positive behaviour like being happy and being successful as the true fruits of living a good life. Maybe thats one flavor of life.

But probably the main essence is to use our success to induce some good actions for the sake of others?! Thats the only way - to negate the value on the RHS. In today's materialistic world, its so easy to make mistakes and to induce negativity - in thought, action and effect.

Its all a theory at this moment. Maybe thats how it will stay forever!

Sarvam Anityam!