The Key to Life

Now before I begin my rant and tell you all where the key is and how to use it let me ask you one question.


How many of you actually know where the lock is?

Huh... you say, but it is simple where is the lock of life that we as a race have spent almost an eternity searching for the key to life. Every second being is looking for the key, the answer. The answer to why we are here and what is our purpose as somebody has got us all believing that our life is about more than just eating, shitting and dying.

Very true indeed, it is about more. It is about owning the latest I phone, having the fastest car, owning the biggest house (which by the way nobody does anymore, the bank own everything but that’s another story, you’re simply renting your life from the bank) where was I... oh yeah having the most fashionable clothes, eating at the best restaurant and then if we have time from all this, shitting and eventually dying. Now for those of you that feel death is a morbid subject, you may want to reconsider reading further. As death is the only thing about life that can be guaranteed and the only certain truth. And for those of you that have already labelled me a twisted, deranged weirdo, in order to define yourself. I forgive you as I understand you need to measure your sanity against something and define who you are as oppose to who you are not...me. Whatever helps you sleep at night is fine by me.

However for the record I am not obsessed with death or even bothered about it as it is something I cannot control or avoid too many times, as was clearly illustrated in all The Final Destination films and for those of you that really didn’t see it coming, they went and did again in 3D. I am more passionate about living but I value your opinion none the less, the same way I value that sometimes the toilet will get blocked and you just have to put up with the shit a bit longer.

Anyway back to the key, lock and the answer to why. We all feel we need to find the answer to why we are here. But why do you need the answer, if I give you the answer will you drop everything you do and finally live in peace in The Little House on the Prairie with the white picket fences. No you won’t you will wake up tomorrow and do the same shit all over again and then moan at the end of the day how life use to be great. Which by the way you will say about today too in the future at some point, but why can’t you say life is great today rather waiting a year and then crying about the good old days. Same reason why you just can’t accept the fact that you are here rather than constantly asking why you’re here. I mean think about it, did you have a say about coming into this world, no you didn’t you are the result of somebody thinking that bumping ugly and have having a child will complete their life. But did you complete their life?

When you have absolutely no say in the fact that you exist and the bigger fact that at some point you will seize to exist, why the hell can you not accept that you just exist. No you need an answer and a goal, and answer you already know and a goal that once you reach will no longer be good enough for you. That’s why don’t set goals as they are just limits to what you can really achieve if you just lived passionately. You know exactly why your here and what you need to do, but you won’t do it as you don’t want to be left behind in the rat race of achievement. But what do you truly achieve, let’s face it, you come alone, you go alone, you come with nothing and eventually leave with nothing so what is it about making, building and acquiring all this shit that you kill yourself for when eventually it amounts to nothing.

If your still looking for the answer and the key, let me spell it out for you because if you haven’t got it by now it’s highly unlikely you’re going to anytime soon. So your goal is a simple one, take each day as it comes and your only aim every day is to be a better person than the previous day. That’s it, you’re only aim is to be the best, the kindest human being you possibly can be.

As for the key, I’ll point you towards the lock and you will find the key. The lock in life is you, you lock yourself in and away from what you should be doing either due to fear of failure or simply to fit in. Just accept that you simply are and how can you not fit in? We are all products of the same act that come and go in the same way. Change the way you perceive your problems, your achievements, your goals and your life and you will unlock the mystery of life. A simple question and you will believe me. You have been doing what you have and living the way you do all your life, the question is, has it worked for you. If the answer is yes, then you have the key and there is no lock and if the answer is no then there is no key and you are the lock.

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The time I flew....

The time I wanted to fly... well that time was a few seconds ago... in fact that time is now. I’ve always wanted to fly, not just in a plane though (although I find freedom from self, when doing so, read previous blog). I have always wanted, wished, dreamt, yearned to be able to free fly.

Why?

I hear you ask. Well because most of us can’t, and ever since I was a child and I am sure there are plenty more people out there who thought the same at some point, I have wanted to fly. Now this is not an illusion of grandeur about wanting to be a superhero or saving the world, (although I am gonna do that too) this is just a wish I want for myself. Maybe I am delusional but I believe we have the ability (now I can’t prove this scientifically either) to fly but as we don’t really use or brain to its full capacity we simply walk, run or drive.

What would I do if I could fly?

I hear you ask. Yes I have the ability to hear things you’re not actually saying, noooooooooo... It’s not an illness I tell you it is in fact a superpower. Anyway I hear you, well if I could fly I would... well fly. What else do you think I would do, walk? It depends on how much energy it takes. As in we can run which is faster but we walk instead. Now I am sure you would burn more calories flying then running. (Yes and I do see those of you seriously contemplating taking up flying)

I am sure once I have flown; it will be a natural progression in to being a superhero and saving the world, in the stereotypical definition of saving the world. However it doesn’t take special abilities to save the world or superpowers. As we have the ability and power to destroy the world, so we definitely have the ability and power to save it too, all it takes is using a bit more of your brain than you already do. Sounds easy but I haven’t met many people who do it, use their brain I mean. If I gave you all the choice to save or destroy the world, I would like to believe that most of you would choose to save it. Why do I believe that, I am naive I guess. As I know through personal experience and self awareness we make the choices that are destroying the world every single day. We includes me too.

Why?

I hear you ask. Conditioning.... That’s why. You, I, your neighbour, your family, your partner, your teacher, your friend, your fantasy and even your end. Yes even the way we choose to live out our end is a conditioned way to, well shit on what we have been conditioned to shit over all our lives. Hence we are all conditioned to destroy the world. As I believe our world is in our head, I guess we’re conditioned to destroy our mind. This in the end is self defeating as we don’t use it in the first place. Now before you think I am raving lunatic (and let me tell you, I am) let me set one thing straight. I am not talking about saving the world with energy efficiency, saving resources and wiping your arse with recycled and reusable paper. That’s right, wipe each other’s arse and you will save the world. No not all that crap that we don’t seem to pay any attention to anyway (although we should) I am talking about saving yourself to save the world. Therefore, who is gonna save the world..... I am!!!

Huh?

I hear you wonder. Yes I can even hear what you are wondering. With all this hearing you would think I am a great listener, but no, I am a better talker as I like the sound of my own voice. Anyhow back to the task at hand, saving the world.

As I keep saying we live in our own heads, as in our own world, how do we save our own world? Firstly what does our conditioning force us to do, no it’s not as simple as it makes us selfish and worry only about ourselves. So if we all loved one another and held hands while we shitted in the fields we are on our way to saving mankind as we know it. That is not the answer (although if shitting in the fields while holding hands rocks your boat, then don’t let me stop you.) Our conditioning, from every institution known to mankind, conditions us to screw ourselves and be miserable. I mean think about it, why else would you have got this far into the blog?

In some innate, small part of your unused mind, you thought I was going to give you the answer to saving the world (although keep reading, because I am gonna giving you the answer, as soon as I stop confusing myself by reading what I’ve just written.) Why are you looking for answers, because no matter how strong the conditioning, we simply want to do what makes us happy. All though not many know what does make them happy, and it’s not good grades, marriage, great job, new car, your partner, sex (although it’s the only thing that does give the lucky ones that momentary feeling of satisfaction out of life.) None of the above is the answer.

The answer to all the questions, the answer to saving the world, yourself and your precious little unused mind is a simple little word that is hard to find in most of your lives. It’s passion. That is it, just passion. We are too busy setting goals and targets, finding a partner, finding a great job, finding the right house, finding God, or God knows what else, that we lose any passion for life. Life for most people is a chore, do well at school, get great grades, get into a great college, get great grades, get into a great job, get a great partner, have great children, put them in a great school.... and the bloody cycle, the packing line starts again. Why do we forget, what makes all things in life great is, passion. Passion for studying will get you great grades, passion for love will find you a great partner, and passion for your own life will make everything great. Where are those passionate people that lived and died for their country, for their love, for their families, for their friends? Where are those great souls that changed the world through their passion?

They’re all lost through conditioning that starts even before your born. Break free, fly free and fly with passion and you will land on your feet. Find the passion, find it for what you want to do. Find the passion for yourself. Find the passion for your body. Find the passion for your soul. Find the passion for your country. Simply find the passion for your fellow man and you will find the passion for this world. That is the passion that will save this world. Not money, not science, not technology, not religion, not the government, not even facebook, but passion. Passion will save the world. Live passionately and passion will even make you fly.

Our only goal in life should be to do what we want, passionately.
Setting any other goal is simply a limit to what you can achieve!www.youtube.com/user/arjunsatyakam

Learning English....

Well where do I start. I am currently living in the West Midlands (stop laughing) a place where they claim to speak English, (H)Owever it's English that even the English couldn't understand, they call it Black Country and they (h)ave no concept of H, or pretty much any other letter in the alphabet for that matter. Now this is in no way an attempt to put down or ridicule anybody who speaks Black Country but merely an observation that had me thinking about the English language.
They also seem to make up words: made up word on left and meaning on right:

Wench - Female
Suck - Sweet/ Candy
Cock - Kiddo / Sport type of thing

Now try saying would you like a sweet kiddo in Black country...
How rude

Back to the list

Duck - same as cock (huh)
Bab - Babe/Baby

That’s just the west Mids. I have been lucky enough to live in and grow up on three different continents and learn Different English in all three. I have to say the worst English is spoken in England. Owever that is the English it has been reduced to...

Now lets have a closer look at English itself. A language I have spoken most of life and taken for granted... It was not until I had to teach my son to read that I realised what a stupid concept of a language English really is to those of us that do not understand the concept behind why it is what it is... there are so many things that make no sense to me what so ever. For example

The concept of ch

this combination gives two sounds one found in church / chair and the other found in words like choir / character

now how do i tell a 4 yr old how we decide which sound it is... I don't know I just know that's what the word is. Taken for granted.

No I haven’t finished... although u may want to ang yourself right now anyway...never mind let me finish.


The same with c itself

it makes a see sound as well a k sound
or g it makes a gee sound as well a ga as in granite or geometry

how do we know which one

then we have those stupid silent letters k and p
knife pronounced nife or know
psychology pronounced sychology

how do we know when it is silent...we just take it for granted.


Then we have words like to and go why is one like 2 , shouldn't that make go sound like goo.

I am sure there are plenty of other things too (there's that stupid word again) but I going to or is that pronounced joinj to let u go now or goo now and let you all think about it... i do want an answer though, nobody has ever managed to explain why the language is the way it is. The only thing I can think of is the inability of the English (I am English too before you start) didn't have the ability to create a sufficient enough (oh yeah and gh makes a f sound) alphabet (and ph is f) as I was saying sufficient enough alphabet for support the actual words. 26 measly letters come on....

I wanna be God!!!

Now that I’ve managed to get a hit out on my name with the above title, let me explain what I am talking about. Hopefully I’ve got enough time to at least explain the statement to myself before I am hung drawn and quartered.

The idea of a God or Higher Power is a comforting and scary one all at the same time. Now before I continue I am not stating whether I do or do not believe. I am merely thinking out loud irrespective of my personal beliefs. As the whole idea is based on belief it has always been open to questions. Irrespective of whether you’re a raving lunatic believer or a raving lunatic non believer you will either take or not take responsibility for your own life. Then there is the question of destiny who writes it, is it based on fate, do we have free will. There are all these different branches of thought that come back to the following question.

Whether there is or isn’t a God, why do we as people still want to be God?

We spend every waking hour trying to shape, fix, make, change or influence everything around us. You can be a believer or not yet manage to blame everything and everyone around you, including God, for your life. Before embarking on anything in your life we hear a voice that tells us not to do it or to do it, however we let worldly influences i.e. parents, friends and spouses influence what we choose to do. There are certain things in life that I and everyone around me thought I would never do. I had seen the results on everybody around me. Guess what I did them and realised I was right in the first place. I was the God of my own destiny but I let my life take a different route to what I had originally planned. It was all well scripted then I decided to improvise. God must be totally alone as that must be the only way we can actually do exactly what we wish, without having to consider the other people involved.

We listen to fellow workers, spouses, bosses, political leaders so called religious leaders and even idiots tell us what is going to happen. How many times have listened to the person above you in some shape or form and you know they don’t have an ounce of your intelligence or charisma. Yes I hear you, far too many times. Some of you go through this every day. Does this mean you are more intelligent and charismatic or simply upset as it’s out of your control to change anything but God knows if you had the chance you could solve all the world’s problems?

That is exactly my point; we could all make the world a better place if everybody just listened to us, if you all just listened to me. We have no real reason to believe this apart from our ego, and our ego makes us wanna be God, without even realising. The moment we start tearing our hair out and thinking... Oh God if only I could just... what u really mean is, “I am God and could solve it all, but you are too stupid to let me take control.”

I do it every day; you all do it every day. However I have learnt that instead of changing the world by being a God to everyone else, I will simply live as I please making changes in myself that I want to see in the world.

“Break away the chains of mortality to find freedom; I will roam as I please for this whole world is my kingdom.” Arjun Singh Panam

Freedom from self.

A long time ago I read a book called, “Man was born free and yet everywhere he is in chains,” no not the kinky kind. Chains of our own creation, a creation we implement in our lives to feel secure, happy and even normal. However that same security imprisons us beyond escape. Essentially what is it we are all looking for, normality, happiness, nirvana, companionship?

The list is endless, but life isn’t and sooner or later you sit back and think about the path you are travelling and whether or not you intended to be on this path or the damn Sat Nav just told you to take the next left and you did. I for one have always known from a young age where I am headed, the only problem is I never expected this many diversion signs on the way. I mean exactly what are they improving on this road, I fail to understand.

The world in its entirety has always fascinated me. Those who have read the previous post know I am a born world gypsy. For first timers, I have moved and travelled around every few years to different parts of the world. It hasn’t always been intentional but an experience none the less. Now this is where the idea of being free from one self arose from.

What is it exactly to be free from even yourself?

The answer to that is in more questions, firstly who are you and how did you end up on this junction? Some of us knew who and where we wanted to be and life has led us here instead. Some of us had no idea who or where we wanted to be therefore life has led us here, still. In both scenarios life has lead us to the same place. Now in life we are suckers for routine, whether you try to routine everything or like me prefer to be more spontaneous and break free from routine, (there’s a lot of routine in this sentence alone.) We all end up on a daily basis doing the same things, wake up, brush teeth, maybe shower (now I am not saying being spontaneous means not brushing or showering) but maybe you can brush in the shower, some people feel secure enough to pee in the shower even. No not me, and don’t ask how I know.

Anyway back on track, we all live life on a daily basis just to be able to take forward things like our house, car, job, gym membership, magazine subscription, etc, etc. However none of this really defines us at all. Now I am no Guru (but feel free to think of me as one) but I can tell you where I have felt free like never before. To me being free is a feeling where it doesn’t matter whether I am coming or going, it doesn’t matter what boring job I do for a living, whether or not I have paid my rent or bills is forgotten, what relation I am to who holds no relevance, I have forgotten about all dreams and aspirations, I am comfortable enough to talk to strangers. Some strangers are even comfortable enough to use my shoulder as a cushion without even feeling the need to ask. I am fed at regular intervals, usually by angelic faces with a smile.

I am nothing but me and the only time I am free from my created self.

I hear you, stop talking shit and tell us where the hell am I going with this? Well everybody’s place of freedom will be different but I think the above outlined feelings will be the same. I have these feelings when I am....... now don’t put a bounty on my head as this may not answer all your life’s questions or wish away all your problems. Ok? I have these feeling when I am........this may not amount to much in your thinking, but I have these feeling when I am, how do I put this without making it out to be a real let down for you. Well when you’ll think about it, you’ll understand. So I have these feelings when I am in the air. Although becoming Superman is my secret ambition, I don’t mean that kind of in the air, but flying still. When I fly in a plane, for that amount of time I have no relevance in the world at all. I am just me. I fly with nothing on board but my passport and ticket, no hand luggage. I walk on the plane with my hands in my pocket and take my seat, and sometimes when I am upgraded it really feels like heaven. The duration of the flight and the feeling we have of going to a new place isn’t just about going on holiday or visiting a new location. It is the feeling of being free from your created self and being just you.

The million dollar question is how do we attain that feeling here on earth and break out of our chains of creation. The answer like the truth is not out there but with you. How many time have you said, “I knew I shouldn’t have,” done something or listened to somebody. More times than you care to remember, right? So if you knew, you know.

You know exactly what you need to do to attain your freedom from self.

More such videos can be found on my Youtube channel @ www.youtube.com/user/arjunsatyakam

Because you have to!!!

Confused?

You will be. I know I am. Reading this may make you none the wiser but at least you tried. Being born and having grown up in the western society but also lucky enough to have lived my life in other parts of the world like India, I see things with a wide angle lens. Does that make it any easier to understand? Definitely does not.

I am talking about the constant battle that the South Asian parents have trying to get their children to follow certain traditions. Why is that so difficult you ask, as we are all proud of the rich cultural inheritance we have being Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, etc? It isn’t difficult as we are educated enough to read and research our backgrounds to carry forward who we are.

What am I ranting and raving on about then, I am talking about all the things we are asked to do and follow in the name of religion, culture, language even geographic variables without any logical explanation. When I ask why I have to do this, because you have to or don’t be so western are some of the answers we receive. Such incidents are very visible around wedding times. We can all agree that a marriage is the coming together of two individuals, souls, etc. Whether it is a conspiracy by the government or not is another debate all together. However marriage usually leads to children and the world carrying on.

I was lucky enough to get married twice, (to the same person I better declare before she reads this). One was the court marriage that took place in a Chapel in Canada. The second was the traditional Sikh wedding. I’d never been to a chapel wedding before but it was the most peaceful and joyous day spent with some wonderful and close friends of choice. I had been to many Sikh weddings being a Sikh, but when the wedding preparations started, so did my confusion. I will also tell you how to deal with this a little later. Why would this lead to confusion you’re wondering, well from every step since we decided to have the wedding nothing was ours to decide any further. It was all down to what people will say or because I have to.

The wedding day arrives and you are marched around to be ready on time, which you are but nobody else is. The wedding is taking place and all your loved ones and siblings are running around making sure the party is all set and seeing to people you do not recognize. Even when they ask you, “Do you know who I am?”

No because I’ve never seen you and my parents haven’t told me as they have been too busy working so they could spend all their life savings on my wedding. Ignoring the fact I just wanted a small affair. Why must we South Asians spend so much just to show the people we never see? A wedding is like a second mortgage and then some, but you do it because you have to. Here is a small list of other things we have to do, as I couldn’t possibly cover them all:

1) The giving and taking of clothes (usually the same one’s that are passed around)

2) The inviting of people your parents haven’t spoken to in your entire life time

3) Flowing alcohol (which is fine if you drink yourself and in moderation but why to the point that there is a fight and nobody remembers anything)

4) The throwing of money when we can just hand it to the people collecting it

5) Photographing all individuals giving money numerous times, feeding cake, giving blessings in the Gurudwara, etc.

6) Worth mentioning again, spending enough to feed a starving nation to cater for people that don’t even wish to be there.

I could carry on, but I am not just writing about the wedding traditions. I am trying to draw attention to the traditions we follow throughout the South Asian community simply because this is the way we have always done it. However somewhere down the years we have forgotten why things were done in a certain way and now follow it blindly. Even that wouldn’t be such a problem if everybody was following the same path, but you can ask four different aunties and get four different replies to the same question.

I believe these are small things that make a big difference to our lives and special days, if our elders could explain exactly why we do certain things it would be fine, but when nobody knows and everybody is expected to follow, I am sorry I can’t do it just because you have to……

I go by the name Arjun

I go by the name Arjun, or sometimes The Indian Guy. Depends where I am I guess. I have spent most of life travelling around and living in different countries and no this hasn't turned me into an army brat just a brat, simply because my family had nothing to do with the army. However it was the lack of discipline and the inability to understand authority that landed me in India/Punjab at the tender age of 5. I was never a rude child I just thought and believed I knew better. Which, naturally the adults found hard to digest. Anyhow being in India was the best time of life for the next five years. I became disciplined and learned the value of education and family but remained a brat none the less. This once again became the reason for my return back to England. I spent my five years in India doing as I please and going where I pleased. It was also where I discovered Story Telling and Acting. Also I got named a run away. It wasn't running away I caught a bus, twice. I was just visiting relatives that I missed. Anyhow upon being caught and punished for the second time the last straw was my answer to the question adult’s love. What have you learned, my answer being, “if you ever run away from home never go to see relatives as they become informants and you get caught.”

Life in England was slow and boring for a ten year old but I found my own entertainment. I started to develop stories and acting them out mostly to my only viewer and avid fan my little sister. At the age of thirteen I discovered a man with a name I could not pronounce, Arnold Schwarzenegger. While shopping my sister and I would leave our parents and play hide and seek in the supermarket. I was hiding in the magazine aisle and saw Mr. Schwarzenegger on a muscle and fitness magazine. Having bought that magazine that day has kept me fit and healthy till this day on regular workouts 5-6 times a week, although I remain much smaller in size at the height of 5ft 11.

I was academically intelligent as academics only required a good memory and as mine is near enough photographic I excelled without any enthusiasm. It was always the creative side that interested me as it allowed me to use more than my memory, since the time I can remember my answer to what I want to be has always been an actor. This love for creativity slowly developed into story writing and making small films and clips. I graduated with a degree in Sociology and Media followed by a Masters in Media Production, ( thought I’d slip that in there before you think I am just a lazy layabout, which I can be.)

I moved to Canada a year after my Masters for three years and also and found it to be favourite place on Earth alongside India. I worked in the Media field as a researcher and occasionally as an actor, before returning to England in the worst time possible the recession. I now reside in Birmingham with a keen eye to more elsewhere as soon as possible. I am now working as an actor and making my own small films and comedy sketches found on YouTube.

As a person I remain the same 5 yr old who has believes in what he wants to do and doesn’t allow anything to stand in the way. I perceive, believe and achieve. The world will always tell you otherwise but it is up to you to know what it is you desire and how hard you are willing to work for your dream. Live fast and die young, meaning remain young irrespective of you physical age. As one of favourite actors said, “Dream as if you’ll live forever...Live as if you’ll die today, “James Dean.