Gerald D'Cunha

“May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.” George Carlin   T oday, we talk a lot about Good over Evil . Lord Ram’s triumphant victory over Ravan is what we celebrate, today. Well, to many of us, it’s symbolic… Ram and Ravan, we believe, lived on this earth thousands of years ago. But, the idea of Good and Evil still lives in this world, today… And, importantly, it lives within our hearts, right here, right now… Yes, it’s a constant personal battle you and I have to engage in… It never ends. I think, that’s why we celebrate Dussehra – to remind ourselves to stay vigilant… To choose Good over Evil in every step we take… It’s a tough choice… but, the right one to make… Incidentally, today is, also, Gandhi Jayanti … Bapu ’s last words keep haunting us: “ Hey Ram !” E ach one of us has spent these ten days in his or her own way… My colleague, a college Professor, has lived on only water – no food at all – only water… and, he has walked barefo...

M y friends and enemies alike – both Ramas and Ravanas - have started forwarding this Dussehra message even before the Sun had come out today… ‘Dasha Hara’ is a Sanskrit word which means removal of ten bad qualities within you. KAMA VASANA (Lust) KRODHA (Anger) MOHA (Attachment) LOBHA (Greed) MADA (Pride) MATSARA (Jealousy) SWARTHA (Selfishness)’ ANYAAYA (Injustice) AMANAVTA (Cruelty) AHANKARA (Ego) It’s also known as ‘Vijayadhashami’ which means vijaya (victory) over these ten bad qualities May you be blessed to win over all evils and may Eternal Love, Peace, Joy and Wonders occupy life completely. Happy Dussehara! T his is my fifty-eighth Dussehra… and, I really smile when I think about this reality: the ten bad qualities are very much there in my heart as the permanent residents there… They are ‘bad’ I know… But, they somehow refuse to go even if I try to push them out… beat them up… burn them, burry them… bo...