Yearly Archives: 2008

Sadhguru answers readers' queries -1

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Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has very graciously agreed to answer questions from WNI readers on spirituality and life. Send your queries to WNI via our feedback form. 
 

1.  Living in the US, one of the things we fear is that something will happen to our loved ones while we are far away, unable to help them. How do we cope with this?
 
Let us not waste our time and life worrying about things that we cannot do, let us see what can be done.  We can reach out to them emotionally, which should not be difficult w/ today’s communication capabilities or you can reach out financially, if that is what is needed.  Going there personally may not solve any issue as such, so it is best to reach out to them in whatever way possible.   And for yourself learn to be meditative, which would be a great contribution to yourself and all life around you.
 
2. What is the ideal relationship between a parent and his or her child?  

The most important thing is to stop being a parent and rather be a good friend.   A child who is growing up, whose body and psyche is changing rapidly is constantly looking for a friend who is just of a little more capability and understanding than his own.  Be a friend to him and also seek his friendship for your own well being.

Kite Runner, the movie- True to the book

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By Rohini Mohan

For those living in the San Francisco Bay Area this is an interesting movie to watch. The book described the area, particularly Fremont, in detail and the movie provides a good visual backup. I watched the movie in its first week of release and it was a full house. We actually had to camp out on the floor to get a decent view.

Khaled Hosseini’s first book, the film is directed by Golden Globe nominated director, Mark Foster. It is a story of friendship and betrayal set against an Afghani backdrop. Indian audiences will enjoy it, as it has all the fine trappings of a Bollywood blockbuster, lots of emotion, much scope for melodrama, many co-incidences. Most of the movie is in Farsi with English subtitles, which makes it pretty authentic. The lead actors are all professional, but apparently most of the US bit roles are played by Bay Area talent. Most of the child actors are local to Afghanistan with little or no acting experience, but all do a fine job.

The noteworthy actors are young Hassan, and Baba, the father of Amir, the central character. Both come across as very natural. Amir by virtue of his character, is weak and selfish and does not extract much empathy from the audience until he redeems himself in the end. The movie did do justice to the book and for those who do not have much patience with reading, it provides a wonderful representation of life in Afganistan ( shot in China) the immigrant experience and Afghani culture and how it is maintained abroad.

As seems to be the norm with many movies these days, Khaled Hosseini does a little cameo appearance in the very last scene. All in all, an afternoon well spent whether at the movies or on DVD.

WNI WISHES ALL ITS READERS A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!