The Old Monk

Complex, my first instinct, but Simple, I will go with. I have learned to simplify my life with the aid of some vices – some illegal, some legal, some good relationships and spirituality. Well, as an afterthought, let me add work too; a partner with a small technology consulting firm. It's rare, but I love what I do for maintaining my middle-class status.

Chalo, let me give you some personal details about me. But before that my commitment to you “Jo kahunga sach kahunga, sach ke siwa kuch nahi kahoonga”. And to add, I will only say so much that I don't start getting swamped by my fans, followers and especially the bhakt community.

So I am just on the verge of crossing the half-century milestone. So still living it up in naughty 40's. Married for about a quarter century, another milestone which should be coming in the next couple of years. I am one of the lucky ones where we mutually have not been on talking terms for 80% of our married life. Ok, a bit of exaggeration, but you get the point.

We have a teenage son who recently got 50% average in 8th grade and is proud to be promoted to 9th grade. Football is the only sport he plays and prefers to avoid studying or any chore at all costs. Highly indisciplined but that's more of a reflection of parents who prefer comfort and luxury and don't have the time or patience to teach themselves. So this year, an army of online tutors is already being lined up, and that's gonna cost me a bomb on top of his Greenwood High fees, which is just 10L/annum all inclusive.

Love of my life – Coco, my Golden Retriever, wait a sec Coco is the second love of my life, the first one Shona the yellow lab was the first one, RIP. Although, Coco is nowhere close to the Instagram hero – Tucker, but she is my ever loyal pal, who just keeps to my heels all the time that I am at home.

And then there is my mom, who lives independently & bravely in a place called Ghaziabad near Delhi, since my father's demise a few years ago. No siblings, “he he” and same for the wifey, no siblings that side too, “double he he”. All the property, all the gold, stocks, MF, bonds; all mine. Old Monk khush hua.

I will probably write a detailed chapter on different phases of my life, but broadly, I will follow the following structure when talking about my life chronology:

• Bachpan ke din
• Maggu & Khiladi days at school
• College days – Party at the Beach
• Pehli job – The glorious decade
• Second innings, high performance delivered
• The Fall – The Dark Ages
• The Comeback King
• Now – Best years of my life
• Life is Short – Best days Ahead

And then you will be treated to occasional gems of chapters with stories of all the sins I have committed. I am pretty sure I have checked them all, copying here for my easy reference from Google search summary.

“pride, envy, greed, gluttony, lust, sloth, wrath, adultery, anger, false witness, blasphemy, idolatry, murder, and stealing”…..maybe not Murder.

So the process I plan to follow is to take each sin example “Pride”, and quote anecdotes of my sin, shame, conversion to knowledge, conversion to wisdom. All for you to use or discard as you see fit. But I do hope some incidents will invoke resonance in your heart.

Notice how I like structure and methodology, typical hallmark of a great Consultant. I am in love with my PowerPoint decks.

Now the interesting part The Vices. I have been hooked on smoking & alcohol since school days, weed and old monk from college days and extra marital affairs since marriage, post the honeymoon period; of course. I may write specific chapters about my fascination with various vices, my attempts to quit and net-net I have accumulated vices as trophies and have been hedonic treadmill since college days.

I am great procrastinator in general, tend to push things to the end but still proud my quality of my decks and personal finance discipline. However seeker of luxury and someone who would rather pay higher for a quality product rather than looking for bargain on each deal. So net-net haath thoda khula hai. Jo lena hai, best lena ha but apni aukaat main.

Osho says the 40s is the time when a man (or woman) realises the need for meditation and spirituality. I have considered myself atheist for all my life and am heavily influenced by Buddhism, Osho and Gaur Gopal Dass, although I got introduced to spirituality by the Happiness Program courtesy Art of Living, so due credit goes to Sri Sri and Sudarshan Kriya, which I couldn't persist beyond couple of weeks. Somehow, my spirituality and vices have managed to coexist within me, let’s see who wins in this long ongoing battle.

Finally, I was diagnosed Bipolar in 2016 and I think I am at a highly pleasant high at the moment and I am loving it.

I am feeling excellent today, at least that's what I recorded on my Health App –> State of Mind. Momentary emotions: “Satisfied”, “Confident”, “Joyful”, with summary of “Very Pleasant”.

I bought subscription of “Streaks – Habbit Tracker” app today and also signed up for write.as which was recommended by Deep Seek on the prompt “Suggest bio writing site for a middle aged professional who would prefer writing under pseudo name and not associate real identity”. This is prefect, $0 free forever starter subscription with just pen and paper. No frills, no fancy photos, or fonts or colours, this seems bit dry to work with but lets see if I really can continue on this plan forever.

I must warn you that my writing is generally full of sarcasm that I often use it as weapon on my office emails, whenever I need to shoot a stinker.

Stay tuned, some seriously hilarious stuff is coming up next.

Stay Happy,

The Old Monk