Is making choice a Burden, Skill or Art??? (cont...)

Once you check in, you can never leave..... Sounds like Hotel California???



courtesy: Self



"No, its not the famous Hotel California.... Such luxurious imprisonment is the norm for animals in zoos across the world." This is how starts the second paragraph... Sheena speaks on how the natural habitats are simulated to make the animals feel comfortable but she expresses that the animals experience numerous complications.

"The zebras live constantly under the sword of Damocles, smelling the lions in the nearby Great Cats exhibit everyday and finding themselves unable to escape. In fact, the animals have no ways of even knowing whether the food that has magically appeared each day thus far will appear again tomorrow, and no power to provide for themselves. In short, zoo life is utterly incompatible with an animal’s most deeply ingrained survival instincts."



source: Whitaker's World of Facts


“In spite of the dedication of their human caretakers, animals in zoos may feel caught in a death trap because they exert minimal control over their own lives”.

This leads them to attempt escape. She discusses incidents of Bruno, the orangutan in Los Angeles zoo, Tatiana, the Siberian Tiger from San Francisco Zoo and Juan, the bear from Berlin Zoo who all attempted to escape and failed and Tatiana shot dead.

"These and other countless stories reveal that the need for control is a  powerful motivator, even when it can lead to harm. This isn’t only because exercising control feels good, but because being unable to do so is naturally unpleasant and stressful."

How does the body react to stress???

"Under duress, the endocrine system produces stress hormones such as adrenaline that prepare the body for dealing with immediate danger. We’ve all felt the fight-or-flight response in a dangerous situation or when stressed, frustrated, or panicked. Only when the crisis has passed does the body resume normal function."



Source: Whitaker's World of Facts

 While such responses can enhance survival for short-term situations, continuous and unending source of stress and when it can't be fled or fought, leads to constant state of heightened alert. This can induce a weakened immune system, ulcers, and even heart problems.

"Mentally, this stress can cause a variety of repetitive and sometimes self-destructive behaviors known as stereotypies, the animal equivalent of wringing one's hands or biting one's lip, which are considered a sign of depression or anxiety by most biologists."

Due to these physically and psychologically harmful effects, captivity can often result in lower life expectancies despite objectively improved living conditions. Life span reduction, fewer birth rates and high infant mortality rates are other deleterious effects.

Conclusion:

 

Source: Google image.
Link: news.xinhuanet.com/.../24/content_10552517.htm



For all the material comforts zoos provide and all their attempts to replicate animals' natural habitats as closely as possible, even the most sophisticated zoos cannot match the level of stimulation and exercise of natural instincts that animals experience in the wild. To an helpless animal, he cannot see past his confinement:

"It seems to him there are/a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world."

Whether the bars are real or metaphorical, when one has no control, it is as if nothing exists beyond the pain of this loss.

P.S:

To know where this article started please read my first post on the same subject.

There's something to admire in everyone!!

Conversation between my 7 yrs old nephew and me from Sathyam to Saidapet:

Me: (Showing a man pedaling a rickshaw with heavy load on it)

See, because he did not study, he has to do labor job than a sophisticated work. It cud be that either his parents didn't send him to school or he did not study well. So, you are blessed with parents who send ou to school and help you study.

Nephew (Nw):Yes Pinni (that's how he calls me, grasped from a neighboring Telugu family) Only if we study we can buy car, big home, etc...

Me: Not only buy these things, we can also help such people to study.

 

Nw: (Seeing two guards who were chatting near Karunanidhi's Gopalpuram home) See Pinni, they studied well, that's y they are all very happy (actual word used is "jolly") LOL!!

Me: Actually, they are working..... (he wasn't bothered to listen that)

After 10 mins.....

Nw: (Nr. Nandanam YMCA where Jayalalitha was expected that eve for a wedding and so lots of hoardings on the road) She studied well, isn't it Pinni? That's y she's so famous and everyone likes her....

I was admiring that little one's analytical thinking and ability to co-relate............

Yes. While there are lot of negatives to discuss about her, i have always admired her courage, flawless communication and ability to hold her position amongst more evil powers. 

Is making choice a Burden, Skill or Art???

As humans we always wanted our fair share of choice to things, at least those which are accessible to us. A particular paragraph from "The Art of Choosing" by Sheena Iyengar has made a strong impact on my mind. Though i read multiple chapters, this one occurs to me more often than others.

Let me give you a brief on this book. "The Art of Choosing" is a compelling book with lots of questions that will surprise oneself. She starts the book beautifully with the quotes by Archibald MacLeish, the Pulitzer prize winning American Poet.

What is Freedom? Freedom is the right to choose:

the right to create for oneself the alternative of choice.

Without the possibility of choice a man is not a man

but a member, an instrument, a thing.

A introductory video can help us understand better. Here it is:

The paragraph that gives a different perception to a common subject is from the Chapter IV- The Panther in the Gilded Cage. You might also be amazed after reading this as i have seen that reaction with people whom i read this out to.

There are totally 8 paragraphs in this chapter and each one will take you the next level of thinking.

Para 1:
Imaging the ultimate luxury hotel. There's gourmet food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. During the day, you do as you please: lounge by the pool, get a spa treatment, romp in the game room. At night, you sleep in a king-size bed with down pillows and 600-thread count sheets. The staffs is ever present and ever pleasant, happy to fulfill any requests you might have, and the hotel even boasts state-of-the art medical services. You can bring your whole family and socialize with lots of new people. If you’re single, you might find that special someone among all the attractive men and women around. And the best part is that it’s free. There’s just one small catch: Once you check in, you can never leave.

Sounds like Hotel California?? We'll check that in the next post......

The Kick Off!

In Hindu custom, it is recommended to start anything new by the name of God. In Tamil culture, it's called "pillayar suli". I remember this most because the first movie we watched on our VCP was "Deivam", a Tamil devotional movie.. LOL!! In this first article on "In Transit", let me start with something spiritual yet useful.

Most of us love to go to Pondicherry for various reasons ;) but on the spiritual front, its Auroville and Mother Ashram that attracts people from all walks of life irrespective of their religion and country they belong to.

Visiting Mother Ashram in Pondicherry city does not require any preparation but if you are planning to visit Auroville, which is outside the city, then you need to do some planning and preparation. Auroville has a visitor area and a medidators area. For those who visit there suddenly, only the visitor space is available to see. If you wanna really experience what Auroville can offer, you have to visit Matri Mandir, the 'soul of the city'.

Register your visit (everytime) by calling the nos: 0413-2622204 or 0413-2622268 two days in advance. You can call them only between 2PM and 4PM. (Timings has not changed for sometime now). The Matri Mandir visiting hours is mostly morning in the first half.

When you register for the first time, you would be asked to go through the visitor area, watch the Auroville video and then they will take you to the Matri Mandir. These days, they pick you near the main gate. When i went for the first time, i got almost lost in the vast space and woods and i missed my opportunity to visit Matri mandir. Before entering into the Matri mandir, a detailed explanation on how Auroville started and evolved is told for the audience knowledge. ONLY IN ENGLISH.

Instruction : Be ON TIME. Aurovillians does not give any grace time. If you dont go on time, you lost your chance that day. PERIOD.

Matri Mandir has the inner chamber where one would be allowed to do meditation in a calm atmosphere for 15-20 mins for the first time and 45 mins henceforth.  The first time i entered this space, i felt as if i was walking into a science fiction research centre.... all in white, literally ALL. When i entered into the meditation hall, OMG, i didnt know that such a calmness ever existed. It gives you the best environment to deeply involve in yourself.

The rejuvenated sole can soothe itself at the lotus pond which is located beneath the Matri Mandir. Cool breeze and the sound of the water flowing through the marble decorated lotus pond can make you sit there for hours, if you have dont have any pressing appointments post that. There's much more to talk about Auroville, the people, their innovation and what more you can do there.... But its 00:40 AM and i got to take some rest to be available for my calls tomorrow. So, Gud Nite!  :)