ROTATING EARTH

           Recently, there has been an uproar, with equal ridicule, over the video which went viral, showing a religious cleric explaining to a student - the Earth is standing still, and not rotating. If you haven't seen it, see the Video here. Apparently, I could understand why this video has generated so much mockery. I say this, for those who think that their religion is superior to this particular cleric's - None of YOUR religious text has ever explained all the mysteries we have in front of us. None of them have explained the WHY part. Galileo was accused of heresy when he proposed his theory based on his meticulous observations. And could you guess, who accused Galileo of heresy. Yeah, right. And if you are one of those saffron brigade which claim that you had invented 'flying planes', 'plastic surgery' much before anyone else had, then I say, 'Good Luck'.

           But, there is an underlying idea in this mockery against this particular lecture, which is principally against science and its methods.

           Science doesn't care about - "who says it". It has the innate method of testing and scrutinizing, and trying to disprove the proposal. After mutually agreed, peer reviewed, rigorous testing only there is a common understanding and publishing of the fact to public. This is what makes the scientific community honest and always open to scrutiny, unlike the religious community. But the main reason, I was so compelled to write this blog is this wrong understanding about science, especially by those who advocate religious way of thinking.

         As a child, when I was first told that the Earth rotates around the Sun every year, and revolves around itself every 24 hours, I was not sure what that meant. Till that day, I never even wondered, what was Day, Night, Sun, Moon, Stars in the sky, Calendar.... So, when I was first told about Earth's orbit, it didn't challenge any of my pre-conceived notion. Simply because, I didn't have any. Fortunately for me, a trip to the 'Planetarium' (in Chennai) was all it took to see the obvious. The idea presented in front of me made perfect logical sense, and didn't contradict my daily observations.

       But, what if...? What if, if I was told to investigate whether the Earth revolves around the Sun or the other way around. As a child, or for the argument sake, even at this age, I don't have the knowledge or tools or the hardware to make a thorough investigation and conclude that 'the Earth is a sphere, and not flat', or that 'the Earth revolves itself'. So, what I did was to investigate the ideas presented to me by my elders, and check for logical consistency. Now, my sense and logic is purely mine, and even though its shaped and inspired by the world around me, there is an innate biological ability to pursue knowledge and logic. I checked for the data presented before me, and checked for who it was presenting to me; what were they asking in return for that knowledge; what was the implications of me following the idea as it is, or rejecting it; after which I arrive at a conclusion for a period until someone else presents me a better logic.

          This is how I acquire knowledge when I can't test the theory presented before me, by myself. I don't approve or reject ideas by my judgement of the individual or the organization presenting that idea. Just because NASA or ISRO or Fermi-Lab or CERN says so, I don't necessarily have to agree. At the same extension of this argument, I don't blindly disapprove of anything presented to me by a person of religious authority. I scrutinize the ideas in a detached manner. My scrutiny of 'the presenter' (of ideas) happens separately from this. However, checking for hidden agenda by 'the presenter' helps me arrive at a quick conclusion.

           So, stop laughing. Ask yourself, "Am I doing enough background research and have sound logical reasoning for my stance on any issue..?, or am I just blindly building the argument for what I want to believe to be true...?"

       

The Devil Particle - Gokul's brain !!

      For some time, I have been wanting to write. As this is the easiest way to reach more people, effectively. And I believe, I need to share my ideas to have a satisfactory Life. There are so many topics to share. In terms of ideas, opinions and plain old advices.

I began some time back - blogging; but, because of the time consumed in my hectic professional Life, couldn't continue as much as I liked. Will try to put more time from now on. Even this current spur to write now, rose out of a dodgy situation. I have seen news and views about 'GOD Particle' and some of the comments, which dangled on the dangerous position of having the wrong conclusion without working out all the data lying in front.

Basically this is about the age old topic of 'Science Vs Religion'. But, more about why these scientific experiments like LHC are necessary.

WARNING:

  Please read with your eyes and mind open. If you do so, at the end of reading this article, this may happen,

You may have doubts now;

Or you will have more clarity.

Let us have the clear definitions here.

Religion - A systematic position of humans (and 'animals' in Indian movies) believing in a 'perceived' super power(s), wherein this(these) super power(s) has(have) the ability to create, destroy, decide, control, judge anything and everything. They love, like, fear, worship and wonder this super power. They (most of them) sincerely believe, this divine super power is all powerful, kind, fair, benevolent and purposeful. They don't have any evidence to support their stance. Like one guy said about religion, "There is a reason it is called faith....". And just look up at the dictionary for the word - Faith. No matter how much you sugar-coat it or mystify it, this is the simple and plain explanation for Religion.

Science - A system/method to observe, collect data, theorize, test, prove, verify, and challenge. If this initial observation stands the challenge, then it will become a fact. No waxing of lyrical about 'Truth'. In Science, there is only room for facts and ideas. Either you know it, or you don't.

"Unlike Religion, Science doesn't claim to have answers for everything". This is the argument twisted by 'theists' to make a third party feel as if 'Science' is a thing, a stance or even worse, some organization. NO. Science is just a method, and those who follow the method, are scientists. Those who live their life are simply living their life according to scientific method. Don't think that Scientists are the ones who wear white coats and work inside a closed laboratory. Any person who lives life in this method will have a fulfilling life - consciously. Here's the method a typical scientific person adopts,

1) Observe the information in front of Him/Her.

2) Check for past historic data from authenticated authority, or a source He/She trusts - for convenience, as this saves time.

3) Theorize a new idea if not present already.

4) Put the theory to test without bias, prejudice and lot of intellectual effort courageously.

5) Arrive at a conclusion, and verify the results by means available. If so, call it a "FACT". Else, simply say, "I DON'T KNOW".

6) Challenge the "FACT"

7) Collect more data and corroborate the previously declared FACT and put it to test again.

This cycle goes on forever. This is the reason, a honest person who approaches Life in a Scientific way, doesn't have any shame in admitting, "I don't know", and doesn't fear the unknown. For Him/Her, understanding the unknown is the greatest purpose available so far. There's no other purpose to existence known so far. All the defined purposes so far, are from various religions, each created to appease the 'men' who created those very religion.

I am not blindly claiming that 'Religion' is bad. I systematically categorize it as a bad influence on 'Human thinking'. There's a beautiful term I had heard in a documentary, where 'Carlos Frenk' said, "Science is about questioning, reasoning and checking for repeatability, with intellectual rigour". I have known and practiced 'Intellectual Honesty' to my self thoughts. But, that was the first time I had heard that word - "Intellectual Rigour". Religion, I bet my Life on it, would not stand the 'Intellectual Rigour'.

There's a dodgy position in between. They call themselves 'Agnostics'. They neither accept nor reject Religion. They say, 'Something might be there'. They may seem like a nice person to a theist, but I call them 'Intellectually lazy'. They simply don't put the necessary effort to arrive at any meaningful conclusion.

Now, to the topic this blog tries to address. Many people think that, Scientific experiments are just a waste of tax payer's money. They think that, expensive set-ups like LHC is a huge burden to Economy, where detection of 'particles' doesn't mean anything to common man. Its not going to feed the dying people in Africa. Its not going to solve Economic crisis, et al.

Wrong. There are statistical data available, regarding how much money spent on 'Closed Laboratory science projects' are being recovered back into the Economy. How experiments and research made on any field is used for some other civilian usage, which makes life more easy, convenient and safe. The examples are huge. The very thing which you are using now - 'Internet' came out as a by-product of multiple lab projects. All the essential and entertainment stuff we use, came out from a idea born in a laboratory.

What does it matter, if the SUN goes around the Earth or the Earth goes around the SUN? How does it affect your Life? Geocentric model or Big-Bang theory..... does it have any positive impact on one's daily life?

Why does it matter the number of electrons, protons and neutrons in any atom and the search for any other sub-atomic particle, when everything is made by GOD..?? What is GOD made of then..??

Why waste money on medicine and medical research, if its the divine plan for you to have disease..?? Why would you want to prolong your and your Loved ones existence in this planet Earth, when He/She can reach GOD and attain immortality in Heaven, if You, He or She has lived your life religiously correct.

Why is it that you, He and She has different opinions about the same religious doctrine you follow, where any mutually respectful disagreement between a group of scientists is termed by you as a conflict? 

Why is 'Stem cell research' bad? Is 'cloning' Godly or Devilish?

Why are space and marine experiments termed as futile exercises, and a religious pilgrimage seen fruitful..?? Why should Governments provide all infrastructure for pilgrims, and why is this not seen as a waste..??

Why should Government give tax cuts to religious money flow..?? What way does it help a person who reject your religion and follow some other..??

How come priests live in Palaces and scientists/technologists who work on these kind of experiments live like a regular joe..?? Why would you not bother about someone who uses the available technical knowledge to create something non-essential like an Digital Player and make Him a multi-millionaire..?? Why is money spent on subsidies for these companies by developing countries seen as a 'social improvement plan' where money spent on research is seen as a drain on economy..??

    It may seem complicated. But, I am ready to explain you. I will put my best effort to help you understand. When I say, I Love You, I mean the best for you. I think about what is the best I can give. TO GIVE. But, there's a catch. How much are you open? Its not about agreeing or disagreeing. Are you ready to listen..?? Or, are you afraid of change..?? Worried about moving out of your comfort zone..?? Are you bold enough to accept the FACT..?? Do you have the intellectual courage to question everything..?? Question yourself..?? If so, then repeat after me, 

        "I THINK...."

SHAKY - TRIUMPH

Normally, I hold myself from hurting others. But, this time it has gone too far. Sorry, I couldn't hold it anymore. I need to vent my anger out. I feel sorry for you, if you read this and have difference of opinion. It was too much for me during Haiti last year.

Hold On.

If you feel sad and pray for victims of EarthQuake in Japan yesterday - although I write this blog to address you - don't read this piece of blog any further. This might hurt. Hurt bad. Real bad. Coz, I'm going to pour my heart out, and I am not sure you can handle this much heat (you may call it venom). This is a foul-mouthed piece I am writing. Coz, I need it.

I got real pissed off when I heard religious authorities, like Pat Robertson, calling the Haiti Quake as GOD's revenge. My Blood Pressure shot off the roof when I heard him saying (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59NCduEhkBM) the Haitians had a pact with DEVIL, and are suffering for it. But, that time, I held my nerve with support from my friends, and especially the documentaries I watched about Cognitive Sciences, about why Humans rely on religious/spiritual stuff.

Though this time, there are no such bull-shits from religious authorities so far, (or did I miss them???) I feel so angry as people are missing the triumph of human spirit. Instead of rejoicing in this glorious occasion, people are wasting time in praying to the non-existent GOD.

Understand this. There is no GOD and he has no pattern or grudge or design or whatever 'against' or 'for' you. 'NATURE' doesn't have conscious or feelings, and 'NATURE' is not a 'thing'. Have this very clear - NATURE doesn't give a SHIT about what you do. You cut a tree or plant a tree, there is no conscious NATURE GOD watching from the skies and is not going to punish or reward you. If anything, everything you do is related to your environment and follows the simple fact of "Cause-Effect".

Look at the positive side. There's a Quake and Tsunami hitting the North-East Coast of Japan. There is a superb infrastructure built for rescuing people and an effective warning system which alerts everyone, and due to this the casualties are limited to Thousands. That too, after the Quake hit one of the most populous regions. Consider the Quake in 1995 where the human lives lost are more. The Technological improvements, us Humans have made, has reduced the damages to lives. Within minutes, the NEWS gets across the world, people calculate the WAVE travel speed, and warn the surrounding islands. This is an extraordinary human achievement. If you miss the scale of this achievement, and turn to GOD, then I feel sorry for you. Consider this. The observable Universe is 46.6 Billion Light Years in size, and in this magnitude, compare the size of the human brain. Yet, the Human brain, by its sheer capacity to "THINK" has enabled its own species to save some lives. ONE LIFE. Just one more life saved by this Human Technology is worth this rejoice.

Now, don't come to me saying that, Human Technology is nothing when faced with GOD's fury. If you think so, then again, you are missing the point. Ask yourself. Do you give up your life, when faced with a disease? Do you tell yourself that, this is what GOD has given, disease - and consequently - death, and be with HIM for eternity? Don't you take medicines? What's driving you to LIVE? If you say that GOD is testing you by giving disease, and cures you when you pray to HIM, doesn't it sound silly? What kind of a nasty pervert, GOD has to be, to give you disease, as well as the means to fight it, just so that HE can test your faith?

So, stop praying, and learn lessons from this disaster, and work for our species' future survival. If you don't understand what I am trying to say, and think that my mind is twisted, please DON'T pray to GOD for me.

VALENTINE's DAY ?

Spoiler alert: I love. I hate.

Now, all the world is going to celebrate Valentine's Day. They say, they celebrate love. But, I never had much respect for this 'LOVE' thing. I still believe, people give more respect than due, to love. Let me explain.

Before we go any further, let me separate love as people understand it, love as people do it, and love as people feel, and in what way I differ....

Emotion

Love as an emotion. This is what most people 'feel'. The attractive force, one person 'feel' toward other, be it a person, a material, or anything, is often referred as love. I think the correct word for this is 'like', which is a form of desire. When someone says, 'I love Chocolates', what they mean is, they 'like' chocolates. Chocolates make that person feel good. That's it. This applies to people too. When a man loves a woman, it is purely a emotion driven by biological needs, both physical as well as mental. The attraction which is built in the DNA as a function of survival instinct, and the desire to survive, is what drives it. This applies to homosexuals (chance mutation) too, obviously. But, this 'emotional' form is so powerful. So much so that, people kill each other for it. Even themselves.

Even I tried emotion for the last two years. I dropped all my protection - trust me, it is possible - I just switched off what my logical brain says, and followed whatever the next person feels; so much so that I hurt myself in the process. I involved myself in emotion more vigorously, when I heard this incident: An ex-colleague of my friend, was looking after his ailing mother. His father deserted the family. This fellow, in his 30s, didn't marry, left his job, to look after his paralyzed mother. With whatever he had for living, he was looking after his mother with devotion. The mother died. After that, this fellow whose only purpose in his life was to serve his mother, lost his purpose for life, and killed himself. Logically, for me, it didn't make any sense. So, I tried emotion for myself.

'Emotional intelligence' was never my strong point. I felt from my young age that, 'emotions' are weakening and blinding. I was calculative, and logic driven. I hated wrong things, than loving/liking correct things. But, without experiencing it, and overcoming it, its not fair of me to throw 'emotional' love into the trash. Hence, the exercise. I went through everything honestly. My judgement was right. Emotions are blinding. It blinds the thinking capacity. Now, I'm getting better. The best part is, I don't need any protection now. Now that I have started gaining 'emotional intelligence' I can 'feel' emotional love too, without the stupidity involved in it. But, I would not give the importance people give to it, nor the respect.

Scriptures

Next, Love, as people do it. This is driven by people understanding the word 'love' as something superior, because they were taught so. Religious scriptures play an important role in it. Most of the scriptures, tell people that, the best and only way to reach GOD is by loving the next person as yourself, and help others. Charity and other pseudo-altruistic behaviours fall in this category. The most senseless sentence I have ever heard in my life is, "The purpose of life is to help others". On top of hearing it, it sounds nice. But, dig deep, it doesn't make any sense. By simple logic, the statement falls into pieces. If your life's purpose is to help others, what would you do, when you get stuck in an island alone?

Idea

This is how I pursue Love. This is what all matters to me. Love as an idea. This idea is about giving and more importantly sharing. Simple. Don't confuse this 'giving' with charity. This idea is about giving the best I have. This means I love myself. I love everything and everybody. I need, I want to get myself the best of everything, my environment has to offer. I need persons around me, things around me to give me pleasure. For me to survive and make a good time out of my existence, I need everybody and everything around me to give the best they have. Now, by logic, unless I reciprocate this gesture, I can't survive long. This is where 'Natural Selection' has devised 'altruism', I believe. This is what great philosophies of the past, including 'Hindu philosophy' has greatly emphasized the need for Love. Love, as in giving, as in sharing. And I pursue this now, emotionally intelligent, with more respect. This is mutually beneficial for all the practisioners unlike the ones which are driven emotionally alone, and by (mis)conception of mind.

That's why Love and Hatred for me is same. And this is why I respect the next human, and everything around me. This respect is enough for a good life. And the drive comes from self-respect. So, I would say, have self-respect, and be honest to yourself, and you don't need to celebrate love with a day dedicated for it. You would celebrate every moment of your existence. But, let me tell you, this is not as easy as you follow Love now. It takes tremendous courage to be honest to yourself. This is why I respect Gandhi in spite of his theistic background and other wrong deeds. And this is why I hate 'Mother Teresa' and have no respect for her.

Do this, and the affection you have for the people will be complete and beneficial to both of you. Even if the other person doesn't understand your affection, and is emotionally weak and less intelligent, don't lose heart. Never stop loving yourself, and you would not miss any body's love.

And you would not need a day to celebrate love. And for those who do not understand my idea of love, HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY........

Favourite Movie Quotes

Well, it's not all serious and raw intellectual stuff (which is real fun in my opinion) in my blog. Let us have some fun too, in the popular sense. Here, I am posting some of my favourite quotes from the movies. I like them for their sheer genius and creativity,(intellectually speaking.... oh, no... not again...) as well as impeccable dialogue delivery by the performers. Here are some....

Goldfinger

(Sean Connery in his unique voice)

James Bond: Do you expect me to talk ?
Goldfinger: No, Mr.Bond. I expect you to die.

Layer Cake

('Facts of life' speech by Michael Gambon)

Harry Temple: You're born, 'u take shit. Get out in the world, 'u take more shit. Climb a little higher, 'u take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son

Magnolia

(William H.Macy at his best)

I really do have love to give. I just don't know where to put it

Lord of War

Never go to war; Especially with yourselves

Play it to the Bone

If a man builds a thousand bridges and sucks one dick, they don't call him a bridge-builder... they call him a cocksucker

(Another one from the same movie)

I am an atheist, thank GOD

V for Vendetta

We're oft to blame, and 'tis too much proved, that with devotion's visage and pious action we do sugar o'er the devil himself

(From V again)

(all his guards shooting at him)

Creedy: Die! Die! Why won't you die?... Why won't you just die?
V: Beneath this mask there is more than flesh and blood. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr.Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof

(One more from V)

You wear a mask for so long, you forget who you were beneath it

Mission:Impossible:2

(Anthony Hopkins at his masterful best)

Commander Swanbeck: Mr. Hunt, this isn't mission difficult, it's mission impossible. "Difficult" should be a walk in the park for you

Beowulf

(One more from Anthony Hopkins)

Hrothgar: No, Unferth No. The Gods won't do anything for us, that we can do for ourselves. What we need is a hero.

Silence of the Lambs

(And my favourite from Hopkins, though I hate Jodie Foster's dialogue delivery)

Hannibal Lecter: You still wake up sometimes, don't you? You wake up in the dark and hear the screaming of the lambs.
Clarice Starling: Yes.
Hannibal Lecter: And you think if you save poor Catherine, you could make them stop, don't you? You think if Catherine lives, you won't wake up in the dark ever again to that awful screaming of the lambs.

Cars

(Fiat Topolino)

Liugi follow only the Ferraris

Gosford Park

(Sophie Thompson, one of the most versatile actress, in my opinion)

Dorothy: I believe in love. Not just getting it, but giving it. I think that if you're able to love someone, whether or not they love you, it's worth it.

Incredibles

Helen: Everybody is unique, Dash.
Dash: Which is another way of saying, nobody is.

Vanishing Point

Kowalski - first, last and only...

Big Lebowski

The Dude abides

What Next?

Well, Its been a long time since my last blog. Been thinking a lot again. (What else I am good at....????!!!!) All this while, I have been discussing with my friends and peers about my approach to life. About how to cross the next immediate transience? Because of some health conditions, I had to re-build my entire life strategy. Have to plan, how to make use of me being alive, both to me and my environment. I am not in any hurry to do "SOMETHING" before I die.

Looked around. Wherever I see life, I saw incompleteness. Darwin is right. Evolution is happening in front of me. Then I realized, completeness is non-existing. There is no stage which you can call Complete. Because sometime back, around May 2010, a beautiful thing happened. I had a medical condition where my Thyroid glands were affected. Because of that, my brain went hyper-active (not that it was sleeping around until then, in fact, I was advised by all whom I have met, to not 'THINK' too much). And at this hyper-active stage, there was a series of events, which I used to my advantage. The events included all bad things that could happen - career crash, road accident, horrible medical condition, not meeting/calling my friends, and worse - guilt of hurting my friend. At this stage, I involved myself in immense thinking and at this stage, I hit "IT". I had found "Voidness". I am even proud of getting to this stage, without any "GURU" or even reading much. Though I am grateful to those whom I have met in my life, until then.

I thought about writing a blog about "Voidness". Because I felt it, and due to my poor vocabulary, I couldn't put it in words. Then last month, my friend Robert tweeted me an article. It was such a beautiful piece, that it could not be said any better and simpler than that. Hence, rather than re-writing what's in that "VOID" stage, I present you the article's link itself.

http://www.wikihow.com/Explore-Voidness-and-Live-Beyond-It

Funnily enough, I started a strange exercise. I tried to fill the Voidness, after I felt it. Just wanted to see how my fellow beings around me are living with a sense of purpose. Because, I still couldn't figure out what drives them. Even now. I tried to remove all the protective layers I built around me. I even felt weakness, courageously. I realized - even discussed this in length with my friend Visu - "Strength doesn't lie in avoiding fear and weakness, its in facing them and conquering them". Got hurt badly in this exercise though. But, its worth it. Now I can understand people around me better. Now, I have become "Emotionally intelligent" too. I still haven't reached the stage where I would like to be. But, definitely on the way.

So, What's next?

I must say, NOTHING can fill VOIDNESS, not even EVERYTHING.

Why did I do that...!!

In my last blog, http://ggnath.blogspot.com/2010/07/who-devil-is-ggnath.html I had mentioned the incident where I stamped my feet on my first ever salary cover. Let us start our discussion on that.

My friend 'Subbu' Subramanian has disagreed with that. You may read his comment on the same page. This blog is more of an explanation of what I think about money, and why I did that act.!

First, 'Subbu' is right in his mentioning that Money is just a tool. Its only man who adds value to it. But, he contradicts his own expression when he earlier said, money along with sex and love as the greatest virtue.

Lets just draw the distinction here, shall we? First, Sex. Sex, as a biological necessity is to be respected. And cherished. But, when it comes to partner....!!! The fight between two or more members of the species to mate with that one attractive member is what makes the matter complex. In all the other species, the alpha male has to prove its superiority over other members to attract the 'mate', by whatever way works for that species. In Humans, we found a way around. 'Marriage'. Its an ingenious way to solve the issue for stone age people. Unfortunately, we are still having it. Will talk about this more elaborately in the future blogs.

Next, Love. Love is just an emotion like any other. But, its completely exclusive of 'altruism'. People give more respect to love than it deserves. And I believe people confuse love with lust, desire, passion and greed. I will define this later.

Now, to the topic I want to discuss here in this blog, Money.

Will start with history. In the earlier time when humans (especially homo sapiens - not homo erectus and homo neanderthalensis) were just "hunter - gatherers", there was no need for a tool for transaction of value. They all lived together, with the strongest of the members going for the hunt and feeding the young and women. Then as evolution history goes, we developed intelligence, and used that to hunt, by building tools. Even then, humans lived in close groups. Within the geographical limit they covered, they never had the need or chance to interact with other groups. (It is still a mystery to anthropologists as to how human species spread across the globe) They kept moving in groups for food, and when encountered threat or competition from rival groups for land which offers better food, they started to form a close bond within their group and hatred with anyone from rival group who competed for food. This in-group versus out-group rivalry is a very common feature in all species. At that time, any mouth competing for the food available was perceived as a threat to your own survival.

Then came agriculture and better survival tools. Man was able to defend himself from other animals by these tools. (See, Engineers like me, saved the world then too ) Agriculture made sure that humans survived better and also made sure that food was available throughout the weather cycle, come rain or shine. This prolonged human's ability to live longer. This, and the advancement of human language and other reasoning abilities, led to civilizations settling down along rivers building a substantial settlement. This led to work other than hunting, and not everybody can hunt. But, some were good at tool building and other stuff, rather than hunting or agriculture. Now, with growing population, you need to ensure that evrybody puts efforts for their food. But, now comes the question. How do you define, who deserves what, for their work? And watch out here..... Until this time, the tool of transaction never occurred. It was only about food and survival, and what you can do to get your food. So, at this time, based on the complexity of your work, and exclusivity of your skill, you can trade with the farmer. (I am still not sure, how they worked out, who owns the farmland and how they defined land ownership, and inherited it) The chain went like this.... Some brilliant guy worked for a farmer on other stuff like building him a house, or providing him farm tools, or defense tools and got paid in food grains. Then another less brilliant guy worked for this brilliant guy for some less complicated tasks, like carrying the tools around for him, or fetching raw materials for his tools and got paid from this brilliant guy in, again, food grains.

Even when money in various forms (peg, shell, coins, promissory notes, et al....) is used in place of 'barter' system for several thousand years, it was not until recent centuries, that 'commodity money' is used for trading. This 'commodity money' is valued (typically) against Gold reserves and its demand. And this value is set as a relative value for all the commodities to be traded. This is where all the problem began.

When humans were trading under 'barter' system, they only traded what they had in hand. For example, I would trade a food crop, only after I cultivate it. So, the actual value of trade depended on the value of the produce traded. When 'money' is involved, future is involved. A future with uncertainty. With speculation. And promises (sometimes unfulfilled).

Of all the species in Earth, humans are the only ones with a clear vision of future. We are the only ones, who do things, which are not necessary for survival. This idea of future is involved in money. So, rather than thinking about what to have now, to survive now, we started thinking about, what should we need to have for an uncertain future. This uncertainty has triggered humans to do things differently. Rather than trading what they actually have, humans started bargaining on promises. Of course, this has driven the desire to have better future and has accelerated growth in terms of luxurious and easy living.

This is what I tried (and still do) to avoid in my career. For a promise of better pay, I wouldn't let my decision waver. I am now making enough money to have a decent living, though I have not paid a single penny to my parents (until I write this very sentence). But, earning for my living is not a primary concern in deciding my career path. I wanted to be sure of, not let the idea of a better future influence my career decisions. I am a big spender of course. Until now, my bank savings account always read zero balance on 18th of every month (bill payment day for my credit card.....). But, if I start to make compromises for a better pay, one day I will end up at a point of regret in my career. Even after staying a bit stubborn, and switching many jobs, I haven't achieved what I set to achieve in my career. Had I compromised for a better pay, I won't be able to forgive myself when I look back from my deathbed. That's why I pledged myself on my first salary cover, stamping on it, reminding me of the actual value of that paper currency.

And I am happy to state that, so far I have not been running after money, and keep money, and the desire to earn under my control.

When last year I had a job offer for almost double the amount of my then salary, with more perks in a Texas, U.S. based job, I rejected it, since it didn't meet my career interests. When casually mentioning this to my friend, he advised me that, I should have accepted that offer. His argument? "Anyway, its more or less the same job profile you are having now (which incidentally, I hate), with double the money, additional perks along with U.S. stay, then what's the problem...?!". To which I stunned him with a spur of the moment comment (which I later regretted, since there was a chance of him taking it personally, but luckily, my friend understands my passion for machines).

And the comment, (Content warning!!!!!!!)

"Just because you are raped once, it is not okay to do prostitution, no matter how good the money is"