QnA…..

1: Darshana said…
JGD Vikram
What is the best camera to use for good picture (SLR or Not) what photo editing software do your use if any?
Thanks…
ps. I like the look of your new Blog 😀

Hi Darshana
It is said that “the best camera is the one you have with you at that moment.” Capturing the moment is the main thing — whether it is done on a cellphone camera or a top-of-the-line DSLR. If you are serious about photography I would certainly recommend a DSLR — they are now more affordable than ever before, and there is very little to choose between the top brands like Canon, Nikon, Olympus etc. A standard zoom like 24-70mm and a tele zoom like 70-200mm should suffice for most of your needs up to a fairly advanced level.
That said, if it’s just a hobby, then you would be better off with a good quality compact ie point-n-shoot from one of the brands mentioned above, as well as from Panasonic and Sony.
I don’t use Photoshop or Lightroom as most professionals do — I prefer to keep editing to a minimum and simply sort the the images in iPhoto, occasionally doing a bit of sharpening, cropping or colour correction.
A photograph reflects your way of looking at the world, and provides an opportunity to commemorate and share your vision with others. Like any other art, it is primarily an avenue to improving oneself as a human being, rather than a narcissistic indulgence.
The blog will undergo further transformation in December, hopefully making it easier to access — and with the added attraction of some downloadable music for you all!

2: Shruthi said…
Namaste,
Dwaitha and Advaitha – I wonder what the difference is. Aren’t they both same in essence? my family has instilled in me the values of dwaitha philosophy ever since I was a child (I still am :D) These days when I listen to spiritual talks – most of them talk about non-duality. I know these are just concepts (reminds me of your song – Shabdon ke jungle mein…) and would make little difference in the spiritual journey. But it’s a little frustrating not to know what I believe in. You have an answer right? =)
– Love and Light

Namaste Shruthi
Guruji said something very interesting a while back; “there is not much difference between an Astik (believer) and Nastik (non-believer/atheist). The Nastik says ‘show me and I’ll believe’ while the Astik says ‘I believe, now show me’!” Both lack direct experience of divinity. Our culture has always placed personal experience above all dogma on the spiritual path — yet man struggles to qualify and quantify what he sees around him in the hope that it will provide the solace he seeks.
After Dvaita and Advaita came Vishishta Advaita as propounded by Ramanujacharya, wherein he said that divinity is one, but we do have the freedom to worship it in many forms 🙂
I would recommend that you go by your experience — proper Sadhana/ meditation of course helps a great deal — and don’t worry about your beliefs, which anyways can change over time with knowledge.

3: Vikram Ji, do you have an album with Kabir songs like Naiharwa?
JGD, Kumar from New York

Hi Kumar
These days Kabir is a very hot topic at least in India (shall soon write a post about that) — with everyone from Dalits to Communists staking a proprietary claim to his philosophy. Nonetheless, I do have a nice concept for an album of songs from Kabir, Guru Nanak and Meerabai — if all goes well you shall hear it in Feb 2012. Meanwhile I would point you to Shabnam Virmani’s excellent Kabir Project, which has documented many facets of Kabir’s work.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2