About
Welcome to my blog. The writings on this site are my thoughts and opinions on a lot of things, in particular things that deserve (and don’t get enough of) our critical/independent thought.
If you are a critical thinker and open to spiritual diversity, expressions, and inquiry in the same tradition as that of yogis, philosophers, and independent thinkers, then you’ll find the postings here of interest. But if you are religious (that is believe in one particular doctrine, saviour/prophet, godhead, or holy book, as the sole heir to Truth), then you might find some of the material here objectionable (or enlightening to say the least). You have been warned :-).
I am an IT consultant (systems engineer and generalist) — i.e. only for making a living, else if only philosophers were paid as much, I’d give up my IT day job in no time :). Lived in the Washington DC metro area for a number of years. Recently moved to the Bay Area, CA. Outside of work I like to engage in the study of various indigenous knowledge systems, their philosophies and epistemology, and the study of yoga (not the physical exercise, nor meditation, but along lines of the six or so darshanas). I also visit India very often, just about every year.
My name is Pari Shanmugam (पारि / பாரி). You can reach me on my yahoo email account, “spari”. My PGP public key is here.
(ps: while general comments are welcome below, please post article-specific comments in comments for respective article. thanks! :))
[updated May 2010]
Great works in your blog, quite fascinating, knowledgeable, and carries lot of learning.
Kindly keep it up for those who seek to keep up to date with the latest in this old, ancient, art of wisdom where no country can match with us.
Regards.
Dear Pari Shanmugam,
There’s a great range of interesting things in your website, and some beautiful images.
Strangely, I was searching google for the ‘perfect male form’, and came across your image of people reclining in a garden: I’m not sure why. The reason for the search was to give a parallel to Mrs Portaveda, a sixty year old (or so) of Spanish or South American descent, who comes across a young couple bathing naked. For the man, I already used the Apollo Belvedere elsewhere, but I think this physique probably a bit weak for the character I have in mind, and also probably the Apollo Belvedere is not known to Mrs Portaveda. She might think in terms of Arnold Schwarzenegger, but the character is too gross. To be known to Mrs Portaveda, and to convey both the elegance and power of the male form, and the spirituality associated with it… well, I am in a cul de sac.
And so: there are various ways of exiting the cul de sac (through somebody’s house, for example, out the back door, over the fence and into the field behind, if there is a field: or else along the alleyway marked ‘no cycling’ and into the endless convolutions of suburbia). Or I could point to those little eddies of water which continue to circle indefinitely on the borders of a fast flowing river. They only disappear when a force from above (the mountains) sends a torrent down.
Once again, let me express sincerely my appreciation of your website.
Best wishes,
Paul Scott
Dear Thiru.Pari,
Its great to see your details on 108 and about your brief ‘about me details. Its a pleasure to see or read about you kind of peoples. I am going thru sakthi sites details presently and its very much clarity giving.I am thankful to my friend Dr.Sathish who referred me to read this details and also on this journey i am seeing you kind of fine peoples is an additional pleasure. With best regards ,wishes and thanks
Magesh