E&T Books, London. 2016.

My short story, Platform Bird, has been accepted by E&T Books, London, for publication in their short story collection in  Feb/March 2016.
The story had to have Spring as the theme, and the collection is in collaboration with the Royal Society of Wildlife Trust.
I'll post more details nearer the time.

MY NEW WEBSITE

My new website is up and running at www.VijayMedtia.com

I hope people like it.

2015 DNA INDIA- OUTOFPRINT short fiction longlist

I just received the good news below, that my short story Two Hundred Rupees, has been longlisted for the short fiction prize. DNA India is one of the largest daily papers based in Mumbai with over one million readers. Congrats to all the writers.

2015 DNA-OUT of PRINT Short Fiction Longlist

33 stories make the longlist of the DNA-OUT of PRINT Short Fiction Special.

Thank you to all the writers who sent in their work. We were impressed at the ways in which the writers addressed the theme, 'Erosion'. There were many stories about the disintegration of values and relationships, about the ageing of the body and mind, and some based on erosion in nature. The Out of Print editors did not have an easy time identifying the stories in the longlist. But here they are, listed in order of submission date. 

The shortlist will be announced mid-November.

Dipika Mukherjee	A Heirarchy of Grief
Abhay Kumar Dubey	The Missing Sky
Barnali Ray Shukla	Clockwise round the Fire
Indu Suryanarayan	Clay
Mathangi Subramanian	Half Wild
Sowmya Aji	August 15, 2012
Farah Ahamed	Life Will be Better
Sunil Sharma	The Sad Strange Tale of the Muting of Penelope
Puskar Pande	Cost
Suresh Gayathri	Pardesi
Neera Kashyap	As Quiet as a Feather Falling
Abha Iyengar	The Marshlands
Trisha Bora	How to Lose a River
Vijay Medtia	Two Hundred Rupees
Nabina Das	The Trains Came Back
Revathi Raj Iyer	Syra's Secret
Michele D'Costa	The Corpse
Yogesh Patwari	The Vegetable Thief
Pravin Vemuri	The Last Rain
RK Biswas	The Books
Meghna Pant	The Good Husband
Sudha Nair	Tethered to the Past
Bhavani B	Rock Paper Scissors
Kanchana Doraiswamy	Humming Birds
Zui Kumar-Reddy	Anagrams and Barbed Wire Jesus
Devika Rajan	Post Apocalypse
Saikumar	Tatyarao's Story
Kunal Deliwala	The Broken Window
Tanuj Solanki	Reasonable Limits
Prashila Naik	Like the Sun Disappeared Behind the Clouds
Harsh Snehanshu	No Woman's Land
Vrinda Manocha	Mud and Rain
Jyothi Vinod	Memory of a Fragrance

Buddha's Life and Quotes

Buddha's life story has been told by many. The facts vary from one retelling to the next, but the story of the founder of Buddhism is about the path to enlightenment, not about earthly specifics. Buddha's message is one of love: "You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection."

Destined for Greatness

The birth and death dates of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly referred to as Buddha, are uncertain. He is said to have been born either in 563 B.C. or 480 B.C., but, in either case, he lived for 80 years.

Gautama was born in Lumbini, or modern-day Nepal, then raised in Kapilavastu, the Shakya capital, which is either modern-day Tilaurakot, Nepal, or Piprahwa, India. His given name, Siddhartha, means "he who achieves his aim."

Gautama's father was King Suddhodana, who ruled over the Shakya clan. His mother died seven days after his birth; he was raised by his mother's sister, Maha Pajapati.

A holy man prophesied great things for young Gautama - that he would be a great king or a military leader.

 As Buddha, in later years, Gautama himself said, "I was born into the world as the king of truth for the salvation of the world."

A Sheltered Youth

Gautama's father decided to shield his son from the misery and suffering of the world, raising him in opulence in a palace, or, according to some versions of the story, in three palaces equipped for seasonal use. Gautama was also protected from knowledge of any religion.

Gautama was married at 16 - an arranged marriage with a cousin of the same age, named Yasodhara. They had a son, Rahula, and Gautama continued his life of seclusion for thirteen more years.

At the age of 29, Gautama ventured out of the palace with his charioteer, Channa. When Gautama saw an old man, a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic, he realized that he knew little of the world. Channa explained to him that people get old and they die, and that the ascetic had renounced the world to seek release from his human fear of death and suffering.

Gautama decided to leave the kingdom, his wife, and his son to live an ascetic life and find a way to relieve the suffering of humanity. For a time he was a student under two hermit teachers - first Alara Kalama, then Udaka Ramaputta - both of whom practiced yogic meditation.

Gautama spent six years as an ascetic. He practiced with five other ascetics, who became his followers because they admired his dedication. Dissatisfied because no answers were forthcoming, Gautama increased his effort by fasting, enduring pain, and refusing water. He nearly drowned in a river while bathing, because he was so weak, but a young girl rescued him and offered him a bowl of rice or payasam pudding. This gesture made Gautama realize that deprivation was not the path to inner liberation. He ate the rice or pudding, drank some water, and bathed in the river. His five followers abandoned him, thinking he had given up on his quest.

Finding the Middle Way

Gautama realized that a path of balance, the Middle Way, was better than extremism. That night he sat under a Bodhi tree and vowed he would not rise until the truth came to him. He said, "Let my skin and sinews and bones dry up, together with all the flesh and blood of my body! I welcome it! But I will not move from this spot until I have attained the supreme and final wisdom."

He meditated for 49 days, saw his previous lives, and resisted the threats of Mara, an evil demon, who tried to disrupt his progress. Gautama touched his hand to the ground and asked Earth to bear witness to his enlightenment, and the Earth banished Mara.

 "The mind is everything. What you think you become," he said. In a moment of pure enlightenment, at the age of 35, Gautama became Buddha.

The Journey of Buddha

Buddha was hesitant to teach at first, believing his knowledge could not be communicated through words. Brahma Sahampati, a deity, convinced him to try.

Buddha found his five former followers and preached his first sermon - "Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dharma." He explained to them about the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, both central to Buddhism. The Noble Eightfold Path is the fourth of the Four Noble Truths, but the first item on the Eightfold Path is understanding the Four Noble Truths. One cannot exist without the other.

The five men became his disciples and formed the foundation of the sangha, or community of monks. Many others joined as word spread. Anyone who truly desired to reach enlightenment was welcomed, regardless of class, race, or previous background.

When Buddha returned home, his father celebrated with a feast. His son, Rahula, joined the Buddhist monks known as sanga at age seven. Maha Pajapati, the aunt who raised him, asked to join the sangha as well, but Buddha refused her. She and a group of royal ladies followed the sangha anyway, for five years, until Buddha reconsidered and ordained them as nuns.

Buddha traveled throughout the countryside, sharing his wisdom with anyone who would listen, gathering more sangha along the way.

Final Days of Buddha

At the age of 80, Buddha announced that he would soon reach Parinirvana, or the final deathless state, and that he would abandon his earthly body. He said, "Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely." He instructed his disciples to follow no leader.

Following the death of Buddha, his teachings were passed down by oral tradition. Four hundred years later, his words were preserved in writing for the first time. As a result, any quote attributed to Buddha must be appreciated for its content, not as his precise words.

The Four Noble Truths

The first Noble Truth is Dukkha - the concept that all temporary things and states are unsatisfying.

The second Noble Truth is the origin of Dukkha - the fact that we crave things, so we are constantly reborn.

The third Noble Truth is the cessation of Dukkha - if we stop craving and clinging, we won't be reborn. he third Noble Truth is the cessation of Dukkha - if we stop craving and clinging, we won't be reborn.

The fourth Noble Truth shows the way to liberation from Dukkha - follow the Noble Eightfold Path, behave decently, don't act on impulses, practice mindfulness and meditation.

Buddha said, "Better than worshiping gods is obedience to the laws of righteousness."

The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.

Buddha

The Noble Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path is represented by spokes on a Dharma wheel. Sometimes the eight items are grouped into three divisions.

The first division, Wisdom, is made up of right view and right intention.

The second division, Ethical Conduct, is made up of right speech, right action, and right livelihood.

The third division, Concentration, is made up of right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

Buddha said, "He who walks in the Eightfold Noble Path with unswerving determination is sure to reach Nirvana."

Simple Truths

Truth was a simple concept for Buddha: "Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."

In some versions of Buddha's story, he is depicted with super natural abilities, including a painless birth following a miraculous conception, no need for sleep or food, no need for bathing except by choice to conform with the world, omniscience, and the ability to suppress karma.

Buddha valued virtue and peace. "Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue," he said.

Buddha was not chubby, as he is often depicted in statues. This artistic choice stems from the fact that chubbiness is symbolic of happiness in the east. Buddha practiced moderation, plus he spent most of his days walking and spreading his philosophy. Buddha said, "To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."

Buddhism may be practiced in a temple or at home. The path to enlightenment is available to everyone. "No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path." Buddha said.

Buddha shared his love and wisdom with as many people as possible over the course of his life. "Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle," he said, "and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Buddha

 No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. - Buddha

 Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. - Buddha

 Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. - Buddha

You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.

Buddha

To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

Buddha

 The mind is everything. What you think you become. - Buddha

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.

Buddha

To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.

Buddha

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Buddha

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.

Buddha

However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?

Buddha

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.

Buddha

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

Buddha

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

Buddha

Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.

Buddha

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

Buddha

You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.

Buddha

With fools, there is no companionship. Rather than to live with men who are selfish, vain, quarrelsome, and obstinate, let a man walk alone.

Buddha

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

Buddha

Charity bestowed upon those who are worthy of it is like good seed sown on a good soil that yields an abundance of fruits. But alms given to those who are yet under the tyrannical yoke of the passions are like seed deposited in a bad soil. The passions of the receiver of the alms choke, as it were, the growth of merits.

Buddha

To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.

Buddha

Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.

Buddha

In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.

Buddha

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.

Buddha

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.

Buddha

Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.

Buddha

It is better to travel well than to arrive.

Buddha

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Buddha

He who gives away shall have real gain. He who subdues himself shall be free; he shall cease to be a slave of passions. The righteous man casts off evil, and by rooting out lust, bitterness, and illusion do we reach Nirvana.

Buddha

The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.

Buddha

Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.

Buddha

When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear.

Buddha

A woman of the world is anxious to exhibit her form and shape, whether walking, standing, sitting, or sleeping. Even when represented as a picture, she desires to captivate with the charms of her beauty and, thus, to rob men of their steadfast heart.

Buddha

What we think, we become.

Buddha

  

Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.

Buddha

Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two.

Buddha

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.

Buddha

It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe that lures him to evil ways.

Buddha

To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance.

Buddha

The foolish man conceives the idea of 'self.' The wise man sees there is no ground on which to build the idea of 'self;' thus, he has a right conception of the world and well concludes that all compounds amassed by sorrow will be dissolved again, but the truth will remain.

Buddha

I am not the first Buddha who came upon Earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time, another Buddha will arise in the world - a Holy One, a supremely enlightened One, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe, an incomparable leader of men, a master of angels and mortals.

Buddha

   

Mexican Fisherman meets Harvard MBA

Mexican Fisherman Meets Harvard MBA

An American businessman standing on the pier of a coastal fishing village in southern Mexico watched as a small boat with just one Mexican fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the boat were several large yellow fin tuna. Enjoying the warmth of the early afternoon sun, the American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American casually asked.

"Oh, a few hours," the Mexican fisherman replied.

"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" 

"With this I have more than enough to meet my family's needs."

The businessman then became serious, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

Responding with a smile, the Mexican fisherman answered, "I sleep late, play with my children, watch ball games, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs..."

The American businessman impatiently interrupted, "Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, before long you can buy a second boat, then a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats."

Proud of his own sharp thinking, he excitedly elaborated a grand scheme which could bring even bigger profits, "Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you'll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even Los Angeles or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise."

Having never thought of such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, "But how long will all this take?"

After a rapid mental calculation, the Harvard MBA pronounced, "Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard."

"And then what, señor?" 

"Why, that's the best part!" answered the businessman with a laugh. "When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions? Really? What would I do with it all?" asked the fisherman in disbelief.

The businessman boasted, "Then you could happily retire with all the money you've made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ball games, and take siesta with your wife. You could stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want."

The moral of the story is: Know what really matters in life, and you may find that it is already much closer than you think.

Second Honeymoon

My short story- Second Honeymoon, has been accepted and published by induswomanwriting.com based in South India, in their Feb, 2015 edition.

The story can be read under the heading short stories, on their website.

It is always a nice feeling for a writer when a story is accepted.

Second story published

Good news for the new year.
My short story British Guide, has been accepted and published by The Indian Short Story magazine based in Chennai/Madras.

You can read the story at indianshortfiction.com

My short story Haram, is also now published by outofprintmagazine.co.in

So it seems I am having some luck with my short stories.