Lessons from the Bhagawvad Gita - part 1

Dear readers.

I have been reading the Bhagavad Gita of late. I have been thinking about posting my understanding of the lessons it has to offer.

Just as I was going to do so, My friend posted this article on his Facebook Account
I have ( with permission :) ) copied his article, and posted it here for the benefit of the readers and my buildup of articles on my blog.

The article by Vipul is very well written and just could not help but re-post the same.

Quote
"Lessons (My takeaways from the 2nd & 3rd session i.e from the 1st & 2nd Chapter) from Bhagavad Geeta :

1. This physical world is all delusion. Do not fret, fear or ruminate… Hold fast to the awareness that you are following a path, the exact path, which you are intended to be following.

2. Choose your path, based on your nature; whether it be Karma yoga (the path of action), jnana yoga (the path of knowledge or wisdom), raja yoga (the path of meditation) or Bhakti yoga (the path of devotion or love)… all path’s lead to divinity. All paths are divine.

3. How you enter truth is irrelevant; whether you call your path Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Islam etc is not important, all paths lead to divinity. If your focus is on right action, action for the greater good, offering this action without attachment, you will arrive in the light. You are light. 

4. The importance lies in the letting go, just be. Be. Trust in the Self. 

5. Act out of love with no attachment to the outcome. 

6. Have Faith in the knowledge of Oneness with the GOD(or any name by which you call the Supreme Being).

7. Simply know that there is so much more, infinitely more, beyond what can be seen, felt, heard by your physical senses. 
Vipul Bane - vipul.bane@rediffmail.com 

Unquote

How to Effectively Test Drive a New Car

How to Effectively Test Drive a New Car

I am writing this article assuming that the reader has already done the budgeting and the “Cost point Analysis” between the features vs the model at the cost difference between each model.

Having coined the term “Cost Point Analysis”, watch my next blog post for it, for a detailed discussion.

Steps involved for a test drive

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.       <!--[endif]-->Short listing Vehicle

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.       <!--[endif]-->Deciding on the Version you plan to buy.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.       <!--[endif]-->Time and Location

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.       <!--[endif]-->Carry Along

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.       <!--[endif]-->Short listing Vehicle

This step is assuming that you have decided the vehicle you would want to purchase having done the cost point analysis and also narrowing down to the exact version you want to buy.

As a thumb rule, to avoid confusion, narrow down to 3 vehicles (cars) and their respective models depending on your budget and other factors which might influence your purchase.

It is always advisable to get some feedback on the vehicle you have shortlisted, which might help you in being a better observer. Like, if you are always going to be the driver, it would make sense get to know the comfort levels in the rear passenger seats as well, rather than just judge the car on the driver comfort and driver dynamics.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.       <!--[endif]-->Deciding on the version you plan to buy.

It is important to let the dealer know which version you intend to buy and hence to get to test that version is available. Most dealers always keep the top end version for a test drive – for obvious reasons. In such cases, ask if possible to get to see the version that you plan on buying, and get a visual feeling of the interiors. That is where the difference lies, lest that you see a very glossy interior and then the version you buy feels very bland and puts off your mood.

The other critical areas to make sure are

Engine : If you intend to buy a diesel vehicle, ask for a test drive on a diesel vehicle.

Gearbox : if you plan on automatic, then it would make sense to test the automatic.

Cabin Interiors and Fabric: Depending on the choice available by the manufacturer and the model you decide.

Features : this can be further classified as

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Must have – decision makers

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Aspiration – Decision tilters

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Doesn’t Matter – Neutral features which do not influence your purchase

Must Have: This would be the features the vehicle must have either in the respective model, eg: Power Steering, Good lumber support, etc

Aspiration: These are features like, Driver height adjust seats, electrical rear view mirrors, etc

Doesn’t Matter: No. Of storage pockets around the cabin, rear defogger etc

Note: these features are sole discretion to the buyer and I have only used certain illustration to illustrate the classification. Each buyer is encouraged to go through the feature list as per their choice. Having the exact engine and the gearbox are very critical, in case its not available, then you might want to consider another dealer.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.       <!--[endif]-->Convenient Time and Place

Test drives normally consume a good 30 mins to about an hour. At times its longer considering that there might be a queue to test a particular new launch. In such cases, it would be nice to pre-book a time slot.

This would involve a good discussion with the executive, pre and post the discussion.

Remember, there is no point in discussion the negatives of a vehicle with the executive, while on the test drive, and also comparing with the car you own. I would rather recommend that you concentrate on the drive and the check list i have provided and start taking mental notes on the vehicle you are testing.
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->

Keeping this in mind, I would recommend that you go at a convenient time with no hurry or urgency, and in a relaxed frame of mind.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.       <!--[endif]-->Carry Along

Taking a friend or a family member will do good, esp in giving feedback on the ride quality in the back seat, the cooling in the back, and if they drive, it would let you experience the quality in the back seats as well.

It would also help you with a better judgement on the seating capacity.

An added pair or eyes and ears are always better.

If possible, carry along your favourite music, this is only to test the music system

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.       <!--[endif]-->Before Starting the Car – Do a walk Around

<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.        <!--[endif]-->Walk around the car, to observe the external styling and its appearance to you.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.       <!--[endif]-->Observe the Panel Gaps, The Door Handles, quality of the build and the fit and finish in general. Things you could check are

<!--[if !supportLists]-->                                                               i.      <!--[endif]-->Hydraulic piston which is used to hold the boot door up

<!--[if !supportLists]-->                                                              ii.      <!--[endif]-->Lighting in the boot space

<!--[if !supportLists]-->                                                            iii.      <!--[endif]-->Gasket finish around the doors – this would determine the outside noise you hear inside

<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.        <!--[endif]-->Check the boot space for size and dimension and estimate how many bags would fit. You are going to need this.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->d.       <!--[endif]-->Open the doors fully to check for Easy Ingress and Egress – according to me, this is very important to know how easily you can get in and out of your vehicle

<!--[if !supportLists]-->e.       <!--[endif]-->Check the lumber support for all the seats, driver and rear passenger. Headroom is also very important. You do not want your head bumping the roof every time you hit a bump, do you ?

<!--[if !supportLists]-->f.         <!--[endif]-->Check for blind spots if you can, before taking out the car.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.       <!--[endif]-->Getting Prepared for the Test Drive

<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.        <!--[endif]-->Before you actually start the car and move out, explore the compartments, adjust the dials and familiarise yourself with the controls of the car. There is a possibility that it is different from the one you are driving. The most common one being the position of the turn indicators and the gear positions.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.       <!--[endif]-->Check ergonomics, play around with the controls, ac vents mirror adjustments, horn  etc, to check how easy it is for use.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.        <!--[endif]-->You could also check the Music system here before heading out

<!--[if !supportLists]-->d.       <!--[endif]-->Adjust the driver seat / driving position and also check how comfortable it is for you. If the car has a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, fiddle around to see if you get an optimum setting. You should be able to reach your gear and foot pedals without any stress or strain. Visibility of the instrument cluster is paramount from your final sitting position

<!--[if !supportLists]-->e.       <!--[endif]-->Check driver Visibility and make a note of the blind spots. If you are short, the carry a pillow or ask for one. Trust me, there is no shame in asking or using a pillow. Now that we are set, its time for the drive.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.       <!--[endif]-->The Test Drive

<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.        <!--[endif]-->Would suggest that you drive around the route recommended by the exec, but feel free to drive on any other route as well, once you are comfortable with the car dynamics

<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.       <!--[endif]-->Do not feel shy to ask for an extended drive. Check the effort required to turn from left to right and feel the steering response.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.        <!--[endif]-->Check the brakes. Being a new car, its bound to have better brakes. One effective way to check the brakes it to mentally measure the time and distance it takes to stop from a avg speed of 40kmph to 0. This should give you a fair idea of the brakes. Suggest you Try this on an empty road.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->d.       <!--[endif]-->Check the maximum the rear view mirrors adjust. Check your visibility on both sides

<!--[if !supportLists]-->e.       <!--[endif]-->Engine Dynamics: Rev engine to about 3000 to 4000 rpm.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->                                                               i.      <!--[endif]-->Check for noise levels and vibration

<!--[if !supportLists]-->                                                              ii.      <!--[endif]-->Check if its whining or smooth at higher revs

<!--[if !supportLists]-->                                                            iii.      <!--[endif]-->Check response to acceleration.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->f.         <!--[endif]-->Try driving at different gears and speeds within legal limits and also within safe logical speeds of the road you are driving on. This should give you an idea of the power range and distribution over the gears. This translates into your fuel efficiency. So if you need to put it in 1^st and  2^nd  more frequently, then its going to be consuming more fuel on city driving conditions. This will also throw up any noise that the vehicle might make, either from the gears or the engine.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->g.        <!--[endif]-->Check the clutch feel – see if its light or heavy. Check how much slippage you would need to get the car to move. This leads to worn out clutch plates, which are expensive to replace.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->h.       <!--[endif]-->Try and observe the ride quality from both the driver seat and the passenger seats ( rear ), if you can or happen to be riding on a rough patch of road. This will give you an idea of cabin noise, rattling components, and the suspensions.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->i.         <!--[endif]-->Check reverse visibility by reversing and try to do the reverse parking.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->j.         <!--[endif]-->Check the AC and the cooling.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->k.        <!--[endif]-->If you are an advanced user, you can check for the AC by turning it on at a higher speed, and notice the drop in speed. You can also check the AC Cut-off. Also notice how long does the car take to heat up and cool down

<!--[if !supportLists]-->l.         <!--[endif]-->Observe the AC noise at various speed settings.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.       <!--[endif]-->After the Test Drive

<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.        <!--[endif]-->Feel free to discuss the issues / observations with the exec, but keep in mind that since its a car which is used for testing, it might not be in top shape.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.       <!--[endif]-->However, your observations may be true to the issues you might face in the long run, sooner or later.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.        <!--[endif]-->Note the Odometer / kilometre gauge on the car you test

<!--[if !supportLists]-->d.       <!--[endif]-->Its always good to leave feedback and collect the price list. As a green initiative, I encourage you to download the features brochure, rather than collecting hard copies

<!--[if !supportLists]-->e.       <!--[endif]-->Do not feel shy to ask for another test drive if you are unsure about anything. Remember, its your hard earned money afterall.   

All the points above, will have a rating parameter associated with you. This would depend on the user.

Happy test driving 

First Steps - Driving

Hi,

just thought of penning my thoughts down... my wife started her driving classes... and I was giving her some tips...  so thought I would might as well pen them down... phrase them correctly and then make it into a neat article

Day1: I went along with her to her class, and it was a theory class... With due respect to the instructor, I truly enjoyed the way he explained the CAR to my wife... who is a chartered accountant... (She and car theory are two parallel lines - this was the onset)

I would address the instructor as Rameshji, (R).

R told her about the car dashboard, the instruments, the signals and the switches. Then he went on to show her how to open the bonnet... that was the best part: he told her, "see, inside this is the engine, all the other parts are engine parts"

I was thinking... and forgot everything else that was on my mind... 

Then he told her that they are not allowed to open the fuse box and also misled her to believe that water was poured directly into the radiator. He termed it as ‘engine pani’... which I would understand as coolant. But my wife actually asked me, why we poured the “Green coloured liquid” into the engine and not water.

So much for that episode. Once we got home, I showed her in a little more detail about how the gear works, and also the different components of the engine and the battery water etc etc.

While teaching her, I realised, it would be a nice idea to just blog about it, and detail some of the little tips which are missed out by the instructor, in the excitement of the new driver and just an another job for the instructor.

Just to detail them, I would like to bullet the points

Just broadly classifying them into 2 aspects, being Before Ignition and After Ignition (starting the car)

Before Starting the Car – Before Ignition

1.       Sit in the seat

2.       Depress the Clutch fully, and check if you are comfortably sitting.

3.       Adjust the seat accordingly – back and forth – this would minimise the stress while clutching and also reduce the chances of half clutching – both are a major wear on the car

4.       Once seat is adjusted – check the internal rear view mirror – ideally this would show you the rear windshield and you should be able to see the “C”* pillar in the extremes of the mirror

5.       Adjust the back rest accordingly so u are sitting comfortably and can see the rear side of the car as well, after adjusting the internal rear-view mirror.

6.       Then adjust the right side external rear view mirror – thumb rule, the inner 1/3^rd of the mirror to show the rear end of your car, and 2/3^rd to show you the road.

7.       Do likewise for the left hand side mirror as well

8.       After you have adjusted your seating and mirrors, then put on your seat belt. This I say, since once you put on your belt, it would be difficult to make the adjustments to the seat and the mirrors.

9.       Once strapped in, recheck if you are sitting comfortably and have a good view on the mirrors

10.   Turn on the key to ignition position – this should tell you if there is any issue with the car: say low engine oil or fuel etc – today’s cars are intelligent to display any malfunctioning part or the vitals of the engine.

11.   Depress the clutch fully

12.   Change gear to neutral

After Starting the Car

1.       Release handbrake – if engaged

2.       Check your left and right side – assuming that u have a clear road ahead

3.       Indicate accordingly – left or right

4.       Re-check for any incoming vehicle on either side

5.       Engage gear

6.       Happy and safe driving