Deep dive into the terms and concepts mentioned in Chapter 2

Antah Asti Prarambh is a Sanskrit phrase translated as “the end is the beginning.” It often reflects a philosophical or spiritual understanding that endings can lead to new beginnings or transformations. According to Hindu philosophy, life is not linear but cyclical. Birth, death, and rebirth are seen as interconnected phases rather than absolute ends. Endings often prompt necessary change, allowing for personal growth and new opportunities. The conclusion of one phase can lead to the commencement of another. In the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Shri Krishna describes God as a continuum with no end or beginning. (https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/10/verse/20).

Cell House in San Francisco is a historical site on Alcatraz Island. Until 1963, it was used as a prison for some of the most notorious criminals in American history, Al Capone in the 1920s and George “Machine Gun” Kelly in the 1930s. Today, the Cell House is part of the Alcatraz Island National Park (https://www.nps.gov/alca), and a famous tourist spot.

Crooked Street, officially called Lombard Street, is an east-west street in San Francisco, California, famous for a steep, one-block section with eight hairpin turns. At an elevation of 325 ft, Lombard Street takes one through 8 very steep and curvy switchbacks at a 27% grade, which means, for every 100 ft drive, the street drops 27 feet. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvWA0YHdbxI).

Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate Strait, connecting San Francisco to Marin County in California. (https://presidio.gov/explore/attractions/golden-gate-bridge). The bridge was constructed between 1933 and 1937. It is 2.7 kilometres long with a main span of 1,280 meters, making it one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. Its distinctive International Orange colour enhances visibility in San Francisco’s frequent fog. The Golden Gate Bridge have  rightly become a symbol of San Francisco and American engineering prowess.

Howrah Bridge is a balanced steel bridge over the Hooghly River linking the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata. Commissioned in 1943, it carries more than 100,000 vehicles and even more pedestrians, easily making it the busiest cantilever bridge in the world. The bridge has been shown in numerous films, and is indeed a cultural icon. (https://www.hotelpolotowers.com/blogs/the-iconic-history-of-howrah-bridge.html)

JEE Advanced Exam is an academic examination held annually in India that tests the skills and knowledge of the applicants in physics, chemistry and mathematics. Ranked as one of the toughest exams in the world, the exam is tricky and difficult because it is framed to “reject candidates, not to select them.” Close to 200,000 students appears and only one in four qualifies.

Magadha was an ancient kingdom based in the eastern Ganges Plain. The region was ruled by several dynasties. (https://www.cheggindia.com/general-knowledge/magadha-dynasty/)

Maya is a fundamental concept in Hindu philosophy. It is called a magic power with which a god can make human beings believe in what turns out to be an illusion. It is seen as cosmic force that presents the infinite Brahman as the finite phenomenal world. Maya is reflected on the individual level as ego which makes one feel that he/she is the doer of what is happening around without appreciating the higher systems and forces that acts upon mankind in the this world and decide their choices. In Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Shri Krishna declared Maya as His own creation. It can’t be penetrated except by the Yogic effort of the highest order, in rarest of the rare cases. (https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/7/14/).

Silicon Valley is a global center for high technology and innovation. Located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, it corresponds roughly to the geographical area of the Santa Clara Valley. Until the 1960s it was the largest fruit-producing and packing region in the world. The growing high-tech industry in the 1960s transformed the area from farmland to densely populated cities. As technology companies have spread out from Silicon Valley, Fremont is called the “Gateway to the Silicon Valley.” Home to nearly 2 million, the San Jose metro area includes Stanford University in Palo Alto, Google’s headquarters in Mountain View and Apple headquarters in Cupertino. With With $150,000 per capita in annual gross domestic product, Silicon Valley residents out-produce almost every nation on the planet.

Parkinson’s disease is an age-related degenerative brain condition, meaning it causes parts of your brain to deteriorate. It’s best known for causing slowed movements, tremors, balance problems and more. Most cases happen for unknown reasons, but some are inherited. The condition isn’t curable, but there are many different treatment options. (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/parkinsons-disease/)

World mixture of Good and Bad, according to Gita.

The merit of an action can be evaluated from the attitude of mind (to you and to others) that it would create or enable. If the action would pull down the mind to make the person identify with the body, it is bad. For example, hunger and disease pulls down the mind to the body. So alleviating these of people is a noble activity. If it would make the person identify with the mind, it is better. If it would make the person identify with pure Consciousness, it is best. (https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/18/20/, https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/18/21/, and https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/18/22/)

Every person does any action only if it gives benefit in the short-term or in the long-term. Gita says, an action that gives benefit in the short-term but harms in the long-term is wrong. An action which appears inconvenient in the short-term but gives benefit in the long-term is right. (https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/18/37/, https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/18/39/) This analysis can be used in many situations to decide.

No Absolute Good or Bad is the understanding that good and bad can vary based on
personal experiences, beliefs, and emotions. People’s values may evolve as they encounter
different life situations, leading to diverse interpretations of morality. Various philosophical
traditions, including existentialism, pragmatism, and utilitarianism, support the idea that
moral truth is not absolute but somewhat influenced by human circumstances and practical
outcomes. Yin and Yang in Chinese philosophy symbolise how good and bad are part of a
larger, more intricate harmony, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of morality and
experience. In the natural world, good and bad forces are interconnected and
interdependent. An act that may seem bad in one context (e.g., a harsh lesson learned) can
ultimately lead to a good outcome (e.g., personal growth). What is considered good or bad
can depend on perspective and context.