VIBGYOR

For a girl, I'm quite laid back and boring to shop with. But today I was in a mood to shop. Yes, you heard me right. It was raining and I went out to shop alone. At around 6 after college I went to a busy shopping complex. Having nothing in particular to buy I went to the accessories area and found nothing interesting. I even went to the vegetables and fruits section. I finally ended up picking a pair of green footwear and an orange khadi bag. All of a sudden, I seem to have fallen in love with all the different colours. If you didn't know -- I was a very grey and brown person before. I couldn't stand any other colour. Here I am, totally in love with exotic green and orange and indigo and what not! Talking of colours, I just finished reading True Colours by Adam Gilchrist which is a beautiful account of his life. Very honest and candid. All you cricket fanatics would like it. I can also brag about how I passed Gilchrist looking in his eye and didn't care to even say a 'hello'. On a different day, I would have probably gone crazy and taken a few snaps with him and would have told him how I love his batting and keeping. Things have changed with yours truly. She's a matured kid now. She's not crazy about anyone except Graeme Swann and Rafa ;)

Shout Out

A shout out to my friend and some interesting stuff: There was this girl in my class whose note on facebook I happened to read accidently. That probably opened up a new dimension in my life. The note spoke of 2012 and introduced me to David Wilcock. A few weeks after I read the post I spoke to that girl in class about it which I hardly remembered by then. She kept speaking, I kept asking questions. I found her very welcoming much opposite to the notion I had of her. I knew she was intelligent but what I didn’t know was that she was a very warm person. She spoke of many things I didn’t know and didn’t want to know. But that conversation left me wanting for more. I was awed by her knowledge and my ego, for some reason, didn’t intervene. I have gone back to her several times since then. It has been a great learning journey for me ever since I met her. I’m thankful to her for introducing me to the 'world of spirituality' so to speak.

Her name’s Kartika and it’s her day today. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to gift her today because I could think of almost nothing creative. I’m probably the last person who would express my feelings aloud except when I write. I wished her a plain ‘happy birthday’ in class :P and that’s it. I’m not sure if I want to link her to this post but I’ll do it anyway. Kartika, here’s wishing you a very Happy Birthday!! =) Don’t you ever dare think no one cares for you. Do you even realize what a gem you are? Let’s celebrate our lives together in Krishnapuram or elsewhere. Let’s all do some gardening, meditation, star-gazing and everything. May be we’ll have our chance to meet a few of our friends from Orion :D I wish you all the success in your life from the bottom of my heart. You can feel that eh? Stay Blessed and keep smiling sister!! =)

Lots of Love and Light!!

XOXO

The Natural Silence [2]

I was doing a peewee research today when I came across something dramatic in a scientific study conducted by neurologists. The study stated many facts and findings. But what stuck me was this piece and I wrote it down immediately for my dear readers. So what if you are only few in numbers. So what even if you don’t want to leave comments or star my articles. I’ll share my experiences anyway thinking it’ll touch someone somewhere at some point. Ok, this is what I read:

~ It has been estimated that at the end of the Middle Ages, a mere 800 years ago, it took the average human brain six weeks to encounter the stimuli we routinely encounter in a single day ~

You would be thinking – OMGGMOMWACOT [acronym for Oh My Goodness Gracious Me Oh My With A Cherry On Top] right…That was exactly my reaction too. Just imagine our lives without opening our mouth for a week. It is also worth reminding ourselves of the many enlightened souls today who opened up to the Truth (so to speak) after observing many days of silence. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Guruji is one example I can think of. We are absorbed in a world full of stimulation – tv, computer, radio, interacting with people both verbally and non-verbally. I’ll tell you what’s funny? We mostly make conversations just for the sake of it. It’s not that we intend to know what’s happening in other’s lives but we just enquire because we think it’s polite. In reality, if we look closer, less is more – the lesser you talk the more bonding you feel and higher will your vibrations be. If you want to help people around, why talk and mess it up? Just stay in your silence - your energy field will give them much comfort. The problem is that we are in the world of cognitive overstimulation and the frenetic pace of life totally consumes us. We need to take it easy. There are hundreds of monks who stay away from all these stimuli. They tune out of this world and tune in entirely into their being, their true nature. Oh but, we can’t do without watching Rafa’s first round Wimbledon match. We can’t do without watching England thrashing Sri Lanka (or so I would like to believe) in the test series. Eh? Let me be clear – I’m certainly not saying we need to become monks and nuns. No. Sure, we have to find the right balance. We need to make a choice because life is full of choices – Freedom you see. Let’s take some time off and decide what’s important for us and what’s not. When we have our preferences straight, we can choose to avoid certain stimuli. For example, we can surely do without talking of who’s dating who or worrying about others. We have enough issues already. When you take care of yourself, everything else will be taken care of. Spend some time alone with nature or even your room will do. Consider the three golden rules: Don’t think. Don’t Judge. Don’t Label. Stay in the silence. You are the silence. Yeah? Simple? Let’s do it yo!! \m/

Aum.

The Natural Silence [1]

“Why are you so silent all the time?” - I was recently asked by my classmate. I didn't know what to say. But I did say something silly like – “why do you eat all the time?” :D well, he stays away from home so he kind of longs for home food and he can't be blamed. Coming back, I actually didn't know why I was silent all the time. In college, people think I’m a loner. Many of them have been very sweet to come up to me and ask if everything was okay. A few think I prefer solitude over company [that I do to a certain extent]. Honestly, that’s not my intention.

Earlier, I used to be all by myself going to the library –> reading 5-6 newspapers. Yes, I used to be alone but not quiet. I used to have a non-stop internal dialogue. Like say, the editorial of this paper is better than that or say, I like this columnist better. Such conversations used to go on forever. It can get very frustrating when you are that restless. Somewhere deep down I knew it was all a waste of time.

However, what I have noticed these days is that I don’t converse in my mind at all! I find it fascinating because that was my only pre-occupation for such a long time. Now, I feel more comfortable with my thoughts. I don’t argue with them. I let them be and they gradually disappear. It’s amazing the way it works. I don’t really practice meditation regularly (I meditate on alternate days – not ideal I know) and I still can feel this magic unraveling. It’s truly marvelous. I just don’t feel like talking. Not that I don’t like people. I, if truth be told, want to connect with people – not at the level of hugging and talking and having long conversations – but I love to connect with the heart of the other which feels so pure. Yeah, it’s not as simple as it sounds. I try to put it in practice and I can clearly feel strong resistance from all sides. And that’s the reason I prefer places where there are more trees and less people in my college campus because trees don’t resist. They just open up and love you unconditionally. There are some incredibly beautiful trees in my campus. I feel so good when I spend time just observing the different shades of green and OMG!! – the cool breeze, the high vibrations…need I say more?

I’m not defending myself for what I do. I don’t see the need to. I’m writing this because who knows, many of you out there might actually resonate with what I have got to say. Sometimes it’s so reassuring to see people like you; to know you are not alone. Well, if you are one of those you needn’t worry. Don’t TRY too hard to match up with others. Just be yourself. And always remember – you are a diamond soul. If you like being alone, close to nature, in a garden, hugging trees – what are you waiting for? Do it right away!! But then if you come across like-minded people, hang out with them. That will make you feel maaagical because there's a lot of sharing that happens. You share your knowledge and love, and you'll have positive vibrations all around you.

I made a decision this morning. I'm going to meditate everyday. Come what may I'm going to sit in my room or go out to the park and say hello to the beautiful plants and meditate for a few minutes. I've decided to meditate twice a day. I totally believe in the wonders of meditation. For those of you who are skeptic about it – well, try it once. You have nothing to loose, right? =) Let's go into deep meditation to experience abundant peace and joy. Don’t disturb your natural silence. Aum.

- Lots of love and peace to all.

Jhoom le

Beautiful song by Hariharan: http://player.raag.fm/player/?browser=flash&pick[]=6148

lyrics:

jhoom le hus bole le pyaari agar hai zindagi(2)

Saans ke bus ek jhomke ka saphar hai zindagi(jhoom le)

Dher hi banthe bhigadthe kuch ise laghthi nahi ah…. (2)

Phool ki dhivaar pr shabnam ka ghar hai zindagi

Saans ke bus ek jhomke ka saphar hai zindagi(jhoom le)

Ajnabi halaath se bhi huske milna chaahiye(3)

Har kadham par moodne vaali rah guzar hai zindagi (2)

Zindagi mein jo karna chahtha hai kar guzar oh… (2)

Kya khabar barsom ki hai ya lamha bhar hai zindagi (2)

Saans ke bus ek jhomke ka saphar hai zindagi(jhoom le)

Just Let Go and Go Where No Mind Goes...

All these forms - appearance emptiness

Like a rainbow with its shining glow

In the reaches of appearance emptiness

Just let go and go where no mind goes

Every sound is sound and emptiness

Like the sound of an echo's roll

In the reaches of sound and emptiness

Just let go and go where no mind goes

Every feeling is bliss and emptiness

Way beyond what words can show

In the reaches of bliss and emptiness

Just let go and go where no mind goes

All awareness - awareness emptiness

Way beyond what thought can know

In the reaches of appearance emptiness

Let awareness go - oh, where no mind goes

- Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche

One more to contemplate...

"A really existing red apple is infinitely richer in its formal appearance than an imagined red apple."

One to contemplate...

Stretching Sound is Music;

Stretching Smile is Laughter;

Stretching Feeling is Ecstasy;

Stretching Emptiness is BLISS.

- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Guruji

Today's learning...

When it's raining heavily you should just shut up and stand in shelter like everyone else around you. Especially when you are wearing the lightest shade of red kurta to college and don't have a shawl. Else you'll have to face all the gazing eyes and all the awkwardness that comes with it in your own college. And after going through all this, catch an auto which looks like it'll stand the rain and the storm or you'll probably end up getting down in a no man's (read public transport) land because your auto decides to stop and put you in more trouble. You'll have to later walk to the bus stand and get home with a head ache.
Today's learning: It is so much easier to enjoy heavy rain in public places if you are a guy...

Inspiring the Truth within us...

I'm one of those who strongly feel that inspiration is the source of everything. If I do what I do it is because my soul is inspired to take that step...

One poem that struck my chords right away was 'The Guest House' by Rumi. It is totally INSPIRING!!

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

-Love and Light

Constant changes...

Hola!! I have been a very busy girl off late. Well, I decide to blog on the last day of my two month holidays...

I indeed have a lot to share. I have had the privilege of meeting the right people at the right time. oh Where do I start? A long list of people have inspired my Being! I'm in love with myself, my true inner-self. I love my soul. I have realised that I'm truly a darling - self obsessed you may think. But no, each one of you are darlings!! I found out that I'm a glowing diamond soul. I'm not me. I am. I now recognize my true nature - LOVE. The eternal love!!

It was on a random day that i decided to google search random stuff. Yes, I came across some horrifying, disturbing pages. But there was one thing that interested me - Bhajans on Lord Krishna. I had heard them many times before - I thought they were good. But this time I FELT the true essence of it - the lovely fragrance of being divine. I listened to bhajans for hours and didn't stop there. Internet is probably the best thing that has ever happened. I searched for spiritual talks. Came across Buddhism (which had always interested me), Taoism, all sorts of spiritual Gurus offering help, all sorts of healers offering tips. I felt unconditional love. I totally believe that right things happen at the right time. I'm totally enjoying the ever-lasting experience of the divine. If you are thinking that all this is crap and there's no such thing like 'I'm Light and Love' -- well, I used to think the same. And guess what i did next?! I stopped THINKING!! :D I realized the power of NOW. Enjoy every moment when you are in this body [this meat suit :P] because every experience is unique and will never come back - I'm trying it as well.

Over the years, I have changed the appearance of my blog way too many times. From gray colour to white to blue to teal to brown; I have changed the theme, background, font, title - all because I believed my blog reflects my personality. Now when I look at my old posts I often say to myself - Was I thaaat lame? haha...I mean seriously!! It feels weird. Now I have changed the colour to green. Because that's the colour I currently love apart from indigo, teal, brown, blue (and all the other colours). When i change the theme of my blog, I change everything including the clock, the title to the clock :P, the 'indiblogger' badge colour and theme...so it's quite draining!!

This is one of the most unplanned and badly structured posts of mine. Anyway, see you all soon.

Lots of Love, Light and Peace to you all.

Namaste =)

An interview with Sri Jayendrapuri Swamiji

[The content cannot be reproduced without permission. This interview was part of a project at the University.]

Photo: Google images

Blissful Thoughts...

Who is a Guru? Guru is the one who takes you to light from darkness. He dispels the spiritual ignorance in one. Kabir says, “Guru and God both appear before me. To whom should I prostrate? I bow before Guru who introduced God to me.” Only an enlightened soul can tell you the importance of a Guru. Ask Sri Jayendra Puri Swamiji and he’ll tell you the importance of a Guru. Not to forget, hundreds of followers see a Guru in him. His deep sparkling eyes speak the truth we all look for. Sri Jayendra Puri Swamiji is the Pithadipati of Kailash Ashram Mahasamasthana in Bengaluru. He is the immediate successor of His Holiness Sri Tiruchi Mahaswamigal. Sri Jayendrapuri Swamiji has a flair for languages; he can speak German and Italian with ease. A person with utmost modesty and simplicity, he’ll give you any guidance required. You will never hear a “no” from him except when it comes to publicity. Followers come to see him everyday to seek his blessings. One can see the satisfaction in the faces of the devotees after having met him. In a small room he’s seated with a smile on his face which never disappears. The room has pictures of Gurus of all faiths. The place is quiet and serene. It looks as if tranquility follows everywhere he goes. Words have an added value when he utters them. Here are excerpts from the interview dating 10, February, 2011.

1. With the robe you wear also comes a lot of responsibility. George Herbert in ‘The Collar’ says that the robe is a burden; but later on, he hears God’s calling which he obeys. Have you ever had that sort of conflict in your mind?

Ø I have had no conflict at all. It has been a continuous flow because of parental background. George Herbert who comes from European background must have had two types of culture, only then there can be room for conflict. The significance of the saffron colour of the robe is total renunciation. There is no question of conflict at all. The robe is a reminder of the renunciation of worldly pleasures.

2. Everyone wants to be a self-realized person. How do we mortals even get closer to that? We all know Moksha or salvation is the ultimate aim of life. But how can an ordinary man who supports a family get closer to God?

Ø One thing we all need to understand is there is nothing ordinary and there is nothing special when it comes to the relationship with God. By ordinary if you mean not being able to get your hands on the scriptures, then I would say studying the scriptures is not the condition to be close to God. Anyone, regardless of caste, creed and gender, can get close to God. Kabir says, “Pothi Padh padh jug mua pandit bhaya na koi, dhai akhar prem ka padhe so pandit hoi”. It is not necessary to read the scriptures; two and a half letters word – prem – is enough to be a scholar.

3. Talking of scriptures, throughout India history we have seen the female gender being discriminated. Why women are not allowed the access to the Holy Scriptures like the Vedas and the Upanishads?

Ø Women have never been denied access to the scriptures. The realized souls haven’t stopped women from doing anything. In fact, the Rig Veda mentions many women Rishis including Ghosha Rishi. The Vedas also has volumes about Maitreyi and Gargi. It is only people with half-knowledge who say that women cannot read the Vedas.

4. What is your message to the Youth?

Ø My only message would be Purity at Heart; Purity in terms of truthfulness.

5. Is our education system competitive enough? Does it teach us the values of Life?

Ø You are talking of two issues here. The education system is excellent when it comes to the syllabus. But it is not maintained properly. The execution part of it should be improved. And about the values…the system has values and teaches values. But in most cases it is not practiced.

6. India has got a rich culture. But still people fancy western culture. Why is it so?

Ø Western culture “seems” to give freedom; the freedom which is dangerous. The western society is free but their religion is rigid. Whereas in India, the Society is rigid but the religion is free. It is for us to decide what kind of freedom we would like. People tend to go for the apparent freedom which is seen in the western society.

7. Inter-religion marriages are widely accepted today. What is your opinion on that?

Ø Every marriage is unique. Religion is NOT a criterion in marriage. The happiness in marriage has got nothing to do with caste or religion. Social custom is a guideline. It is not happiness. Social customs have got little to do with happiness in marriages.

8. Our routine is both painstaking as well as meaningless after a point of time. All that I do is go to college, come back home, finish my assignments and go to sleep. What is the purpose of existence?

Ø It is important to analyze what is meaningful and what is meaningless. Life is not a general issue. The problem with youth today is that they generalize things very quickly. Life is not casual. Life is beautiful. The purpose of life is to find the beauty of life. The challenge is to cross the boredom by meeting people who are enthusiastic, active, happy and truthful. Each one of us is unique. Be open to knowledge. When a person offers you a book, open and read it. Ask why the book was given to you. But do not argue. Rudeness will take you nowhere.

9. With every generation certain values are erased or modified. What do you have to say about such changes?

Ø Values have not been erased. Respecting elders, speaking the truth, helping others – these are all values which have been maintained. Values haven’t diminished either. We have read flowery scriptures about the past and assume that the previous generation had more values than we do. They have had number of wars. Do wars speak of values? No, they don’t. Every generation has both good and evil. When there was Kamsa, there was also Krishna. When there was Ravana, there was also Rama. When there were the Kauravas, there were also the Pandavas. In the seed form values do exist. The growth of values depends on who waters it. Values are ‘dharma’. ‘Dharma’ does not change.

10. A word on the Charitable Trusts the Mahasamsthana has initiated?

Ø All our schools are for low and middle class families. We have 5 schools spread across South India. Sri Jnanakshi Vidyaniketan is an English Medium school which imparts education with nominal fees. Sri Rajeshwari Vidyashala is the only private school which is being run for 46 years as a Kannada medium school. The one at Coorg imparts education for the children of coffee estate workers for free. There are also schools at Hulkoti, Gadag and one in Kaveripatnam, Tamil Nadu. The Veda Pathashala in the premises of the Rajarajeshwari Temple has more than 35 students. The Samsthana spends Rs.2500 on a monthly basis for each student in the Gurukul. There are children of all castes here.

Sri Sri Sri Tiruchi Mahaswamigal has been a true messenger of the Divine. What are your fond memories of him and his teachings?

Ø He never spoke on phone. He wore a white robe. He never used leather sandals. He always wore rubber slippers. He never ironed his clothes. He made sure it looked as if it were ironed by drying it in an orderly manner. He wore no accessories, not even rudrakshi. He didn’t use a personal car. He didn’t use a locked suit case. Instead, he preferred a bamboo basket. He has never touched coffee or tea all his life. He has always been a mother to everyone. He was very affectionate and compassionate. He believed in the principle ‘Cleanliness is Godliness’. He wanted everything in order. He disliked laziness. He often said that the person who is lazy has no right to eat. Everyday at eight in the evening there was an announcement made in the Ashram saying – There is no place for lazy people in the Ashram. This encouraged everyone to work harder and stay active.

With the many inspiring words of Swamiji, I left the ashram with the same pleasure and contentment that I saw in the faces of others around. Life is no more an issue. Life is full of meaning, purpose and bliss!

“No one answers the sword with ‘salaam’!”

[This was a very short paper presentation at College]

“ Many world famous philosophers, intellectuals, politicians repeatedly state that the lethal effect of a religion is just like the lethal effect of a harmful drug such as Opium. Fanaticism of a religion can be more dangerous than the harmful effect of a drug or alcohol.”

To the Western world, Taliban is a group of fanatics who terrorize the world in the name of religion. The Western understanding of the group itself is fundamentally flawed. Etymologically, the word Taliban, the plural form derived from the Arabic word ‘Talib’ meaning student. Therefore, in linguistic sense Taliban means a group of students who are open for knowledge. Initially, as a religious responsibility, Mullah Mohammed Omar, the spiritual leader of the Taliban, took over both defense and politics of the state which was under utter chaos. After the Soviet Union was forced out of Afghanistan, there was no law and order enforced on the public. Afghans had no choice but to listen to the bearded men who belonged to the Taliban.

Abdul Salaam Zaeef, the former Ambassador of the Taliban to Pakistan has written in his book ‘My Life with the Taliban’ that Afghanistan is the home of each Afghan. He also says that “the most important matter is to protect the honour of Afghanistan and its Islamic framework, including national Afghan traditions. These are the values which have protected Afghans, and for which Afghans have shed their blood and which have fueled their bravery, defeating every foreign invader and superpower in the world with the help of Allah.”

Mullah Zaeef’s ‘My Life with the Taliban’ says, “Now our nation is caught in a web woven by our neighbours and the foreigners with the help of a few. But the time will come when the Afghan people find their voice and come together to once again move forward at their own pace and along their own path.”

“No one answers the sword with salaam. And you cannot wash out blood with water. The sword is answered with the sword, and salaam with salaam. But it seems clear these days that America cannot tolerate anyone but itself, and this may lead to its collapse. Tolerance is the most necessary quality on earth; it can make the world into one home. But it is impossible that one person’s wish should dictate everything, no matter how much money or power is used.”

Indo-Afghan relations seemed fine till Pakistan tried to keep Afghanistan on its side to have a joint Muslim venture so that they could invade Indian territories. Pakistan never liked to see any foothold of India in Afghanistan. According to Ahmed Rashid, a respected Pakistani columnist, the Taliban leadership is sheltered by Pakistan in safe houses. Though they are grateful to Pakistan for the shelter provided to them, they are resentful of the constant Pakistani meddling in their internal affairs. After which Mullah Zaeef has gone on record saying that the Taliban is not against India. Their war is against America. Afghanistan and America are now bitter enemies. According to Zaeef, the Americans refused to understand Afghan traditions and culture, and that the Taliban had to defend the country’s independence, again as a religious responsibility.

Evidently, Afghans are the real sufferers caught between rock and hard surface. Strict followers of Islam consider groups like Taliban a black mark to their community. Ordinary Afghans have disowned them for their brutality. The future of Afghanistan is blurry and uncertain.

“ Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”

Nobel Laureate physicist Steven Weinberg