The week that was…

As entire India was either “protesting” or “celebrating” in support of Anna Hazare, I was doing some pretty useful stuff.

1. Though all I did was help myself, I assume I can be of help to others in the future. I knew I had people waiting to help me. But I had never made up my mind to consciously receive the help universe wanted to offer me. Finally, I attended a Pranic healing workshop. Guess what, I’m a certified healer now. Yaaay!! :D In Pranic healing, we tap into the abundant energy/prana and heal the one in need. I was amazed to see how we could play with energy. Something intriguing happened to me during the two days of the workshop. While tapping into the Divine energy -- I felt like I belonged there. We all are God’s children, right? When I meditated there, I truly felt that I was God’s child. I could see that I was a beautiful little glowing light.

Every feeling and every thought of mine is very sacred according to me. And I believe it won’t remain sacred if I share everything. But it was a little different last weekend. I wanted to share a thing or two with my instructor. That I did. I hardly share anything willingly. If it’s a new person, it’ll take longer for me to even talk informally. My instructor had a positive aura about her. I always wanted to be as disciplined and as ethical as her. But somewhere it might have died down. I have no idea how to express this. I have no chord connected to her, but then I think…may be the Universe will hear me better when I shout out in this manner. All I can say is that I could see she was blessed. I could feel I was blessed. I’m sure you are blessed. If you don’t already know, now is the time! Say a prayer and utter aloud that you are blessed. I promise you’ll feel better no matter how good or bad your day was.

2. Who’s the greatest cricketer on Earth or Mars?

WoOo!! I made a Radio Documentary on the greatest cricketer on Earth and Mars. He was an excellent all rounder – a match winner – a true LEGEND! Sir Garfield Sobers. J The King of Cricket as he is known. Sir Gary has inspired me so so much. What I like about him the best is of course his free spirited nature. His hard work, his commitment and his discipline are inspiring. He was a true gentleman of the game. There seems to be so much to learn from him. 9000 runs at an average of 58, 265 wickets at an average of 33, and 121 catches – sometimes statistics don’t do justice to the talent, but here his numbers speak for themselves. No doubt, he’s a ‘Knight to Remember’.

PS: I’m not Anna Hazare.

Independence = Freedom?

Yes, you guessed it! This comes right after our nation ‘celebrated’ Independence Day. It has been 65 long years after the British left us on our own – we are now “Independent” or so they say and we believe it. Okay, here's a small activity for you. How many of you actually remember a few events or episodes from your childhood? If you do remember, take two minutes to check if the images of those events are vivid or not. So, do you believe that those events actually took place? I, for a matter of fact, don’t remember most of the happenings in my childhood. All I know about my childhood is what I have heard from my parents. And what I have thought about those narratives over the years. The processing and re-processing has helped me come to an understanding that these were the things that happened when I was a 6 year old or a 5 year old. Hence, it appears as if I remember it and I totally believe that I have experienced it. So is it reality or is it just what we believe to be true? Do you now agree that it is simply an illusion or could even be a delusion? – Well, I’m a psychology student and I have got an amazingly awesome teacher! \m/

The same I guess applies to the delusion we live in. The delusion being we are independent as a nation and hence are free as a nation.

1. Once every single person realizes that s/he is free, a country or a community with a shared identity can actually claim being free. It has to happen at an individual level for it to actually be seen on a large scale. Every drop of water that constitutes a large ocean counts, right?

2. We have taken it for granted that independence at a national level is same as freedom at an individual level. I’m afraid I have a different view point. We say India is a free nation. Free of what? Intruders? How can we be free as a nation when there are so many unaware minds full of intruding negative thoughts? Independence is only a notion. It is only a term; a label.

3. No man is free who is not master of himself said Epictetus. Being independent of thoughts and controlling our body-mind alone will lead us to the ultimate freedom. Free from all worries and free from the material world so to speak.

4. I now know that an organized life makes me feel good. So I have pointers in my article. This, I’m sure, will inspire you to do something as simple that brings you joy.

Old habits die hard. I get back to my normal style of writing. I wasn't in my best of moods on Independence Day. Yes, it means different things to different people and doesn't mean anything to a few. For me, it was a reminder of sorts. A reminder that independence is in the mind and isn't all that difficult to attain. But our conditioned mind, doesn't let us expand ourselves to the truth that we need to make an effort to consciously feel free. I always try and remember what Lao Tzu said - He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

Have I muddled and befuddled your well conditioned minds? (:P) Don't worry. Forget everything I said and find a place of quiet and stay silent - of noise and thoughts. Feel the abundance that life has got to offer!!

If I was a Rainbow...

From over a few weeks, one song has helped me wriggle out of every little doubt I have had about myself. It is beautifully written and is a wonderful composition altogether. Next time, dear reader, you feel low for some reason - listen to this track!! It's wonderful :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eItW_QPBh5M&list=FLp8q6cPrhlSo&index=1

call it love or emptiness...

╭♥╯I start out on this road,

call it love or emptiness.

I only know what’s not here.

Resentment seeds, back scratching greed,

worrying about outcome, fear of people.

When a bird gets free,

it does not go back for remnants

left on the bottom of the cage.

Close by, I’m rain. Far off,

a cloud of fire. I seem restless,

but I am deeply at ease.

Branches tremble. The roots are still.

I am a universe in a handful of dirt,

whole when totally demolished.

Talk about choices does not apply to me.

While intelligence considers options,

I am somewhere lost in the wind. ╭♥╯

Rumi