Get up

The moment I saw this picture, my mood brightened up all the more. I shared my joy with my friend and son who were with me yesterday.

A few tips that I try to adopt when there is a sort of mental sickness and suffocation.....

• Dress up nicely to look and feel good.
• Get out of the house and breathe fresh air. At least stand in the balcony for sometime.
• Watch the birds, sky, stars, moon etc for sometime.
• Visit my dear friend (if available/possible) or temple or cinema or any outing.
• If I could not get out of the house, read Self development books.
• Chat with people whom I love.
• However, the one thing that brings peace within minutes is taking a fresh bath, meditate and send Love & Light to the person who has hurt me.

Of course, there were times when I took time to recuperate inwardly.

I have never hated anyone or anything so far. I do not want to die with any pending equations with anybody and work out my karmas in my subsequent births, for I strongly believe in the Law of Karma.

Very importantly, I believe only in Love. When misunderstandings happen, I try to become a quiet observer, for any justification or argument triggers more pain than any gain.

I really like this well dressed up small boy walking in the pool of water. I wonder what had been through in his mind at the time of walk. However, he was successful in inspiring me to write this blog. :)


P.S. Picture courtesy - a forwarded email received yesterday

Welcome, Mr. President!

The much awaited inaugural speech was delivered today by the young and new President of US with great zeal and fire. He has lighted lots of hope to a world of despair and disintegration. I am unable to quote from his speech as the transcript is not readily available yet.

The tasks ahead of him are mammoth in quality and quantity. The world is going to watch his every move from now on. On a lighter side, we have to wait and see whether he'll continue to keep his personal Blackberry to stay in touch with masses. :)

People should understand that no transformation can happen overnight and he must be given enough time to work out his ambitious goals. He may or may not succeed but the stones would surely start rolling in his term.

We can use our hands to show our fist or shake others'. Here is a President ready to shake cordially. Not only Americans, the whole world must applaud loudly and extend ours.

History is going to be yours, Mr. President if only you live upto your words.

My salutations!

Butterfly effect

Nature – the player of continuous ‘change’.

I remember how involved was I in observing nature during my childhood than at present, for the reasons are many.

The colour combinations of a butterfly had always fascinated me. And the grace with which it carries its colours is a real marvel. I had sincerely followed the route of every butterfly that flew past me till it vanished from my eyesight. You need enormous patience, taste and time for such observations. And the findings were always interesting but I could never comprehend them with my little brain at that time. Being shy, I never asked any for clarifications either. Of course, I had never wished to touch them to see if their colours were infectious. One important thing I learnt is to observe quietly; lest I might disturb their peace and harmony within and around.

Nature has seen many colours of butterflies. Many come and go in the big cauldron of time. There is no dearth of butterflies so far. But every butterfly adds beauty to its place and clan. Each one has its own significance, for every life has its purpose and mission to accomplish. We must remember this and respect their existence.

In the backdrop of sunrise and sunset, the butterflies appear all the more beautiful. I had also witnessed and felt the pain of those butterflies that were ripped apart by the naughty children in my helpless little heart then.

There are no paradigm shifts in my findings all these years. Probably I have not evolved mentally. But whenever I had seen a butterfly or an ant or a beetle or any non-evolved being (in human standards) dead, I used to ask a few questions within –

• Do their friends and family mourn their loss?
• Could there be fights and disputes?
• Do they realize that they too have to die one day like their fellow beings?
• Are the feelings and emotions exclusive for humans? If yes, are they a boon or curse?
• Are the pains and hurts more powerful than joys?

Astonishingly, I find most of the answers in affirmative for humans. Is it due to the signature of evolution?

The gift of nature reverberates everywhere. I don’t mind getting succumbed to the charms of nature as the peace emanating from it is overwhelming. But I need to go further as a part of highest evolution by spreading this peace and harmony around.

My life is no different from the butterfly in its limitations. Am I spreading the same joy, colours, peace & harmony when I pass around, is what I need to work out on before I am swept by the cyclic current of ‘Change’.

To achieve this, I must be a reservoir of peace on the first hand.

Life is Perfect

I’d heard of ‘The Last Samurai’ a few years back. When Swami Mitrananda recommended a couple of movies to watch, I decided to go ahead last week. Well, I wanted to wait for 4-5 days whether I really have the urge to write about it. I do have still. Hence this blog.

The film is about an American war shooter & captain, Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) and the Samurai Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe). It is one of the grandest movies I’ve ever seen in terms of slick direction, sharp dialogues, fabulous canvas and what to mention about the excellent performances of Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe and all others. In fact, Ken Watanabe outshone Tom Cruise. Though it appears to be a typical war movie, a lot of wisdom is soaked into it.

I am not going to talk about the story as it might run into pages as I leave it to the readers to watch on their own to believe it (if not watched before). I am also not going to revel on the technological sleekness and the grandness of the movie. I am neither going to talk about the extraordinary efforts of the actors / director who had made the movie a grand success; especially for Tom Cruise who is into Scientology for many years. I am also not interested whether the story is cent percent true or not, though I am aware that it is based on the true story of the Samurai.

Sometimes, the warmth of one hour talk could be compensated by a second of silence. Sometimes, words in pages could be conveyed in a single camera shot. Sometimes, even many frames could not give the deeper meaning of a couple of words. Likewise, I’m yet to come out of a few scenes that are deeply intriguing….. some are aesthetically beautiful, some are gory truth, some are subtle realities, some are simply astounding.

Imagine this simple yet very powerful scene….

Nathan kills Samurai’s brother-in-law, Hirotaro in a war defence move but held captive by Katsumoto instead of killing him. Nathan is taken to a secluded village where he is nursed day and night by a mother of two. He is shocked to find out that the lady is none other than Hirotaro’s wife. So are we! Because the lady shows absolute devotion and dedication in her work knowing fully well that Nathan had killed her husband. She takes care of that man who has made her a widow, who has made her two children lose their father permanently.

The Samurai though appears rough and tough outside, he is so beautiful and soft in his heart. A group of Japanese trained soldiers tries to enter into the village at night to kill Katsumoto when the Samurai is engaged in entertaining the villagers by his dance/drama skills. Nathan helps him vanquish the enemies. The very next morning he writes a poem which he shares with Nathan saying he is unable to complete the last sentence. But he completes the poem as ‘Life is perfect’ in the most strange situations (It may take sometime for me to overcome this scene I think).

Yes, life is like a sinusoidal curve with crests of joys and troughs of sorrows. No one is exempted. But we can make our life a celebration even at the gravest of situations.

I do not want to survive; I do not want to exist; I want only to live. To live a life of no ill-feelings… a life of love and dedication…. a life of thanksgiving… a life of celebration… for Life is ever Perfect.

A fond feeling

He is my all-time favourite. I feel a vibration within whenever I think of him, his stature, his words or his works. I slip safely into the world of his days when I read his books. I have no idea if I posted these verses here before but I could not stop my urge to post it again.

Yes, read along to know about the stalwart man....

Piercing eyes
Irresistible looks
Majestic personality
Beautiful smile
Powerful words
Eloquent speech
Soulful music
Matchless intellect
Melting heart
Timely wit
Abundant knowledge
Photographic memory
Childlike innocence
Dreamy quest
Never-say-die spirit
Carefree attitude
Unconditional love

I keep looking at his awesome figure
Till tears roll down uncontrollably
My heart dances when I read his magical works
Who is this stranger to me I don’t know
Whom I have neither seen nor talked
But I respect, adore and love him

He is the man
Who drills immense courage
Enthusiasm and love in me
Even at grave situations
And whose works shed
A ray of hope in my life
The world says
I can never see this man
Yet….
I have a desire
To meet him only once
In my solitude and silence
And get drenched completely
In his wisdom and love
He is none other than
The one and only
Swami Vivekananda

I had secretly envied Sister Nivedita, Sister Christine, Alasinga, Joe and many others for having got maximum attention from him. Everytime I read his autobiography, I didn't want him to die at the age of 39. And needless to mention, everytime I end up crying. In the year 1894, he has written to Alasinga Perumal thus:

"Struggle, struggle, was my motto for the last ten years. Struggle, still say I. When it was all dark, I used to say, struggle; when light is breaking in, I still say, struggle. Be not afraid, my children. Look not up in that attitude of fear towards that infinite starry vault as if it would crush you. Wait! In a few hours more, the whole of it will be under your feet. Wait, money does not pay, nor name; fame does not pay, nor learning. It is love that pays; it is character that cleaves its way through adamantine walls of difficulties."

January is always a special month for me, for his birthday falls on January 12.

I've a long way to go...

When my plants cry
Out of pinning pains of winter
I sit beside them helplessly…
What could I do to warm them up?

When the Sun and Moon
Smile at the destinies of lives
I express my inability aloud…
Where do the paths lead to?

When my random thoughts
Shape into voices and actions
I ask myself candidly…
How could they bounce so fast?

I’ve a long, long way to go
To unravel the questions of unknown
Also I’ve a long, long way to go
To discard all of my own

Picture courtesy : Google search

Some more 'Winter'

Children's world is always simple and beautiful. As far as I've seen, they care less for climatic changes and hence no grumblings even during hot summers and cold winters.

As promised in my last blog, I'm posting some more 'Winter' poems here written by Atul's friends on the same day. Please keep in mind that these children were given only 10 minutes to write.

Read and enjoy the innocent expressions...


1) By Varsha Kumar

Winter is when the snow fall
and there's a white blanket on the big trees tall
and when it's cold outside and also wet
everyone stays inside with a big blanket


2) By Varsha Subramanian

OH! Winter,Winter
How do you flush away the summer.

The bright sun is never shone,
And the breeze blows in a 'OOO' tone

The sleep increases in these days for me,
& the habit of drinking hot milk and tea.

As days pass by,
Christmas comes by.

And at this day the world shouts 'HURRAY'
Children,parents,cousins,aunts & uncle have a holiday

But then we have to say bye bye,
To the winter faries that wear a tie.

I know that I will see it again and again,
Just 9 months to wait.


3) By Aditya Kamath

Winter's coming, winter's coming
The roads are covered with ice
To avoid the snow and avoid the cold
The houses are full of mice

The heaters are on
The children are coming out at dawn
To play their snowball fights
Or to see beautiful sights

The schools are closed
And sweaters are used
Winter's coming, winter's coming
Switch on the Christmas lights tonight