Wednesday, September 29




In a small pond, a frog, squatting on a lily pad,
listened attentively
as an angel described the glories of heaven.
At the end of the discourse
the frog asked,"Is it something like mud?"
- Anonymous


I think one of the most important aspects of humans is the fact that we can relate to only what we see, hear and touch. Can we really relate to anything beyond our world and our experiences? Is it hypocrisy to do so? A snow leopard in the snow and a bull-frog in the mud... they can see the world only through their environment. Neil Armstrong, during his Apollo11 mission said that earth looks so beautiful from moon. Staying at earth, from his own hometown he could not say so! As a human, I can never relate fully to other’s life and situations.
Faith calls for a different experience. One requires a faith-vision to see and empathize with others. 
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Monday, September 20



“More things are wrought by Prayer than the world dreams of.”... Alfred Lord Tennyson 
 (Definition of wrought:  deeply stirred, worked into shape by artistry or effort, elaborately embellished,    processed for use,  beaten into shape by tools)

an ancient Celtic prayer...



I saw the Christ arrayed in sunlight
on the windswept hills, and read a million
names of God engraved on ancient stones,
and in the gleeful dance of human flesh I felt
the gift of love and life that human spirit owns.
In flying cloud and crashing wave I rode
the wild wings of storm and strife;
Thus I, with joyful heart and wondering spirit wrote
of songs to search the mystery of living,
and celebrate the joy of life.




Photos : Himalayan terrains (from personal collections)

Monday, September 13

Telling God 'anyway'...

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.
 If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.
 If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
 If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.
 What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.
 If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.
 The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.
 Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.
 In the final analysis, it is between you and God....It was never between you and them anyway.

This  'Anyway' writings were found on the walls of the home of Sisters of Charity, Calcutta and is credited to Mother Teresa . It is said that this was also found on the walls of  her own bed room . 
Reading this prayer will quickly tells me of the spirit in which the Sisters of Charity work and pray. How simple things are when 'in the final analysis', everything is between me, me and God alone. Not for the world to see... not for the world to understand and it is never never between you and me anyway! Can I really take life between me and God alone in everything around me? If so, how honest my life has to be!


Thursday, September 9

I catch them still...




As a child I always wanted to catch them. I was never successful. Now, the child in me still wants to catch them! I catch them still!






 ***
Photos from personal collections, having given a touch in Photoshop.

Tuesday, September 7

The Camouflage...



Hello! It is good that you have discovered me! My name is.......... and this is my art of survival. While you people spent lots of money and time to dress-up like your surroundings, I also do it...do it just like that.
Though you and I camouflage, there is a big difference: You camouflage to fight wars ...You survive to kill. I camouflage simply to survive and multiply. For you, camouflage is a weapon of war. For me it is a necessity of life.  
I have also seen how much time some of you spend to match your blouse with your saree-shades and to fix the right match for you salwar-bottoms. I don’t have any such problems. Camouflage is a way of life for me. Since millions of years, like me my family was also dressing up. 

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Photo Location: The Mangrove Bio-park near my home. 

Friday, September 3

"Oh! I am sorry..."


One of the most important attitudes that I have to sharpen is to recognize that not everything in life needs to be fixed! The other day a close friend of mine called me to tell me that he was going to purchase a 16-speed multi-gear spots cycle. This was an imported top-of-the-line stuff. He wanted to know if I was interested in picking up a cycle too. For weeks together, there was a conversation in my heart about this issue: whether to buy a cycle or not. Well, an entry-level cycle of this sort costs around         ` 30,000. “Apart from money, do I really need it?... really need it?”   That was a bigger question that I had bumped into!  Finely I decided that I would not go for an imported multi-gear cycle. 

We must learn our calls… our ways and our methods of journeying. It can totally differ from others. It can be unique… it can be innovative. Just because someone is travelling in a cab or an imported cycle does not mean that I must do the same.

One of the most astonishing trends that I have noted is the manner in which today’s youth spend money on electronic gadgets… be it mobile phones, laptops, digital ‘clicks’, iPods…. and the list goes on and on. The other day, a junior staff in my office surprised me with his latest toy: a `10K mobile with a touch screen!  And, a  `100K motorcycle is a common ‘vroom’ these days.
 
The proclivity of today’s society to imitate her neighbour is very strong. The amazing aspect is that the society not only imitates, but also parades it! Flaunting wealth is as joyful as spending it! After all, if no one sees our new pretty gadgets, why owe it? This tendency goes deep to any depth: even the humble briefs and the bras get an exhibition in a tacit call to flaunt! (“Oh! I am sorry, my strap shows!”)

What is my method of journeying?

Well, my multi-gear sports cycle friend phoned me again today.  He tells me that he wants to buy an imported brand-new Harley Davidson motorcycle for  ` 600K.       How is that!!

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