Your life’s puzzle

Each and every creation of nature is beautiful. It fills a place in this vast universe that is unique for itself. Human beings are no exception. Whatever we think of ourselves, we occupy a unique position in this Universe, each one of us.

The problem is, when we are born, nature doesn’t reveal this picture. It is made into a jigsaw puzzle and the task is ours to complete the picture. We can very well put the pieces together and complete it during our life time.

The trouble starts when we look at others’ lives and lament,’ If only my pieces were like that, it would have been so nice’. Comparing our life with that of others and getting depressed, we lose time and by the time our life is over, we are nowhere near completion of this unique picture. Come on, let’s work with the pieces we have got, to compete it and admire its beauty!!

Eternal emptiness?

You touched my heartstrings

With the love rays from your eyes,

The melody that followed

Filled my heart, my lips trembled,

And my body quivered.

Those intense feelings of mine,

Solidified into ice, with your love gaze,

Forming a block of love.

It preserved my happiness, cooled my passion

And sustained my life.

Then the gaze wandered,

And my love block melted.

I felt the emptiness creeping in,

As the melting feelings dripped down,

Though my fingers were tightly closed.

When the alien vibrations encircled them

My hands cracked, and exposed

The emptiness as I opened them.

I stand with my open palms,

Is this emptiness eternal?

And the loneliness fixed

By those alien ripples?

Alone, yet not alone

In this fast paced life, everything around you is out to distance you from the actual and real journey that you have undertaken at the time of birth. We spend a precious life time amassing perishable goods and toiling hard to build up relationships that are mortal.

There is a brilliant truth residing inside you, in all its splendor, which can get you in touch with the ultimate bliss. Removing the innumerable veils that are masking this truth is a strictly personal exercise. If anybody thinks that there may be a companion to the path to salvation, it is a big mirage.

No two human beings can be on the same spiritual level and this makes communication between them an impossible task. It is only that the tolerant ones can listen to other view points, but aggressive persons will snub and ridicule. They just broadcast their view points, not even giving the other a chance to air their thoughts.

Companionship is valuable only to the extent of performing the worldly duties, bringing up family and fulfilling the social obligations. In the journey towards the inner truth, no mortal being can be your companion. At the same time one is not alone in the abstract sense. The ultimate truth, of which you are a part, is waiting eagerly to guide you in each step that you willingly take towards it. Search your inner core with complete devotion and you will be instantly in touch with this greatest companion of all!

The great jigsaw puzzle

We as humans are the only species that plan the future for the whole life. We have explicit ideas as to what we want to eat, what type of house and vehicle we should own and how others should be behaving with us (!). We can’t be happy if our expectations don’t materialize. Strangely enough, we can’t be happy even when they materialize, because by then new expectations have arisen.

There is nothing wrong in striving to achieve things in life. But majority of us fail to see our aspirations in relation to the whole picture of life. In this huge picture, we are just jigsaw pieces. So then, there is a limitation to what we can aspire and materialize.

It is when we overlook this aspect that we try to harm and overstep others for our selfish motives. This may go on for some sometime, but ultimately such attempts will backfire because they are not in tune with the master plan of Nature. Deceptions, lies and treachery have to get exposed with time and the concerned persons will get their due ‘rewards’ without any doubt.

Have an anchor

When you are going through your day today life, once in a while just stop and ponder whether you have an anchor in your life. When you experience the ups and downs of life it is this anchor that keeps you sane.

The anchor may be anything that one chooses for his life. Religion is one that serves millions of people around the world. Whichever anchor you choose, it helps you to grasp the underlying truth of life, that there is a power greater than you. It is this power that controls the movement of the planets, the heat of the sun, movement of the wind etc,
It is also the power that provides food for the umpteenth living organisms.
The moment we grasp the truth that there is a limitation to what we can do, we experience humility and this brings a different dimension to our lives. The world will go on even if we don’t do anything. Whatever we do, it is for our own sake, our own enrichment and experience. We will put in our best efforts and at the same time be thankful to that greater power for having given the opportunity to do. Give five minutes everyday to think about your anchor and see the life spreading a heavenly fragrance.

Independence Day

Millions fought for our sake
For us to get the much coveted Independence
Thousands died without even blinking,
For they were sure that we will take
Our Motherland to new heights.

On this sacred day that we got our country
Back into our own hands,
Let us muse what we have done
To make our fore fathers proud.

The Father of our nation taught
The role of simplicity and dedication
Through his life, have we emulated
Even a part of what he envisaged?

We no longer have external enemies to fight,
Our sages have given us the ultimate knowledge
Even if we follow a fraction of the legacy that they left,
We will experience Heaven, here, right now.

Let’s make a pledge today,
That we will work for the good
Of others and our country, without ever forgetting that
The rewards come from Heaven, not from those we do good to.

Let’s make a pledge
Of removing the veil of ignorance,
Layer by layer, for the light
Of knowledge to shine through.

Let’s use our intelligence
To tame our minds, to do deeds divine,
To realize our true selves,
And make our Motherland a Heaven on earth!

****************************

Keep your organs fit

There is a saying,’ When you have teeth, you don’t have food to eat, and when you get food to eat, you don’t have the teeth’. But nature has not designed it that way. Everything is designed for man to enjoy his life to the fullest. But man through his negligence, and sometimes ignorance, doesn’t take care of his assets that were supposed to last a life time.

Just look around and you will see examples all around you. See what strong and shapely bodies people have in their youth. But due to excessive and improper eating, they convert this beautiful creation into a barrel. Body is like a machine after all. For the health to remain for a life time, proper care needs to be taken.

People may spend hours at the gym developing muscles. It is definitely good to develop muscles. But one has to also think what runs this body efficiently. It is the internal organs that keep the body working. These organs need stimulation, exercise and oxygen to remain in health. These are provided by doing pranayama and yoga.

If one wants to enjoy the fruits of his labor in the later years of life, he has to start thinking about it right during his youth and spend some time daily for the proper care of his body.

Keep depositing

Our lives have an efficient banking system. Just like you can withdraw money from the bank only if you have deposited money, you will get life’s experiences depending upon the type of your thoughts and deeds. And remember, whatever experience that comes to you, is a matured account ready for release, though you may have forgotten the type of deposit (good or bad) you made years back.

Like the banking system, you will get simple interest and compound interest based on the time period. Inflation aspect is one thing people overlook in the life’s experiences. One good deed done in a life time, and they think its return should be indefinite and should have the same value. Unfortunately this doesn’t happen and they tend to turn bitter and miss out on the joys of life.

So remember the life’s simple rule, to keep on getting love and respect from others, you have to keep on giving same to all around you. Apart from getting infinite returns, it purifies your soul. Well well, isn’t this a sufficient incentive to put on your bright smile and love and help others?

Care for the body

 

 

I just got the servicing done for the body. And wasn’t it a heavenly experience! Since I got the address of this Ayurvedic centre, I have been on the look out to go there for the rejuvenation therapy. And it materialized recently.

 The stay itself in that rural setting with 100 year old trees around was an exhilarating experience. After my morning meditations, the songs of different birds and sounds of insects served as music for my ears.

The Ayurvedic doctor decided the type of oil for massage depending upon my body type (Vata, Pitta, Kapha). The massage and steaming brought out the toxins that have been accumulating in the body for years and with the passage of each day, I could feel the change in the muscle tone and skin texture.

Ayurveda is a gift of our ancient sages to maintain body health and mental tranquility. An Ayurvedic doctor makes his diagnosis taking into consideration the body constitution and mental make up, not considering organs as separate entities. There are so many ailments which can be corrected by consuming simple food materials. For example, drinking the soup of drumstick leaves maintains the blood pressure.

Some basic knowledge of Ayurveda will help the lady of the house to maintain the health of the family members and keep the medical bills low.

Be open

When the warmth of the day rose

And people were drenched in sweat

Down came the rain, bringing

The much needed respite.

Anything that goes up,

Has to come down,

This unwritten law of Nature,

Is accepted by everything, but the man.

As the rain poured down heavily,

Bringing strong wind that shook,

The trees so violently, but did I hear

The trees crying?

Do the trees have the intelligence

To know that the stronger the winds

They withstand, the sturdier their

Wood become?

There was a commotion on the street,

Dogs and cats running to find shelter,

Even they were not crying,

Over their wet bodies and the chilly wind.

Inside the house, watching the rain

Through the windows,

Men were cursing the rain ‘cos

The current went off due to fallen branches.

Isn’t man the only ‘closed’ Being

On the earth, refusing to accept

Nature and its diversities wholeheartedly

And enjoy the changes that it provides?

Maintain your tool

Today morning I was standing out in the balcony, listening to the chirping of the birds. My attention was drawn to the morning walkers. There was a couple; I had seen the lady being brought as a new bride eight years back. She was tall, thin and beautiful. Today she looks like a barrel, her neck has disappeared among the bulges of flesh. Her graceful walk has changed to a wobbling movement. I felt sad. What a beautiful body God had given her! In just eight years she has changed it to this form. Very soon she may fall victim to many long term diseases.

Then there was this man in the prime of his youth, with a big pot belly. Every few yards he had to stop to catch his breath. He is known for his late night parties and unlimited alcohol consumption. He has been diagnosed with diabetes recently.

If we think that we have just one life to live, wouldn’t we like to complete all that we want to do? What is the only tool that we have got to realize our dreams? It is this physical body. And whose responsibility is it to maintain it in a healthy condition? Still we don’t think twice when we abuse it to any extent, by stuffing with unhealthy food, acidic drinks, smoke and depriving it of the precious sleep. If we abuse our car in the same way, it will stop running in just two days.

The Nature is so lenient that the body still keeps on working after so much of abuse, until it finally breaks down. Being the most intelligent species on earth, isn’t it our primary duty to take care of this precious tool, our physical body?

Awaken your compassion.

We all shudder at the thought of murdering another human being. Neither do we want to inflict physical injury to others. In day to day life of an ordinary human being, there is equal participation of the physical body and the mind. Just like the pain elicited from a physical assault, verbal assault can also give extreme pain.

Verbal assaults are longer lasting. The intensity of a physical assault cannot be felt the same way when it is remembered at later date. But the caustic remarks, even when remembered years later, will cause the same amount of mental pain.

If only you care to be a little sensitive, you can visualize the bleeding minds when people are being ridiculed or snubbed. This causes their DNAs to shrink, which will hamper their immune system, leading to physical diseases. And you know what – when his/ her DNAs shrink, so do your own DNAs! Hence by our verbal murders, we are jeopardizing our own health too.

It is not necessary to even mouth our remarks, just thinking negative about oneself and others will cause the same effect on the DNAs. Awaken your compassion and speak and think only good about self and others to enjoy and spread health!!

Blocking our rewards.

It is common to hear people complain that in spite of putting in hard work the rewards seem to elude them. Some parents have the complaint that in spite of so much sacrifice on their part, children don’t give them the love and respect that they ‘deserve’.

Well, it is Nature’s law that whatever effort has been put in, its outcome is inevitable. By getting impatient and by too much attachment to the outcome, we create negative forces that repel the rewards that are on their way to us.

Keep on doing your duties and go with the flow of Nature. Concentrate more on your deeds and less on the outcomes. And just watch the rewards piling up for you!!

Attract the positive waves

The whole world has seen the fury of Tsunami. The tremendous destruction that resulted has been broadcasted umpteen times on TV channels. Let us pray for the departed souls and for those who were directly affected, so that they can put their lives back to normalcy.

Just as there is a positive side for every negative thing in this Universe, let us search and experience the positive contribution of Tsunami. Close your eyes, hey sensitive souls, and try to feel the lashing waves of Tsunami. For a second, your whole being will be shaken up by the impact. Stay calm, go deeper, deeper and slowly you will start experiencing tremendous calm and peace. You will feel strong surges of energy. It will bring bubbles after bubbles of happiness.

This is also of significance to all the healers of the world since this healing energy that you have experienced can augment whatever healing methods you have adopted. Let us all take advantage of this. It can really give you a leap in your spiritual journey, and together, let us direct this energy for world peace and happiness!

Forever energetic

Aren’t we blessed to be in a Land,

Where we are sure to see the Sunshine?

When we go to sleep in the darkness so bland,

Aren’t we sure we’ll wake up to the warmth,

And brightness in the morning?

The sun that shines so bright and majestic,

Giving us all that’s needed to sustain

this drama of life, Have you ever sensed,

The sun complaining of tiredness?

With the food that the Mother earth gives,

And the life energy from the sun,

Do you think we need anything else,

To put to good use this body machine of ours?

It is time to remove the word ‘Fatigue’

From the dictionary of our lives

Know that it is but a state of mind.

We are forever connected

To the source of energy eternal,

All that we need is to keep ourselves open!!

Your body and you

If there is one basic thing for a stable life, it is the awareness that your body is not you. Lot of pain related to attachments immediately gets eliminated. Body is just like a dress that is used for sometime and thrown away when torn or faded. It is an instrument to experience the illusion of life and to learn the cosmic lessons to purify the spirit.

When we realize from our inner core that the body is not us, the undue important given to the relations crumbles down. One who is your mother now may have been your brother in the previous birth and in the next birth she/ he may be your friend or enemy depending on how you end up your relationship in this birth.

This being the case, where is the necessity for undue sorrow when somebody leaves for the heavenly abode? Understand the cosmic drama and enact your role to the fullest capacity and enjoy all that the nature has provided. And most importantly, let others also enjoy!!

Into those unknown terrains

When we are young and fresh,

Bubbling with ideas for the future,

How strong are our dreams that

We can change the world!

But as we face obstacles

At each step we try to fly high,

Our optimism starts declining,

And we tend to lose Hope!

Change the world we can,

But it may not be in the ways we envisage,

Nature wants us to try new methods,

Follow new paths.

How often we tend to be complacent,

Once used to the familiar surroundings,

Then the destiny gives us a push,

To terrains unknown.

For it is by treading new horizons

That our souls can be enriched,

And learn the lessons of this birth.

So when the destiny pulls the floor

Of familiarity from beneath our feet,

We must offer thanks for the

New direction shown, for there lies the

Path to our goal, which will change

Our future, and that of the world around us too!

Mode of healing

Recently my friend’s father’s medical condition was complicated by jaundice. She asked me desperately, ‘why is it that there is no treatment for jaundice in allopathy? Why aren’t the doctors in USA researching to find a cure?’

For how many medical conditions do we have cure in allopathy? For arthritis? Diabetes? Asthma? Cataract?

The major flaw in allopathy is that it doesn’t take into consideration that ultimately it is the body that can bring about the healing. Of course allopathy is great to take care of emergency situations, but we have to agree that it doesn’t cure majority of the ailments. What it does is the symptomatic treatment OR alleviation of the symptoms.

By masking the symptoms, it delays or stops the body from bringing about the healing. When the body has brought about the disease, we should know that it IS capable of reversing the situation too. But allopathy shouts from the roof top that once you are a diabetic (or with so many other problems), you have to live with it for the rest of your life. Even if somebody wants to believe that the body has the capacity to heal, he is not allowed to do so because of the powerful anti messages from all around, from his friends, physicians and media.

Majority of the diseases are due to faulty food habits. Recently I read, ‘Stop eating for the doctors’, which means your faulty eating is sure to bring ailments, for which you have to go to the doctor and it is beneficial for him. So, you are eating this way for the benefit of the doctors!!

Power and responsibility go hand in hand

Everybody wants to be in power, whether it is at home, in the workplace or in the world at large. There is nothing wrong in attaining a position of power. But what is most often overlooked is the responsibility that should be accompanying the power.

For example, the head of the family has to shoulder the responsibility to provide shelter, food and safety for the members. Head of an Institution should manage the team of his workers in an amicable way and make sure the workplace is conducive to maximum output of work. A social figure has the maximum responsibility because there are millions out there, including children and teenagers, who are the country's future, looking up to them and waiting to emulate their actions.

But how many of our social icons remember this when they appear in commercials? It is a known fact that aerated soft drinks are bad for health, but don’t you see how they are being promoted? Watching them, even tiny tots are getting aerated drinks when their mothers fill it in their feeding bottles. Who do you think will have to pay for this social erosion? Every body needs to make money for a living, but when one adapts this type of means, it is going to reflect in the lives of those who do such things and their near and dear ones.

Raw food can work wonders for your body and mind

This body of ours is programmed to work faultlessly for hundred odd years. But we treat it so shabbily that it starts breaking down. If we treat our car the way we do our bodies, it has to remain in the garage most of the time.

As we age, the requirement of the food start reducing. Also, too much cooking and processing of the food accumulates poison in the body, especially in the muscles and joints. That is why arthritis is a very common problem. If the fried items are completely eliminated from the food of an arthritic person, within a week he/she will start getting relief.

Raw/uncooked food helps in rejuvenating the body.

You can take advantage by eating at least one time of the day only raw foods. If it happens to be dinner, even your sleep will be peaceful. If you can’t make it completely uncooked food, see to it that the cooked food constitutes only one third. Let the remaining be fruits and salads.

And did you know that alcohol affects the thinking pattern of a person? Alcohol hastens the irrational thinking pattern and aging process. Drink lots of water and see the skin start to sparkle!

Spread your fragrance anyway

When I opened up the curtains
Before the Sun came up over the hills,
Sweet smell of the jasmine wafted through the air,
And greeted me with the best ‘good morning’

I could ever get.

The frail little jasmine plant that was put
In the yard months ago, had to undergo
A lot of tribulations that will put
A complaining jack to shame.

When it was just starting to grow,
Got crushed under the feet of a cow
Without a murmur of protest it started
Picking up life again by putting forth
Tender leaves so beautiful!

The street urchin thought nothing
Of beheading my beloved plant,
Did my tears of agony
Cause you grow back so fast?

When the tiny blushing buds
Were about to bloom,
Came the neighbor’s child on his bike
And trampled my jasmine plant!

Now at last the buds have bloomed,
Spreading the divine fragrance
We think plants are lowly creatures,
But are they really?

Whatever the circumstances,
They always try to give to the world around
Unlike man, who is on the lookout
To amass things for himself,
Whether he needs it or not!

Eating for Health

If you know that your thought waves are created
From the food you eat, you’ll be careful
Of the things you put into your mouth.

Treat your body as a machine or a temple
Of your soul, if you treat it like a machine,
Remember, you won’t put petrol in a car
With a full tank.
Then why over pack your stomach
When it is screaming,’ I’m full?’

If the body is your temple,
Eating becomes like a puja,
Consuming satwik food with
A mind filled with gratitude
Purifies your soul and spreads
Peace all around.

At this very moment, somebody is dying,
At some part of the world,
From lack of food, then how can
You eat beyond your needs?

You may eat to live OR
Live to eat.
Eating to live will see you healthy
And happy till your last day.
While living to eat is the sure
Way of digging the grave with your teeth!

Open up the dream world

The greatest truth one has to understand in life is that the macrocosm and the microcosm are one ad the same. Till you understand this, there will be strife in life. Ultimate peace cannot be experienced before this truth sinks into your being.

If you behave one way in your home, treat things differently outside, you cannot have access to the boundless prosperity that is just hovering around you. For example, you use your electric kettle at home very carefully and use it roughly at the office; you will be blocking the nature’s gifts that are due to you.

Handle everything with respect, thank nature for whatever you get to enjoy in life and see how a dream world unfolds before you!

Keep up the Trust

When somebody places a trust in you, 

Don’t you think that we should keep it up? 

Or for what else has God made us the 

Most intelligent beings on earth? 

One time you break somebody’s trust, 

You are pushing a sword into his heart, 

There may be a chance the bleeding heart 

Eventually heals up. 

But you keep breaking the Trust again & again, 

You are burning his soul. 

Have you seen a body with third degree burns, 

Looking normal again even after 

Multiple surgeries by the best Plastic surgeons? 

Just like the body is scarred for life, 

Remember, you are scarring his soul for a lifetime. 

In your deathbed, what you remember will be 

The dreams, the hopes and the love you shared with others. 

So keep up the trust the loved ones put in you 

It is worth all the efforts!! 

Anger is a double-edged sword

Anger is a wasting emotion, just like guilt. You get angry because you don’t like something a person has done or something that is happening around you. The moment the waves of anger surround your aura, you repel the solution for the problem, which may be just hovering around you.

It is another thing whether your anger makes any difference to the person against whom you are angry. But it will definitely make undesirable changes in your body. This will lead to tightening of DNA coils of each and every cell of your body and cause physical disease and mental agony.

Next time when you get angry, take five deep breaths and think coolly what can be the probable solution for the problem at hand. And you will be surprised at what a speed you arrive at the solution!

Think beyond the body

In a day of 24 hours, how much time do we spend to do things concerning food? Do you think we are just these physical bodies? Are you a body with a soul or a soul with a body? This point needs to be thought about during our lives. Otherwise nature will force you to think by bringing you to such a point of events. Intelligent ones are those who do without having to encounter catastrophic events in life.

Animals do eating, breathing, and procreation too. What do you think is the difference between animals and human beings? We have been bestowed with the power of discrimination, and the power of choice of action. If we don’t utilize these faculties, we are just living like animals.

We do so many things for the upkeep of our body. From today, make a pledge to do something for the healthy upkeep of your mind and soul as well. You have to just make the decision and then watch how the Nature keeps guiding you. When you enter a dark room suddenly, you can’t see anything clearly. But as your eyes adjust, things start revealing itself. Same way, once you make this decision in life, unbelievable things will start revealing themselves in your ordinary day-to-day life.

Hold onto your goodness

Next time when somebody irritates or shows his anger towards you, hold on a second before you start reacting in the same fashion. Take five deep breaths and look at his face. Keeping your glance at his face, relax your facial muscles, especially the eye muscles. You will be in for a surprise. You will see the actual mental status of the person written all over his face.

It may be loneliness, depression or sadness. He is trying to overcome that by throwing his tantrum at you. So, instead of retorting, bring out the goodness in you. Respond in a calm and matter of fact way. Or just flash an understanding smile.

When he/she is behaving nastily, if you stoop down to that level, you have let him/her win. DonÂ’t let anything make you lose your goodness, hold onto it!

Next time when somebody irritates or shows his anger towards you, hold on a second before you start reacting in the same fashion. Take five deep breaths and look at his face. Keeping your glance at his face, relax your facial muscles, especially the eye muscles. You will be in for a surprise. You will see the actual mental status of the person written all over his face.

It may be loneliness, depression or sadness. He is trying to overcome that by throwing his tantrum at you. So, instead of retorting, bring out the goodness in you. Respond in a calm and matter of fact way. Or just flash an understanding smile.

When he/she is behaving nastily, if you stoop down to that level, you have let him/her win. Don’t let anything make you lose your goodness, hold onto it!

Enact your role, don’t identify with it

If you are acting in a drama or a movie, once you finish your performance, you come to your normal self. This world is a stage and we are all performing our varied roles. It is  along path. The sad aspect is that we identify with the role so much that we never come back to our real selves.

See for example people writing ‘Ex- minister’ or ‘Ex- Principal’. They are not ready to leave the past behind. What are you at this very moment? Are you a good human being? Are you helping anybody in any way, at least by giving a beautiful smile?

When you started our life, you were somebody’s son or daughter and that was the primary role you had to do. Later more roles will be adding on to this and they have to be performed. But all the while you have to introspect and try to find out who the real you are.

When finally your children go away and you retire from your job, you get more time to be in touch with your real self and experience the joy and peace within. This is possible only if you have been doing the introspection during the early years. Those who have not been doing this, well, God save them. You can very well identify these people; they will be full of complaints and finding fault with everything and everyone around them.

Make your tomorrows beautiful.

If we boil down all religions and sieve the remaining potion, what will remain? The ‘Cause and effect’! The whole creation runs on this universal law. If only we understand this and consider it seriously, life will become happier and peaceful.

Whatever we are experiencing right now, is because of our past actions or thoughts. If this realization sinks into our being, we will know that our tomorrows can be made better by today’s actions and thoughts.

Stop for a moment and find out what is the thought in your mind, or what is the action you are doing. What do you think will be its implication to your future? The effect of the causes you are creating will definitely materialize. It is only a matter of time, which we can’t predict.

So, be in complete awareness all the time and enjoy beautiful tomorrows!

Finding the solution

The problems in life that hold us down, delay our progress, have not originated in a day or two. It has been amalgamating over a period of time, through our own doing, or lack of doing.

If we take half an hour to walk down a certain distance, how much time do you think we will need to get back to the starting point? It will take the same amount of time, unless a friend happens to drive past and he decides to give you a lift.

Similarly, the time to find solution for a particular problem will take about the same time that you have taken to create it. But once you start searching for the solution earnestly, the Nature goes all out to give you that lift to take you to your goal in a jiffy!