Powder
Fresh white powder
Undulating vast expanses
Inviting metal strips to mark
Grooming they say is the way
For me it was about getting on
Those unwieldy strips of wood and metal
Learning to move forward and
Stop on my feet and not my rear!
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Communication of the Third Kind
What happens when over a million people from 140+ countries speaking 50+ languages converge temporally and spatially together? Soul to Soul communication in Silence!
It was a sight to behold and an experience to cherish in this lifetime. The airfield in Jakkur, Bangalore transformed from a dust field to an ocean of collective conciousness as millions came together and meditated. All the invited speakers, spiritual, religious and political were of one mind- seeing and experiencing was believing! Even for us participants, it took us a while to digest the fact that the stage held over 8000 people with half of them being musicians! None had seen or experienced such a joyful meeting of people from all walks of life, from all faiths, traditions and languages of the world, revelling in each other's presence and accepting everyone as one!
India's president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was thrilled to see the congregated sea of humanity and outlined his vision for a spiritually rooted society that achieves excellence through value education and hard work.
Every one of us was impacted at a subtle level and all lingering doubts about the future of this planet were laid to rest when we met people so poor that they had to borrow from their friends to get to India from as far as Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and Mongolia and made this their priority! Some had left their jobs as they were not given leave to be there! There is much that is good with our world and much that we can do to make it the norm rather than the exception. Valuing something spiritual over the material was more than proved by this confluence of men and women. This world is indeed one big family. Vasudaiva Kutumbakam is a reality, a truth, not a dream of yore.
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Music Divine
Until I got married, my mother, my first music teacher insisted I practised every day and I would, for the most part. After marriage, as part of expressing my "freedom", I never sat down to practise. A few years ago, I went back to music and even found a Guru in California- 20 minutes from home. And finally this year, it dawned on me just how intrisically linked music is with my very being. And I had allowed it to collect dust in a corner.
Last week, my friend had organised a fundraising dinner with Indian music and she insisted I sing as one of the local artists. Adorations- experiencing the divine within was the topic. What better way than with music?! So I picked 3 songs and started practising. The spirit soared along with the voice and the cobwebs were cleared from the vocal chords. My 10-year old had his "debut" accompanying me on the Tabla and it was wonderful!
Tears of gratitude welled up in me when a glimpse of divinity came back to the surface, effortlessly, on the wings of wind.
I shall take leave of all you dear readers for a month as I explore the spiritual part of me when I get to India in a couple of days... Until March....Experience the divine you!
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Holiday Season
The decorations are out and many homes in the neighborhood are decked out in lights- colored ones, golden ones, hanging from eves, roofs, trees and shrubs, twined over wiremeshes in the form of reindeer and Santas and snowmen... All of them turn on magically when the timer comes on. Some keep their homes shrouded in darkness to make it practically "dissapear" in the early dark of the winter night. Heavy curtains shroud the lights that could possibly emanate from within.
When I suggested to some friends about going carol singing in our neighborhood, they were estatic. None of them remembered carolers for decades now. The only concern was if a neighbor might take offense and call the cops. I said, being Indian and Hindu, I shall shoulder that responsibility. The entire plan was hatched when my dear old neighbor was upset that all stores and businesses had adopted a "Happy Holidays" policy versus a "Merry Christmas" policy. While it was the politically correct thing to do in a multicultural society, it also meant denial of the sentiments of the majority who adopt a christian sentiment here in the US.
The eve arrived and one by one the caroling families arrived with their tots. None of these kids had experienced anything like this. They wanted us to sing Jingle bells over and over again! Then they liked the Its the season to be jolly for the "falalalala" part! The older neighbors were treated to good old carols like O Come all ye faithful and Silent Night. Some were moved to tears and couldnt stop hugging. We discovered that many connections could be made within an hour.
Sri Sri speaks about making the ancient mages' vision of "Vasudaiva Kutumbakam"- One World Family a reality. And all it took in this instance was getting 10 people together and singing in our neighborhood for an hour.
In Tamil Nadu, during the month of Margazhi or Margashirsha (Dhanur maas), as children we used to see Bhajan singers walk down our streets early in the morning and we would get up early to welcome them with some prasad. As girls in the 'hood we would have Kolam "competitions" waking up earlier than the other to "usurp" more street-front space to draw a bigger design! When we took a train trip along the country side of Andhra or Tamil Nadu, as the day broke, we would see women sweeping the front yards and drawing a small but beautiful pattern. These days, very few people wake up early enough let alone draw a kolam!
All it takes to shake that lethargy is for 3 families to get together and make a difference. Let us celebrate the spirit in us that is not determined by our bank balances but the upliftment of our minds- be it through a beautifully drawn design in a foggy morn or through a sweet song in a foggy eve.
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9 years with Art of Living
When I first met Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, I had no clue he was the "Guru"! He was so unassuming and simple- down-to-earth, that I thought him to be an unaffected, sweet sishya! This was the year '93 and he served us lunch! How much more off the mark I could have gone than that?!!
It took me another 3 years before I took the course. When I look back in time, I can identify and sometimes, very little, with the person I was all those years ago. A part of me has remained the same while elsewhere I have changed beyong recognition. Every Thanksgiving time (when I took the course for the first time), I do my "annual stocktaking" to see if I have learnt the "art of Living".
This year, I had a revelation. I realised that somewhere during this year, I had become grateful for the people whom, earlier, I loved to hate. I found that I was so grateful and could express my gratitude to the people I love and cherish and respect. But to feel grateful for a Ravana or Kamsa in your life was asking too much of me.
As simply as a "mist" drying up in the morning sun (which we have little of these winter days!), somewhere during this period of time, that bit of resistance dropped. The more I saw this, the more I realised that it were these very people who actually throw us into totally unacceptable and unique situations and get us to be creative and act! While our friends keep us protected in their security of unconditional acceptance, we dont have to "change" or review ourselves!
Jai Gurudev!!
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