Celebrate Life!!

Help a Good Cause!

2011-08-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

JASHN and YES! FOR SCHOOLS present
NINE : A BOLLYWOOD MUSICAL THRILLER
benefiting MT PLEASANT HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN CLASS!

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards every 9th graders (450 students) at Mt Pleasant High School to learn skills and strategies integrated in yoga and breathing .
If you can't see the image, click here: http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/3081/11x17postercopy.jpg

Cast (L - R) : Veer (Ambition), Heer (Fear), Dev (Misery), Muskan (Power) , Kanak (Mirth) , Rishabh ( Anger), Meera (Peace), Suhani (Uncertainity), Armaan (Love)
NINE TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAkAtu_iuxA
Visit http://www.ejashn.org/nine-a-musical.htm for more details!

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Early Bird Prices of $20 and $30 until September 1, 2011, increases to $25 and $35 after September 1st
Saturday, September 10, 2011 @ 6 - 9 PM buy tickets
Sunday, September 11, 2011 @ 4 - 7 PM buy tickets
@Mt Pleasant High School Auditorium, 1750 S. White Rd, San Jose, CA 95127
PG — Parental Guidance Suggested.

Jashn is the first complete theatrical-musical group in the Bay area with a primary focus on Indian styles of entertainment. Starting as an informal group of musically inclined friends passionate about their music, Jashn has matured into a 30 member troupe with exceptional talents in singing, dancing and acting. As a young and dynamic group, the team believes in celebrating life through music, and giving back to it in form of charity fundraising.

Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES!) for Schools is an educational and youth development initiative of International Association for Human Values (IAHV). YES! offers instruction in effective breathing techniques and a life skills curriculum that incorporates Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Character Development (CD), with nodes on identifying and managing emotions, recognizing strengths, perspective-taking, building relationships, responsibility, problem-solving, communication, community service, goal setting and cultivating caring relationships. YES has proven success in several high schools throughout U.S and has been highly recommended by schools who have adopted this program.

She Seeks Her Truth - New Moon Circle for Women

2011-03-01T21:20:00.000-08:00

New Moon Circle for Women - 'She Seeks Her Truth'
Monday April 4th between 6 to 8 pm
Facilitated by Rekha Kodialbail

Theme - 'Getting to Know Her'
What to bring:
- Bring a story about your birth. It might require you to speak with your mother or father or someone from your lineage. You will share it with the group.
- You may bring something (picture, jewellery, or anything) that represents your maternal lineage. You may then place it on the ritual altar I will have setup.

About Me
Some of you know recently I have started going back to school. I am pursuing my Masters/Ph.D in Women's Spirituality.
It has been one of the most powerful and enlightening experiences of my life. The blessing of being a Woman in this time on
this earth, and the responsibility that it brings is both Powerful and Empowering at the same time!
And you begin to wonder:
What has been the role of women in creating ritual, culture and civilization?
What are Matriarchal cultures and Goddess Civilizations, and did they ever exist? Or was the world always so patriarchal?
What does it mean to embody spirituality and divinity in being a woman?
How much do I know about myself and my own body?
Does it have a connection with nature and lunar cycles?
Is Menstruation really taboo and what role does it play in being a woman and also, in creating human consciousness?

Disclaimer: Like any journey of depth, this will also raise many questions for you and also bring out emotions like disappointments, anger, sadness, or intense joy, bliss. It is very important that you have a regular spiritual practice and meditation which will help you integrate your experiences into your life and empower you!

Some books that will change your life:
Blood, Bread and Roses - Judy Grahn
Living Goddesses - Marija Gimbutas
Shakti WOman, Double Goddesses - Vicki Noble
and many many more...

The intention of this circle is to create an avenue for women to understand their mysteries better, share their stories, and claim their truth. It will be a slow and steady journey in understanding ourselves as Women!

It is open to anyone and everyone.
If you are able to make it, please confirm to me asap. The location and other details will be mailed to you separately.

Love and Blessings,
Rekha Kodialbail
jgdgkrekha@gmail.com
408.230.6053

The YES! I CAN-WILL-DO Challenge!

2011-01-07T20:54:00.001-08:00

A Riddle To Ponder!
There were ten radiant Birds perched on the branch of a Peepal tree.
All ten of them can fly super fast, super high.
Eight of them decided to fly.
How many birds remain on the branch of the Peepal Tree?
...
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...
...
...
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... (scroll down)
....
...
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...
-- (scroll down)
...
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...
...
TEN because they only decided to fly - never really flew.

EVERY IDEA INVOLVES THREE STEPS!

STEP ONE: YES I CAN - Setting the Intention!
Knowing that I can do it is the First Step. Ideas and creativity flow just as one tunes into ones own potential and sets an intention.

STEP TWO: YES I WILL - Giving it your undivided Attention SMARTLY!
Deciding to Commit one's time and energy to doing it is the Second Step.
In the world there is no shortage of ideas or creativity. How many are genuinely committed to their ideas and willing to give it attention and time!
They are the

STEP THREE: YES I DID - Manifesting your Idea! Becoming the Change!
Knowing and Committing is great but unless we get up from the seat and work towards it, the idea doesn't bear fruit!

Most people are caught up in complaining about everything that is wrong about the world.
And then there are those who dream of change, who have ideas to bring about the change!

Most of the time, we invest heavily on the 'YES I CAN' PHASE - Dream about our idea, Write about it, Talk about it, Fantasize about it, Blog about it, DIscuss about it, Argue about it!
We spend all our Time, Energy and Money on 'YES I CAN'. The Obama campaign is an example of that! Everyone feels good about it. It is Magical!

Those who manage to get out of the dazzle of the 'YES I CAN' phase, step into the 'YES I WILL'.
We spend planning, creating pathways, looking into the practicality of the idea, and the hows of doing the Idea. We set the Stage for the Idea!
Most of the time we are caught up in working hard in the 'YES I WILL' instead of working smart.

And then comes the actual groundwork, the doing, the moving of the body, getting up from one's seat and stepping into the challenging practicality of the real world.
Willing to risk it all!
Willing to trust!
Willing to connect, belong and flow with the rhythm of the infinite creative power of the universe!
How many of us are willing to DO IT!
DO THE GRUNT-WORK!
DO THE IDEA!
MANIFEST IT!
MAKE IT HAPPEN!

How many of US are committed to move from YES I CAN to YES I WILL to YES I DID!
They are the MOVERS AND SHAKERS who shift the world - who become the Change!
Each one of us is reverberating with the magic of 'YES! I CAN'!
It takes courage to move it to 'YES I WILL' and even greater courage to move it to 'YES! I DID'!
And today as we step into YEAR 2011 the world is heavily relying on the YES I CAN-WILL-DID generation to step forward...
There are infinite possibilities for CHANGE...
We are looking at a specific one for YEAR 2011!

THE YES! I 'CAN-WILL-DID' CHALLENGE!
- Take the time to Watch 'Waiting for Superman' or 'Race to Nowhere' Today!
Schedule a screening for friends, family and colleagues.

- Become AWARE of the failing education system in the United System, the flawed system which keeps it that way and the depressing state of our young people!
Know how Serious of an issue it is.
Though the movie showcases the Schools of US, it is happening everywhere around the world!
Human Values are in Crisis!
Young People are directionless!

- Does YES!(Youth Empowerment Seminar) for Schools have the potential to bring a shift in the education system, and in the lives of young people!
You decide based on your own experience of knowing the Benefits of Yoga, Breathing and Meditation!
If you have had the opportunity to see, hear, meet or experience the work of World Renowned Humanitarian and Spiritual Teacher - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, you decide if this program meets the need of todays failing value system!

- If the Answer is 'yes', then it is time to ask yourself this question
Are you willing to undertake the 'YES I CAN-WILL-DID' Challenge for YES! for Schools!

- IF YES, THEN WE NEED YOU!!

- Email rekhak@iahv.org asap
Know how you can be involved in the YES I 'CAN-WILL-DID' CHALLENGE!

Rekha Kodialbail
SFBA YES! for Schools Program Director
408.230.6053 | rekhak@iahv.org
http://www.youthempowermentseminar.org

I am grateful to be a woman

2010-08-29T13:57:00.001-07:00

To feel, to express, to cherish, to experience compassion and kindness, to love like there is no tomorrow, to weep shamelessly in gratitude, to spontaneously embrace lives storms, to forgive, to create without inhibition, to nourish, nurture and honor life, to dance without embarrassment, to listen without agenda, to act on intuition, to be a fool effortlessly and when needed to expand into the ones power, to argue tirelessly, to gossip without intention, to be vulnerable, to engage in a spiritual dialogue through the intellect, to effortlessly slip into ones heart & weep without reason, to drop the world and transcend into ones higher self – I am grateful to be a woman!

My favorite sentence from Yoga Vashista!!

2010-05-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

"When the apparently transformed becoming resorts to or rests on that being which has not undergone any modification, the former is freed from sorrow; and when what is seen by what is not (or by the mind in which there is no movement of thought) that which is, abandons its wickedness."

Just the remembrance of this sentence from the Yoga Vashista can make the journey in this world a breeze...
Etch it in your mind...
Do 'manan' again and again...

Moments etched in time....

2010-05-17T21:32:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful to Lavaanya for taking this picture at Mt Madonna Center in May/June of 2009.
Even the moment I saw this picture in her Camera I loved it. There is a timeless quality about this picture that captures something very subtle and beautiful. After that day many a times I have kept looking at this picture. It seemed like a new beginning ....

God definitely has a sense of humor....
:)

Tujh mein rab dikhta hai ... yaara mein kya karoon!

2010-05-17T20:38:00.000-07:00

Tu hi toh jannat meri, Tu hi mera junoon
Tu hi to mannat meri, Tu hi rooh ka sukoon
Tu hi aakhion ki thandak, tu hi dil ki hai dastak
Aur kuch na janu mein, bas itna hi jaanu
Tujh mein rab dikhta hai
Yaara mein kya karu
Tujh mein rab dikhta hai
Yaara mein kya karu
Sajdhe sar jukhta hai
Yaara mein kya karu
Tujh mein rab dikhta hai
Yaara mein kya karu

what is life about ...

2009-09-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

It is a question which keeps wandering my mind - what is life about! Is there really a purpose behind this huge orchestrated drama of existence. As moments pass me by, they become merely a point in my memory. It has no existence. Every moment is passing me sometimes at exorbitant speedss and some other times with the crawl of a snail and at another moments, I am unaware of the presence of time as everything just comes to a stand still. Really what is the purpose of life and living! What is life about...

I have no idea and yet life leaves behind a bitter-sweet taste...

the moments of silence and nothingness spreads more & more..
times ceases to be ...

and yet what is life about...
who knows?
do i need to care?
who knows?

In the rugged terrains of Anacostia - creativity unleashed!

2009-08-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Imagine stepping into the womb of creativity...
that is how I felt when I stepped into the home cum studio of BK Adams - a new artist etching his name - 'iAM Art' - for here to stay!

His studio was an up close and personal meeting with the artist himself. Something made sense, many didn't. But yes everything I saw was an experience - an experience into the vastness of this creation and its infinite expressions.

The colors enveloped me completely. I love colors. And every step of the way - there it was - splashed in every form, and the formless. Everything was Art and it struck me.. there is really no trash. It is how we look at things - everything has an expression in this universe and that expression is its very own. The good, the bad and the ugly cease to matter - it is the way it is - so simple and yet so profound!

This journey was a journey into time - a journey that merged past, present and future into one huge moment etched in time. I will never forget this trip. Thanks Zaccai for arranging it and my blessings to BK Adams for zillions of creative moments ....

and the fun continues at DC center...

2009-08-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

Polishing at the DC Center...

2009-08-08T15:02:00.000-07:00

Wanderings in downtown Chicago..

2009-08-08T14:13:00.001-07:00

The many faces of the Divine...

2009-08-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

At the lotus feet of the Master!!

2009-08-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

I was reading this beautiful quote by Ramana Maharishi and it just filled my heart with such deep love..
It is enough that one surrenders oneself. Surrender is to give oneself up to the original cause of one's being ... One's source is within oneself. Give yourself up to it. That means that you should seek the source and merge in it."
~ Sri Ramana Maharshi

What is it to be at the lotus feet of the Master!

Blessing showered between July 2nd to July 9th when I spend
every moment in the proximity of my Master. .at his lotus feet...

What does it mean to have a Guru?
I keep asking myself...
What has changed for me...
What does a Guru do for you?
What is your relationship with your Guru?
I dont know any of these answers...
all I know is .. I am in Love...
A love so deep that it vibrates in every cell of my body...
it tingles, tickles - bringing a smile on my face....
I am in love with myself..
I have never been this close to myself ...
I have never been this comfortable with myself...
I have never been this open to myself ....
I have never been this joyful within...
I have never been this peaceful within...
I have never been this aware of myself....
and when I look around there is no-one that I detest or hate or dislike...
and even when I do.. i am confused if that is outside of me or within me..

Is Gurudev inside of me or outside of me..
Even when I see him physically sitting in front.. I am confused all the more..
I feel him more inside me than out there..

Where is he really?
Who is he really?
What is he really?

I know this truth that
there is no-one in the world who loves me more than Thee..
there is no-one in the world who knows me more than Thee..
there is no-one in the world who sees only me more than Thee..
there is no-one in the world who wants nothing of me more than Thee..
there is no-one in the world who wants everything for me more than Thee...
there is no-one in the world who pains for me more than Thee...
there is no-one in the world who is ecstatic for me more than Thee....
there is no-one in the world who is with me with every breath more than Thee...

And that is having a Guru....
the feeling of absolute ease .. letting go... and relaxation....
like sitting in a train and looking out of the window at the beautiful scenes passing by... sipping tea and vada from the vendor walas, chatting with the co-passengers, making friendship... and just relaxing... there is no hurry.. my destination will come...
And that is having a Guru!
Your journey towards yourself has begun..
You can relax now till you get home..
Thee will lead me home..

Jai Gurudev!

Michael Jackson is dead.

2009-06-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

Thursday, June 25th 2009 will always be remembered as the day the earth lost a legend - Michael Jackson - to cardiac arrest.

I just got txt msged by one of my high school friends. And it was quite uncalled for! I immediately went to cnn to confirm the information and yes! it is sad and true - Michael Jackson is dead and with him ends an era of pop, music and dance.

The only thought that came to my mind in that moment was that somehow he got freed from the deeply stressful life he was leading. And just this thought and I had tears running down my cheeks. I gently got up off my chair, went to my altar, lit a lamp and prayed for his soul to find peace and let my tears cry.

I cant call myself a fan but somehow he has always gripped my attention. There was something about him - a deep down desire to be free and all the fears which came with it. Money & Power can make anyone a maniac! And yet, I thought the smile was genuine - there was something beautiful about him. Yeah! That is the word - beautiful & innocent. Even when he changed the color of his skin (which even now I cannot understand but then there are zillions things about life that I anyway dont understand), that innocence of him was untouched.

I am sure he failed to see that innocence & beauty of him and sadly, maybe there weren't many around him who could reflect that for him.

I pray for you Michael ...
I pray that you soar to the peak of your realization,
I pray that you realize the freedom that living could never provide,
I pray that you experience the inner and outer beauty of your being,
I pray that his passing is more liberating than the life you had.
I pray that you find peace & re-unite with this universe.
I pray for you Michael Jackson - the legend of Pop!

My trip to Yosemite.. magic happens..

2009-06-22T22:01:00.000-07:00

The three wise monkeys just got up by 1 more

2009-06-19T14:52:00.000-07:00

Thats them all right!
Taking over San Francisco...

Do I have a green Thumb!!

2009-06-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

I am so Grateful to Irene for making me a better gardener, and now I am beginning to wonder if I have a Green thumb! ;)

This is the swing I put on our tree. It completely changed the feel of my garden and somehow the tree too seemed happy!That is the pathway I built with my own two hands.. :)
It needs some more work in terms of stability.. will get that done too.. And ucan see my herbs excited to pose...

That is my aloe vera plant.. and of course the blue salvia. And behind are my herbs - thyme, marjoram, etc.

That is my mint. It is looking so good and bright!

That container has my Cilantro (yet to bloom) And of course u can see my bean hill...
I just replanted my hibiscus from the pots and they look comfortable and cosy at their new found freedom...

I have great plans for this space! Shhhhhh! Someday u can join me on a lunch here under the shade of our tree...

That is my Zucchini plant...
That is another view of my zucchini and bean...
And ucan see the fuschia and yerba buena(crawling on the ground)...

And that is my wholesome garden... And more transformation will happen and you will be in on the news too..

I just love my garden and the experience of working with the mud. I am not the glove using person so it is really the most satisfying and full experience.

CIAO.. more later

I am waking up at 5:30 AM

2009-05-28T07:50:00.001-07:00

For the last two weeks I have been waking up at 5:30 AM.

Today is one of those days!
I take my shower, do my meditation practise, say my prayers and get ready. I know today is going to be yet another day filled with challenge, breaking barriers, stepping outside of my comfort zone and growing into a better human being. I wait for my friend Irene to arrive. She comes dot on time and we begin our journey to this sophomore class in a High School in San Jose to empower a group of 15 young men and women in the opportunity class.

The school had bluntly told us in the very beginning that they don't have much hope for these students and most of them might not even make it to being a junior. And the teacher also shared with us that they had brought in another program before us and the students really didn't care. The Bottom line is - no one had much hopes especially from two petite looking Asian women - an Indian and a Japanese.

When we first went to the class, it was indeed a group of indifferent teenagers. They didn't care we were there. To them we might have looked like another set of teachers who have been thrust on them to improve their academic scores. But what I saw was something so different. In front of me were leaders -
smart young men and women, who were quite beaten by the system and didnt care,
entrepreuners who couldnt wait to get out of school to start something on their own,
thinkers who already had their own way of thinking and didnt care if they fit in or not,
brave young men and women who had seen enough of life already and didnt give a shit about it.

And I knew they will be my teachers and will make me grow beyond anything that I can ever imagine.
I wouldn't say it was easy! It was tough! I would call it a challenging adventure. :)
Every moment I had to go beyond my own opinion and judgements, become vulnerable, share my vulnerability and fears with the class.

In the very first week in one of our processes on Comfort Zone, we had the most amazing sharing. Two of the young men decided that they will graduate out of high school. Something which they thought impossible they included in their comfort zone. Irene & Me almost cried at the end of that class. So many things have shifted since then. Today we are into the 2nd day of the 3rd week. We have done some breathing, yoga and relaxation with them. We have seen them move from indifferent, uncaring teens to responsible individuals coming every day to class, greeting and smiling with us, participating, joking and wanting more, wanting more! We have still 2 weeks 3 days to go. Tomorrow we are going to do the crown jewel of our program - the Sudarshan Kriya breathing. This is going to uproot every particle of stress from their mind. I cant even imagine how they will become! Even now with just some breathing some of their faces shine bright and some of them cannot even open their eyes. I dont know what tomorrow will unveil.

Everyday, Every moment when I am not in school - I carry each one of them in my heart! I love them like my own.
And I know these few weeks will completely shape the course of their lives and what they will become!

This is just one class I am teaching. I am also teaching in another high school a class of 26 young men and women and gguess what!

As of right now - In school year of 2009-2010 we have 12 High Schools on board in San Francisco Bay Area and we will be teaching over 4000 young men and women. Imagine the power of change!
As of right now - We have only 6 full time YES! High School teachers to make this happen. We need more teachers. R u in?
As of right now - We are teaching these courses free in schools and have no reliable source of funding,
As of right now - Yogathon is our only means of funding!
As of right now - My individual goal is to raise 10K for Yogathon by May 30th. I am comitted to doing 108 sun salutations.
As of right now - You are my strength and I am counting on your support.
My pledge: http://yogathon.iahv.org/ member-pledge-page.aspx? memberId=813104z761sdw02991
As of right now - Every moment counts.....
As of right now - Every penny counts....

Support Yogathon.
Let us pave the way for young humanitarians to Emerge in our Community!
http://www.youthempowermentseminar.org

The Divine Wedding ...

2009-05-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

Wedding at Guruvayoor temple is known for its chaos, crowd and hurriedness! It is crazy! The number of marriages held every day ranges from 35 to 100. So u can imagine the craziness! Owing to the rush and limited number of mandapams, each couple is allowed barely three to seven minutes for the wedding ceremony. Only the couple and some of their relatives alone are allowed near the mandapam; the others have try and get a glimpse from the distance. There have been cases where the bride and groom have got interchanged, and marriage happened and it couldnt be undone. :)

So u can imagine what we were expecting! We got the token for 9:00 AM on saturday evening from the temple. Usually weddings begin as early as 5:00 AM. So around 9 AM a huge party of folks both from the groom's side and the bride's side left for the temple on foot. It was like 10minutes walk. And when we reached the mantapam, the place was packed. We had to remove our footwear! So amisdt all the chaoes everyone managed to get near the mantapam. Our number was called out and it was told that only close family can come on the mantap. So from our side it was my dad, mom, me & Ram, my uncle (mom;s eldest bro) and his wife and from Anoops side his parents, sister, brother-in-law and 2 close relatives.

Amazingly the rest of the family could all get to stand around the Mantap. The marriage took easily 20 - 30 minutes. The priest who performed the wedding himself quite surprised that there was no hurriedness and everything went so peacefully and smoothly!

For me to behold the moment when Anoop tied the Thali on Reshma's neck was a moment that I will never forget in my life. They both looked made for each other and totally in love! My dad was beaming with joy the whole time.
It was like a dream come true for him. U can see the joy reflected in every picture!

After the wedding the entire procession then walked to the Marriage Hall were the remaining ceremonies were completed!

One thing to mention is the food! It was delicious! Very satwik and yummy! Guruvayoor is famous for its Pazham (banana) Payasam (porridge) made with Jaggery nd coconut milk. It was out of this world!

That day of the wedding was full of activities! There was so much going on. After lunch the bus whcih came from my hometown was leaving - that is all mymaternal and paternal uncles and aunts and cousins were all leaving.. hotels had to be cleared, everyone taken care of .. my dad was so busy that he didnt even get to eat the lunch!

Around 3 PM myself and few others rode with the groom's party to drop Reshma in her in-laws home. It was both joyous and a Sad moment for me. Me & My sister are inseparable - i cant explain it. It is a knowing beyond words, beyond events, beyond relationships. Our togetherness is the most cherished gift of this life and also, my attachment! :)

Guruvayoor Ambala Nadayil... (in the corridor of the guruvayoor temple)

2009-04-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

Listen to this:
Kandu njan Kannane, Kayamboo varnane, Guruvayoor Ambala Nadayil!!

My sister's wedding was in Guruvayoor temple, and after my marriage this was my first visit to to see Guruvayoor Appan. Around 20 of us took the train to Trissur. There was mini-bus and van which then drove us to Guru Vayoor temple.

Guruvayoor is one of the most dearest temple of Lord Krishnaand it means everything for the people of Kerala. They will give away everything to come and have a glimpse of Guruvayoor Appan. According to the legends, the idol worshipped here is more than 5000 years old. It is said that. The idol of the deity is made of a rare stone known as Patala Anjanam.

Story of Guruvayoor!
According to legends Bhagwan Vishnu himself had worshipped the idol that we see now at Guruvayur, before donating it to Brahma. Prajapati Sutapa and his wife Prsni prayed to Brahma, and pleased at their devotion Brahma gave them this idol. Sutapa and his wife Prsni worshipped the idol with such devotion that Mahavishnu Himself appeared before them for granting a boon. In their over enthusiasm they asked thrice "We need a son equivalent to thou" . Mahavishnu told them that he himself would take birth as their son in three different janmas (births) and in all those three janmas they would get the vigraha given to them by Brahma. In the Dwapara Yuga, Krishna was born to Vasudeva and Devaki. This idol was given to them by Daumya for worship. Sri Krishna established a big temple at Dwaraka and installed this idol there. At the time of swargaarohana Krishna instructed his devotee Udhava to install the idol at a sacred place with the help of Brihaspathi, the guru of the Devas and Vayu, the God of the winds. They (Guru and Vayu) took the idol and came down to a place down south and installed it. This is why the place got its name Guruvayu, where ur means place. It is also said that Bhagavan Shiva and his consort Devi Parvati were present at the auspicious moment and because there was a lack of space in the temple premises, Shiva moved a little further away, and gives his blessings from the nearby Mammiyoor Temple. Every devotee who goes to Guruvayur is supposed to go to Mammiyoor also, as per tradition.

The entire city of Guruvayoor is a temple town. The temple has 4 Nada (or entrances) based on the 4 direction - East, West, North and South. And the entire city of Guruvayoor has everything around these nadas. You can go to the temple from any of the nadas. The east nada is where the diety faces. The wedding hall was in East Nada. And My dad had booked accommodation in North, East, South Nadas. Just entering into Guruvayoor has the eyes glistened, the throat choked and the heart filled with love. Even the air seem to carry His message. Wow! Just the very memory invokes longing in the heart.

To get a darshan of the lord it is a wait beyond comprehension. The most sought darshan is in the early morning between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM. Poeple wake up and stand in the line as early as 1:00 AM. EVen then sometimes to get out it after darshan can go past 10:00 AM. That many people wait patiently!

Noone will ever refuse an invitation to come to a wedding in GUruvyoor becasue it is an opportunity to come see the lord. My mom's sister and 2 aunts (three of them) who are like over 75 yrs old had come with such longing in their heart to see the lord. Just seeing their devotion would give me bliss. One of our close relatives was on the temple board so we got a VIP pass. My sister could hve darshan befoe the wedding. On the day of the wedding the bride and groom donot have entrance into the temple. That is the rule! (My theory is that the lord is so powerful that the newly wed will get completely drawn to him and forget about marriage. Trust me on this one. When I am there I feel even if I am a flower who can adorn the Lord I will be freed. That powerful is He).

My sister, mom, my mausi, myself and my mom's elderly sister. - all went for darshan. VIP Pass just gets you to cut across the line outside the temple nada and into the temple where the queue is still thick and dense. Most south indian temples are based on the vedic temple architecture. But temples in Kerala have a sense of their own. As you entire the outermost entrance, you enter into a huge courtyard. Really huge! And u will see people sitting, lying down, kids runing around, devotional songs, sound of drums - Ah.. it is the most blissful and peaceful feeling. There is sand everywhere. The ocean is very close. I am sure thousands of years back it must have been on the shores of the indian ocean. From here is the next entrance into the temple and then inside it is the Bhugarbham - the womb where the lord rests. The temple is actually a symbolic representation of our very body.

That evening the Lord was smeared with Sandalwood. Just as you enter the main temple amidst sounds of people chanting, crying, bodies touching each other, u look to the side and u see these huge chandan (Sandalwood) being ground by pundits... this walk towards the Lord (Bhugarbham) is the most blessed one! U see the Lord through different angles and yet, you dont really see Him. Amidst tears, the overwhelming feeling of gratitude and the face of Gurudev in mind, I was walking closer and closer. I ws just singing 'Om Namo Narayanaya' the whole time. The crowd keeps gettign thicker.

And then behold the moment of brief darshan. It is indeed like the meet of two Lovers - brief yet incomplete. I look and look and I feel as though I am not seeing, nor am I feeling my heart full. It is a different kind of feeling looking at the Lord. It is like looking at Gurudev! You look and look at Him and you dont want to turn your eyes of Him. It is like I have to be dragged off the place! I just didnt want to leave - the intoxication of the Lord is infinite fold. And as u walk away from the bhugarbham, I had a feeling of such intense longing that I wanted to stand in the next line once again to go inside. I cant describe it! It is precious!

The next day was the wedding in the East Nada right in front of the Lord outside.
I will write about that too..

India - spiritual capitol of the world! without doubt....

2009-04-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

I still recall getting off at the Bangalore airport on Jan 17th. It was like 2 AM, and as I walked outside to be received by my dad, my sister, her fiance and my brother-in-law, all I could sense was the air - I dont know what to point it to. Both my nostrils were active, my mind was crystal clear, there was no strain of stress in my body and it felt as though someone has just lifted open the top of my head. It was the most amazing feeling of my life! I was grateful for the awareness. I have known India for over 35 years now and yet, this was the first time I experienced her as something more than just a country! She was there in her full glory. I just swirled around with my arms wide open, eyes closed at the airport and the words just slipped out, "Oh! I love you India". It was like the union of two lovers after the angst of separation,. My sister looked at me and laughed in knowing. Well, that the very reason she left US like 3 years ago to be united with India for good.

And the drive home at 2:00 AM was one of the most fulfilling rides of my life. All the roads were empty except for the innumerable stray dogs that kept barking at the tresspassing cars. Some even went in for a chase. It was wonderful to be back. I observed many changes - like there were many more churches and mosques popping at various places. It was interesting! Got home, had a shower. It was almost 3:00 AM. I had no sleep. We allchatted for some more time and then everyone decided to go for a nap! I could hardly sleep. I woke up and did my spiritual practise at around 4:00 AM followed by meditation. Ah! It was pure heaven!

Well at the sharpness of dawn (around 5;00 AM) began the chirupping of birds, the first honk of a car, the gate opening downstairs, watchman talking, footsteps going for morning walks, temple bells in the distance and wow! - the morning had began. It was Sunday!

Hmm! Now how does this make India the spiritual capitol! Let me explain! I was in India for over 2.5 months and also, had a crazy schedule - my sisters wedding, womens conference, shivrathri, mangalore, kerala, friends, family, relatives, friends wedding, doing workshops, having meetings! You know through out my stay I realised that the mind was as bright as sun! My breath was free - active nostrils all the time! Didnt catch a cold. Inspite of all the chaos - my mind was in a completely different state of consciousness. I only experience that in presence of Gurudev! This time India gave me that experience.. Physically your body gets beaten, tired but your mind stays so fresh! It is unbelievable.

I recognize this experience more so now becasue I had experienced the contrast for over 3 years in US. There is always a cloud hanging over your heard or should I say you are in a cloud of stress all the time. My forehead always feels different. I cannot imagine surviging in US without meditation! It is my only ray of staying sane. :)

But in india, it was so different! Spirituality is everywhere! - in every breath! Through out my stay I experience both of nostrils to be active - it was magical for me! My mind was clear in spite of the zillion things happening around me. I could have skipped meditation and I would have been fine.

I have an interesting theory - u gotta hear it!
In India, your 3 most used senses are abused left, right and center!
Smells not so great, Visually not everything you see is appeasing, sounds are crazy!! Most folks get thrown out of their wits just at these three. These are our most strong senses and they are abused, bruised in India. These can take people in two directions - either get caught up in complaining about all that you see, hear and smell or away from it - and this is when you experience the spirituality of India!

Now reverse it - you come to the West! The minute I land inSFO, my eyes are massaged by everything I see, there is no sound to bother my ears (only the sound in my head if I can hear it), and there is no smell. These three senses are really exaggerated in the west and one gets stuck right there. There is hardly any time to transition to the mind.

Now there are still two senses remaining!
Taste and Touch - both are blissful in India! Every possible taste is available in the Indian food and a glimpse into the variety itself can free you even if u dont eat it. :)
And touch is also very pure and divine in India - whether it be from your parents, sister, friends, grand parents, kids - even the sabji wali bai! Everyone either hugs you, kisses you or pats you - there is so much love in the touch in India. It just transcends you to so much gratitude and bliss! Love is inherent in the touch. Even when I look at the construction worker's family - cooking under the tree in a blackened aluminium vessel, the baby is in a cloth-sling on one of the branches, the other two kids are playing in the mud - I see the bliss in their eyes. The joy of being together. You cannot match that smile even if u had a million dollors in your pocket.

Now a glance into my Karma Bhoomi - the West! The very word touch makes you uncomfortable! There are rules on touching. I very rarely see folks hugging or touching as an expression of joy and love. Touch is associated with sex even in the songs or in the general lingo. It is so sad! And taste - well! There is no taste. There is no nirvana happening in that direction for sure. :)

So the West has capitolised on Visuals, Sounds and Smells! And I look around and see everyone so mesmerized by these three senses - that going beyond it sometimes becomes impossible. I have to add here that visually nature int he West is at its grandest. Its presence can take you beyond youself and that is why I think many folks choose to be in the countryside , close to nature but then they dont like company of people any more. Cant blame them! :)

Being human is to be able to experience all the human qualities of friendship, love, compassion, respect, trust, and zillion others but being away from human civilization & being alone in Nature somehow you dont get to experience these qualities in its fullglory! That is the only drawback!

There again India shines - every moment in India is an opportunity to experience your potential as a human being. I will write more about that experience another time. And of course, the opposites that coexist in India - it is mind blowing!

That is enough of writing for today.

Support my Yogathon Team - iChallenge

2009-04-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

My story so far ..
Over the last couple of years I have had the opportunity to interact with the High School Students either as a school mentor or volunteer or yoga teacher. What I have seen, heard and observed interacting with students, teachers, principals and community leaders have saddened me very deeply. There is such an alarming increase in the stress that our teenagers go through on a day-to-day basis.

Teen sufferings ...
Most of the teens experience heavy performance pressures, a sense of loneliness and alienation from the community, self-esteem issues, and a deep emptiness within! These prompt them towards life challenging and life changing choices of drugs, sex, violence, gangs, bullying and suicides. There is no energy, no enthusiasm, no joy in their existence - many of them equate themselves to being like zombies.

And surprisingly I found that for many schools only choice of direction is more strictness & policing, more security cameras, more metal detectors, color-coded dress codes, more cops in the schools! Even as far as a year back the thought to offer our young people a healthy-holistic alternative to depression, suicide, alcohol , drugs, unsafe sexual activity, violence was not an option for schools!

YES! - 'It' works.. ..
Through the medium of International association for Human Values(IAHV) and Art of Living, I have been engaging with local school districts for over 3 years to bring about a positive change through the YES! Program. Read more about: http://www.youthempowermentseminar.org
I know the power of the program and how effective it is as I have seen the changes in my lives, talked to many parents and interacted with many teens that have gone through the program. Teens from varied background -f private schools, at-risk, disadvantaged families, etc.

What do teens need...
It is time we provided our young people with tools to handle their stress & negative emotions. Holistic Tools that utilize the inherent power of breath and bring the effectiveness of yoga & mindfulness into our classrooms.

What is happening...
In Jan 2009, things really turned around when with the support of my local Superintendent and Principals both the High Schools in my home city of Milpitas decided to bring the YES! program into their schools. One school has already completed the program for over 85 teens. The other school begin the program in fall for a complete semester (9 weeks). The results are beginning to show..

In the last few months I have seen an overwhelming increase in the number of schools coming on board for these programs. Close to over 13 high schools in the south bay are already scheduled to have YES!.
I myself, will be teaching in two high schools over the next 5 weeks and another couple of schools during the summer break.

How does it fit ...
The program is taught integrated into the school curriculum as a regular PE class or Opportunity class or Leadership class or after school class (or school's choice) for 5-days a week over 5-9 weeks. The course requires nearly 20-30 hours of time for completion followed by weekly/monthly follow ups.

The challenges...
This format requires committed individuals as all the classes are taught during the day.
Let us face it - Public Schools in California have no money!
We are providing these workshops free of charge to school and working to get funds through community & private donors, corporations, federal grants, etc.
This takes time!

Meanwhile our requests are pouring and we are going ahead with teaching, and doing research at the same time. Our challenges are money and more teachers!

Both go hand in hand - to get more teachers to be trained and take this up full time, we need to be able to pay regular salaries, and with that comes the need for more money. And not to mention the overhead of the program, administrative costs and research costs!

Your support...
We need support from the community to create awareness and to help raise money so that we can create more teachers, do extensive research around the program, teach in every public school in the US, and sustain this momentum in creating Stress-Free, Violence-Free Safe Schools!

My challenge is to complete 108 - Sun Salutations in 60 minute on 30th May and to raise $10K in pledges through friends and family ..
read more about yogathon: http://yogathon.iahv.org

To Support my pledge:

Click on this link: http://yogathon.iahv.org/member-pledge-page.aspx?memberId=813104z761sdw02991
Make your donation (every drop makes the ocean, so give without hesitation whatever the amount maybe)
Your donation is fully tax-deductible. You will receive an email receipt for your donation.

Time takes a new dimension in India!!

2009-04-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

After a long period of hush I emerge out like a butterfly from a caterpillar - ready to fly high, embrace the fragrances of life, flay and fly...

The last 3 months were indeed one of deep contemplation and I spent in that one land which to me symbolizes contemplation, nirvana, heaven.. and that is the land of opposites, the land of nothingness and fullness together bursting out of its every corner - The Land of India.

I spend my longest stay in India since I have moved to United States in 1999. And this visit marked my return to the land after 3 long years. There were lot of festivities including my sisters wedding, international women's conference, shivrathri with my gurudev, temple visits, moms closeness, dads humor, sisters presence, relatives, family, food, movies, election mania, horns, speed, dust, dirt, sound, silence, first rain, mangoes, pineapple. jackfruit, arguments with the rikshawallah, ashrams, swamijis, slums, eating out, shopping, bargaining, window shopping, thellawallas, fried peanuts, corn chaat, gobi manchurian, indian ice cream, cadburys 5-star , eating in banana leaf, home-made food, infinite cups of tea, sweets, cows, curious neighbors, feeding aunties, pestering grandmoms, endless advises, temple bells, dogs barking at dawn, loud speakers, festivals, elephants, unconditional love of a stranger, gossip, street kids, peeing in the train, dirty bathrooms, standing at the train doors, eve teasing, blanket of grace at every step, smile from innumerable strangers, early morning meditations, silence at sumeru mantap, sadhana in vishalakshi, jasmine flower vendors, NICE road in Bangalore, miracles, stories, artists, craftsmanship, innocence, playfulness, past life visits, prayer, jokes, sales, crowds, dhobi, freshly ironed crisp clothes, sun dried clothes, boiled drinking water, salted mango pickles, home ground masalas, cooker whistles, kids stopping in for water, wide open home doors ................

Sonia’s presence in Delhi is costing India dearly

2008-12-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

बी François Gautier

First Published : 02 Dec 2008 02:37:00 AM IST

Last Updated : 02 Dec 2008 10:20:05 AM IST

In 1898, the French writer Emile Zola wrote an open letter to the then French president in the newspaper L’Aurore, titled j’accuse (‘I accuse’), where he accused the French government of anti- Semitism towards Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer unfairly condemned for treason।

Now it is time for the people of India to say openly that which many, including within the Congress, think secretly and may utter in the privacy of their chambers।

It is not about Manmohan Singh, it is not even about Shivraj Patil, the fall guy; it is about that one person, the Eminence Grise of India. She who pulls all the strings, She whose shadow looms menacingly over so many, She who holds no portfolio, is just a simple elected MP, like 540 others, but rules like an empress.

Sometimes, one’s very physical presence at the top is enough to move things, to influence the course of events. One word from Her, a glance, a frown, are enough to put the whole heavy, inert, unwilling machinery of India’s bureaucracy and political system in full motion. Sometimes She need not say anything: in the true tradition of Bhakti, Her ministers, Her secretaries, interpret Her silences and rush to cater to Her western and Christian identity.

Nevertheless, she has said and acted enough so that one day she may stand accused on the pages of History for what she must have done to India.

I’accuse Sonia Gandhi as being responsible for the tragedy of Mumbai, having emasculated India’s intelligence agencies by stopping them from investigating terror attacks in the last four years, including the Mumbai train blasts. She has also neutralised the ATS by ordering them at all costs to ferret out ‘Hindu terrorism’, which if it exists, has wrought minuscule damage compared to what Islamic terror has done since 2004. Did the US send a warning to India that there may be an attack on Mumbai and that the Taj would be one of the targets? Were these ignored because the ATS was too busy chasing Hindu ‘terrorists’ on Sonia’s orders?

I accuse Sonia and her government of having made the NSG the laughing stock of the world. How many times did the NSG (who took ten hours to reach Mumbai) claim that it had “sanitised the Taj and that the operation was over” and how many times did a bomb go off immediately after? For the last 20 years, the NSG has guarded VIPs and has become soft. See the comments of Israeli terror specialists, who said the NSG should have first sanitised the immediate surroundings of the places of conflict, kept the bystanders and press (who gave terrorists watching TV in the Taj rooms a perfect report of the security forces’ whereabouts) out of the place, gathered enough information about the position of the terrorists and hostages before taking action, instead of immediately engaging the terrorists, and ensuring the deaths of so many hostages.

I accuse Sonia of having let her Christian and Western background, in four years, divide India on religious and caste lines in a cynical and methodical manner.

I accuse Sonia of weakening India’s spirit of sacrifice and courage, so that 20 terrorists (or less) held at ransom the financial capital of India for more than three days.I accuse Sonia Gandhi of always pointing the finger at Pakistan, when terrorism in India is now mostly homegrown, even if it takes help, training, refuge and arms from Pakistan; of not warning Indians of the grave dangers of Islamic terror for cynical election purposes.

I accuse Sonia of being an enemy of the Hindus, who always gave refuge to persecuted minorities, and who are the only people in the world to accept that God may manifest under different names, in different epochs, using different scriptures.

I accuse Sonia Gandhi of taking advantage of India’s respect for women, its undue fascination with the Gandhi name, and its stupid mania for White Skin.I’accuse Sonia of exploiting the Indian Press’ obsession with her. She hardly ever gave interview in 20 years, except scripted ones to NDTV, yet the Press always protects her, never blames her and keeps silent over her covert role.

I’accuse Sonia and her government of trying to make heroes of subservient and inefficient men to hide the humiliation of Mumbai 26/11. Before going to his death, Hemant Karkare, the ATS chief, was shown on television clumsily handling his helmet, as someone who uses it very rarely. Why did he die of bullet wounds in the chest when he was wearing a bullet-proof vest? Either Indian vests are inferior quality or he was not wearing one.How did the terrorists who killed him and his fellow officer escape in the same vehicle used by the ATS chief ? Why did he and his officers go into Cama Hospital without ascertaining where the terrorists were? We honour his death, but these facts say a lot about the ATS’ battle-readiness.Will someone in the Congress, someone who feels more Indian than faithful to Sonia, stand up and speak the truth? Who said, “Go after Hindu terrorists”? Who insisted on putting pressure on BJP governments in Karnataka or Orissa for so-called persecution of Christians, when Christians have always practised their faith in total freedom here, while their missionaries are converting hundreds of thousands of innocent tribals and Dalits with the billions of dollars given by gullible westerners? Who said, “Go soft on Islamic terrorism”? Who wants to do away with India’s nuclear deterrence in the face of Pakistani and Chinese nuclear threats, by pushing at all costs the one sided Indo-US nuclear deal, which makes no secret of its intention to denuclearise India militarily? I am sure Sonia Gandhi has good qualities: she probably was a good wife to Rajiv, a good daughter in law to Indira and by all accounts, she is a good mother to her children. One also hears first-hand reports about her concern for smaller people, her dignity in the suffering that befell her when her husband was blown to pieces, and her courtesy with visitors.Nevertheless, she is a danger to India.

Her very presence, both physical and occult, open the doors to forces inimical to India. Even Indian Christians should understand that she is not a gift to them: her presence at the top has emboldened fanatics like John Dayal or Valson Thampu, who practise an orthodox Christianity prevalent in the West in the early 20th century, but no longer, to radicalise their flock. Indian Christians should recognise that they have a much better deal here than Christians or Hindus have in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia or Saudi Arabia.Under Sonia’s rule, Indian Muslims, too, have been used as electoral pawns. They have been encouraged to shun the Sufi streak, a blend of the best of Islam and Vedanta, for a hard-line Sunni brand imported from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.For the good of India, her civilisation, her immense spirituality and culture, Sonia Gandhi has to go and a government that thinks Indian, breathes nationalism and will protect its citizens must be voted to power.

— fgautier@auroville.org.in

kab tak - Rekha Kodialbail

2008-12-01T16:43:00.000-08:00

कब तक यूँ ही खाते रहेंगे गोली,
कब तक यूँ ही बहने देंगे मासूमो का खून,
कब तक अँधेरी रातों को सिसकियाँ बरते रहेंगे,
कब तक आतंक को सह खामोश रहेंगे!
कब तक!

आज फ़ैसला हो जाए॥
यूँ ही घुट घुट कर जीना है?
यूँ ही डर डर कर सहना हैं?
यूँ ही जाने कुर्बान करनी हैं?
यूँ ही जीते जी मरना हैं?

अब आ गया है वक्त आवाज़ बुलंद करने का॥
कुछ कर दिखाने का, जाग जाने का!
कोई यहाँ कुछ नहीं करने वाला!
अपना आंगन तुम्हे ख़ुद साफ़ करना हैं!
इन्तेज़ार करना छोड़ दो! अब उठो और कुछ करो!

शासन बदलो, राजनीती बदलो, नियम बदलो, विचार बदलो!
चलो आ गया है वक्त ख़ुद को बदल डालने का, कुक्क कर दिखाने का ॥
नई चेतना, नई उमंग और नया भारत बनाने का!

जवान खून को खौल दो, अब आ गया है वक्त
नवीन भारत बनाने का!
अब तक सह लिए॥ अब न सहेंगे, रोके न रूक सकेंगे॥
आँसू पोंछ और उठ॥
अब आ गया है वक्त बदल डालने का!
नवीन भारत बनाने का!

Is Bar Nahin by Lyricist Prasoon Joshi

2008-12-01T16:31:00.000-08:00

इस बार नहीं

इस बार जब वोह चोटी सी बच्ची मेरे पास अपनी खरोंच ले कर आएगी
मैं उसे फू फू कर नहीं बहलाऊँगा
पनपने दूँगा उसकी तीस को
इस बार नहीं

इस बार जब मैं चेहरों पर दर्द लिखा देखूँगा
नहीं गूंगा गीत पीड़ा भुला देने वाले
दर्द को रिसने दूँगा , उतारने दूँगा अन्दर गहरे
इस बार नहीं

इस बार मैं न मरहम लगाऊँगा
न ही उठाऊँगा रुई के फाहे
और न ही कहूँगा की तुम आंकें बंद कार्लो , गर्दन उधर कर लो मैं दावा लगता हूँ
देखने दूँगा सबको हम सबको खुले नंगे घाव
इस बार नहीं

इस बार जब उलझने देखूँगा ,चत्पताहत देखूँगा
नहीं दौडूंगा उलझी दूर लपेटने
उलझने दूँगा जब तक उलझ सके
इस बार नहीं

इस बार कर्म का हवाला दे कर नहीं उठाऊँगा औजार
नहीं करूंगा फिर से एक नयी शुरुआत
नहीं बनूँगा मिसाल एक कर्मयोगी की
नहीं आने दूँगा ज़िन्दगी को आसानी से पटरी पर
उतारने दूँगा उसे कीचड मैं ,टेढे मेधे रास्तों पे
नहीं सूखने दूँगा दीवारों पर लगा खून
हल्का नहीं पड़ने दूँगा उसका रंग
इस बार नहीं बनने दूँगा उसे इतना लाचार
की पान की पीक और खून का फर्क ही ख़त्म हो जाए
इस बार नहीं

इस बार घावों को देखना है
गौर से
थोड़ा लंबे वक्त तक
कुछ फैसले
और उसके बाद हौसले
कहीं तोह शुरुआत करनी ही होगी
इस बार यही तय किया है

बी ... Prasoon Joshi

Let us take responsiblity!!

2008-11-28T10:59:00.001-08:00

Have been watching the 'Mumbai Terror' for the last 51 hours and it has been shocking indeed! And more shocking to see is the young men behind the attack. They are young men between the age of 18 - 25yrs. It is soooo sad! I was listening to some of them talk on rediff and they make no sense. It is like they have been totally brainwashed from childhood on this particular task. They have such a narrow outlook to the world! Young men... It breaks my heart to see this!

And now I see politicians tainting and blaming each other for what is happening! Blaming and complainging only means you are not taking responsibility! This is my message to the politicians!

Instead of blaming if you can sit together and see how you can stop such things from happening again it might be more a responsible thing to do! And again I remember the 'Wednesday' movie. How long is the common man going to ignore all this and sit quiet! When are we going to take responsibility. We want change, then we need to make it happen. Some politician sitting there is not going to do it for us.

Let us not forget this incident and move on like it never happened! That is been happening a lot now. This is like the 3rd or 4th attack on mumbai. Sure.. let it not dampen our spirit in goodness but we need to wake up and take responsibility!

Can we make a fresh start!
Guns and violence are not the answer.....
Please.... let us wake up....

I am really feeling so tired and helpless at how messed up our priorities have become...
Humanity has shrunk under the dogmas of the man-made religion....
It is a sad day inthe kingdom of GOd. His own are killing his own in H own name...
Iti s indeed a sad day in the Kingdom of God!

may the voice of peace be loud and clear....

2008-11-19T11:17:00.001-08:00

It is not often I see a movie that speaks about terrorism without any bullshit (sorry for the use of the word) about secularism, religion attached to it! The last one which inspired me from the very gut was 'Rang De Basanti' but then the movie ended in such deep tragedy as though the director himself didn't really thing that what the youth did was the right thing to do! And the movie really left a irreparable scar in my heart!

And then comes along another movie which I just saw - the Best ever movie made on terrorism without any agenda, any hoo-hoo-haa-haa, any crap on religion and secularism! My kudos to the director, Neeraj Pandey and of course, hats off to Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher for being in it! The movie I am talking about is: WEDNESDAY

It is not that there arent enough good people in the world!
It is not that there arent enough people who want peace in the world!
It is not that there arent enough people who want to end corruption and terrorism in the world!
It is ONLY that the voices of those who seek the above is not LOUD enough!
It is a muffled sound in living rooms, heated discussions on trains and offices, it is a murmur of silence!

When are we going to STAND UP & SPEAK OUT against terrorism, corruption, drugs and violence! When are we going to stop equating everything to religion! When are we going to stop judging a person based on his color, name, and caste!
When are we going to wake up!

WEDNESDAY made the message LOUD & CLEAR, it is time for the common man to start taking responsibility of our home! It is time to take out the BROOM and WIPE away the DIRT from our Homes! It is time for our Young Men to get into Politics, Police, Media, Business, Education and do some MAJOR CLEANUP!

IT IS TIME FOR ACTION!
IT IS TIME TO RESESTABLISH THE LOST SPIRIT OF INDIA!
IT IS TIME TO REINSTATE THE LOST GLORY OF INDIA!

The INDIA which paved the way for the world!
The INDIA which was hometo Institutions like TAKSHASHILA & NALANDA where people from all over the globe came to get mastered in science & spirituality!

STOP BLAMING OTHERS! WHAT CAN YOU DO! DO IT!
The common man needs to WAKE UP now!

Bahut Ho Chuki beparwafi..
Bahut ho chuki hai Tabahi...
Ab aa gaya hai waqt kuch kar dikhane ka..
Seena Tan kar chalo bad chale..
Ab aa gaya gai waqt karm kar dikhane ka!
Pukar rahi hai dharti, Ab aur deer na karo!
Aage bado. Awaaz buland karo.
Aa gaya hai waqt, aangan saaf kar dikhane ka!
Seena Tan kar chalo bad chale..
Ab aa gaya hai waqt kuch kar dikhane ka!

here & now - a talk by H H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

2008-11-17T10:28:00.000-08:00

Let me tell you a story. Once two villagers were sitting under a tree and watching the sunset. They were very close friends. After sitting quietly for some time, one asked the other, “What are you thinking? I am planning to buy five acres of land, a garden.” The other friend immediately said, “Don´t buy the garden!”

The first one was surprised. He asked “why”? The second one replied, “I am planning to buy a buffalo. Then, my buffalo will enter your garden and we will fight, have misunderstandings and lose our friendship. I do not want to lose our friendship.”

The first one said, “Then, you cancel your plan of buying a buffalo. I am going to buy my garden.” The second one said, “No, no, no. I have already decided to buy a buffalo.” The first one said, “How will your buffalo enter my garden? I will fence it thoroughly.”

The second one said, “No, you see, it can just enter; a buffalo is a buffalo. Who can stop it? It can do anything.”

Then the fight went to such an extent that they broke their limbs! Neither has bought buffalo nor any land. Nothing has happened. Just the mind´s race andboth of them broke their limbs over it! Our fears are also like that. The future has not yet come. But you just sit there and think, “Oh! What will happen? What will happen?” Finally you will die! This is what is going to happen! So much anxiety about the future! In this run, the mind gets into such a mess. It is unable to see the presence that is all around it.

The mind totally forgets the divine. “Me, mine, what about tomorrow, the day after and the day after that, next year, ten years later?” You people plan in this way even up to the next birth! When people are newly married they say,”We will be husband and wife for many life-times to come! This one birth is not enough. We will be man and wife for the next seven births!” In reality, they may be fed up of each other in this birth itself, but they talk of the next seven births!

We should experience the divine´s presence, the divine´s light around us.You should have a desire in your mind to experience this. Have we ever desired the divine light? Has such a desire ever risen in you, that you want the highest peace? Has it arisen from deep inside you? The divine light, whatever that is, you do not know what it is. It is something by which the whole world is running. Have you ever really wanted it? When you sing or pray there should be total involvement. You don´t involve yourself totally. If the mind is preoccupied elsewhere then that is no prayer at all. There should be total involvement. When there is pain there is more involvement.

You are like a free bird. You are fully open. Feel that you are flying like a bird. Learn to fly. This is some thing which you have to experience within yourself. There is nothing else. If you consider yourself as bonded, you will remain bound here. Experience freedom. When will you experience freedom? After you die? Become free right now. Sit down and become contented. That thing in you which says, “I have to do. I have to do. I have to achieve”; that is wrong. Sit down in peace, thinking: “I have nothing to do now.”

You are afraid of opening your fists. What is there with you that you have to hold your fists? You have nothing with you. Open your fists. The whole sky will be in your hands. Be natural. Be with love. Do service. Celebrate all your life.

stress is catching up fast.. part 2

2008-11-17T08:55:00.000-08:00

Our breath is our most treasured gifts from the universe! Your breath leaves you, you are dead!
No Breath, No Life.
Know Breath, Know Life.

Every emotion has a specific rhythm in the breath! Have you noticed this ever?
How do you breathe when you are angry? Fast, spurts of breath..
How do you breathe when you are in fear? Actually we hardly breathe.. it almost stop.
How do u breathe when you are tired? Imagine coming back from a hard day of work and crashing on the sofa at home. 'Haaaaah' - exhalation automatically becomes long...
How do u breathe when you happy joyful? Imagine cool breeze atthe ocean, the breeze.. our eyes automatically close and our breath both inhalation and exhalation become long...
Have you observed this natural rhythm in the breath? If not it is high time you started observing this...

But the sad thing is we have only used it is a one-way street where as it works both works. You can use your breath to unwind your mind, throw out the stress, calm your emotions, and experience deep states of calmness and relaxation.

My knowledge and exposure to the age-old science of breath came through the experience of Sudarshan Kriya taught in the Art of Living Part 1 Program. Su (proper or right) Darshan (vision) Kriya (action). So the sanskrit word literally means that purifying action that gives you a vision or glimpse of who you are. And who are we? Have we experienced or known it lately amidst all this stress! We are pure joy, we are pure happiness, we are pure love and yet, every moment of our life doesnt reflect this! Why? Becasue we have not learnt how to throw away stress from our system!

Do you see that most beautiful serene face of a baby?
Have you seen a kid dancing away without any inhibition?
Have you seen a child laughing gleefully - snorting in between?
How much joy it brings? But youhave been that child sometime back. What happened? Where did that innocence disappear?

It is all there - beneath the thick coating of stress - it is all there! You need to take away the stress and experience it.

My experience with Sudarshan Kriya has been exactly that! It truly gave me an experience of such a peace state of my existence, I experienced so much love in myheart and so light in my presence! It was like a huge weight has been lifted off me. I practise sudarshan kriya and meditation everyday and every moment of my life has been wonderful. It is not like stress doesnt come in. Of course, stress is ther but then Ihave daily mind-servicing, cleaning and washing in place! Just like howe need to have a shower every day, brush our teeth everyday, wash our car atleast once a month, get it serviced atleast once in 6 months, charge our cell phone everyday - WE NEED TO SERVICE OUR MIND EVERYDAY IN THESE TIMES!

Otherwise, it is not easy to deal with this world and its pressures! I cannot imagine how someone can survive without meditation and breathing even for a day.

And the most interesting thing of this all is that - people wait till stress brings to them all kinds of diseases, ailments - people would rather spend thousands on all kinds of weird medicines go through the traumatic sideeffects but not give practises like Sudarshan Kriya a shot.

FOundations such as Art of Living, IAHV have been teaching these programs for over 25 years in over 140 countries benefitting over 40 million people worldwide, yet our mind would rather gpo through stress than get rid of it! Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of AOL and IAHV has cognized these techniques just for people of this age to aptly get rid of stress from their system, experience the true-meaning in life, enjoy every moment of being here on this planet, experience that you are part of this universe and everyone around you is a part of you!

There is not just Art of Living, there are so many organizations teaching meditation practises, breathing practises so that you can get rid of your stress more holistically without any sideeffects!

What are we waiting for?
I can only wonder...
How many more shootings are we waiting to happen to do something about our stress?
How many more new diseases do we need to experience and experiment with before changing our patterns and ways of living?

Come learn the Art of Living life today...
Invest in your mind and in your breath...
It will take you a long way...
For more information on breath/yoga/meditation, please directly email me at rekha.kodialbail@artofliving.org

stress is catching up fast.. part 1

2008-11-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

In his wildest of dreams would this normal family man with a loving wife and three sons — a 2-year-old and two 6-year-old twins who lived for the past 11 years on Emerson Lane, a quiet Mountain View cul-de-sac, ever thought that one day he would go get a gun and shoot down his CEO, VP and HR Director in moments of dispair. It is so shocking what stress, pressure can do to a person - our rational thinking, logic everything goes out of the window! Nothing makes sense any more.

We are fast approaching a highly stressful time ahead. Many folks I know have lost jobs, have had to go through pay cuts, foreclosure, tripping on mortgage payments and also bare necessities. As if it were not already enough, stress is catching up fast and engulfing us in its wretched grips! I remember President Obama's victory speech that we need to take care of each other. No one can be left behind.

It is becoming all the more clear that we all need to know how to throw stress out of our system. We need to learn how to relax the mind, and how to relax in moments of pressure. It is so unbelievable that neither at home nor at school have we learnt how to relax the mind, how to deal with our emotions, how to manage our stress! Isnt that so funny!

Mind is our most invested commodity! Without the mind, we are no different from an animal. And yet our mind has our least attention! It is used 24*7, 365 days without ever getting re-charged, oiled or servicing! Wow! No wonder it cracks down someday...

We can never manage our mind through the mind. The more you try to relax the mind by asking it to do so, the more it runs away from it. The more you dont want thoughts in the mind, the more thoughts come charging in. The more you dont want to think about something, the more it keeps popping up! What do people do to get away from the trauma of the stuck mind -
drinking, smoking, listening to loud music, popping pills, masochism, and zillion other self-destructive ways!

All these methods do is to take the attention away from the mind but the jin-bang in the mind is very much other!

What is the key to managing the mind and emotions?
What can bring the mind to present moment?

The most simple and yet working answer is your BREATH.
Really it is that simple! Breath is the most powerful tool given to us naturally. It sustains life, it is happening every moment without our knowing.

You are on the Radar...

2008-11-16T13:35:00.000-08:00

I have had this feeling the whole time growing up that I am on the radar .. constantly watched! Now that gives an eerie feeling, doesn't it!

Have you had this someone,something through out your life that makes you realize where you are faltering in life, how you are not walking the talk? Are you wondering - what is she talking about? Well,in that case I am one of those few chosen ones by the universe. ha! ha! that is all I can say.

Growing up I thought this is how it is! In a whole class of 60 students, my teacher would be focused only on me. If I talk, I am spotted. If I do a mischief, I am spotted. If I miss a homework, I am spotted. I have this one friend or person around me who will never ever allow me to lie. And if I do, that is it it will be out! At home it was my dad. Whether I come first in class or I win a debate, my dad would always list out the criticism first. This you did not do it right! And then of course, he would praise me behind my back. Even many of my teachers did that. If I break a rule, it is like the whole world is watching! I have no complaints about it as I always thought it was God's way to always keep me on the path of knowledge. Wasn't always a pleasant experience or should I say it was tough - it was Tapas! Like in India folks would say - your karma!

I have become the Art of Living teacher and now I am on fire like never before or as Rajima says "now you are deep fried in oil". :)
And in courses telling others knowledge sutras like 'Accept people and situations as they are' is not easy. I am always on the radar or should I say I am inside it. And this time, the Divine has chosen the voice of my companion for life. ;)
So there is no escape from it.

I remember once Gurudev said that as you walk on the path and sway to left or to right, there will be danda from either side which will bring u back to the path walking straight. My danda is on and I am so grateful for the full-on attention from the Divine this way. The only was to humble this ego and to make it realise you are nothing and a nobody!!
Push every button till there remains none to be pushed.

But do you know what the most important realization of all this is! The one outside is only my reflection as the button can only get pushed if I already think that it is a button. The one outside merely reflects it loud and clear into the universe for you to hear and reflect. Unless I think the same - it cannot push me!

If what I hear is absolutely new information about me, then it will only bring an element of surprise - and not emotions like anger or regret or sadness in the moment it happens. So that means I already know I am not walking the talk . I realise more and more is to just hear it without giving justification or passing any judgement! You know it so accept it! There is nothing right or wrong about it .. it just is that way. It will surely change!

Dropping judgements..
Dropping being right or being wrong..
Dropping justifications..
Can I accept the moment for what it brings?
Can I love this moment for 'it is'?

When there is lack of love, acceptance dawns..
And love is a happening... patience is its virtue!
Be patient!!

I am and will be on the radar till the realisation dawns that there is no radar and there is no me...
till then enjoy and have fun!!

Ciao...

Ah! What genuine expression...

2008-11-13T21:54:00.000-08:00

I love this picture.. There is a timelessness about this picture as though it is captured with a camera..

My visit back in time..

2008-11-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I travelled down memory lane and met Gandhiji, and Vinoda Bave. I had a glimpse of what Gandhiji's satyagraha must have been like, what Vinoda Bave compassion was like, and how meeting them in person would have been like...

It all happened through the presence of Krishnaammal at Nipun's wednesday meditation
Krishnammal Jagannathan and Sankaralingam Jagannathan are two lifelong activists for social justice, and for sustainable human development, working with those who are at the lowest rung of the social ladder. They have carried the Gandhian legacy into the 21st century, never ceasing to serve the needs of Dalits, landless and those threatened by the greed of landlords and multinational corporations. Krishnaammal is the recipeint of the Right Livelihood Award 2008.

Just meeting her you realise that she is such simple being established every moment of her life in knowing the Divine, every moment she spends in self enquiry. It is like she is walking and living in the midst of us but so untouched! I remember Gurudev's word from Astavakra - 'Niranjan' - meaning untouched, pure! When she spoke about light and compassion and non-violence, and her times with Gandhiji and Vinobaji, I was totally transported into time. And to know that even today in the this high-tech world there is a Gandhian - there is amma! Her stories were so life transforming. Her effort has been ongoing for over 40years with the landlords and it is still going on.

One of the most important thins she said is ' You dont give up to see the light in the other person however they may be'. The Divine light in you is also inherent in that person. You need to pray to that Divine light and it will manifest in that person too. And she has seen this happen again & again in her life. So much patience! In this time, we want everything instant - patience is so lost! We give up so soon.

She is getting all these awards. And I could see that she is so untouched by them.

She completely changed the flow of the evening. :)
There was no order. I was remembering Gurudev. How the plan is totally gone off the window. Usually we meditate for an hour before the evening begins. Around 35 minutes into the meditation, I heard ammas voice talking about meditation. And I could only smile! She is in a different reality and flow. And then she spoke about her journey - it was beautiful to hear her speak. For me more than the words she uttered, her presence radiated much more power. I was experiencing the strength of an Indian Woman, strength of someone who has seen pre-independent india. They are a completely different genre of people!

She was telling everyone to do self enquiry every living moment, and to be established in your Self. She said she doesnt even much care now for having a bath or brushing her teeth. She chooses to spend every bit of her time in memory of the Divine and doing his work.

I went her took her Ashirvad at the end. It was beautiful to be in her presence! So much love - Divine Mother towards every single one. She had gone beyond being a mother to her child and now every cell of her being radiated love and the Divine Mom! And i was thrilled when she told ne she is a great friend of Gurudev! I had to laugh to hear that! She is also coming for Women's conference. Gurudev actually asked her to come to Dallas when he was there. I dont know if she met him there.

My day was made to have met such a Divine Being .. who has dedicated every moment of her life to service and self-enquiry.

Amma, I look forward to seeing you int he Bangalore Ashram!
Jai Gurudev

The Miracle of Blessing - Article by Wu Chao-Chuan

2008-11-12T17:22:00.000-08:00

Translated by Thow Peak Wan

I had felt to write down something to share with everyone about the experience of my child receiving the blessings of Guruji. But as I had been very busy, I
never got round to it. But seeing my child kneeling in front of a picture of Guruji last night really moved me. I could no longer resist writing down the experience with the hope of giving some food for thought for those who have either just started the Art of Living or who are hesitating at the door and have not entered in as yet.

Before the age of 8 my son had always been a strong, handsome and smart boy. I loved taking him out to play because I felt proud as a mother hearing the
praises heaped upon him by people. But the year he was going into primary 3, a car accident on the highway put an end to both of our dreams. The aftermath of the huge impact to his head meant that schooling was difficult for him and plus the fact that the surgery on his skull left an area which was bald and could no longer grow hair, he became the butt of the other schoolchildren' s jeers and insults. Names such as baldy, stupid, crazy were continuously hurled at him. The constant jeering left him feeling humiliated and angry but other than clenching his fists, he could not find any other way of emotional release. From then on he became the weak pupil in the eyes of the teacher. It was for him the beginning of an uncontrollable fall into an abyss of darkness. He was no longer a pupil with good marks, a lovely and lively boy. I could no longer see his clear bright shining eyes and innocent smile.

I could only see hate in his eyes!I know he hated the car accident and the man who had knocked him down with his car.

Brain injury needs a long time to heal. But I and my son were very impatient in our quest to return to the good old days. This resulted in a lot of conflict and pain for us. Especially in the area of his studies, it was like taking a big fall. Every night I painstakingly accompanied him in his studies but there was not any improvement at all.

In the end my child begged me to please give up on him. When he spoke those words he was only 9 years of age. That night I was so heartbroken I fell on the floor crying. In the midst of my tears I kept asking myself "What kind of a mother am I really? What kind of mother am I?"

From that night on, I told myself that no matter how bad his homework is, he is sure to have something in him that is better than others. I have to think up
means to help him regain his confidence, at least I have to let him be happy again.

After that, I let him learn drawing and jazz piano. This is not for the sake of art but for him to get some form of emotional release. He did both of these really well and from these activities he got some measure of achievement and joy. But I knew that he was still unhappy about the fact that his schoolwork was not as good as the others. But he pretended not to mind.

But the higher the grade, the closer he got to the top of the class, counting backwards. But we wryly smiled to ourselves in an effort to comfort ourselves, saying, "Never mind! At least he did not come out last!" But as he was such a fine student before we could not help feeling somewhat disappointed. We spent a few years like this. This year my son finally successfully graduated to middle school. We heard that the school will group the students according to their results. Of the 3 subjects - National Language(Chinese) , English and Maths, he only managed 30 marks in each of the subjects. It did not take too much of a guess to know which class he would be put into. But still we smilingly said, "Oh, never mind". I tried to encourage my son saying, " Maybe in the future you will be the dark horse which will surprise everyone!". When my son heard this, he just blankly said, "Oh, don't be silly!". It seemed that my son no longer held out any hopes as regards his studies.

But the Blessing Course held in the mid of September this year in Taiwan changed the destiny of my son forever. My sister was attending the blessing course held in Wulai Yun Xian Recreational Park. She was continuously calling to urge our whole family to attend the last satsang of the course which was held the night before the course ended. She said "Swami Pragyapad will be giving blessings to everyone. This is a very rare opportunity, so you should not miss out!" But because of various reasons, I just could not make up my mind to go. Finally, there was a dramatic turn of events and overcoming all manner of difficulties and mental obstacles, I drove my parents and the 2 children northward for the satsang. Frankly, I innocently went and quietly enjoyed being there. Whilst receiving Swamiji's blessings, my mind did not have any desire for anything. Neither were there any thoughts.

I just told my child: "Have a humble and grateful heart when you go forward to receive Guruji's blessings and feel blessed!" Afterwards, on the way home, I got lost on the way in the mountains and only reached home in the middle of the night. The children were very tired so I did not let my son do any preparation for the next day's tests. I just hurried him off to bed.

The next day after school, my child told me in an excited tone of voice that I had not heard in seemingly a few hundred years: "Mummy, Mummy, today I had 90 marks for my Natinal Language(Chinese) !"

My instinctive reply was "Stop joking!"

My child shook his head earnestly and said, "No, no, really - I really got 90 marks!"

I was stunned for a couple of seconds and then yelling with joy, I picked him up and holding him turned him round and round in celebrative joy. During these few years we had never seen such high marks before. It came as such a surprise! Especially in the subject of National Language (Chinese language). Because of the past brain injury, my son was not able to remember many words. Even words that a primary 1 or 2 pupil should know, he was still not able to write them out. How is it possible that overnight he could know them all?

Who will believe such a thing?

The following 2 weeks, every day my child will come back home and with that high pitch excitement tell me: "Mummy, Mummy, today I got 100 marks in my maths test.!", "Mummy, Mummy, today I got 90 marks in my English, I was the second in my class!", "Mummy, Mummy ......." ....

With every passing day, my son loved his studies more and more and his smile blossomed more and more each day.

For so many years, I had not seen my son like this... I had thought that I would never ever be able to see him like this.

Because of this, I could not help crying at night, but this time it was because I was moved to tears..

Looking at Guruji's photograph, I sincerely knelt down.....crying, speechless with gratitude.

The huge change in my child's studies, if it were not because of the blessings of the Guru, what else could be the reason?

I finally experienced what grace was - it is when you have not prayed for anything and it descends on you when you really need it.

Seeing the scene of my son kneeling down in gratitude, what I am really grateful for is that Guruji has taken the hatred which was in my son's heart away and opened up his closed up heart and brought back to him his own innate kindness, confidence and happiness. This is the miracle that we had not dared to wish for.

Because of gratitude, I could not help but kneel down in front of the picture of Guruji. I feel so fortunate that I have met Guruji and have him as my Guru. It is only because of this that my son has such good karma today.

Jai Guru Dev
2008.10.22 Taichung
Wu Chao Chuan
Public Servant, Nantou.
(Currently studying in Life and Death Research Centre in Nan Hwa University)

india my land...

2008-11-11T22:39:00.000-08:00

Jan 2009 will be 3 years since I went to India. Aaah! It pains to be away from that land for so long. why such a long time? Was trying to avoid a double trip to india in the same year if (the deadly 'if') there was a wedding in the family! And finally it happened and I am making the trip to India.

My last trip was the fateful Silver Jubilee of Art of Living ...
I love India... even the 18 -24 hour plane ride... I love it all.. The plane landing in Bangalore.. stepping out from the plane.. walking throgh security and then into the outside.. the noise.. the chaoes.. the dirt... the people... i love it all! It took me to come to US to realise the might and vibrance of india! I am so proud to have born there...

If there is life anywhere on this planet, it is in India!! Trust me... in every eye you see it.. life stands out.. glares at you.. laughs at you... smles at you.. sobs at you... grins at you... in every glorious way life looks back at you from every eye in India. You cannot miss it, ignore it or shut it!

It is dancing in its most glorious outfit, in the most outrageous avatars.. in front of you!
You cannot escape India when you are there..
You cannot ask for your 'own' space...
Nobody even knows what it means out there..
You literally and figuratively realise you are a part of everyone and everyone is a part of you! That is India for you!

I relish every minute of the car ride from airport to home.. Can literally feel it!
I always wonder - how did I choose to come here .. how am i still surviving so far away from india.. i miss the country like crazy!

Earlier years more than the country, I missed my family. But now somehow I miss the land! This has happened since my trip for Silver Jubilee. Looks like Gurudev did some magic. I can still remember on my ride back in the plane from India I realised that your family somehow is always with you in memories, through phone, through email. But your conutry somehow stays behind. The mother of the land somehow just weeps when you leave and can never walk with you. It is left so far behind. There is no way you can experience the land but from being there. When I remember India through memories, it is like remembering someone who is dead.. not like remembering a living person!

I dont know if it even makes sense what I am saying.. but that a land can only be experience through presence and never in its absence. People are far away in another country and somehow you still feel they are near you but land somehow doesnt feel like that!

And in that sense, I miss the land of India! Every breath on that land is a blessing. Every meditation and kriya on that land equals zillions here. Like there is concentrated juices and things, India is a concentrated land of experiences. The land where time moves fastest! A day in India might be equal to a 100 days in the US. ha! ha! It sure is Shivas land in terms of eons..

I send my love and greetings to the land of India...

Amirs blog..

2008-11-11T22:13:00.000-08:00

Did u guys know Aamir khan has a blog?
Just came across it in an article on rediff.
Check it out when u get the time..
http://www.aamirkhan.com

It is very simple and sincere... just what u would think Aamir to be. :)
I am gonna be a regular at it from now on...

What do I write?

2008-11-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here in front of the blog and wondering what do I write! And my mind is blank.
These are moments I really treasure.
Nothing to write about .. no opinions.. no views.. nothing!
Just a joyful silence in the mind, silence in the ears and there is nothing to ponder upon...

Yogis would die for a moment like this.. Ha! Ha!
What practise of Sudarshan Kriya and having a Satguru in ones life can do...
No mind ...
No me..

Happy Diwali!

2008-10-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today my day began with a date with Ayurveda at the newly opened 3-Guna Ayurveda Center in Campbell! It is such a relief to have Ayuveda Treatments at such affordable prices at last! I still recall my first and only Abhayanga in Lake Tahoe by a Sri Sri Ayurveda Technician. I was like no bones in the body...mind was nill... even thought was an effort... I was gone.. and yet, present! I longed for that for sooooo long.. And atleast! Diwali day lit up that light once again!..

This time I got Abhayanga and Shirodhara... wow! what a combination! Though the place is just starting up (it is started by David, Raashi, and Bala), it has the touch of Grace and the Presence if u know what I mean!..

David is very good! Shirodhara is such a Divine experience! Warm oil pouring on your head! Mmmm! Good! I came home and slept like a baby for 4 good hours. It was magic! And when I woke up and even now my mind is like it just walked out of a Part II course (Silent Meditation retreat offerd by Art of Living Foundation).

If you havent tried out an Ayurveda Massage.. you have reallymissed out on somehting my friend!

Get your appointment today

What is faith?

2008-10-24T09:52:00.000-07:00

What is faith? I have been pondering over this quite a bit. What does having faith in God or Guru really mean? Sometimes when I am in the midst of tough times, my mind says 'have faith you will be taken care of'. What does that mean? Things will be alright! Things will become good (if at all there is something of that sort) or become positive or better! Is that faith? That is more like doing business with God. I have faith in you so you better make life good for me or I know that you will make things great...

Yesterday as I was driving home it just stuck me - faith is being fully established in the truth. And what is truth -that everything around you is changing including you yourself, and this world is not your source of joy. Your source of joy is deep within you - unchanging, pure, effulgent, illuminance. All the objects, events, and things are not my source of joy. They come and go and keep changing! Investing in their permanance is misery.
Investing in the unreality of this world is misery.
And that is not faith!
Faith is realising the impermanence of this universe and in that knowing celebrating every event, every object and thing in your life..
Faith is walking lightly on this planet with the biggest smile, bringing brighter smiles on faces, and knowing that you are changing every moment and so is every single thing around you. Nothing is permanent!
Not getting caught up in the events!
Not getting swayed by words!
Not getting drowned in the World!
Not getting blinded by reflecting light!
What is faith?
Not getting caught up in my words..
Forgetting all I said and beginning your journey!
What is Faith!!

Rams Camera - where time dares to stop.

2008-10-18T11:30:00.001-07:00

A classic moment in time

2008-10-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

2.5 million people gathered for peace, love and friendship at the 25 years Art of Living foundation's commitment to humanity.

It was a moment to behold. That still gives me the chill, brings stillness to my mind.
A moment when time literally stopped in wonder!!

my mom gave without reason..

2008-10-15T22:41:00.000-07:00

One thing about my mom which I always remember was that she would give what she had without a reason to anyone who needed it, and never think back about it ever coming back. So many people, wanderers would end up at our doorstep to get old sarees and many other things... even inside the army quarters. it was amazing!

I have never seen her tired. I used to think when growing up that moms never fall sick or get tired. As i never recall me ever missing a meal or anything like that. Now when I have my life I realise that she definitely must have been tired at many instances but she chose never to make it a big deal and put her kids her first priority. We never or should I say hardly ate out when I grew up. She cooked everyday three times - breakfast, lunch and dinner. For me my mom is a wonder woman! How did she do it? What was her source of energy? Today Ihave Sudarshan Kriya, MEditation and all of that! How did she do it?

She made me the person I am today. She taught me to see God in every person around me, and to be kind and understanding of others problems and situations in life. She had so much kindness and compassion in her for everyone. She was so skilled in any situation especially with chldren. She could make any kid listen to her. It always amazed me! The most tyrant of a kid in her presence would forget to be so and listen to her.

I love my mother. If not for her presence in my life - I wouldnt be who I am. She taught me to love life and this world. She taught me to see God in every person around me. She taught me ot be truthful, compassionate and kind. She taught me never to judge the other as everyone comes from their own truth of knowing...

My Mother - she is rare.. noone taught her to be herself.. she is so rare.. she is my guru and my dearest friend! I love her so much that given this every paper on this universe I could keep writing about her and still find that I dont have enough paper...

I am grateful to be born of her and for her presence in my life...

moms dont come like that any more...

2008-10-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

three years back when I was in Kerala, I was at a discourse of Swami Nirmalananda Giri Maharaj. He spoke about women of the yester years. The talk was mind blowing! How the women of yester years were SHAKTI fully manifested. They knew how powerful they were and yet, were silent but powerful householders. They played every role 100% - epitome of patience, a mastery in skill of speeach and action. They were the silent powerhouses that kept the family together - nurtured the child, took care of house-hold chores, kept up t he tradition, took care of her man, balmed and boosted his ego, always made him feel that he is the decision maker and yet, got all her things done. How powerful and skillful was the woman of yester-years! She was an epitome of humility and yet, the most powerful knowing her extent of power very well but never wanting to flaunt it to the world. She had nothing to prove to anyone! Those were the great grandmothers of yester-years!

And as Swamiji spoke, and gave examples of various scenarios in life - both me and my sister - looked at each other and smiled! Swamiji was describing my mom. Yes! They dont make the likes of her anymore.. Both me & Reshma are so fortunate to have born to her.

She was always my confidant - never ever made me feel guilty, never made me feel I am not worth it, never had expectations of me - she loved me totally for who I was and didnt want anything from me. That is my mother! My earliest memories of my mom are when I was in 4th or 5th grade. I would go get dressed up in a saree like dress. She will be busy in the kitchen - sitting on the floor making chapatti dough with the pump stove lit next to her. Almost dinner time! That is when I would chose to play! I will pretend to be like an aunty visiting and greet her like "Namaste! Aap kaise hai?". And mom amidst all the chaoes chose to play the game. She will speak to me like "aapka khana ho gaya! Baayi aayi thi kya?". Sometimes I would become the baayi and ask her for work. Going down the memory lane, I dont recall one instance when she said, "not now. i am too busy". She played along with the same enthusiam and vigor. Thats my mom!

My dad was fun yet he was a task master when it came to academics. He wanted me to be either 1st or 2nd in class. I remember when I wouldnot score and feel real bad - my momwould only ask me one thing, "did you give it all you got?". And if I said "yes.", she would say ," then thats it. you gave it your best shot. doesnt matter what u got!". My mom perfectly balanced my dad's pressure.

One thing of my mom stands out through out my life. We were a lower middle class family - very minimum wages and yet, not once in my life have I felt lack for anything. Sometimes I think I had only one uniform, two good clothes and few for home but she would have my uniform pressed and ironed everyday. Not one day have I missed my school bus, my breakfast, my lunch box, my two plaits, my neatly ironed uniform, my notebooks ... not once! I remember leaving for school with my room in a mess. Both me and Reshma slept in the same bed. Yet when I would get back and go to my room, everything would be neetly arranged - like an elf came and did magic. I still remember entering my room and being amazed! That is my mom...

More mom magic will continue..
(leaving for livermore temple now for satsang)

Krishna's glance....

2008-10-10T17:58:00.000-07:00

Monday, Oct 6th we went to Srini & Arthi's house for Bhajan Satsang being Navrathri. It was beautiful to be there. This was my visit after a long time. They have beautiful pictures of Krishna threw out their homes - beautifully framed and on the wall. I was singing with my eyes closed and when I opened my eyes - it directly fell on this picture of Krishna. It only had his face! What a face! There was such a deep sense of serenity and calmness about that picture that I kept eye-gazing at it for quite sometime...

The most interesting for me in that picutre was the forhead ofKrishna. It was eerily peaceful. The artist had done such a marvellous job that looking at the picture I could sense the relief and calmness in my forehead. It was as though the face was hollow and empty. There was so much emptiness and space.... it was samadhi and yet being in the world..
I will locate that picture and post it for you to see. Meanwhile enjoy this one...

a lesson in humility..

2008-10-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

Today was the last day of the art of living course. It amazes me every time how in 6 six, complete strangers can come together and experience such a deep connectedness with each other and go beyond so many self-imposed limitations and barriers, and re-connect with their inner silence and love. Just seeing the most beautiful radiant faces beaming with joy and eyes filled with gratitude - is a lesson in humility!

The vastness of this consciousness, the depth of love brings in such humility...
There is so little I know, and I am such a tiny speck in this vast universe...
and yet, the identity of this tiny speck is so gross and strong..
I have seen how over the years, the practise of Sudarshan Kriya has slowly un-entangled me from the web of m to becoming more of a silent witness to the happenings around. Participating 100% and yet, to be able to drop it any moment. The mere realization that nothing can compare to the beauty and depth of the Divine. In the core of my being, the knowing every moment that none of this is pleasureable to me... really! I can live without all of these ...

Definitely there are moments when I get caught in the web but the awareness dawns so quickly that it is blissful. To be in the storm and seeing it completely! It is live being caught in a twister and being able to see and study it in its glory! Those moments are so blissful... I am so grateful to Gurudev. In fact, there is so no word to express... I am so much in love that love hurts and I love it even more.. :)

And yet, there is so much beauty in every cell of this creation... it is beaming with radiance and divinity. Ah! just stand up and start dancing... swaying wth the currents of life.. in bliss .. in love..

Yesterday seems like a dream..

2008-10-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

I missed writing my blog on Saturday and am sitting down Sunday evening to pen down and there is a complete state of blankness in my mind. Yesterday seems like eons ago..

Yesterday seems like a dream.. a faded dream and yet there is the feeling of love and gratefulness for the moments that made my yesterday. Life is so interesting.. we give so much importance to events, people and situations when at one level they are irrelevant, and at the same time there presence defines you as a person - a human being. It is so mind-blowing..

This navrathi is very special. In addition to my morning pathanjali discourses and sadhana, evening I am teaching the Art of Living course. Experience of such deep meditation and inner silence. And my mornings and evenings compliment each other.

the 'aha' of today..

2008-10-03T22:34:00.000-07:00

when you have too many things to do, you realise you have nothing to do..
you are not doing anything..
things are merely happening...
You feel like a fool and can only smile dropping the big ego .. or the doer ..
there is no burden.. no stiffness..
a lightness dawns...
life becomes a celebration...
Really!
I am amazed!
I am not doing anything....

there is only silence today..

2008-10-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

will just sit and meditate....

so many worlds, so many realities in one day!

2008-10-01T23:03:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered? Where is this world really? Becasue in deep meditation this world, its relations, emotions people, situations and things cease to exist for me! The minute I wake up, and open my eyes the world is reflected out there!!

every person I am with, seems like a completely different reality ... a different universe.. I was just reflecting on my day today and from morning till now I have been in different universes seems like. It seems like so many lifetimes have passed by. And yet there is something in me which has been a witness to all these passing clouds - unchanging and ever as new...

where am i really!!
is there even a 'where'!
Who am I?
Who asks to whom?

today suddenly I had an 'aha' moment that at one level everything is truth. there is no lie for lie cannot be told. That is a joke and exact opposite of .. truth can never be told. And yet, such deep contradictions and both are the truth...

chew on that ... :)
Gratitude....

Early mornings and Navrathri...

2008-09-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

First morning of Navrathri... I was kind of apprehensive yesterday night that I wont be able to wake up as I slept almost close to midnight. But then around 4 AM I woke up from a dream. And quite a weird dream it was - very dramatic! One thing though is quite interesting! This girl I think is deeply in love with guy but he is supposed to marry this other girl who is her best friend too. Many times the friend had my sisters face. Interesting! Wedding morning i am looking desperately for myfriend. There I enter this room in the palace - all the walls are decorated with henna and I see the bride sitting there. Her face covered. I (my awareness seeign the dream) observes that this is not the actual bride but the friend. The groom comes in and thinking this is his bride, gets married. And as soon as the marriage and the phere end he realises this is the other girl but seems like he too loved her or something. The bride leaves the mantap runs out to the terrace and I watch in horror as she jumps down the cliff. And it is utter panic. The groom runs behind her and I know he is going to jump! PAUSE!

Now this is where it blows my mind! The groom is running with a huge pole and he then puts it down and somehow the bride didnt fall but is hanging. He hooks her and lifts her off! And there I woke up. The fear is still strong in my heart! I look at the clock it is like 3:45 am..

Just yesterday I was talkign about fear and what a marvel to go beyond the sensation of fear. It hit me that Fear is totally ignorance of the small mind. The separation or the feeling of other causes fear! I just lied down observing the feel of fear and watched it slowly disappear and fill me with such peace. And at the same time, I was looking at my dream. Everytime in my dream I can change the course of my dream. No! Not waking up but in the dream. Say I am falling of the cliff the very next minute I can like have a parachute and land slowly. Like being aware of being in the dream and yet being in the dream. And also many times being able to change the course of the dream without actually manking an effort - like i didnt know the bride would be saved but I didnt want the bride to die either! And there is a term for it - it is called lucid dreaming! Very interesting!

Ok! so i was wide awake ever since. Got up effortlesly when the alarm rang. Had shower, made prasad, lit the lamp. And then as the group came in we did kriya together and watched Pathanjali Yoga Sutra discourse of Gurudev -tape 1. It just dawned on me that 6 years back I came to know about lucid dreaming at the Pathanjali sessions through one of the participants as he was talking about lucid dreams and I said, "thats my kind of dreams most of the time". Till then I thought everyone dreamed that way! So somehow a circle got complete today!

I can only be in gratefulness...
Therei s so much completeness in everything...
how is that!

the mystery of acceptance...

2008-09-29T14:54:00.001-07:00

One of the most intriguing experiences is that of acceptance.
What does it mean to accept people and situations as they are?
The only moments when I realize the need for acceptance is when I have stepped away from love, stepped away from the center of my being. When there is you and then me. Till then I don't even realize the need for it. Hmm!

Have you eaten bitter guard? It is one of my fav veggies. I love it for its bitterness. I have seen many folks wash the bitter guard like a zillion times to remove the bitterness and then cook it, and proudly proclaim - "I love bitter guard". Ok People! What you cooked is no longer bitter guard. You have taken its very essence out of it. What has this got to do with acceptance & love? You think about it!

Most of the time , we love something for what we see it to be or what we want it to be! if it is in alignment with my perception of the world, I love it! Or else, sorry.. I am going to wash it a zillion times till it fits my taste and then eat it! Bitter guard might stay mum but a person won't! They explode, react, spill, fume and move away!!

What is our perception afterwall? Some experience from the past, some sensation created through the illusory senses, some memory cells invoked from the past - that is our perception! And it is never the same. If you observe, ever moment our perception is getting refined, changed, evolved, and renewed! And yet to measure people, situations and things based on our perception seems to me quite a futile task...

Going beyond perceptions, beyond observations, beyond the illusory senses ... to just being in love - without any strings attached!

Do you think anybody on this planet can every understand you 100%? Forget 100% - even 50%. No way! Do u think anybody can feel what you feel, anyone can see what you see, anyone can experience what you experience? No. And yet, we find it our undue right to understand every person, situation and thing around us, and label it in our mind.

Gurudev says in Astavakra that the form doesnt have the name in it. It is the name which has the form in it. So are the labels. They only exist in our mind and it distances the gap between me and you. Throw away those labels and where is the gap! You and me are not so different after all...

What I cannot accept in you, how can I ever accept in myself?
When I say I cannot accept you the way you are.. what am I really saying?
Am I saying it to you or to myself?
It is such a wonder!

gratitude to my 'self'!!

2008-09-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

Not always do we really express gratitude to oneself so I decided to dedicate this blog to the being..

As I wake up and look up in the mirror,
reflection looking back doesnt cease to amaze me!
who are you?
where did you come from?
why are you here?
what do u want?
even as these questions echo in my head,
I realize the deep love in the eyes!
A love for just being there..
A love for everything in life..
A love beyond the opposites..
A love encompassing all..
A love that is beyond me..
A love that I dont even know when it got there..
A love that I am grateful to host..
A love that is me...
A love that is you..
I am grateful for me..
I am grateful for you..
I am grateful..

Onam Celebrations in United States!

2008-09-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

Onam is the biggest festival in the Indian state of Kerala. Onam Festival falls during the Malayali month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of legendary King Mahabali.

We mallus in BayArea California make the most of this occasion to enjoy some delicious Onam Sadya (or feast). Last year was truly legendary were we cooked for like 50-60 people a complete feast with all the legendary dishes. When I say 'we', I am refering to my best half Ram, and our close mallu friends Ciby and Deepak.

This time we decided to have a low-key mallu gettogether and meet some new mallus. Though it was a small family gathering it was one of the most memorable ones. I was the only one keeping up the tradition with a Mallu Saree. :)

Brings back so many memories of being in India and especially in Kerala.

The Divine Angels in Modesto!

2008-09-29T14:20:00.001-07:00

I just received these two pictures from Chad of the Modesto Course.
You might need to put on your shades lest the beaming radiant faces appear too bright to be seen. :)

You can see the groovy - all rocking group from Modesto!

And here is one more with me:

Oh! I love all of them sooooo much and missing them too....

108 sun salutations ...

2008-09-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

On Saturday early morning I participated in one of the most unique and one-of-a-kind event in San Jose hosted by the Art of Living foundation in collaboration with the Yoga Aid Challenge.

I have attended marathon and runs in the past so 108 sun salutations was very intriguing. For those who donot know, Sun Salutations or Surya Namaskar is a series of 12 postures performed in a single, graceful flow. Each movement is coordinated with the breath. Inhale as you extend or stretch, and exhale as you fold or contract. Here is a quick demo for you:
So Yoga Aid Challenege was to complete 108 Sun Sulations (each of 12 postures) and raise funds for your favorite charity. I had done upto 50 sun salutations in the past but then bravely I ventured to participate.

the marathon began at 7 AM on saturday. Every set of 9 was led by different yoga teachers bringing their on flavor and style to it. There was soft sanskrit chants playing in the background. And as the body moved through the 108 sun salutations, I experienced my mind move towards complete stillness and go beyond pain. More than half way into the marathon, I only moved with the count effortlessly and painlessly experiencing bodylessness. Funny thing is when some said this is the last one, I found suddently my mind awoke and I experienced pain and the inability to bend my arms. I fought it and did the last one. It struck me that as long as my mind had no clue of where it was, it didnt care. I only focused on that particular set ...

Though I never expected to complete this marathon with such ease as just last year I remember that I would end up panting after the first few rounds. And today here I am without any breaths lost, i completed effortlessly!

I can only be grateful to this body for taking me through and my practise of mediation and Sudarshan Kriya.Of course, my becoming a teacher of art of living courses has a direct hand in it. How -I dont know! But it definitely has something to do with grace of my beloved Master!

In gratitude...

I am here now..

2008-09-26T20:34:00.001-07:00

Ah! I am catching up with the present moment (which in fact never left me)...

My day was spent in the company of angels...

You wonder how important are words! My almost 2 year old little angel friend always amazes me! silent presence can say so much. How beautiful is a child! So much innocence and purity of thought. I had no thoughts the whole time I was with her (or maybe I wasn't aware of any other thought racing through my mind). It was blissful! Pure joy!

Even dirt could evoke so much introspection and excitement - it is mind blowing!
I you dont know what I am talking about, here is something for you to do. Spend some time with a kid in the combination of mud + water + garden!!

To become a child again is our journey..
Seeing no separateness between dirt or insect or stone or me...
dropping all judgements.. seeing something for just what it is...
for becoming that...
wow!!

Cell phone keeps ringing...

2008-09-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

Thursday before I woke up I had already 3 missed calls on my phone. Back into the world of cell phones and the pleasure and pain that comes with it! Ha! Ha!

I am grateful to my laptop and cell phone.. In spite ot endless usage and rough handling they both continue to serve me without hesitation. Of course, you will say - "they are gadgets! what more can u expect from them". Well, that is a thought too..

I am grateful that I have them... and that they work great - silently now! :)

Wednesday was a day of doig nothig..

2008-09-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

In life we are always in the mode of moving from one action to the other. Do we ever pause? Sometimes nature has to intervene and put a pause...

So Wednesday morning Ram left for work in my car which ad my cell phone, laptop, wallet and many other things. I woke up to a world of not knowing what to do and the background thought of "i have nothing to do now". Washing the clothes from my journey was also out of question as the bag was gone with the car as well. So I decided to take the time to do cleanup of the house without interruption. Made some light lunch for myself and then relazed followed by a delicious sadhana at my own leisure.

We always forget to be grateful for the mundane in life.. for simple joys and simple pleasure. For the joy of doing nothing important, nothing great, nothing big. Nothingness rules!!

tuesday was the journey back home....

2008-09-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

I woke up with so much fullness in my heart and to the sounds of birds chirruping and sun beaming into my room. I knew today my few days (or it seemed like forever) of bliss will begin to transform. As I woke up finished my sadhana and grabbed the book 'bitten by a black serpent' gifted by Cody the previous night to the terrace and sat in the Buddha Bench(it has buddha right along side you on the bench sitting with you and one adcacent to the bench. So I name it the Budha Bench). Justa page into the book and it was like samadhi. WOw! Thanks os much Cody!

And as I walked back into the living room, what do I see - A talking Avacado Plant. And what do u think the plant said, "Rekha, take me home. I belong to you" - Ava. Now I knew that was Tim! We had stuck on a exchange deal about trading a curry leaf plant for an avacado plant. And Tim left quite early in the day maybe 7 AM and yet before he left he had this left behind for me. My throat choked with gratitude. Iit was beautiful! With a beaming smile my day grew into something so beautiful!

My and Holly again resumed our ride into the town to the Bead Store of course. This time I got a complete tour of Modesto and then we stopped at a store of 25 years (I think) closing down and said Hi to Nancy. (hoping I gor her name right). My brief acquantance with Nancy and her daughter Nancy was through their picture with Gurudev in Hollys store. What a blessing to see her and be in her radiating presence! Nancy is winding her nutritional store for greater and simpler joys of life like reading a book, having nothing to do! Aha!

And then we stopped to grab a sandwich at a little weird place with funny energy!

We got to store and of course, Stephanie was waiting for us! And my playful day began as I picked up my word for the day which said, "play". Woo! Hoo! So I started to make a necklace wit Stephanies help.. After over an hour or more - it was time to pick another word for the day to move on but then what do i pick "Play". Holly and Stephanie were on a roll with the word "Love". So many folks came into the store and everyone wants to come for the next Art of Living Course in Modesto! What can I say! Magic continues at the bead store...

We were showered with a random act of kindness during lunch. That was a beautiful surprise! Many friends, old timers stopped by!

And then Stephanie and me resumed our journey home. Ram was waiting home to pick me up. It was wonderful to see him. The evening began with Tim and his famos band - The senor circus. It was pure fun , entertaining and innocent! I am sure everyone at the concert over the weekend is going to be dancing and taken on a journey through love, friendship and joy!

And then it was time to say goodbye to everyone..
With a full heart me nd Ram resumd our journey home with wonderful memories and waiting to meet my dearest friends again...

Longing keeps the Love alive ...

The lands where beads speak and hearts listen...

2008-09-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

Now did I tell you about the most happening place in Modesto...
of course not! I kept the most treasured memories for the last..

Now that is the beaming saint of Modesto - Holly!

And this is the place where 'Love is ALWAYS in the air'. Mark my words - ALWAYS! :)

Time literally stops here and the concept of Space ceases to be...
All magic happens at the bead store..

Folks come drawn into the store for beads and then are touched beyond their imagination. I hear that old lost friends have met at the store, folks have found their soul mates here and of course to top it all, folks ensue on their spiritual journeys here...

I was the guest of honor for the day! of course, the traveling art of living teacher! Holly kept saying that, "rekha now u r a traveling teacher"... :)

I could see how everyone came looking for beads and then were so touched by the love of Holly and Stephanie in the store. I met Cody, Chad, Vanessa and everyone at the store. The whole gang was there!

Pick your favorite beads in a basket that is given to you upfront. Walk around to the beats of bhajans playing non-stop. Look into the amazing collection of beads! Pick your favs and then then you sit on the 'Worker Area' to make your favorite necklace or bracelet or earrings.
Thats the worker area where creativity takes a new dimension!! All the furniture in the store designed by Holly. And once you sit the magic truly begins! Holly and Stephanie are suddenly transformed into genie who bring the strings, the crump beads, the skill, and everything! Boom! In minutes you have your creativity manifested...

Oh! How can I forget! There is 'pick your word for the day'. On monday my word was understanding... Every person who comes to the store picks their word for the day! And you can see peoples faces lit up as most words were mind-blowing.. You gotta read about the word I will draw on tuesday. I feel like a magician looking into the future...

And of course, Monday was the last day of the course..
It ended with hearts full, eyes wet with love, words unnecessary, one big family and cherished friendships.. Oh! God... Gratitude for this honor of being with them. It was one of the most cherished times of my life..

And guess what time my day ended on monday .. or should I say tuesday morning! We sat up 3:00 AM and beyond remenescing about the course and good times . We had to literally force ourselves to sleep...

Gratitude to Holly & Stephanie and the endless beads who made my day!!

Oatmeal sets the tone for my Sunday!

2008-09-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

Sunday early morning as I woke up, had a shower and went into the living room for some hot tea, Tim was already up and making hot oatmeal! I asked "wow! oatmeal" and he said, "for you". And that so touched my heart... I grabed a bowl of oatmeal and came back to my room to do my sadhana and eat it later. Got a banana too..

After sadhana, I chopped the banana with the other end of my spoon into the oatmeal and ate it! The oatmeal was delicious but the loved packed in it was beyond what my comprehension. To begin a day on a full stomach is such a treat! Iam so grateful!!

Ramji left early Sunday for Milpitas. Missed him being there terribly!!

The whole day was beautiful. It ended in some mind blowing satsang. Every stayed back and even broguht their better halves and love babies! Ah! It was paradise with drum and flute and tambourine and guitar and many other sounds.. But Ah! who could miss the love humming in the air. The love of loved ones and friendship that transcends time..

A memorable day to behold! Theday actually ended early moments of Monday with me & Holly sharing guru stories and the joy of being on the path....

There was sheer magic in the oatmeal! Tim!!

Mornings are a charm...

2008-09-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday mornings I woke up in gratitude that Ram stayed back on friday to be at the course. This was the first time he was on a course which I was teaching. He kept saying, " I have to go back lots of work to do." and yet I am so grateful he stayed back.

Saturday was a day of not doing...
Every ounce of that space of soaked in grace and gratefulness...
So much love...
heart choked...
words really fell short...

Relapsed Gratitude ...

2008-09-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

Wow! Am i glad to be back on the blogging.. What a bummer though I started with my 365 gratitude blogging and could continue only 6 days later... Now I am going to post one for every day and then today too...

on 19th I began the art of living course with a little apprehension in my heart ... newp lace.. new people.. But the moment I knoced on the door and saw Holly & Tim's radiant faces, I knew have come home... Ah! Quite a moment! Exactly like when I walked into the first day of my art of living course and realised, "wow! strangely I feel the most home than I have felt at any place in that space". And when I freshened and sat on the seat and looked at every single perosn in front of me, my heart leaped with so much gratitude that it could have cried in love...

Enlightenment beckons..

Gratitude Blog - without u where will I be!

2008-09-18T14:09:00.007-07:00

It is such an expansive feeling to begin my gratitude blog!
And what a fantastic day to begin the blog.
I am actually leaving in a couple of hours to Modesto City to teach the Art of Living Course.
What an honor and moment of gratitude!

10 years back if someone would have told me I will be teaching such a deep-profound workshop, I would say, "stop kidding me!".

It is being the instrument for the Bhrahmagyaan to flow through you!
For the Grace of the Master to transform lives! What an honor!
To even be able to sit on the Vyaasa Peeth without a clue and yet, being directed and staged every moment by the Divine!
What a blessing!!

For this path...
Gratitude even seems too miniscule of an existence...
I just want to dissolve in the vastness of this universe...
I just want to drown in your unconditional love...
In one instance I don't want to be for then I am you...
And in another instance 'I am' for You are me!
Word seem meanignless to express and yet words are my only expression.
I want to say so many things and yet, only in Silence do I find completion.
Even saying 'I am grateful to you' brings pain of separation.
The fire has consumed the forest.
There are no ashes... nothing remains here....
Until the new forest manifests - I am..........................

मैं रहूँ या न रहूँ

2008-09-18T14:09:00.005-07:00

हम सोचते रहे की थोडी कोशिश तो करनी पड़ती ही है ज़िन्दगी में,
फिर बचा कूचा हुआ तुम कर देते हो|
और इसी वहम मैं हम कल तक कोशिश करते रहे, और उनका इंतज़ार किया|
हाँ! वोह आए तो ज़रूर और काम भी हो गया पर यह हलकी सी थकन कैसी?
अरे हाँ! हमने कोशिश जो की थी॥

आज वोह कोशिश न जाने कैसे छूट गई|
वैसे छोडी नहीं - करने को कोशिश तो है पर तुमने मौका ही नही दिया|
बस काम होता गया और हम चौंकते रहे - "अरे यह कैसे हो गया? मैंने तो अभी कुछ किया ही नहीं!"

लेकिन जो भी हुआ इतना सुंदर और पूर्ण था|
हम कोहिश क्या - अगर दिन तोड़ मेहनत भी करते तो भी ऐसा ना हो पाता|
यह कैसी तेरी माया है!
कुछ करने भी नहीं देते हो और काम हो जाता है|
यहाँ हाथ उठाया नहीं गिलास तक और प्यास भुझ गई|
निवाला गले में उतरा नहीं और भूख ना रही|
यह कैसी तेरी माया है|

कोई हमसे कहते है "पर तुम माद्यम तो थे?"
पर मैं कहूं - "कैसा माद्यम भाई?"
माद्यम भी तो कुछ करता है|
यह तो जैसे बिन बुलाये बरात में आए,
शादी देखि, खाना खाया और "वाह! वाह!" भी सुनी,
और जाते जाते लोग शुक्रिया भी अदा कर गए|

कैसा माद्यम और कैसी मेहनत!
यह भी मेरा ही अंहकार है जो अपना अस्तित्व खोज रहा है|
'मैं हूँ ना" - वोह एहसास खोज रहा है|
यह भी मात्र एक वहम हैं|
मैं रहूँ या न रहूँ -
शादी भी होगी, बरात भी आएगी,
दूल्हा भी सजेगा और डोली भी उठेगी|
मैं रहूँ या न रहूँ|
मैं रहूँ या न रहूँ|
मैं रहूँ या न रहूँ|

who, what, why - I Wonder!!

2008-09-18T14:09:00.004-07:00

Who r u?
Who is he?
Who am i?
I wonder...

Do we have a relationship?
What is my relationship with myself?
Do I have relationship with myself?
Is there a scope of a relationship?
To have a relationship with myself, don't I have to be another?
Do we have a relationship?
I wonder ....

Did I meet u only yesterday?
When did I meet u?
When did I meet myself?
Did we even meet?
How can I meet myself?
To meet don't I need to have not been there?
Did we ever meet?
I wonder...

Do I know u?
Do I know myself?
Do I want to know myself?
Maybe...
Then does it even matter?
I wonder ...

Do I love u?
Do I love myself?
How can I exist without love?
Isn't my very existence a symbol of love?
Have I been given a choice?
Do I have a choice?

Is there a another?
Is there a me without you?
Is there a you without me?
Is it really there?
Am i really here?
Is it just an illusion?
Or only as real as my dream?
I wonder...

365 Gratitude Blog...

2008-09-18T14:09:00.003-07:00

This idea just struck me. The greatest quality of life is the feeling of gratefulness. That is such a beautiful feeling. It even transcends love. Universe begins to flow with the mere dawn of gratefulness in our lives. I have decided to do an experiment of 365 gratitude blogs starting this moment. this day. Thu, Sep 18th 2008.

You may ask why only 365. Dont we need to be grateful every moment! Yes! We definitely need to be. But r we really able to? I forget being grateful every moment. I remember a great teacher said if something is not happening enough in your life only means that you havent practised it enough! So this is my practise. Every morning I will wake up and be grateful and share it with you.

And this moment I am grateful... just grateful for this thought, and this action and myself! I am grateful to myself for going ahead with this thought and making it an idea and putting into action.

And on that grateful note I am going to take a nap!!

आज मूड भी हैं और चाह भी.
मौसम भी है और आलम भी।
तुम भी हो और हम भी।
बस इस दिल को और क्या चाहिए!

You are home. I am coming back to you.

2008-09-18T14:09:00.002-07:00

I utter my first word, there is celebration!
You want me to say more, even form sentences.
You are making facs teaching me new words.
You are excited at my every word.
How I sound doesnt really matter.
How much ever gibberish I say,
Nope! It doesnt sound rude.
It doesnt sound nasty.
You are only amazed!

And then slowly words become my reality.
I am pushed fyrhter and further away from you into the world of words.
There are only words I hear.
I see hearts getting hurt.
I see mind agitated.
I see anger rising.
I see pain seeping in.
I see fights.
I see friends becoming foes.
I see family going afar,
I see kids distancing away.
I see parents separating.
I see chaoes and more chaoes.

Here and then I hear your NAME!
Words that become
your glories.
your sound.
your stories.
Somewhere deep, something is stirred.
What is that I wonder!
Is that Silence, I ask!
Coudlnt be.
Could it?
You only SMILE.
YES, It is Silence.
And somehow there I am closer to you.

I again wonder!
What was the hurry iin making me talk..
How did u forger to mention silence.
Why did u push me into the world of words.
Why?

And you only smile.
And slowly pull me thread by thread into silence, into you.
Wiping away years if accumulated garbage.
Slowly rubbing off every particle of my accumulated dust.
Pulling me deeper and deeper withig you.

Why all this drame - I wonder.
You just have the twinke in yhe eye.

And suddenly it dawns!
You never let me go.
You went with me.
you Walked with me.
You were me.
And now we are walking home.

My journey home as begun.
I will hold on tight to your hands lest I get lost again.
And I will walk as long as it takes with you to reach home.
I will hold onthis time.
I will reach home.
And now it doesnt even matter if I reach home.
I just want to walk with you.
You are home.

Unke aane ki khabar!!

2008-09-18T14:09:00.001-07:00

उनके आने की ख़बर क्या आई, उनकी ढेर सारी याद ले आई|
अब दिल संभाले संभालता नहीं,
बेकरार मन रोके रूकता नहीं|
कभी हसाए
कभी रुलाये
कभी खो जाए|
उनके संदेशे ने यह हाल किया है|
उन्हें देख कर कहीं यह सास रुख न जाए
मुझे चुरा न ले जाए!

I am no longer a plant killer...

2008-09-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

Until a couple of years back I considered myself a plant killer!

It was never intentional but I will bring a plant home - water it enthusiastically for the first week! And then in the rush of life - forget it and then remember it back. In this back & forth, the plant would end up dead or dry! when this happened consequently I sweared to never buy plants on my own! So for over 2 years I haven't killed plants as I have bought none! Last December when I returned after my 15 days of intense meditation teachers training program , I realised a huge shift had come over me. I felt somehow ready to experiment! When I taught my first course, one of course participants on the last day of the course gifted me with a plant! And Lo and Behold! A curry leaf plant from her garden. (Iti s a tough plant). I suddenly felt a lot of connection with that plant. I knew if I could remember this plant just like my very own for the next 2-3 weeks, I am in. And to my wonder - I always remembered the plant. I couldnt sleep if I hadnt watered it. I kept it indoors near my window sill. This experiment gave me courage to take further steps..

I began with my herb garden. Bought the plants and put them in my garden. Loved them, talked to them. They grew beautifully! I planted fenugreek. Came out beautifully. I planted Kale andn ow they are growing. Then decided to move into flowers. Got Gardenias and Hibiscus flowers. The Hibiscus flowers every day. What a blessing!! Now I decided to start with peas for winter. I potted the peas and have been waiting for them to sprout. And in the last two days I have seen over 4-5 of the seedlings coming out as little plants. It is amazing!! What a wonder everytime...

I have erased my title of a plant killer and stepped into the world of abundance, growth and life!! My plants have become a part of me. I have to water them. Even if I am unable to do so for a night, it bothers me or worries me like a mother for a child! Now I know, I am in. My plants also feel the connection. They know that they are in good hands!! They will continue to grow for my love!!

I am no longer a plant killer. I am grateful!

फिर वों कौन था?

2008-09-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

किसी ने ख़बर दी की तुम आ रहे हो।
मैं सोच में पड़ गई|
तुम आ रहे हो?
तुम गए ही कब जो अब आ रहे हो?
मैं थो सोची रही की तुम यही थे,
हमेशा - मेरे पास|

वोह और कौन था?
मेरे संग जो हस्सा, फिर वोह कौन था?
मेरे संग जो रोया, फिर वोह कौन था?
मुझसे बातें करनेवाला, फिर वोह कौन था?
मुझे थपकियाँ देकर सुलाने वाला, फिर वोह कौन था?
मुझसे जो रूठा, फिर वोह कौन था?
मुझसे जो सताया, फिर वोह कौन था?
मुझे प्यार करनेवाला, फिर वोह कौन था?
मुझे राह दिखनेवाला, फिर वोह कौन था?
तुम जब गए ही नहीं, थो कहाँ से आ रहे हो?
कैसे तुम्हारी माया है?
यहीं रहते हो फिर आने का संदेशा भी भिजवाते हो!

तुम्हे पाने की चाह - more poems from my collection

2008-09-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

तुम्हें पाकर भी पाया नहीं,
तुम्हें पाकर भी खो दिया,
तुम्हें खो कर भी खोया नहीं,
तुम्हे खो कर भी पा लिया!

यह कैसी माया हैं!
कैसा खोना, कैसा पाना!
जो मैं हूँ उसे क्या खोजना, कहाँ खोजना!
जिससे में हूँ बना, उसे क्या पाना!
कैसे पाना!
मैं बस हूँ - यहाँ, वहां, और वहां!

दिल से बड़ी शिकायत है|

2008-09-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

मुझे इस दिल से बड़ी शिकायत है|
यह बार बार यूँही भटक जाता है |
बहुत शौक है इसे, इधर उधर घुमा आता है,
कभी यहाँ तो कभी वहां,
न जाने कहाँ कहाँ भटकता फिरता है|

मुझे इस दिल से बड़ी शिकायत है|
इसने दीवाना बनाकर हमें कहीं का नही छोडा|
घरवाले समझे हम चले सन्यासिन बन ने
और ज़माना समझे की हम तो पगला गए है,
गम में हसते है और खुशी में रो देते है|

मुझे इस दिल से बड़ी शिकायत है|
उसने अब शिकायत करने का मौका भी न छोडा|
अब चाह कर भी दुखी नहीं हो पाते हैं,
गुस्सा आए थो भी मुझे तुंरत सूचित कर दे ,
अरे गुस्से का मज़ा तो लूटने दिया करो!

मुझे इस दिल से बड़ी शिकायत है|
जब यहाँ रहता है तो उनकी याद मैं बड़ा रुलाता है
बार बार मन को तडपाता है,
हमें उनसे दूर होने का एह्साद दिलाता है
यह दिल हर क्षण यूँ ही सताता है!

लेकिन इस दिल की मैं शुक्र गुजार हूँ|
यह बार बार हमें यहीं ले आता है,
पुरा bhramand घुमा दे, पर डोर उन्ही के हाथ थमाता है|
मन भटके तो खीच तुम्हारे पास ले आता है|
मन विचले तो तुम्हारी याद से शांत कराता है
हर पल मुझे तुम्हारे होने का एहसास दिलाता है!

मुझे इस दिल से बड़ी शिकायत है|
बस इस दिल से ही शिकायत है
और यह शिकायत बरक़रार रहे|
खूब रहे, हमेशा रहे|
आप जो चाहे समझे - शिकायत समझे या एक प्रेमी की गुफ्तगू।
मुझे इस दिल से बड़ी शिकायत है|

Where is God? I wonder (from my poem collection!!)

2008-09-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

I finally dug it out - my poems. This are post art of living poems ie, in the last 5-6 years, and also some of my favorite ones.

When I was hungry, u fed me.
When I was cold, u gave me a blanket.
When I had nowhere to go, u let me sleep on the VTA.
When I was sad, u gave me a smile.
When I was angry, u remained calm.
When I hated u, u loved me in return.
When I kicked u, u gently rubbed my foot.
When I slapped u, u showed me the other cheek.
When I wept, u gave me the tissue and then hugged me.
When I was smiling, u smiled along.
when I talked, u listened.
When I thought, u heard it.
When I complained, u changed the topic to the new new movie in town.
When I got fed up and frustrated, u gave me hope.
When I got bored, u lend me knowledge to read and listen.
When I was hyper, u calmed me.
When I was scared, u stayed back.
When I was alone, u came by.
When I was in strange places, a stranger helped me,
when I was wrong, u told me.
When I was right, u encouraged me.
When I looked good, u praised me to the skies.
When I didn't, u accepted me just the way.
When I was in pain, u took away my suffering.
When I was proud, u shook me off the pride.
When I drifted away, u brought me back.
When I was tired, u carried me along.
When I asked, u answered.
And when I was ready, u brought me home.
And I found u
in me, in you.
in the living, in the non-living.
in the stable, in the moving.
in life, in death.
in situations.
in odour.
in stillness, in movement.
in thoughts, in actions.
in body, in breath, in mind, in memory, in emotions, in ego ( that shook me off).
I am finding you everyday.
I am discovering you everyday.
And it all began with just a merely "where is god?"

എന്ത് പറയുന്നു?

2008-09-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

മലയാളത്തില്‍ എഴുതാന്‍ പറ്റുമെന്ന് കണ്ടപ്പോള്‍ എഴുതാന്‍ ഒരു മോഹും..
ലോകത്തില്‍ ഏറ്റവും കട്ടിനംയിട്ടുല ഭാഷ ആണ് മലയാളം എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞു കേട്ടിടുണ്ട്

കാലിഫോര്‍ണിയഇല എന്ന് തനിപ്പുല് ഒരു രാവിലെ ആണ്
കാര്‍മേഘം മുടി കിടക്കുന്നു
കുള്ളിര്ന കാടു വിശുനുണ്ട്
വെയില്‍ എപ്പോള്‍ ഉദിക്കും എന്ന് നാന്‍ കാത്തിരിക്കുന്നു

My amitabh bachan days..

2008-09-16T08:31:00.001-07:00

Seems like winter is not far behind. The dark mornings that urge u to stay in bed forever seem to have begun. Not me! Somehow pushed myself up. Made some dhokla and excitedly came on the computer to check if my comment got posted on Big B's blog. ;)
If u havent checked it out - u better : http://blogs.bigadda.com/ab/

I have been a fan of Bachanji as far as my memory goes maybe starting from age of 3. I remember even getting punished in 2-grade class for making sentences in english which used Amitabh Bachan. I now wonder why!! I remember one of my fav uncles (my close friend's father), the first thing he would ask me whenever he would see me is "whom do u like more:me or Amitabh Bachan?" and without battling an eyelid I would say "Amitabh Bachan" and he would say "I lost again". As I grew up I remember been so crazy about Amitabh's movies. When we moved to Devlali, there was an open-air amphitheatre near my house. I would take my dad's cycle and every tuesday go to see which new movie has come. There was Shankar bhaiya to whom Iwould got Math Tuition and he would ask me "oh my god, u havent seen Namak Halal yet? how come?". And I remember once in a similar situation Ihad a english exam the next day. This was like I was in 6th or 7th grade. And it was Lawaris movie running quite a bit far in 'Cathey' theatre in Devlali. I came home and said today is the last day I have to watch the movie otherwise I am not going to write the exam tomorrow. I was quite stuborn. Poor My Dad! He took me on his cycle : second show at night to wtach the movie. I saw the whole film and my poor dad slept. I feel so grateful to my dad for taking care of my such silly flimsy! :)

Many such Amitabh craziness. My cousins, my friends the first thing they would ask me when they see me is 'How is Amitabh Bachan doing?" Ha! Ha! I still remember when I first came fo know that Bachanji is a libran (i used to pray that he is). Ha! Amitjis birthday is Oct 11th and mine is Oct 12th. That is, I used to feel I know exactly how he felt. I used to also be a crazy fan of his dad's poems in school and when it dawned that Harivansh Rai Bachan is Amitabh's father, i was like see!! makes sense. :)

I remember my cousins lived in Mumbai in four bungalows (Andheri) and they had first taken me to see Bachanjis home and I was like so amazed! My cousin used to tell me that Bachanji came to drop of his daughter for tuition or something in their building. I forgot the instance. I would wait to get a glimpse. Maybe they were kidding - who knows!!

I have had so many dreams of meeting bachanji - it is unbelievable!

I stopped watching movies when Bachanji was doing all those Jadugar etc. I was like why is Amitji doing all those movies. I used to get teased by my friends saying - "look at your Bachan". Surprisingly noone in my family seemed a fan of him except my sister.

Now I feel so great about my choice of him being my star as there is really no better actor then him. His commitment to the movie he does is mind blowing. He puts his heart and soul into it. And now to see Abhishek in movies and exhibit the same depth is unbelievable. All u need to see is his eyes! I still remember when I saw Refugee songs - my heart really missed a beat! The depth in his eyes is so intense. I knew then that he would be a star no doubt!!

And after so many years to see Amitji on a blog stirs back so many memories. And as I read his blogs I realise there is an unseen connection in thought. I am glad for my memories becuse of the star called Amitabh Bachan!

Maybe someday he will read my blog and leave a comment! ;)

my poetry collection..

2008-09-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

Just realized I have over 30 to 40 poems from past that I wrote at different phases of my life from school to college to finding my spiritual path. Hmmm! I think I will post one of those poems everyday just to inspire myself to write more.

I am my own fan.
With that said - you are free to share your comments. Ha! Ha!

ROCK ON .. rules..

2008-09-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

Ah! what a movie... another winner from Farhan Aktar.
Farhan, great acting. great singing and fantastic performance.
During the movie so many times I forgot I was watching a movie but a video from my past.
There is so much honesty in the scenes it is unbelievable!

There is Dil Chahta hai which is brilliant. You cant help saying brilliant performance by Aamir and the rest of the folks. But then with Rock On it is so life like that I cannot even say brilliant performance. I feel I just went back memory lane with friends. And that is the brilliance of the movie. it is simple. There were no performances. There was life in its naturalness.
Hats off to Farhan Aktar!
You can see how he can be a brilliant director!
Only one who can have the naturalness at acting can exuberate such brilliance in direction.

Waqt Ki Maat!

2008-09-15T18:20:00.001-07:00

वक्त की मात से कौन बचा है
ना हम, ना तुम और ना यह गम|

लगता है वक्त कभी ना बदलेगा,
पर देखूं तो हर दिन नयी सुबह हैं|
लगता हैं ज़िन्दगी में गम ही गम है,
पर कल जब तुमने हस्साया थो आँख भर आई |
वक्त की मात से कौन बचा है,
ना हम, ना तुम और ना यह गम|

यह घने बादलों का मैं क्या करू?
यह बरसते हैं थो फिसला देते हैं,
ना बरसते हैं थो इंतज़ार करवाते है|
बड़ा ही बेईचैन मन हैं,
जो पाकर भी खाली हाथ हैं,
और न मिले थो बड़ी शिकायत है|
वक्त की मात से कौन बचा है,
ना हम, ना तुम और ना यह|

जब तुम मिले तो लगा दुनिया मिल गई,
आज तुम्हारे अलविदा ने दिल को जला|
यह बदलते मौसम का में क्या करुँ,
वक्त की मात से कौन बचा है,
ना हम ना तुम और ना यह|

जो थमा नहीं, न चला कहीं
बस हैं यहीं यहीं,
वक्त की मात से कौन बचा है,
ना हम ना तुम और ना यह|

YES! Plus - my most Favourite time ever.. every time!!

2008-03-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

YES! Plus in San Jose State University in Feb 18 - 23 when I co-taught with Emily Peck.

My first YES! Plus experience of being on the other side. To being a witness of transformation in lives of so many..

seeing strangers come together and become such good friends ...
people breaking barriers...
friendships being form ed...
so much fun & energy.. games.. dance.. music..
Can you have more fun than that in 6 -days! I doubt it!!

No Alcohol! No Drugs! No Soda! No Refined Sugar!
Simply High on Life!!
How can I forget these faces.. they have beocme a part & parcel of my life..

Another YES! Plus rocks SJSU....

2008-03-11T21:44:00.001-07:00

6-days of FUN, PARTYING, DANCING, & FRIENDS!!

We laughed so much...

It was so beautiful to see perfect strangers from different cultures and traditions come to a workshop for 6 days and become like One-Happy-Family. Can't help wondering if the whole of SJSU did the YES! Plus course, what would life be like coming to college!! Would be like coming home to friends!! Hmmm...

Every evening after the course, our walk to the car was a riot!!
We were so high on life with all the meditation and breathing we did.
Energy was at its peak!!

Innovative ideas were quick to get implemented. You can see Clay & Varun in their creative moments... :-)

Everyday the workshop was packed with innovative games. Some thought provoking.. some goofy... some super fun...

Yoga was the best part.. came to know some muscles which I never even knew existed ....

And how can I not talk about the skits!! The skits were packed with such high spirits and creativity that we couldn't keep ourselves from rolling on the floor with laughter. It was hilarious! Man! Where was this creativity hidden all this while?? Some of the folks were so quiet on the first day and to see them open up so much on the last day was simply amazing!!

This was my third YES! Plus and I loved every bit of being there.

This time I played a different role in the course! The role of a teacher, and to see everyone open up everyday like a bud blooming into a flower was beautiful!!

These are some glimpses from the course, and I am sure you can't help smiling seeing them. I GUARANTEE IT!!

Imagine if seeing them is so muchmfun, being on it is indescribable!!

We have another YES! plus coming on SJSU campus in April...

You surely cannot miss this one..
As of now it is the last one for this semester!!

You will be equipped with tools for your finals..

Did I hear you want to know the dates for the next YES! Plus!!

Of course, we cant wait for you to be on it!!

Next YES! Plus@SJSU April 15 - 20
http://secure.artofliving.org/course_details.aspx?course_id= 2559

When the tomatoes spoke of friendship, community & love...

2008-03-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

As we drove over to Columbus Ave for the Bountiful Garden Project last Saturday, let me tell you there is no way you can miss out Franks house. Of course the Pile of Dirt in the Driveway is a giveaway but more so the Enthusiasm & Spirit of the Young men with Spades filling up containers with dirt is sure an Inspiration. The Bountiful Garden Project banner greets you as u walk into the Drive-way.

And then when u pause and listen... there is more to this than meets the eye - I am sure the passer-by's are wondering. There is 'Call of the Divine' playing in the backyard and lots of noises of happiness & joy...
The backyard is where the PARTY is on in FULL Swing. :-)

There are arrays and arrays of pots and sapling...AMidst them there are enthusiastic people and kids with SMILE as bright as the Sun walking around.. filling pots.. spraying Vitamin D... planting saplings... spreading cheer.. and then there is Big Brother Frank - the father figure looming in the background.. taking care of every single detail... There is Veena of course, with her Red-Apron assigning folks tasks as they come in, cheering up and keeping the spirits high. (And she has the best Collection of Indian and Bhajan). There were so many folks who came just through craiglist and some non-aol email groups I sent. It was fun to meet all of them. The kids were having a Ball!! And of course, sometimes down the lane the Zoo opened up for viewing.

Wondering what zoo - Snakes, Lizards and few other interesting Pets from Franks Galore.. :-)
Kids were all fascinated to touch, kiss, hug..
Well!! I understood why Kids are Gods.. They have Utter Belongingness to everyone Indeed!! And then arrived Asha with her Chef Hat on and tools.. Kitchen got rolling.. tea was being served and lunch was cooking. And what a assorted Menu we had! It was quite a Treat!! Kids as well as Adults had a finger licking good time...

Saturday & Sunday must have seen around 30-40 volunteers who dropped by. We got quite a lot of work done but we need all the more help this coming weekend! We have a greater task ahead of us this weekend and we really hope that more of you can join us and see every tomato seedling transplanted. Actually this whole week Frank is on the job on his own. So if u have free time, please call him and help him out during the wee as well.

See you guys this weekend! Mar 15/16
Please RSVP to bountiful.garden@ gmail.com/ 408 .255.2010
Address: 21901 Columbus Ave, Cupertino, CA
http://www.bountiful-garden.org/

YES Plus empowers students @SJSU

2007-11-16T11:12:00.000-08:00

"Just information is not education. It is culturing our behavior, culturing our attitude and the ability to perceive things better. Perception, Observation and Expression - the three aspects of education have to be improved."
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of the Art of Living Foundation

YES Plus - Come and Become the Warrior for Global Change .

YES!+ provides young adults between the ages of 18-27 with tools to achieve their ideal life with ease, creativity, energy, and inhibition-free. This program challenges young people to reach their highest potential and has made a difference to thousands across the world. October saw the YES Plus making its way into San Jose State University through the Art of Living Students Organization. The coolest thing was that the Art of Living Club with the Associated Students offered scholarship for students to attend the workshop. Twenty students including sophomores, juniors and graduate students, as well as members of the alumni took the 6-day YES plus workshop held at the Spartan Complex between Oct 23 to Oct 28th.

“YES+ has definitely been a huge eye opener for me in many ways. It’s made me become more of an activist and I feel a lot better about myself. The course lifted my spirits so much that it gave me the self confidence of achieving anything I want,” says Maheem Akhtar, the 20-year-old conservation and organismal biology major, who participated.

The Workshop is packed with Fun-Filled processes, Role Playing, Stretching ones Comfort Zone, Dance & Music & never ending array of activities ...

The “magic pill” that YES Plus offers is the Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), which is a rhythmic breathing technique, tailor-made to the needs of youngsters between the age group of 18 to 30. AoLF partners with individuals and organizations alike to teach the SKY practice. People can continue doing a certain job or get involved with any other service organization they might choose to, but SKY helps in performing that same task with renewed energy and vibrancy.

The organization honors diversity, in fact the whole idea is to stretch one’s comfort zones and bring up the energy level, and that can be achieved by using something very basic and universal – the breath.

Rekha Kodialbail, volunteer of AoLF, and coordinator of the YES Plus workshop in SJSU, says, “It’s important to get the youth of today equipped with these tools when still young, as they are more adaptive now. If the youth can learn how to live in a stressful environment at the same time knowing how to get rid of the stress from their system without letting it rule their lives, then they are empowered to think about bigger issues in the society much sooner in life.”

One of the cool things about the YES Plus workshop is it empowers the youth to actively take responsibility for everything happening in and around them - be it Environment Sustainability, Eradicating Poverty and supporting the UN Millennium goals, Moving towards being a Vegetarian or Vegan diet, Speaking out for the animal rights, Speaking against injustice around the world. The Spirit of Activism is one of the Key Components of the Workshop.

YES Plus empowers the youth of today with tools to Stand Up for Truth and Justice, and actively bring about a change in the world from becoming the change themselves.

The YES PLUS Saga in SJSU has only Begun ...
We will be back in Feb 2008 with YES Plus ...
There is lot of Work to be done on this Planet ....

Come get
your Skills organized ..
your Voice more clearer & strong ...
your Mind expanded & intellect Sharpened ...
Become the Change you wish to see ..

For more Info,
Rekha Kodialbail: 408.230.6053
Purvi Gajjar: 510-386-5704
Clay: 650-454-6056

YES+ began witha BANG in San Jose State University!!

2007-10-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

It all began this semester with reinstating the Art of Living Students Club on campus. Many from the club had passed out and newer members had joined. And of course, for the first time we had someone from the undergrad - Hayden Marcus. And Hayden, myself, Aparna had taken the YES+ in Stanford in April. It was purely an exhilarating &experience - both physically, mentally & emotionally!! We experienced heightened awareness, energy levels and enthusiasm in us!! It was perfect BOOSTER-SHOT for the Youth of Today!! And it was then we had decided that we will bring this course to SJSU!!

Endless talking to students, meeting with faculty, sitting patiently at tables/booths, from baking vegan cookies & brownies to painting sign-boards, hosting Leadership & Meditation seminars, meeting with various clubs on campuses, conducting stress survey on campus, putting posters & flyers in almost every department - we really went ALL OUT!!

And every time we felt the need for YES+ more & more. We began to feel the stress in the students, in the faculty - either they were in complete oblivion/denial or just didn't want to do anything about it!!

Of course, YES!+ is a time commitment as it runs over 6 consecutive days (in the evening on weekdays and daytime during weekends) but then it is a lifetime investment. When you look at all the time we waste in gossiping, watching TV, just lying down, sleeping, getting stressed - it is the BEST BARGAIN!! One YES!+ and you are set for Life!! But then it is always what is BEST for us that we RESIST the most!!

The break through came in the form of our club advisor Suzy ROss who really helped us a lot. And of course, Associated Students!! They approving funding for students to take the workshop. And still we found that the intelligent ones were not many who saw through the time-commitment to the VALUE vested in the workshop!!

We continued patiently reaching out to as many as we can!! And after much waiting finally YES+ Plus began in San Jose State University on Tue, Oct 23rd with a count of 18 which included SJSU alumini and students. We could have had much more but then common sense is very uncommon!! :-)

And we had the BEST instructor for the WORKSHOP - NATALIE. She is the Youth Director for Katrina Relief, UN Youth Representative for Art of Living.

The workshop began with a BANG!!
Everyone experienced such HIGH-DOZE of ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM and yet, a relaxation beyond description!!
I am looking forward to day 2 of the workshop today ... Wed, Oct 24th...
Till then - CIAO!!

Global Conversation ... a unique blend of joyous celebration & silence

2007-10-08T18:05:00.000-07:00

Global Conversation - a fund raising concert by the Art of Living Foundation for youth projects.

Looking at the half full auditorium I realized that in spite of enough publicity many people shared the same doubt about the artists - how good are they & how good will the music be!! I went to the concert not knowing anything about the Artists and yet, knowing from my past experiences with Art of Living Concerts that it will definitely be a beautiful experience ...

And as the artists entered and George Brooks began introducing each one of them .. I could sense the belongingness & love they shared with each other. There was such a sense of friendship & love that I knew that this will be a unique concert. Kala Ramnath was the most unique of them all. She had such a beautiful presence .. and what a wonderful smile. And when she played, I totally transcended.

It was like her fingers didn't play on the guitar but on the strings of my heart. Tears flowed from my eyes ... and as the other artists joined in .. my whole body vibrated with the music. There was so silence and yet at the same there was so pulsating dynamism. Joy, Enthusiasm & Friendship vibrated from every space in the auditorium. I just wanted to get up & dance... Jugalbandhi were fabulous!!

The camaraderie between Kala & The Tabla Artist was beautiful...
George Brooks played ragas on the Saxaphone. It was beautiful!! The enthusiasm & movement in the piano artist, the smile & flow on the drumming artist, the presence of the Base Guitar - Artist - everything jelled in beautifully!!

Somehow it was such an intimate performance and really suited for that size of the audience.
I was glad I went to the concert and it was one of my best ones ...

And of course, it was also Debanti's birthday and we had a surprised all planned for her. We secretly took her out of the hall. And when she walked in everyone was in and on the stage singing 'HappyBirthday to You'. It was beautiful!!

Grateful for this joyous moment ....

Worlds Largest Art of Living Course .... Santa Clara, California

2007-03-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Nov 2006 – Volunteer Meeting in Bay Area with International Teacher, Anand Rajendran – a stopover on Anandji’s way to the East Coast - an evening which brought together Teachers, TTC1s and volunteers from across the San Francisco Bay Area for a SUPER-CHARGED, BLAST OF ENERGY & Enthusiasm. The end result of the meeting was an intention – ‘to have a One Thousand Eight people Part I Course in Bay Area’. The Big Boss himself gave His Blessings for the course. The stage was set and now the play had to be scripted & executed.

In the past few years with the growth in San Francisco Bay Area Art of Living Chapter, we have seen efforts getting scattered, volunteer drop out, very small courses & a mind-block for big courses. Yet somehow Anandji’s volunteer meeting brought together everyone under one umbrella to work for the course. Of course, there was resistance to the big number. The concern was genuine - how are we going to pull-it-off bringing so many people together and most important of all, how is the course going to happen – will the participants get the attention they need, will they continue on the path after the course?? As the mind struggled to comprehend the 1008 number, out of the blue the DSN in Los Angeles with Anandji was announced. Nearly 70 of us including most of the teachers, TTC1 and strong volunteers drove & flew to Los Angeles to do the DSN. That did it!!

We got back with TREMENDOUS MOMENTUM. Our Sankalpa - Come Jan 19^th – Course is going be HOUSEFULL. When we left for DSN on Dec 28 2006, there were less than 50 registrations for the course. Within hours of coming back from DSN, around 200 volunteers joined hands. In groups of ten, we met twice every week for sadhana & knowledge. Volunteer meetings were packed with enthusiasm – fun processes, music & dancing. We had just one momentum and one pointed focus – eat, breathe, sleep - one thousand eight people course. Every night group leaders came on a conference call & shared 10-15 minutes their amazing stories of grace. We organized intro-talks across the Bay Area from Corporate giants to Devotee homes to Rotary clubs to Women’s associations to Apartment club rooms. Every Teacher, TTC-1 and Volunteer was busy giving talks almost every other day. Registrations began picking up at the speed of light. Even a day before the course we had intro-talks scheduled. Our efforts continued till registration on 6^th Feb 2007. And Guess what, on the day of the course, we had walk-in registrations of 70. That in itself is a historic moment!! Feb 6^th 2007 - 7:00 PM when doors closed there were more than 700 people registered for the course.

FLASHBACK: The average participant per course before this course was around 7, And here we moved from 7 to 700 with 100 times the growth in almost 5 weeks. How one man's vision inspired the whole of the UNITED STATES amazes me!! And guess what!! The room was packed. We realized that we were not limited by numbers but by the space in the hall. And thus began the most awaited course of the year with Anandji assisted by 30 Local Teachers, 50 TTC1 and 25 strong volunteers, around 525 new participants and 70 repeaters.

The enthusiasm & energy I witnessed in that hall over the next 6 days was unlike anything I have seen. The very memory of it makes me want to scream – JHAKAAS!! Anandji voice echoed across the hall to reflect the voice of every single participant. When Sudarshan Kriya began and Gurujis voice reverberated ‘SOHUM’ in the hall, GRACE permeated every ounce of space - tears, laughter, smiles, and joy washed away years of misery & pain from everyone’s lives.

Every day of the course added momentum to the next day. Smiles grew wider & wider!! The guest night on the 6^th day was attended by the Mayor of Milpitas and City Council member of Santa Clara (the host city). Anandji opened the podium for experience sharing and there walked participant after participant sharing from their heart. Tears were flowing as participants spoke about overcoming loneliness, depression & anxiety, finding a family they never had, finding joy & happiness. Everyone sat mesmerized in the experience including the guests. It was a perfect ODE to the course!!

The after effects of the course continue as participants meet in groups for the next three weeks for follow-up. Many have already registered for the upcoming DSN and many are awaiting the visit of Gurudev in JULY. Anandji created a momentum which brought the entire Bay Area together like never before. With Gurudev’s grace and our new found strength & enthusiasm we will build on it. There will always be obstacles on the path but nothing will dither us from our goal – Bringing a SMILE on every face on this planet, spreading love & joy.

25 ways to improve your life in 2007

2006-12-23T09:28:00.000-08:00

Indian spiritual master and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar in his special column in the WEEK magazine mentioned 25 ways to improve life in 2007. This article was published in the 25 th anniversry special of the magazine. To improve your life, you need to get a broad understanding about youself and your priorities.
25 Ways to improve the quality of Life:

1. Review the context of life.

2. Know life's impermanence.

3. Make your smile cheaper.

4. Be enthusiastic and praise others.

5. Make meditation a part of your life.

6. Go to the most beautiful place
7. Communicate effectively.

8. Take out time for your self.

9. Better the world around you.

10. Nourish your emotions.

11. Plan short and long term goals.

12. Prayer is a vital tool.

13. Implement the changes if needed.

14. Identify your limitations.

15. Do not lose your friends.
16. Don't look for perfection.

17. Let us be unpredictable.

18. Have a sense of humour

19. Don't be afraid to make mistakes

20. Overcome your prejudice.

21. Feel that "I am blessed"

22. Do random acts of kindness.

23. Be a student always.

24. Dream the impossible.

25. Compare your performance.

Do you BANG your receiver down .......

2006-11-09T14:57:00.000-08:00

One of the most amazing phenomenon is putting the receiver down after a conversation. I have always wondered so much about that. It is something which I do with utmost care whoever the speaker maybe. I have had some amazing conversations with closed friends and then I hear a 'BANG'ont he other end as the receiver goes back in, making me wonder - how can someone disconnect so soon. It is indeed a wonder!!

We are so disconnected all the time that even when we connect- there is a hurry to disconnect. We would think that the nature of the mind should be to stay connected and yet, majority of the us cannot wait to disconnect. What a wonder that is !! It makes me wonder -How is it that the LOVE which flowed till the moment you were on the phone vanished in the wink of an eye - when it was time to keep the phone down.

FOr me the most amazing moment is when the voice is fading away after the bye and receiver is going down. It defines the entire conversation I had with the person. That is the RULING moment. How gently do I put the phone down.. Does the smile in my voice retain till the end or there is a hurriedness to end this conversation and begin with the next activity. However busy I may be, that is one thing I never forget to do - gently sliding my receiver into the phone, the SMILE still on my face and the speaker still in my heart. And have I achieved it every single time!! Maybe not though I dont recall when I dont. But I surely might have as I have received many of them. :-)

Those final few minutes of the phone going down totally reflect our state of mind - Are we in the Moment - Are we connected with our Inner Self!! And when the other also has gently unfolded the conversation, I have experienced the depth of silence, and the depth of friendship and love like never before. The phone was no longer a medium .. we were right there with each other ... and we never disconnected!!

You may then wonder - how does it matter with a stranger whom I never knew in the first place - how I keep the phone. Funnily enough.. it is never about the other person. It is about your connectedness with yourself and this universe. In those few moments, so many things about the 'Me' become evident!! And true service stems when the 'Me' is merged in Awareness of every waking moment. And when the 'Me' is and not making an effort to be!!

the easeness of any relationship, the depth of who you are - subtly reflects in the last few moments of your conversation.

How connected am I to myself!!
How connected am I to the Divine!!
How connected am I to the Universe!!

Next time you keep the phone down, observe the state of your mind and you will be amazed!!

Total Acceptance to existence!!!

2006-09-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

I have always wondered what does total acceptance means? And does it involve action or not? If I am fully acceptant of what is happening to me, is there anything for me to do? If I am fully content with life, is there anything for me to do?

AGain & again, life has shown me so many flavors & layers to total acceptance. Total acceptance is total ok with whatever is happening with life now, this moment. There is nothing you wish to change or alter in anyway. The realizisation that this moment is perfect without any knowledge about what next moment will behold and also not wanting to know. And this acceptance is not just of the moment but everything and everyone in it, every situation in it - everything is perfect the way it is!!

And these moments of acceptance chokes me and I experience such an intense depth of love in my heart for that moment, and for every moment that dropped for this moment to surface and for every moment that this moment will unveil. When total acceptance dawns out of fullness of heart and love, how can it be passive?? It will be full of life & vigour as is every atom in this creation. And that action will spread beauty and bring more acceptance not just in me but also in everything else around me.

It is the unknownness of the future, expectations of a beautiful future, the mind conceived imperfections of the past that make this moment non-accepting. And yes this journey of life is bringing the mind again & again to this moment and accepting it totally. And it is less & less an act but more & more ones right to be.

Coming back to ones nature is total acceptance.
Just being in your true nature of love & joy is total acceptance.
Knowing that this moment is all there is is total acceptance.
Drinking every drop with utmost relish is total acceptance.
Life is worth existing - kudos to total acceptance!!
It is Freedom from 'wanting change',
'altering reality as we conceive it',
'expectations of the mind'.

Lage Raho Munnabhai!!!

2006-09-03T20:37:00.001-07:00

I have been looking forward to the release of 'laho raho munnabhai'. Munnabhai MBBS was one of the most beautiful, heart-warming movies I had seen in a long time. The simple message of love, hte 'pyaar ki jhappi' was such a novel approach to life which somehow disappeared from this fast-paced, chaotic-techno savvy existence of Man. So with apprehension I waited for the sequel.

WILL THE DIRECTOR DO IT AGAIN THIS TIME? And with sheer delight I say 'YES'.

I watched the movie yesterday and 'WOW!!'. Munna being able to see 'Gandhiji' and then planning to live his life 'non-violence' way, was a beautiful approach, which Munna calls 'Gandhigiri' opposite of 'Gundagiri'. SOme simple things like having the guy clean the paan spit of his neighbour on his wall with a smile everyday. It is when the guy completely drops the idea that the neighbor will ever change that the neighbor stops spitting and even apologizes. SImple message 'TO always speak the truth' and how Munna chooses to go around talking about 'Satya & AHimsa' to ebveryone around really moistened the eye and the heart.

To think of it, today movies no longer bring out simpler joys of life and those are the things that tug the heart. SOme scenes in the movie are so heart warming. When Mumma apologizes to Circuit and realises that to fight is easy but to apologize or seek forgiveness is a strength and not a defeat. When Munna encourages the young man who squandered all of his dad's savings on stocks to tell the truth to his dad, and when he does Munna tells the dad not to slap or get angry at his son because he told you the truth. ANd if he did so, no child would ever feel comfortable telling the truth. It made me look at so many things in life.

I know we often equate Ahimsa and Truth to action but it has nothing ot do with action. 'Ahimsa' is a state of the mind - it is the intention behind the action. Actyion could be non-violent but if violence reigns in the mind & the heart as negative tendencies, it is never ahimsa. TRUE ahimsa is a state of our being and it can come ONLY through pure unconditional love for oneself & the other. And that is where Munna & Circuit win over the masses. Their intention & love is so pure - amazing goons they are. We could do with more goons like them. Arshad Warsi & Sanjay Dutt were made for these roles. I completely forget them and only see circuit & munna shining through. Kudos to the director for his successfull atempt in portraying GandhiGIri for this Generation.

Merely erecting Gandhi's statues and putting his pictures on the wall is not enough, we need to awaken the Gandhi in each one of us.

As we were driving back home, we saw these young group of Indians who I presume were just returning from watching this movie, park on the roadside and get out. We saw just then 'No Parking' sign next to the parking. Me & my husband smiled - It will take soem time for GandhiGiri to sink in!!

Are we lonely or just alone??

2006-05-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

I first read about 'loneliness' and 'aloneness' in a article by Osho - the legendary & controversial Indian Mystic. It was one of the most intriguing articles I have read and it really made me wonder about the depth of these words in my life.

Was I lonely or alone?

With 'loneliness' there is a feeling of incompleteness as though something is missing and there is a looking for something more to experience completeness.

'Aloneness' is complete in itself.
It is a realization.
It is existence.

I remember the first time this realization of being alone hit me. My Art of Living teacher Rajalaxmi Ratan (or Rajima for me) said that we are practically alone - each one of us. She just said it and IT HIT ME HOME. I am alone!! Even the one most dearest to me cannot partake my share of the baggage for me - forget carry it for me. I am alone on this journey to seeking myself. At first it was a disappointment and also brought sadness with it. The sudden knowing that 'I am all alone and that there is only me. Only me exists. In this journey of knowing, I am alone. Even my Guru is there and yet He isnt. There is a threshold to which I can be guided and from there the journey is my very own.' And yet with that realization dawned a freedom which is sweetest in its existence. In that aloneness I sensed a completeness. I can relax now. I can love everyone around me 100% without attachment or the need to feel complete. I knew that I will never be lonely again.

From the day I read about aloneness to this day, I have experienced varied depths of my aloneness and have risen (instead of saying 'fallen') in love with myself over & over again. I am my best friend. I no longer feel any shame in declaring that I simply love myself & cherish every minute I spend with myself. I have relaxed my expectations of the people around me.

My aloneness is not a triumphing ego bloating in its own glory. It is an aloneness inclusive of the universe!! It is a knowing that you are alone anyway in this journey and you are the ONLY one. You look around and see merely your reflection in every single being. The separation with the world & resistence to life drops. There is immense love & peace with oneself and that extends to the universe around me.

And in my aloneness, I experience a completeness with the physical realm and yet, there is a deep longing for the Divine. And it is a sweet longing!! When tears flow, there is no longer any sadness .. there is only love .. deep love. There is an intense desire to merge with infinity ... to drop being ... to only exist.
There is also the knowing that everything is perfect the way it is in this moment!! Perfection lies in this moment - BEAUTY INDEED LIES IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER!!

And does the aloneness stay all the time!! If it did, then for sure I am enlightened!! :-)
Definetely not all the time but yes the awareness of it never falters - either of its presence of or its absence. Everytime it has shifted I realised that was ok too!! It helped me become more alone and complete. Only the thirsty knows the true value of water and also, only in the moments of loneliness have I realised the power of aloneness, and its value in my life..

You know there is a joy in experiencing the absence of aloneness with the awareness of it. And what is loneliness - but a aftermath of a broken or bruised expectation. And the realization of it brings you back into completeness - well it was not yours in the first place to expect or it is yours anyway with or without expectations.

Give me more and more experience of aloneness and completeness, My Divine!!
Let me soak in the beauty of my being and its infinite realms of existence.
And as I soak more & more in the aloneness of the being,
will the beings in my reality also experience the aloneness of the being.

To aloneness and its Beautiful Journey to knowing oneself!!

The Happiness Host ....

2006-05-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

You look at a kid and you know the question 'are you happy' has no meaning. Happiness is radiating from their faces, oozing out of every cell in their body. Kids are happiness. What happens to us between being a kid and a grown up that happiness ceases to be a part of our existence. It is indeed a wonder!!

You ask someone 'how are you' and how many times have you heard the reply, "I am doing fantastic". "I am doing great". Most folks say, 'ok'.
What!!! "OK". What more do we need to be happy. What are we waiting for? Is it that black mercedes we are waiting to have in our garage before giving our best smile or will the raise the manager promised do it or is it only after my vacation to Hawaii that I will finally begin to be happy?

What is happiness and when do I plan to be happy? WHat do we do all along in our lives - postpone our happiness. Isnt that one thing that we should be doing now? We never postpone our anger or frustration. We never postpone our sorrow. We never say to someone, "Man, you hit my car but why dont I get anger at you later". Then why do we postpone good things in life.

Sometimes I wonder are we more in love with sorror & anger than with happiness & good things of life. Do we love being a devdas forever? You know what that is what the movie devdas stands for. You say " what a bloke devdas was. He spoilt his entire life mopping & crying over love and destroyed his life". Looking back at our lives. Are we any different from a devdas? What is stopping us from being happy now. Ok there are problems in life. So what!! Problems are a integral part of life. They will come & go. Why does it have to take away our smile everytime? Ok there is Pain in life but as if pain isnt good enough we also choose to suffer again & again with the pain. Soemtimes when we look at our life, the pain has long disappeared but we are suffering till date.

Happiness is a choice one can make. Every moment of life is nothing but a choice. A choice I make towards who I want to be, who I want to experience. And I choose again & again to be happy. It is not such a difficult thing to do. You only need some practise to do it. Do it twice and you will realise 'WOW. I like being happy. It is my very nature'. That doesnt mean you wont have sorrow, pain or anger. Oh!! Believe me they will continue to visit you. The only difference being, this time they are merely guests on a short visit. You are the host ... Happiness Host and you are here to stay.

Why blog??

2006-05-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

This is the umptieth time that I have created a blog site for myself. What happened to those before - are you wondering? I created them as it was cool to have a blog but never got around to using them And then when i revisited the blog, I realised I had forgotten my email, username & password. So I began all over again. This time I plan to stick on as I have more time in hand and an ocean of information to share.

Ganeshaya Namah!!
Let me begin the blog on the right note here.
Offering salutations to Ganesha - the remover of all obstacles.

Guruve Namah!!
And of course, my Gurudev, who has shown me the way to myself and Guided me through life in amazing ways ....

Life is indeed a beautiful journey weaved by sorrow & joy, excitement & inertness, beauty & ugliness, good & the bad, all meshed into one big picture. I am already beginning to experience that blogging is going to be a very interesting journey for you & me as we move along, discovering each other in the process. There is so much I love to write about and there is so much I wish to hear from you.

Blogging is interesting!! As you type, you simply are at ease & just let your inner thoughts pour in without any editing ... Blog is a reflection to your inner world and I am glad to share it with all of you...

Love to all and let peace dawn in every heart & every being ...