Small moments, big insights

Often small things get ignored in life and we miss to see the inherent beauty of it. As Tagore once wrote,"I traveled miles, spent riches. I have gone to see the mountains and oceans. But I have not seen just two steps from my home, there upon a grain of corn, the glistening drop of dew". Passing through life, we all come across many such moments that usually go unnoticed. But they have the capacity to fill the mind with joy. Once when I went went to Jodhpur with my husband to have a glimpse of magnificent view of Thar desert. I never experienced such breathtaking beauty of a desert before. Where ever I looked, I saw only waves of sand dunes, which were glittering in the sun light. There was not a blade of grass in our vicinity. We came to know that, poor villagers stayed in far away scattered villages, devoid of all modern facilities and without eveb basic education.Young boys earned sustenance by driving camel carts for tourists. It was here that I met a simple village boy whose generosity and jolly nature has stayed vivid in my memory. After reaching there we also selected a camel cart for a ride. The driver was a young boy with chiseled features and a smiling face. While driving his car he was humming a folk tune. He seemed to be a very good natured person. While passing through the sand dunes I wanted to gather some informations about their lifestyle and so asked him some questions - "how far do you stay, how many family members, what is the source of income etc." But he was especially surprised when I asked him about his morning breakfast before leaving the house for the whole day. He answered, "Why? Roti and fried chillies of course". This innocent boy blissfully living in utter poverty had no idea of any other choice of breakfast. So again when I asked him about his dinner menu after whole day's work, his answer was the same, "roti and fried chillies". I realized that in that desert, where no vegetation can grow and far from the towns, there was literally nothing to eat other than bread and spices. The poor villagers had no options and this boy accepted this destiny with a smiling face. As I was thinking of this great disparity between the most fertile regions in the country just a few hundred kilometers from the arid lives of these camel drivers, all in the same country, his cheerful voice broke in - "Madam , will you please to my home and have a meal with us? We will be very happy". I was deeply touched by his loving invitation, and had no heart to say no. So I said ,"surely son, I will come next time around. He was happy to hear my answer and continued to drive his camel cart joyfully, while humming his favorite folk tune all the way back through our journey.

Life connects lives

Few days back, I was pleasantly surprised to get some soul touching photographs from my son Prodeep, who stays in America. Pictures showed, it was evening time, and near the road side bushes, he was sitting quietly holding the head of an injured deer on his lap. Both of them looked very peaceful,depicting the eternal bond of love between man, nature and animals. Later I came to know that an insensitive driver hit the deer badly and ran away leaving the severely injured deer near the road side. Prodeep was passing through the same road, and seeing that helpless animal, stopped his car, came down and called the rescue team to come immediately, though they took full three hours to appear there. They never saw this sort of scene before, where a wild animal can rest so peacefully on the lap of an unknown person. But this is nothing new. Animals can respond to loving energy very intensely. I also experienced this through my three legged dog Gujia. He was a stray dog and was hit by an insensitive driver. But he was rescued by an organization called 'Red Paws', where his leg was amputated and he was hospitalized for six months, before he came to us. He expresses his gratitude through his eyes, and modulation of voice or body language, which all animal lovers can understand very well. The great Indian Saint Ramana Maharshi could understand the language of birds. Once a bird's nest was removed from the garden by some of his disciples. Next day when the Saint was sitting in that garden, birds started chirping near him and he understood their complaint and asked his disciples to bring back their nest and put it where it was before. Like animals, plants too have their feelings of joy and sorrow. The great scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose invented a measuring tool "Crescograph" to track growth and feelings of plants by magnifying subtle electromagnetic measurements 10,000 times. Today's environmental problems are caused mostly by our ignorance about the lives of animals and planta. A life which we can not create, we have no right to destroy either. Being respectful and kind to all life, we can make this earth more livable and lovable place for all. Mahatma Gandhi said,'to my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being "

An ode to an old friend - Scrabble

Scrabble is a beautiful game, specially for elderly people like me. With limited physical energy, I love to play scrabble every evening with my dear friend Puloma. All games make us more fit, energetic and cheerful and Scrabble helps to increase one's vocabulary and sharpens the brain. But like chess, it has some special benefits - in that, it forces us to make the most out of limited options. For the elderly, this is a useful skill to manage everyday life. In early 1970 I was introduced to scrabble by an elderly English lady, named Crystal Rodgers. She went by Mishy (probably a mispronounciation of Missy in India), and was a pioneer in setting up Animals Friends - a sanctuary for the care of hurt, injured, and in general uncared for animals - from dogs, horses, and cows to birds and monkeys. Anything that struggled to survive the crowded streets of the big cities of India. Her organization did great work in Delhi and Jaipur and today lives on in Bangalore as CUPA - Compasion Unlimited, Plus Action. When I met her first she was 80 plus, extremely energetic, active and optimistic. Never thought of retiring and whenever she wanted some quiet restful time, she came to our Delhi University house for a few days. We used to play scrabble every evening. Our young children had great fun to see us absorbed in scrabble. She was also a gifted medium and was able to connect wtih dear departed souls who would interact with us through planchette. After my husband's retirement, we came out from secure university campus life to join the main stream of city life. When my husband passed away and children went abroad to study and settle down, I started feeling little lonely. Every difficulty brings some new opportunity in life. Now I am as old as Mishy and every evening, my friend Puloma comes and we discuss current issues, politics and otherwise with a hot cup of herbal tea in our hand, and then get immersed in playing Scrabble. Before we start the game, my efficient helpers keep the scrabble board and the heavy print version of the Oxford dictionary ready at hand to resolve linguistic challenges. According to the weather, they decide to serve us hot or cold beverage to stimulate our brain power. We like to make the game more collaborative, not competitive. So we focus more on making new and big words. Like a good old friend, Scrabble has returned to my life and brings great cheer. For the last year and a half the world has been passing through a very difficult time. We cannot change the situation easily, but Scrabble has helped greatly in making the most of our limited opportunities for socializing, and in remaining stress free. I have many hobbies, but the evenings are reserved to welcome my dear old friend Scrabble.

What is Yoga?

Early in my youth, I realized that yoga is neither a ritual nor a religion. It is an art which transforms life in a very subtle and positive way. I did not know much about yoga. But one encounter with it, in my early young age changed my approach and I wanted to embrace yoga as a part of my life. One that has persuaded me to continue to practice it at the age of 82. In middle school, I came upon a chance to see the famous yoga guru Mr. Bishtu Ghose, who mentored Mr. Manotosh Roy, the first Indian or Asian to be awarded the Mr. Universe title (in 1952). The lecture demonstration was on the power of yoga. Even today I remember two of the events performed by a young girl, named Reba Rakshit, that left a deep imprint on my young mind forever.This young girl, wearing a headband, entered the stage and lay down on a platform with a wooden plank on her chest. Soon after, an elephant walked in and stood still on her chest for quite some time and then walked off the plank. She clamly stood up and greeted us all with a smiling face. The power of breath, not muscle was what sustained the weight of an elephant standing on a girl's chest. The second event showed the intense power of concentration. Looking at the reflection of a row of balloons hanging behind her in a mirror, she systematically shot them down, one by one. I was stunned by her amazing concentration and aim. Then her mentor Mr. Bishtu Ghose said this power can be gained by practicing yoga and breath control systematically. I was so impressed, that leaving everything behind, I wanted to join his team immediately. Though that didn't quite happen, my deep interest in Yoga was kindled at that moment and has never since dimmed through my life. Yoga means union - between the individual soul and the supreme soul. Individual souls can truly progress when they realizes the divine connection, and Yoga helps to have that realization through constant practice of all the eight limbs (astanga) of Yoga, not just postures. This eight fold path is comprised of 1.Yama(restraints), 2.Niyama(observances), 3.Asana(posture) 4.Pranayam(breath control), 5. Pratyahara(withdrawal of the senses) 6.Dharana(concentration),7.Dhyana(meditation) and 8. Samadhi(stateless contemplation). On the auspicious International Yoga Day of June 21, we bow down to all yoga gurus of the world, specially sage Patanjali, who is attributed as the author of "Yoga Sutras" somewhere between 500BCE and 400 CE. Yoga which started in India over 5000 years ago today has reached every corner of the world, and like a flower, provides the world with nectar to quench the thirst of many souls. The western world which is mainly oriented towards external actions has embraced yoga and has produced many great yogis who are living proof of the path of joy, and the power of internal actions to create health, happiness and purpose. Let us remain lovingly united with the whole world and with all life through the divine connection we all share - experienced through the eight fold path that is Yoga.

The shine of gold comes from its melting

Nothing is a coincidence in life. Every thing happens for a cause. I realized it even more when recently after a restful night, I got up with a dizzy head, and was rescued timely from falling down by my helper. I tested positive for COVID. In my green house, I happily stay with a wonderful boy, and a three legged dog. My loving son is taking care of all my needs by remote control, and I have no worry at all. Every thing is truly golden in my golden years. But like a tsunami, in two consecutive years, I experienced two different blows. In 2020, my mind fell under the spell of fear, loneliness and insecurity. Luckily with God's grace, with all dear ones help, proper medication, and with my strong will power, not only could I break the spell of darkness, but I emerged as a brighter, happier and a more joyful person This year(2021) started very well, but one night covid came like a silent thief and tried to put me down. All my dear ones panicked, and rushed oxygen cylinders to help. With their timely intervention and with God's grace, not only have I recovered, but am thriving with boundless joy. Everything comes to us to teach us something. We just have to be alert, and see what life is pointing to. Here firstly I learnt the value of each breath which we get from nature, absolutely free of cost. We must respect it and be mindful to each breath. I must be always grateful to God to bless us with this divine life force. Breath expands with positivity, and shrinks with negativity. So as long as it is with me, in all possible way, I must be cheerful, mindful and positive. Secondly, life is momentary - like a drop of water on a lotus leaf. Make it beautiful with a smile and service for all. No enmity. So that at the time of departure, one can leave with a smiling face. Thirdly, suffering make us more understanding, compassionate and helpful to each other. As a beautiful gold ornament takes it's final shape after going through the melting process, human life is also the same. It shines only when it passes through suffering. Entertainment, social interactions, all are like spices, make life interesting. But how I experience my own life, is something I am solely responsible for and I have to work hard to make myself fearless, joyful and blissful.

Transforming the mundane to the sacred

In India we have a tradition - that before starting day's work, we often bow down our head to the supreme spirit and ask for blessings. In fact for every mundane thing in life, like buying a new car, entering in to a new house, or putting the first morsels of solid food into an infant's mouth, we do Puja - thereby consecrating the moment into a sacred one. I find this approach to creating sacred moments a beautiful tradition and think it has a deeper meaning. By adding devotional intent to a mundane act like eating or moving into a house, we can transform whatever we do into a sacred act. In learning to surrender, we draw on the supreme energy and can transform a mundane activity into a sublime experience. This faith has been built up in our mind through the ages. There is a sloka in old Hindu scripture which says, "he who makes the mute a fluent speaker and helps the lame to cross the mountains... his name be praised and blessings to be sought." This faith is rooted in our cultural consciousness. Of the many great saints who came to this earth and taught us to do all mundane work in the name of the Lord, Shri Ramakrishna -the great Saint of Bengal once said, "do your work with one hand and touch the feet of the Lord with the other. When you have no work in the world to do, hold his feet fast to your breast with both your hands." These great souls did not have material comforts like us but they absorbed all the sufferings of this world with a smiling face, and blessed us to be forgiven for our cruelty. I wonder what is the touch of that magic stone that made their life so sublime and smile so divine. Today we are living in much comfort but have very little mental peace. The time has come to learn from the lives of those great souls. We should open up our hearts, be humble and should remember that each life has come to this earth for a short time, to do some thing good. Every act of life can be turned from the mundane to the sacred if only through our pure thoughts and intent. The divine spark is present in every soul. We just have to light it up through our right understanding and right action. We are all capable of turning our mundane existence into a joyful creative one through. The 18th century poet Muhammad Iqbal once described the unique ability of men to transform the mundane into the matter of joy through his poem in which he wrote, "you created the night, I lit the lamp. You created clay, I moulded the cup. You made the wilderness, I cultivated flower bed. And from Poison, I extracted a sweet beverage."

The lives of seasons

Spring time has come. I feel so blissful to sit outside in my garden every morning and be bathed by the morning breeze. I notice red bottlebrush flowers that suddenly appeared in one corner of my garden and are swinging joyfully. Small birds are chirping and are hopping from flower to flower. Nasturtiums, dahlias and daisies all tossing their heads with joy. Looking at nature, I wonder and think what can be the unseen force, that changes winter into spring and spring into scorching summer. All these changes are so silent and subtle that they go almost unnoticed by us. Even on my own head, how and when my thick black hair turned into snowy gray cre[t up unnoticed by me. In nature, creation and destruction go hand in hand. When it brings the change in the form of destructions, it is sudden, ferocious and forceful. Often it happens due to an imbalance in nature created by human beings. Human creations, which can be a dam on a river, or a palatial building, or some thing else create so much noise and often disturb animal life by deforestation. I wish we could learn from nature, how to create change more harmoniously. Throughout the ages all saints, philosophers and thinkers have tried to connect with that hidden energy thst works through the nature unceasingly. Energy can not be seen, only felt. It's vastness that covers time and space extends beyond our comprehension. Realizing that, Newton had humbly said that he feel that his knowledge was akin to picking up pebbles near the sea shore. The great Saint, Sri Ramakrishna once compared our effort to know the unfathomable spirit as if a doll made of salt went to measure the ocean. It dissolves in the process and in losing it's identity becomes one with the ocean. I feel, we are all blessed to have a tiny spark of that divine light in us all. And life can be meaningful when we try to brighten that light with our own effort and with our good karma. Sorrows and difficulties have great relevance in life. I feel that every sorrow and hurdle I have passed through in life had inspired me more to come near this truth. As life is short, I feel life's energy must be invested wisely, so that the dividend is substantial and satisfying. I found a small quotation, which I liked very much that I think will be very appropriate to express - "Give love and care as a long as you can to everyone. That's the only thing that comes back with highest interest"