tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975221545731086372024-03-14T13:09:55.802+05:30My Journey from Head to Heart!!The Meaning of life, True love, Heart & Soul, Emotions out of Control, Devotion, Friendship, Meditation, Awareness, Humanity, Bliss.In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-85272116051963168872010-09-04T20:44:00.016+05:302010-09-06T03:17:27.218+05:30Of Recipes, Books, Indian Rail & Music...<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">So, here’s the thing...I got my bike completely hassle free; dent free & on time as promised so all kudos to Indian Railways. Apparently they charge Rs.10 per hour as late charges for every hour they keep your stuff stashed. (They did extort Rs. 50 in the name of sundry expenses going to sundry people, but that’s ok as long as they delivered on the contract, which they did). It felt a lil weird for a day driving my bike back in the evening, as I have done it so many times 2000 km’s away in south India but suddenly the landscape has changed, the climate has changed & the people have changed around my bike & me. It’s nice to just drive around aimlessly & discover new things in ones old city. The roads are wider and and so much greenery.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Parents have left me alone at home to look after myself & I must say I take very good care of the house, which is to say it’s not robbed or burnt down or got pest infested, yet! I am in charge of cooking my own food. My potato dish is world famous in Chennai, however I had never prepared </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">daal</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"> & </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">chawal</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"> before because getting the right mix of water & pulses is frankly quite intimidating. So caught between the risk of high </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">pitta</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"> precipitated by no food at home & laziness to go out and eat, I called mom and skillfully extracted the secret blend of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">daal</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"> & rice for 1 person and quantity of water for that.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513487234359481394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DfukLyV1rOJoWoXHpuzOczfvYL3H004gLiyMPvEIZ31Pm-TeiqVKyNvYK008opjOqc5YEVRPWx35wLWDFQXAsAazaFwIUiq6S8FjRjSi4zc79tNjJlTb8f3pr0sLChrOlWVLoxbVVkc/s320/DSC02867.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 314px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">And boy was it amazing! I almost felt sorry for being the only one to have the good providence of savoring the delicacy from the kitchens of paradise! I am the new master of delicious </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">daal, chawal</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"> & of my favorite vegetable in the universe, the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">aloo</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
There is a brand spanking new CCD near my home and the ambiance is great. It’s nice to lounge there sometimes with Spinach & Corn sandwich, café latte, my laptop and Wi-Fi. And oh yeah, it’s adjacent to girls dental college! :)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
I completed the book Eat Pray Love which is now also a movie starring Julia Roberts. It’s true story of a woman who, to find peace, wisdom, happiness & herself devotes a year travelling to Italy (eat), to India (pray) & Indonesia (love or to find balance). The part in Italy wants you to break into impromptu Italian & gallivant in the lanes of Italy to devour those delicious juicy Pizzas hand tossed in wood burning ovens, although a lot of non-veg dishes are mentioned needlessly. The ashram life in India is so familiar & the meditation experiences so real. Overall the book reads well, esp. the parts in Italy & Indian ashram & as a travel book.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="355" width="540"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iZzmqHJ0gPU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iZzmqHJ0gPU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
I am also revisiting The West Wing series. It’s based on a fictional white house with real life issues. It’s one of the most powerful things on TV you will ever watch. It almost runs like a fast paced movie. It’s quick, profoundly intelligent & wildly entertaining. Most of all it’s a fascinating sketch on friendship, character & leadership skills. Martin Sheen is phenomenally brilliant as the president of the United States & so are the others on the staff.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yUCWczTg4WE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yUCWczTg4WE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #dbc1a7; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">During one of my many journeys this year I was waiting on a railway platform & was bored out of my wits.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #dbc1a7; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #dbc1a7; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Add to it my train was running late, air was hot & humid & the platform was not exactly the shining illustration of cleanliness by Indian railways. I was beginning to get irritated & that’s when I plugged in my Creative Zen (fitting name, right!) MP4 player & out of nowhere everything shifts. The air instantly seemed cool, the unruly passengers like extended family & I felt at home on that platform with tom & jerry running around. I think so is the case in our lives. Outside is just the scenery, what matters most is what’s inside. You change the music inside & the movie outside changes!</span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"></div></span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-64901043621800920682010-08-25T21:07:00.003+05:302010-08-25T21:18:34.207+05:30So long Chennai...<div><i>“Man's feelings are always purest and most glowing in the hour of meeting and of farewell.”</i></div><div><br /></div><div>It was for a vacation in the Millennium year when I first arrived in Chennai- the land of thousands of coconut trees, heaps of rice and white dhoti clad ebony hued souls! </div><div><br /></div><div>It’s been 5 years since my return and it’s time now to say until we meet again.. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>I really think if one truly wants to take a vacation, disconnect from life as one knows it day in and day out, one should consider a territory where even the bill-boards & address outside shops also seems to have been written in some alien dialect lost to humanity a few hundred years ago. For me, it was like that, when I came here. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had not come back here for a vacation. My bro-in-law, Sister & cutest lil niece are here, and I ambled here to work. My 1st job, for 3 wonderful years, was in a GPS telecommunications company at Tidel park. </div><div><br /></div><div>Just by the virtue of staying in Chennai I have become a licensed haggler of expert category. My heart is filled with gratitude towards all the auto drivers without whom this achievement would not have been possible. I dedicate this honor to all of them who would almost always quote double fare reckoning me to be a bakra fresh from some far flung corner of the universe unaware of the ways things work in the auto-rickshaw realm! </div><div><br /></div><div>First thing that struck me about Chennai was I could be lost in my dreamland, amidst chaos. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even if someone abused me in Tamil I would often misconstrue it as sweet nothings and move on. And since I am not expected to know the language I wasn’t expected to retort thus the rules of engagement were not in play and my innate Machismo would remain untainted! :). However my attempts to eves drop in a public transport on animated discussions between various unsuspecting couple revealed nothing. A minor disadvantage one may argue, but then I get to save my mind from unnecessary gossip! </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Masala dosa</i>(i?) had always been my favorite. In our house (as in other North Indian homes) it would be a special day when mom made <i>dosas</i> (Sunday special etc) and I’d eat no less than 6-8 of them. And it won’t be plain masala <i>dosa</i> with <i>podi</i> as it is common here. It is rich <i>Masala Dosa</i>, made from batter prepared at home, with two kinds of <i>chutneys</i> and full on <i>sambhar</i>. It’s sufficient to say I had truck loads of my share of <i>Dosas</i> here! :).</div><div><br /></div><div>Although I had quite a culture shock initially when I encountered people licking curd and/or rice of their fingers, palms, wrists, elbows even in posh restaurants…as if they were dining privately in their bathrooms! But I’ll surely miss unlimited meals (especially Andhra meals)! Hopefully the Madras Cafes over there have it on their menus.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am a witness to some of Chennai’s significant events like unveiling of Kathipada flyover, beautification of the Tidal Park (my erstwhile office) road, swanky new malls, Rajni/Vijay crazy fans on the first day first show, Tsunami, new A/C buses, unearthly heat, humidity & hurricanes!</div><div><br /></div><div>I can go on and on about Chennai: it’s beautiful Temples, thousands of Coconut trees, amazing ECR road drives, early morning fragrance of flowers, c<i>handan</i>, ash & <i>Vada</i>-coffee at the bus stop, the trademark drum beats music, fresh <i>rangolis </i>in front of every home in the morning & evening, men with <i>vibhuti</i> adorned forehead & women with colorful saris and <i>gajras</i>, sunset, sunrise, dips & meditations at the beach, ...these are just some of the truly beautiful things native only to South India. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>“Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.”</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I learnt life’s big & important lessons here: Got my heart broken to the extent that I was convinced it was beyond repair..Had my first experience of Smirnoff Vodka & Wills Navy cut…wrestled with the overwhelming thoughts of suicide on one hand and a raging desire to be a terrorist on the other. I remember working nonstop for 15 hours for weeks and yet unsuccessful in any sleep or peace. The deafening noise in my head was so much that I literally could not hear what I was thinking. The absolute agony of being in love. I fought & walked out of my home one midnight, only to discover who my real friends were & understand the importance of a family. </div><div><br /></div><div>And I remember my first long kriya, the nonstop tears of gratitude next morning listening to Radhe-2 mann boley by Vikram Bhaiya…Experienced so much love that cannot be contained in my heart and it literally would spill out in tears of gratitude. I discovered there is so much more to me & there is so much more to life! I felt peace, belongingness, contentment, longing which I had never felt before. I learnt how to care immensely and without any expectations, to smile & serve when one is sad is the best way to come out of it & the sense of what and whom to hold on to & what to let go. Above all I learnt the most about love, pain, emotions & grace. </div><div><br /></div><div>The cup of consciousness and life is much deeper & stronger now. </div><div><br /></div><div>The best thing is, last month while doing the 7 days Guru Purnima advance course in ashram I had the realization that I had literally nothing left to be sad about! I couldn’t imagine anybody I should hate & I couldn't think anyone as my enemy! And what an absolutely magical feeling that is and quite a leap from when I used to go for advance courses with my <i>dil ke tukde :)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>On the 1st day of my 1st Yes!+ I read this quote by Guruji on a huge banner hung in AGN - “When a bud breaks, it becomes a flower & when heart breaks, it becomes divine!”. It didn’t make any sense for a long time. I finally did understand what Guruji meant. J</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Romba Nandri</i> Chennai J. Until we meet again… </div><div><br /></div><div><i>“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>“Distance never separates two hearts that really care, for our memories span the miles and in seconds we are there.”</i></div>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-58294020855945998682010-04-11T01:37:00.001+05:302010-04-11T01:37:23.404+05:30Mangoes, Mumbai Locals & Extra Cheese!!!<p align="left"><em><font color="#ffff80">Do read up part 1 of </font></em><a href="http://ashcash1in.blogspot.com/2010/04/amchi-mumbai-1.html" target="_blank"><em><font color="#ffff80">Amchi Mumbai</font></em></a><em><font color="#ffff80"> chronicles.</font></em></p> <p align="left">So, with some sadistic quirk of fate I was left alone with Bau at Anjana Di’s home one lazy afternoon and unable to figure the right thing (or anything) to say I sank my head in my Laptop, when Bau asked about my Mumbai trip!. Like a little boy caught staring at a girl, I shared my learning's (minus the girls part of course, although now he knows that too!) about talks, Yes!+ etc and then we hit upon one of the passions which is very close to both our hearts (well closer to our stomach really) - FOOD! Well, for me eating and for him cooking and of course eating and experimenting! :)</p> <p align="left">As Bau says (and I agree) Mumbai is the food capital of the world. One has infinite options ranging from Rs. 5 to 500 Rs. Chat itself has so many choices – all with extra dollops of Butter or Cheese. The markets, spaces outside station are rendered so colorful owing to the presence of all the chat stalls. Double Roti, Vada Paav, Ice Bhel, flavored lassi, Ice Sev Poori, Jal Jeera, Gola, Paav Bhaji, Chaas – and these are just road side vendors. Things get all the more interesting when one enters an up market joint. For instance best sizzlers (Omg Yummylicious) in Pop Tates, best Punjabi food in Urban Tadka, Best of Rajasthani-Gujarati cuisine in Rajdhani and so on. Bhel poori is freely accessible at all local stations! And then there was Pastas’ by Di! And Gujarati food – Dhokla, Oondhiya, Patra, Kadhi, Thepla, Khandvi etc etc. There were more varieties of Dosas then I have seen in Chennai! Cheese dosa, pav bhaji dosa, Spinach Dosa, double roti dosa etc etc.</p> <p align="left">But to top it all – Mangoes! </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ju4YsCKNPBA/S8DaUNuZzJI/AAAAAAAAFw4/Up1KQeVdMe4/s1600-h/mangoes_40011%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="mangoes_40011" border="0" alt="mangoes_40011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ju4YsCKNPBA/S8DaWzQRW-I/AAAAAAAAFw8/wyLpfKVqlqw/mangoes_40011_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="200" /></a> </p> <p align="left">There’s a special Mango called Payri. I kid you not we ate (drank!?) it’s soup, clear Mango soup in a bowl complete with a Soup spoon! And it was insanely rich, thick, creamy and sinfully delicious! </p> <p align="left">To everyone's shock & ridicule I was not a big fan of Mangoes (give me Grapes, Kiwi, Strawberries or even Bananas), mango for me was  just too messy a deal. But people are chillingly cuckoo about the stupid fruit! And some of it rubbed on me too by the time I left Mumbai. I am proud to say that I am a Mango convert now! :). Btw mangoes at that time were like 1000 Rs. per Kg. Now that is just the recipe for disaster – ungodly heat, crazy mango fanatics with out of reach mangoes!!! </p> <p align="left">By this time I was becoming increasingly notorious for desiring (even longing for) and hogging food!. It is actually nice once everyone accepts the fact that you are a total gone case, it becomes easy to be oneself. :)<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ju4YsCKNPBA/S8DabBnX5fI/AAAAAAAAFxA/t58cFbgcatw/s1600-h/mumbai_trains_doorways_23%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="mumbai_trains_doorways_23" border="0" alt="mumbai_trains_doorways_23" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ju4YsCKNPBA/S8DaeL83lsI/AAAAAAAAFxE/Mph4GxSw7EQ/mumbai_trains_doorways_23_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="185" /></a></p> <p align="left">In Mumbai people age, have babies, consume (and digest)  food, finish semester exams, propose (to girls/clients/guys), get married & divorced, complete World of Warcraft, by heart Encyclopedia Britannica, all from a car/bike at traffic signals!</p> <p align="left">The lucky (and smart) ones take Mumbai locals! It’s literally the backbone of Mumbai, an amazing mode of commute, carries 7 million passengers everyday, arrives every few seconds and departs even before you can crack open a Peanut (groundnut!?) shell! </p> <p align="left">And one has a very high probability of falling in Love whilst on them! Imagine you are with the girl/boy of your dreams – in a Mumbai local. No place to stand, 3 unknown pair of hands find refuge in 1 hand rest, being pushed from all 10 directions – one is left with no other choice but to act all manly to protect the lady love from the pesky passengers. And amidst all this chaos, in ever so decreasing space between each other,  the time stops when their eyes meet, hands touch, strands of locks flutter about, the body odor gets entangled with each other, one overhears ‘tujhe dekha to yeh jaana sanammmm...’ blaring from neighbor dudes Radio  – and then happens the chemical reaction of Love! :). It’s kind of sweet really to see a girl in guy’s compartment, with another dude, getting all cozy up. Btw this is just one of the many examples of male tolerance. No woman would let even a toenail of a man in a women’s compartment! :)</p> <p align="left">One learns belongingness, dispassion and surrender while travelling in locals. Just have to stand near the gate and one will either be escorted outside or carried inside (almost always the opposite of where you wanna be) by equally dispassionate passengers . And doesn’t matter where you are going, it will take at least an hour to get there. And this time would be utilized by talking to people about the course! Specially amazed was I, when these girls with me went about talking to passengers on different seats, as if they were loitering in an orchard picking Apples.</p> <p align="left">I got lost twice in the maze of trains, but found my way soon enough to make it for the college talks running on the IST time. :). It’s really special to ride the local when the sun is setting on the parallel track! I remember feeling so happy and peaceful amidst all the chaos & sea of humanity at sundown and also so belonged and Indian! :). Only in India you can push or shove or glare or mumble at somebody and then confirm the details of next station or time or cricket score from the same person after 25 seconds. :)</p> <p align="left">So after travelling 100s of Kilometers, talking to 100’s of youths and eating awesome food everyday, we were closing on to the day when I was going to be the part of the biggest Yes!+ of my life and the course which raised the bar a lot more....!</p> In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-63059147736274647232010-04-07T19:36:00.002+05:302010-04-07T20:13:47.491+05:30Amchi Mumbai - 1!!!<p>Mumbai truly rocks! I arrived in Mumbai on Holi. No sooner than I landed here, much to my protest I was colored all over in hitherto unknown new hues, doing a rain dance to the tunes of a DJ for hours! Rain dance on Holi is esp.. a lot of fun. People waste much more water by just having a non-veg diet, so a rain dance in contrast, is harmless fun. :)</p> <p>And boy, do girls know how to have fun! They just dance n dance and keep inventing steps along the way, until lured away with promise of a <em>Thandai</em>! Speaking of girls, Mumbai girls are oh my god! :) Even an ordinary girl looks so gorgeous. They can carry themselves with such careless beauty. :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ju4YsCKNPBA/S7yRUrH5c2I/AAAAAAAAFww/uTC1VbjsL1I/s1600-h/1mumbaimetro3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="1-mumbai-metro" border="0" alt="1-mumbai-metro" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ju4YsCKNPBA/S7yRc0y4HlI/AAAAAAAAFw0/JtXclVpnfns/1mumbaimetro_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="239" /></a></p> <p>I came to Mumbai to work for and learn from the 1,00,008 Yes!+ mega course with none other than Bawa and Dinesh Bhaiya themselves. After scrubbing off all the color and having a sumptuous wholesome Gujarati meal (courtesy Anjana di’s mom) we went out for campaigning in the evening on the streets of Mulund, near Anjana di’s home, where I was staying. It was a very nice learning experience. </p> <p>So far, I was comfortable only with organized HIT’s and college/hostel intro talks, talking to random people wasn’t my style. :) So, initially in random talks I would be the concluding voice in a group of two. Special fun were talks in Mumbai locals. :) Mumbai volunteers are also very committed and chilled out at the same time. As a committed volunteer they took personal ownership and responsibility of the course, took initiatives to arrange talks in there colleges and there was no need for follow up for tasks agreed upon.</p> <p>The course was initially supposed to be for 1 lakh youth. The target was revised to 1008 people as there were exams or IV’s in most of the colleges. 1 lakh course will now happen in 2011, with a vision of having 10,00,008 youths doing the course by 2012 end. The reason behind such an ambitious vision was the spate of sudden youth suicides in Mumbai and Pune. We have the answer which is very effective, practical and fun at the same time – Yes!+.</p> <p>Anyway, we went out on the streets talking to people and putting up really creative posters created specially for this course. I spoke to this girl working for Hindustan Times and smoking her lungs away. When asked if she has heard of Art of living, she responded ‘yeah not much but I know all this is sham’. I embarrassed her by concluding that even I smoked but now I have a better alternative for time pass/stress release which gives a better kick and does not leaves a bad taste in the mouth. :) Cute girl though, with a nose ring and perfect smile, 1 cigarette ruined it all for me though. :)</p> <p>This was the time of annual cultural fest for most of the colleges. Some of us also indulged in them – Tanvi Di n Mayuri (after a lot of drama :)) did rappelling. College talks were very effective. For the 1st time 12 and more people would register on the spot!</p> <p>Another good work of innovation was the cool n colorful visiting card size brochures/pamphlets with all the follow up details which were handed out after a talk. It worked very well, when we present the course and they have an option to research more after going home. I realized that Bessy beach talks never worked because we expected people to register on the spot.</p> <p>I was also missing Tuffy (my dog) here. 2nd day in Mumbai we had a satsang in this very beautiful bungalow of Piyush bhai (Yes!+ teacher). He has a huge dog – Sonu. Huge but very calm, furry n cute dog. It was so much fun to play with him. :)</p> <p>Two most important things in Mumbai – Travel and Food! and the course itself which redefined Yes!+ : )…</p>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-50201101597495976962010-03-27T10:38:00.001+05:302010-03-27T10:38:48.001+05:30I am the most famous dialogue of Terminator-2!<p>Wow! There was a time when I used to post twice in a day and now it has almost been a year without a single post. Most of my posts were typed during work hours (with nothing better or interesting to do : ). I remember having this urge to sort out life and it’s complicated questions at times when I was getting paid to do something else, like my job :). Also, with Facebook one can just ‘Micro blog’ – capsulate events of the day, state of the mind etc all in 4-5 lines. However, blogging helps one to understand, convey, unravel, improve, opine, reach out, raise issues, debate – which FB doesn’t.</p> <p>I started blogging to make sense and articulate all that was going in my head or all that was baffling or wonderful in life. I was under the impression that after I bought my own laptop I would write more. It’s the same logic we apply while buying TV or cable that we’ll watch only News or Discovery or Cricket but soon all we watch is anything but all of the above. Reminds me of an incidence happened long back. i used to be pretty good with quizzes and current affairs. My cousins logic was ‘everyone who has a cable TV can be smart as they get Discovery etc, I’ll also know all answers when cable comes to my home”. I had cable. However when they got cable all they’d watch is MTV! The point being one can have anything and everything at hand but what one chooses to do with it matters. As Bau says mere knowing that buying shares of Reliance Inc. will make you richer is not going to make anyone rich. One has to act on that knowledge, buy-hold-sell the shares to get rich.</p> <p>So, there is much to write, lots to remember, ample to articulate as life has been quite a ride lately, a lot smoother than before although, all thanks to Yes!+ and all that encompasses it.  :) I think I’ll begin with the latest and track back with no particular chronological order. :) So I am in Aamchi Mumbai now…</p> In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-79839747208101710672009-04-20T16:31:00.003+05:302009-04-20T16:48:02.956+05:30Interconnected!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Shravan, Manan aur Nitibhyaasa</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Shravan is learning, listening, imbibing, absorbing knowledge; Manan is remembering it again and again; nitibhyasa is practicing it until it becomes ones nature.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">So for eg., when one wonders how is a person going back to their previous habits and patterns one of the above is missing. Shravan is knowing the knowledge, learning it from a master, listening to it (not just hearing) - this is what we do sitting in yes!+ or advance courses. This needs to be done 100%, like if you do not know the song how can you remember it and sing it again and again. That is also why the more you sit in such energy doing more courses the more ingrained the knowledge becomes. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Then comes manan. If one looses awareness and gets angry then one has forgotten the knowledge, in that moment. Instead of then getting angrier on getting angry, or becoming sad on becoming sad or becoming more mad at becoming mad, what is required is remembering the knowledge, again and again, punah punah. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">When this is practiced 1) Everyday, 2) Without a gap, 3) For a long time and 4) with honor and respect that is called nitibhyaasa, until it becomes one’s DNA, the very nature. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Malcolm Gladwell’s says in his latest book - Outliers that as per the research done on what makes an extraordinary genius or success, there was one common factor which stood out - 10,000 hours. All highly and extraordinarily successful people have practiced and practiced there craft for at least min. of 10,000 hours to become the best. So, it’s just the matter of clocking hours. If you are learning Guitar and are not playing well, it is guaranteed that if you reach the magic figure of 10k you’ll learn how to play well. Same applies to intro talks, or getting that girl or a guy of your dreams - just a matter of clocking in that many hours!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Although our current government has completed way more than 10,000 hours to get there act together and do at least one sensible thing for the people who made the blunder of bringing them into power the last time. It is time to throw them out. Out of the many complete blunders just take 3 to consider throwing out this government - 1) The day of Mumbai bomb blasts, 1500 crores were given to terrorists, the logic being they have a family too and they need to be taken care of too. Same figure was given to Afghanistan, I guess stating ‘good good train the hooligans better there so that they can carry out even more dastardly acts on their next mission in India.’ Rs. 50,000 crores were gifted to Harvard and Cornell, as if our education system has perfected itself and we are exceeding the literacy standards of our continent. 50,000 crores are simply missing from the govt. a/c’s. No explanation given. Madarsas will be given CBSE status now, as if the knowledge given there is so complete in it - they are still taught earth is flat - such people will be certified now to get jobs in govt. I shudder to think what kind of policies such narrow minded thinkers will roll out. The vote bank politics need to stop.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">The main agenda of Congress and Sharad Pawar in Mumbai is to bring the Genetically Modified foods to India! That is there main agenda, not education, not electricity or water, not security. And there so called experts say that it is good for India! Why? Because the text book says so. Because GM BT Brinjal kills an insect found in Organically produced Brinjals. Well, tell me what are the side effects before I consume this god send Brinjal? They don’t know. If the GM foods are so good why are they not welcome in Europe? In US at least the GM foods have a label categorizing them as such. In India there is no such law also. So, you will never know which chemical are you savoring. Why? Coz government gets loads of money, so people can go to hell. The technology which is unacceptable in US and UK is welcome in India by this government. It took us 50 years to learn how bad the plastic is for us. Imagine in a decade if we learn the same about food which we will be directly consuming.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">That’s the reason, we the youth, needs to be aware of issues and events that effect us now and will more so in the future. And we need to make others aware too. Just knowing will not do now, teach, debate, spread the light. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">For instance did you know why (a+b)2 = a2+b2+2ab? Here’s why… :-)<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzUyi0ZK5sgjw5zWZRsDtRxVQmhAEX54H_IZVivU699ExZ1Ff2SK5VesOqLgfN4FdvZiNd4dv_Yx6lwotHZQQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51); font-style: italic;">P.S :This post is from the last Yes!+ Utsav with Rashmin & Dinesh Bhaiya and Bawa in Bangalore.</span><br /></div></div>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-60486288088924695762009-01-11T03:22:00.018+05:302009-01-27T13:51:26.446+05:30The Best New Year Ever!!! - 2<span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153);font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilusTscYkTdVnlMvxjj89oaf1wWGZh4V8GiHY4JdoJ0aUSBRDvOL7QTplweFzPhMe2hNBjxKbZEumnsFucdpDUZy5v7wAmf6J_kKF3KbTvJWQyVMdfM95AZYoL6eibi1thRshBKiy2TVk/s1600-h/DSC00436.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289787915594826450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilusTscYkTdVnlMvxjj89oaf1wWGZh4V8GiHY4JdoJ0aUSBRDvOL7QTplweFzPhMe2hNBjxKbZEumnsFucdpDUZy5v7wAmf6J_kKF3KbTvJWQyVMdfM95AZYoL6eibi1thRshBKiy2TVk/s320/DSC00436.JPG" border="0" /></a><a style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)" href="http://ashcash1in.blogspot.com/2009/01/best-new-year-ever-1.html"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Continued from Part 1 below. </span></a><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">If 1 not read,</span> <a style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)" href="http://ashcash1in.blogspot.com/2009/01/best-new-year-ever-1.html"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Scroll down to the next post to read part 1 first...</span></a><br /><br /></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153);font-size:100%;" ><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">N</span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">ext day campus cleaning Seva. I saw to it that the left side of the campus from VM steps toc Divine services was spanking clean. Until glides in Miss Indrani with that famous cat (Elephant?) walk and casually drops few Green bombs on the ground and ambles away coolly as if that‘s exactly the place to go about her daily let go business. I remembered Dinesh bhaiya’s story of cleaning cow dung in his own advance course. Summoning up the Lion and his Valor within me, with the nerves of Stainless Steel I march towards that mountain and stop dead in my tracks as it’s emanating fragrance hits my nose. I mentally say ‘Sorry Dinesh bhaiya, not this time.’ Irony was that my nose would block only the next day and it continues to be that way till today! Anyway that ‘thing’ was at the right side of the campus, so I convince myself that I did not follow my feelings over my commitments. And hurriedly, before any logic can prevail, had my hands busy so that heart becomes full and mind becomes empty.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">I so fell in love with my pretty feet and my green floaters during the course. As they were pretty much the only thing I laid my eyes on during the course. Fortunately I had exhausted my Chappal Karma during my earlier visits to the ashram, so I had to return with my own footwear which I originally came with rather than resorting to flicking someone else‘s. A pretty odd feeling, I must admit.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">By the end of silence I had pretty much memorized all the songs from Rab ne Bana di…, Ghajini & Chandni Chowk…, as they would invariably pop up at the best of times, without warning. Like when I am trying to find the tip of my nostril and suddenly I see Asin‘s nose instead of mine, which makes it even more difficult as she would always be dancing about. Had it been SRK’s nose, it would have been no problem. He has a lot of it! And for comic relief Russell Peters was readily available, effect of watching his videos enroute from Chennai to Bangalore. ‘Your mothers’ so fat…‘ and so he goes in Chinese accent. And with eyes closed, my smile widens, as I come back to the source.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">From the 2nd day onwards I felt so Blessed! Like a weight lifted. As Guruji says that out of 100 only 10 begin the journey and only few reach, I felt like those lucky few among the 1000+ of us.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">Most importantly this Yes++ filled me up to the brim with Gratitude…towards everything and everyone. I am grateful to all my teachers - esp. to Jaideep Chandra sir (my Accounts and Economics teacher in 11th standard) - sir if you happen to read this, if not for you I would have not been inspired to complete school and work to score cool marks in 12th, to my English teacher (Ma’am, if not for your beauty and my desire to impress you I would have been speaking English like Lallu, which sometimes I do anyway), to my Parents, to my Yes!+ teachers Rajesh ‘Mayla’ K. Bhaiya, Kavi Di, Anjana di, Upasana Di, Rashmin Bhaiya and of course Bau n Dinu Bhaiya, to my volunteer friends in Chennai (each one of you have showed me a way to do things and also a way not to do things, just by being who you are, although you may never know when and how J), to the driver of the Chennai-Bangalore Train and so far back and fwd.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">I feel grateful for every ‘bad’ thing that ever happened to me and any body who ever broke my trust and heart and caused hurt to me. Looking back, If I connect the dots now, If not for those events or people, I probably would not have been here. I am also grateful to that Kitchen nut, the roommates (out of 1000+ people they were particularly put there by Mr. G for a purpose), to all the other participants for enhancing my experience through there silence, to the Uncle who took care of our Chappals, to the unseen…</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">And to that special someone without whom I probably would not have continued on this path and also without whom I would not have seen such darkness and misery and anger and hatred or experience such Bliss and Love and Longing and Knowledge. You know who you are and If you happen to read this, I miss you and I Bless you. Wish you can become as sweet as you were before and we closer than before. Wish that all the ego and arrogance and bitterness can be just melted away to make way for more sweeteness and care and warmth we have hsared before.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">The best thing is, finally, oh-so-excruciatingly, this Yes++ slowly turned my Love into Longing, the desire of Getting Something into Intention of Giving, frustration of waiting into meditation. To Guruji for showing me the way again and again and not giving up on me and to not let my Love complete so that it gains more depth and thus adds more meaning to my life. Lots more to learn and miles to walk before I sleep…</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">In 2009 I pray that I continue being grateful and not lean towards the demonic tendency of blaming and Give without Expectations and Love without Expectations and become more Mature in Love and Understand with Centeredness and to Serve with Sattva and be Happy with Awareness and Celebrate by being Useful and Spread Light and Joy and Knowledge and Belonging.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">And that’s what I want for the World too.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">Only thing is this sense of Void that I am feeling, which turns into sadness and loneliness and prayerfulness…I pray with gratitude that I can learn something from it too and do lots of Seva and bring more and more youths to advance courses and such profound Knowledge...</span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,153,255)">Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu!</span></span><br /></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153);font-size:100%;" ></span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-53064867760670185482009-01-11T02:59:00.005+05:302009-01-14T02:16:36.946+05:30The Best New Year Ever!!! - 1<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >A</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">mazing, Awesome, Super-Duper, Jhakaas, Fantabulous, Mast, Fundoo, 2 Gooood, Mind Blowing, out of the Universe…out of adjectives to express this Yes!+ Winter Break‘08!!! The best Ever! YAAYY!!! </span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br />This was my 8th Advance course and I could not have imagined it to be any grander!!! Lots of nagging doubts cleared up and added lots of meaning to life.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">The detailed life story of Dinesh bhaiya (which he finally shared after so many years, upon much coercion of course), Bau’s way of reading Questions more than his witty answers, Vikram Bhaiya’s Divine voice and rocking Satsangs (esp. the second song he sang on the 1st day “what does Love needs (asks?) - It‘s Everything…’had me in tears), the Guru Puja and Vikram Bhaiya serenading us with ‘Phoolon ke Rang se’ welcoming new year, the hair raising experiences by other participants‘, Padmasadhanas…What else is needed in life!</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /><br />The extended Silence was very interesting! Observing so many Girls in silence together, at one place, for so many days is always lot of fun. By the end of each day they are just bursting with tall tales to tell to anyone in sight, doesn‘t matter if they know you or not, doesn‘t matter if you are a he or she or it. To gossip and well to just do what they love the most - YAP! And they so do, after the silence is over. Making one miss the silence so much! Oh, the opposite values are indeed complementary. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /><br />And those early morning cold water (and sometimes no water) baths. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">My roommates in Khoday’s were so precious. One would wake up as soon as the Alarm in MY Cell goes off and before I can finish yawning and cat stretching, he would have already begun applying Soap and Shampoo and pretty much bolted the bathroom door for the next 50 minutes. Being in silence and in knowledge I can neither bang on the door nor curse him. I can only stomp on his white Kurta (which I didn’t, as good as I am). So I am reduced to practicing the locks on myself with extra awareness and avoiding a different kind of ‘letting go’ situation. Wandering into the corridors looking for an available bathroom of other unsuspecting guys in my wing (much to their astonishment), without looking in anyone‘s eyes. One can do anything in Silence! Thanks to the other roommate who would be blissfully snoring his way to glory to give me enough time in the bathroom. It was a wonder to me how he even made for the morning Sadhanas everyday, on time!</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Kitchen Seva was particularly interesting.<br /><br />Watching the Roti maker Gadget is a Meditation in itself. I thought of recording the entire action, from start to finish and overlaying Guruji’s voice on top it and come up with a guided meditation - Blossoming with the Roti’s or the Round Roti Meditation or the ‘Pancha Chapathi Meditation‘. Anyway, somehow this time around I was able to resist the charms of the Roti maker and lumber on to other parts of the magical land of the Kitchen.<br /><br />Wondering what seva will suit my talents there, I find three otherwise intelligent people holding on to 1 tiny Potato trying to figure out which end to be peeled by whom. I immediately decide I want to do some heavy, macho stuff - lifting and moving things - no delicate cutting and peeling business would satisfy me. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Suddenly a tub full of Mint leaves waiting to be washed., manifests itself. Ahem, always nice to have Minty fresh fingers while indulging in Naadi Shodhan Pranayama.<br /><br />But before I can act on my intentions and move even a step closer to that bright orange Tub with Green Mints, in my white Kurta, feeling quite patriotic on the color scheme, 3 Seva warriors mysteriously appear out of thin air and almost dive in that tub with there full commitment for some hardcore world changing Leaf washing Seva.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Reduced to tend to a corner of the tub with few ends of Mint leaves on my command, I get down to the task. One over -enthusiastic nut drops a plastic crate on my Pinky Toe and suddenly the long-forgotten Pinky Toe becomes the most important part of the whole body - full with wonderful sensations that can put Meditation in Motion to shame. Although I am sure a dog would have heard my Supersonic scream, no voice came out from my Hollow and Empty Diaphragm. For a moment I had almost picked up that huge Sword like Ladle and whacked it on that nut’s head! Better sense prevailed, knowledge took over - Accept people as they are. Deep Breaths in & out!!!</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRzHMwRSRNYRFPrmmZaI0RZIOMVc6MQ7cbeQMtOftDKx1SqE5nqVBCI3v_XsUJo0spIw15l4Wzn4o69VTo_D5gAQWQei0wynMI8f6RrSzZl8ttzWN3QCM-8wnGkjFvUrnW_JCDc7hLPg/s1600-h/DSC00412.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRzHMwRSRNYRFPrmmZaI0RZIOMVc6MQ7cbeQMtOftDKx1SqE5nqVBCI3v_XsUJo0spIw15l4Wzn4o69VTo_D5gAQWQei0wynMI8f6RrSzZl8ttzWN3QCM-8wnGkjFvUrnW_JCDc7hLPg/s320/DSC00412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289785282902354034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Returning to the inevitable Present moment I begin concentrating on the leaves and their fragrance and as I start giving my 100%, the Over eager nut springs to life again - this time with a fully charged water pipe! Washes one tiny excuse of a lady finger with full pressure water pipe and just plonks the pipe on the floor and prances away, allowing the Pipe to dance to water’s tunes. And danced it did - on my face and clothes. ARRRRGGGHHH!!! Dinesh Bhaiya’s voice gently wafted from somewhere in my sub-conscious mind - ‘Let Goooooo‘. ‘Surrrender‘. ‘Observing the sensations is Meditation.’ OKAYYYY Bhaiya! And from then on I did pretty much opposite of what that extra charged nut demanded. Was lot of fun, not being controlled by a Remote Control ‘Robert‘ J!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">to be Continued in Part 2...</span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-40172597833667269352008-12-21T01:31:00.009+05:302009-01-11T17:50:06.801+05:30Message of Allah's Quran by SRK...<span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Well, it's no secret that I am a huge fan of Shahrukh Khan. Irrespective of the fact that he overacts in his movies, he smokes, asks money to dance in someone else's wedding etc. I see him as a warrior who came from no where, with nothing more than a dream and won everything. Very spiritual person in his own way, extremely hard working, focused, down to Earth and an honest Indian. This is what he had to say in an interview with CNN-IBN about Islam, fundamentalism and Quran. I just love the way he puts things across.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);"><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PJ1w2sEkdjU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PJ1w2sEkdjU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);"><br />There's been a lot of things said about terror attacks. I truly believe it has brought all of us together. Be it a <span style="font-style: italic;">bhaiya </span>from U.P or Bihar and others staying in Mumbai or be it Hindu and Muslims. Divide and Rule doesn't work anymore. But should it take a crisis of this magnitude to unite us all, to rise above our petty differences? I sincerely pray and I know - not anymore. Blaming is politicians game, masses take responsibility now.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">People who planned and committed such horrendous act will never be able to win by there sick minds. I genuinely feel sorry for them, because they will never ever experience peaceful sleep in a warm bed in a safe secure home filled with the laughter of their family, they will never know the happiness of a child born or a union made or serenity that dawns after forgiving someone and hugging them or the bliss of making someone smile. Not because they are bad people, but they are misdirected and there focus is on terror, how can they feel peace. I am truly sorry for them and wish that they come to light soon and that no one has to live with so much hatred and anger and ignorance in their hearts, ever.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Despite of what Amir Kasab did, I feel compassion for him. He will be punished for taking so many lives. But he is just 21 years old. His aspirations, his youth angst being misdirected by a handful of people too scared to venture out of their caves themselves. If only he could have experienced Sudarshan Kriya and the knowledge of Guruji, he would have directed his commitment to uniting people, to helping them....I know because not so long back I felt hatred and anger about everything too.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-family:georgia;" class="f12" ><span style="font-size:85%;">"For a person to be a terrorist somewhere he has to block his heart. Somewhere he has to block his feelings. If that block is removed he can't believe in violence. </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-family:georgia;" class="f12" ><span style="font-size:85%;">By broadening one's vision, spirituality can help." - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar</span></span><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">One question: In which corner were you hiding Mr. Raj Thackeray? Where was your </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Sena</span><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);"> of eunuchs to fight against outsiders, the terrorists, now? You should have as well protested against non Marathi NSG commandos being deployed in 'your' Mumbai? Where are you bloody </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Bajrang Dal</span><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">? Did you wear bangles in your hands rather than fulfilling your promise of being a self proclaimed protector of Indian Culture? Where the hell were you the communist gangs in Kerela? Why didn't you flex your muscles in front of Taj the way you do when spiritual courses are organized in Kerela? Shame on you! There is nothing Indian or even Hindu in the way you do things, you feckless thugs.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">And lastly, as a youth, I feel proud that there has been lot of awareness lately, particularly among youths, and we all want change. We deserve better. So to start we must first become better ourselves. Come out of our 9-5 routine in tiny cubicles and do something much more important for youths accross the world and for our nation. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">As it was said in 'Rang De Basanti 'Public memory is very short. Janta sab bhool jaati hai'. Let's not forget and go back to our slumber. We have awakened, let's get to work - together, in our own ways, may be, but let's do something about it. Let's bring the change we want, together. If you can't, at least support those who are, rather than criticizing or judging them. Only we can.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">And one way to bring change is Yes!+ and Art of Living. It's a platform for Youths all over the world to bring a positive, peaceful and lasting change. It has already touched the lives of 300 Million people of all race, religion, age and preferences. It's a path of Love and Service. Peace and Strength. Serenity and Dynamism. Song and Silence. It's all-in-one.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">That's my way. You are welcome too.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">www.artofliving.org</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">www.yesplus.org</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">www.yespluschennai.blogspot.com<br /><br />And as Mr. Obama says 'YES WE CAN!'.</span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-30570524540855561142008-11-23T12:13:00.005+05:302009-01-14T02:19:05.470+05:30Best Goodbye Ever...<span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span></span>xperienced an absolute Gem of a movie ‘<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dasvidaniya - Best Goodbye Ever</span>’. Extremely versatile and brilliant Vinay Pathak as usual is natural and Ranvir Shourey in a cameo is as always great. Music, supporting cast, dialogues, expressions everything are just top notch. It left me gasping for breath - laughter and lump in the throat, both. A must watch treat!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">And it made me question w</span>hat if you find out that your name is on somebody’s ‘Things to do Before You Die List‘? What if you drifted apart from that friend and it’s too late to make up? What if you are meeting a friend and you know this is the last time you will ever see her? Would I still live or be the way the I am now? Which false part of me will fall away?<br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kynFOARm7m0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kynFOARm7m0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />HE</span> is making me realize again and again that the best way to lead a happy, successful, joyous life is to have as less expectations as possible. Live in the moment. Source of most disappointments, anger, petty fights is expectations. One expects something, consciously or otherwise, and that does not transpire, emotions & sensations come up. Emotions of ego, jealousy, resentment and what not well up. And then one oscillates between blaming oneself or the other person over the non-event. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">For e.g.: you called your friend and wanted to speak urgently about something important. You already are restless and your friend does not pick the phone up. What happens? You start imagining things. Why did she did not pick up? Doesn't she know you are calling for something important? She thinks no end of herself? She doesn't have a clue, and you start blaming her for nothing. And you blame yourself then. When all that happened was that you had expectations of your own. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Or while volunteering you start imagining that someone will do something and he does not or you were certain that this person would definitely come for the course and you go all huff-and-puff in your mind. Unconditional Love, gone with the wind.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Doesn’t mean one stops expecting at all. That itself is an expectation. But be aware of what it effects inside you. Dream without doer ship. Give your 100% to the action not to the thought of results. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">The more I see around more I believe that we touch more lives, directly or indirectly, than we’ll ever know. And that makes me ask myself, will I value what I have now or still keep languishing about things I aspire for? When will I realize that I am richer with what I have, by whoever I am or whoever is in my life. When will I believe that no matter what, I am blessed.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Whatever did not happen for you, yet, it’s because right now in your life something else holds more value, is more important, than THIS girl or guy, than THIS job etc. You may or may not be ready for that, may or may not have worked hard and dreamed hard for that BUT there are even better things in store for you. Something that you can’t/won’t see now. Insight is the foresight that you realize only in hindsight. In due course you’ll see that everything happens for a reason and the reason is always good… </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Oh and yeah, Dostana is good fun time pass. Special mention - Abhishek & John’s kiss!!! That’s the way, to be Happy and Gay...Maahi ve!!!</span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-16999440355210273152008-11-08T21:04:00.008+05:302009-01-12T01:23:58.125+05:30Pay it Forward!<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Saw this AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL new song yesterday - <span style="font-style: italic;">Saawarey</span>. It'a Sufi song sung in the velvety voice of Roop kumar Rathod. He is another underrated singer in our industry. Song is very soulful & the expressions priceless. And the feel of the video is like a cloudy day, early morning, on your terrace overlooking the city, cool breeze...it just transported me to some other place. Very peaceful.Truly spiritual and poetic...</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4tQiXv2Kcik&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4tQiXv2Kcik&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">The expressions of the actors in this video are genuine and it got me thinking that I have become incapable of expressing my emotions with such honesty now, after what happened or what did not happen with her. Their have been many times when I wanted to say something nice, do something good for someone, but didn't.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Like saying a kind word to that old lady I met in the bus that day or dancing with that kid in the orphanage before Diwali or helping that girl in Landmark to decide the upon the DVD she was confused about or sharing a moment of lightness with that couple in the train that night or making a friend smile during the course etc...</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I become anxious imagining how will that person react. Worse, if they say thank you and that look in their eyes that you are a wonderful, nice, kind, intelligent person. Somehow I have come to be uncomfortable about anyone thinking of me as a wonderful person. It's weird, because know I am a wonderful person. Not perfect in any way, but I at least have got a good heart which can't hurt or see anyone hurt. But somehow if someone responds nicely, to any thing nice that I do, something shakes inside...don't know what. Ego? may be..Shy? sure..Expectations from them that I'll am or always be this wonderful? Yes...They becoming my 'Friend'? Yes.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I have become very self-conscious with the thought of a relationship, any kind. It always ends. it always makes one sad. It always leaves a void. It always leads one away from oneself. I want to do good, but without being recognized for it. I am more of a background man then in the limelight kind of guy. You can shout at me if I do good to you. I would be fine with that, because in my heart I'd know i did the right thing and I'd be content. But if u praise me, if you admire me to my face, I'll shrink...</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I saw this really amazing movie long time back starring Halley Joel Osment (the awesome kid of Sixth Sense) & Kevin Spacey - <span style="font-weight: bold;">'Pay it Forward'</span>, the story was about a kid who chooses an assignment in his class - to save the world. Project named - Pay it forward, which means that if someone does something nice for you, something big, you don't pay it back, you pay it forward to 3 more people. And those 3 people, in turn, pay it forward to 3 more people... And doing that, overtime, it will become a chain all over the world, connecting every person. So, if you like what I do, pay it forward..not just backwards.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">That idea-turned novel-turned movie has become a huge movement around the world, changing the world by one act of random kindness at a time. Do watch the movie..it's beautiful!</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Three imperfect people - 1 perfect idea!</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_pCtXRP1edo&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_pCtXRP1edo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">And that's how, I think, Yes!+ works better. Anyone who experiences it pays it forward, manyfolds. Innocent, plain & simple dream.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">So, I guess if I feel pink when I think of doing something nice for someone, I'll think of it as paying it forward. Yeah, that's it!</span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-72402359941647754732008-10-28T22:34:00.005+05:302010-09-06T00:08:41.927+05:30Diwali - 4th & 5th Day.<span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Diwali: 4th & 5th Day</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">:<br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br />Padwa & Govardhan puja:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">4th Day of Diwali is celebrated as </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Padwa </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">or Gudi Padwa, also known as Ugadi in A.P & Karnataka. This day holds special reverence for a newly wed couple. On this day the newly married daughter & her husband are invited for special meals and gifts. Traditionally her brother goes to the sisters' in-laws home to fetch her along with her husband. I did too on the 1st Diwali, after my sister got married.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">In North people also celebrate this day as </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Govardhan Puja</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">, in commemoration of krishna lifting the Govardhan mount. Legend goes that the people of Vrindavan, shri Krishna's village, worshiped lord Indra, the rain god. Krishna asked the Gopals to worship their cows instead because they are the ones who nourish them. Go=cow, Vardhan=nourishment. Thus, the villagers started worshipping their Cows instead of Indra.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Indra got furious and to show his power he flooded Yamuna with heavy rains. Terrified, villagers went to Krishna with their prayers. Krishna took them all to Govardhan mountain, on this very day, and lifted the mount with his small finger and the entire village took shelter under it. </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Embarrassed Indra realised his mistake and the rain stopped & the villagers celebrated & revered Krishna.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugTFS5CzOMhYKRxf4FNz_RXV8jfwcKpU9sHnj2KULxmTVsOjNRdTJ-lL7__ny9BGld88Zz5Nuk7faBEtTHfrVHlfd70QqxHlhF1XLaiTDYUv6g-BXcitFLz4lclJNY3dmpA_SzLofr6Q/s1600-h/giridhari.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugTFS5CzOMhYKRxf4FNz_RXV8jfwcKpU9sHnj2KULxmTVsOjNRdTJ-lL7__ny9BGld88Zz5Nuk7faBEtTHfrVHlfd70QqxHlhF1XLaiTDYUv6g-BXcitFLz4lclJNY3dmpA_SzLofr6Q/s320/giridhari.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262259359035800018" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">5th day is Bhaiya Dooj:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br />Legend goes, that after killing Narakasura, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">shri krishna</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> was welcomed home by his sister Subhadra by putting a Tilak on his forehead and doing his Aarti. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">According to another legend, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Yama</span></b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> (Yamraj, the Lord of death) visited his sister Yamuna on this day. He gave his sister a </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Vardaan</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> (a boon) that whosoever visits her on this day shall be liberated from all sins. Yamuna in turn welcomed him by putting a Tikka on his forehead.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> <br />From then on, brothers visit their sisters on this day to inquire of their welfare. That is why this day of Bhai Duj is also known by the name of </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">"YAMA-DWITIYA"</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Since then sisters express love for their brothers by putting </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Tilak </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">on their forehead and blessing them with success & well being. Brothers in turn give them gifts. It's somewhat similar to Rakhi. Diwali is not complete without celebrating Bhai-Dooj or Tikka.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Thus, bhai dooj marks the end of the official celebration of Diwali festivities. However, the light of the </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Diyas</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> & sweetness of </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">prasad</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> radiate one's life for all year long, in the form of wisdom, prosperity & knowledge.</span></span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-24572353687019705532008-10-27T19:36:00.010+05:302010-09-06T00:07:48.094+05:30Diwali - 3rd Day - DEEPAWALI!!! YAAYY!!<span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Wishing every one a very sweet, fun-tastic, happy & prosperous Diwali. May you receive a lot of wealth, both currency wise and heart wise. And may you be generous enough to share them with all around you (esp. the currency on me). And may you forget old fights & hug your enemy who was once your friend. And may your life be illuminated with the light of Guruji's Knowledge. And may your radiance be a beacon of light for others.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6r2QfsU7DZzv_Xij-6JeKBS6gyrrYZEnXvP_fTztgDwdLAGRaeMq_i2MWjVZZnrFgIERKABBWO6vGOrTy0wSN9UPj8jKqXLUwiFsMBO8ScmF6Cm3E5Qazhf-kLPAwN-5K6JbagEDfhc/s1600-h/diya.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6r2QfsU7DZzv_Xij-6JeKBS6gyrrYZEnXvP_fTztgDwdLAGRaeMq_i2MWjVZZnrFgIERKABBWO6vGOrTy0wSN9UPj8jKqXLUwiFsMBO8ScmF6Cm3E5Qazhf-kLPAwN-5K6JbagEDfhc/s320/diya.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261815445643945506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br />If you haven't read Diwali 1st day & 2nd day post, skip to the post below before reading read post...<br /><br />Continued...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br />3rd Day: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">This is the day when most people celebrate Deepawali by praying to Ganesh ji & Lakshmi ji, bursting crackers, offering gifts, devouring sweets, forgiving old fights and generally being merry & prosperous.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> All the rituals are done with much aplomb & fervor.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">And this is the most famous legend of all. Ram ji, Sita ma. Lakshman and Hanuman ji </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">returned to Ayodhya</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> on this day after defeating Ravana. The villagers welcomed them by decorating all Ayodhya with Diyas. Since then every year we honor his greatness by lighting Diyas in his remembrance. </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Well, not much to say about Ramayana. Everyone has seen Arun Govil as Ram ji & Dara Singh as Hanuman ji on Doordarshan!<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLzspu1Q1CWGeq5XFeGGlSsWL9tPlp9Vu6cZjbEBRhMN7219sXtvhyFdLJ8lGx6oksoVBiX9jCJr_CaGZrXHLo7hreYLt-R22O0bJNFwA5rAoUpcs1gRWxAPVLiCFcDO0luyrhtNVZY8/s1600-h/Lord_Ram.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLzspu1Q1CWGeq5XFeGGlSsWL9tPlp9Vu6cZjbEBRhMN7219sXtvhyFdLJ8lGx6oksoVBiX9jCJr_CaGZrXHLo7hreYLt-R22O0bJNFwA5rAoUpcs1gRWxAPVLiCFcDO0luyrhtNVZY8/s320/Lord_Ram.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261813210315301986" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">It is traditional to do </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Ganesh - Lakshmi puja</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> in the evening. Only after that one can burst crackers, light diyas, have special yummy Diwali dinner & visit other houses to wish happy Diwali with sweets. I used to think that Ganesh & Lakhsmi ji are married and that's why we pray to them as a couple! Wondering at the same time, "isn't she married to Vishnu ji also?"<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Ganesh ji is the god of wisdom & remover of obstacles. He is to be worshiped before other gods and before starting anything new for smooth sailing.<br /><br />Lakshmi ji is the goddess of wealth & prosperity. She also denotes beauty & charm. It is believed that Laskhmi ji visits every house and brings peace & prosperity to all on the night of Diwali. That's why no corner of the house is to be left dark and doors are left open late into the night on this day, to welcome her in the home. As a kid, I actually used to wait for her to glide in to my home, as I also waited for Santa clause to slide into the house, until I fell asleep!<br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br />In Hindu mythology they are unrelated, but on the ev</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">e of Diwali they are placed together on the altar. Ganesh ji on right side and Lakshmi ji on left side. Together they hold a promise of a obstacle free year of fulfillment of wants, wealth & wisdom.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4gd8_lTlimF0oADZXgaNgplUZqJtoAioZL15ITxc9Hw0-MgGL1hA1RzLGQwnyxbXYgvN-q4KAgzQFV2uyKkvMkN2oumCkrDaYNHKPyN6DYso5rwTpMIl89xRMEunsbMUhV7eygEaCl0/s1600-h/ganeslakhi04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4gd8_lTlimF0oADZXgaNgplUZqJtoAioZL15ITxc9Hw0-MgGL1hA1RzLGQwnyxbXYgvN-q4KAgzQFV2uyKkvMkN2oumCkrDaYNHKPyN6DYso5rwTpMIl89xRMEunsbMUhV7eygEaCl0/s320/ganeslakhi04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261851214326347026" border="0" /></a><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">In Bengal Diwali is celebrated with </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Kali puja</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">. Goddess Kali is 1st of the 10 incarnations of Goddess Durga. Legend goes that 2 demons shambhu & nishambhu grew so powerful that after endless battles all the gods had to go in exile in himalayas to Shiv & Parvati ji. They prayed to goddess Durga and Kali ma was born out of her forehead to save heaven and earth from demons.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Kali ma slaughtered the demons and chopped their heads off and made a garland for her out of it. There was so much energy that she started slaying everything that came into her sight. The terrified gods requested Shiva, Durga ma's consort to intervene. Shiv ji threw himself on her path and Kali ma in her rage stepped on his chest. She was so shocked with this act of Lord Shiva that she stuck her tongue out in disbelief and repentance. Thus, shiv ji succeeded in stopping the carnage. And thus the popular image of Kali ma with garland of demon heads, foot on Shiv ji's chest & her tongue hanging out.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFl2MEGJxWBziBwFgwOe-D7XCuNsQl08OUg-o_A64ZPSkVChBBPph3PdLUNDvwUQb095MbyWiv-Q2kvSUI15gnwUB9BV0jtynL1-HtOEm_u0HZvvNbu2P2BvrAKkcBx2ewMuCwU39hjIQ/s1600-h/kali.jpe"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFl2MEGJxWBziBwFgwOe-D7XCuNsQl08OUg-o_A64ZPSkVChBBPph3PdLUNDvwUQb095MbyWiv-Q2kvSUI15gnwUB9BV0jtynL1-HtOEm_u0HZvvNbu2P2BvrAKkcBx2ewMuCwU39hjIQ/s320/kali.jpe" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261849959182595106" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Kali Puja is a very intense tantric invocation to the fearsome goddess. It symbolizes diminishing ego and negative tendencies that hinders spiritual progress & material prosperity. It begins midnight & goes on till dawn amidst bursting of crackers. I have actually witnessed little bit of the puja and I was petrified out of my wits!<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">P.S:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Tomorrow I shall write about 4th and 5th day of festivities and more importantly about the spiritual significance of Diwali and the rituals behind them, as I understand it.</span></span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-87425054180458012462008-10-27T19:34:00.004+05:302010-09-06T00:07:31.837+05:30Diwali - 2nd Day - Choti Diwali<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">2nd Day: Choti (Little or Small) Diwali</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">If you haven't read Diwali 1st day post, skip to the post below before reading this...</span><br /><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br />The second day of Diwali is called </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Narak Chaturdasi </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">to commemorate the triumph of Lord Krishna over the demon lord Narakasura. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">This day is celebrated as main Diwali in Chennai. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">The legend goes that demon Narakasur, through severe penance received a boon from Bramha ji himself that he could only be killed by a woman and that woman be her mom, Bhudevi. Subsequently, he defeated all the gods and lord of Gods Indra dev. Thus the entire planet plunged into darkness & suffered under his tyranny. Dejected, all the gods pleaded to Sri Krishna to save them from his oppression.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecRLQFbhpP6I8Lf2gPvcY9QHirasjkzRX5Zh0yI0zGe8X9jANiNTkOUJDE04fZD57FkAbw_1NqAITW6oWxLP11grFMbNwg_7PTt3iqHWLym2GwqdNmWqM5oqPh7Ta1iUdO3QFtulwVcQ/s1600-h/krishna1baby.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecRLQFbhpP6I8Lf2gPvcY9QHirasjkzRX5Zh0yI0zGe8X9jANiNTkOUJDE04fZD57FkAbw_1NqAITW6oWxLP11grFMbNwg_7PTt3iqHWLym2GwqdNmWqM5oqPh7Ta1iUdO3QFtulwVcQ/s320/krishna1baby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261812282469970354" border="0" /></a><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Krishna knew about the boon (obviously). He asked his wife Satyabhama, the re-incarnation of Bhudevi, to be his charioteer for the fight with Narakasur. During the fight with Narakasur, Krishna feigns unconsciousness after being hit by an arrow of Naraka. Enraged, Satyabhama takes the bow and aims the arrow at Naraka, killing him instantly. Later Lord Krishna reminds her of the boon she had sought as Bhudevi. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br />This may also signify that parents should not hesitate to punish their children for their faults. Much like Russell Peters asks Americans to </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">“Beat your Kids!”.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br />It is a tradition to massage the body with oil and to bathe on this day, as Shri Krishna was massaged to relive him of his tiredness after the battle. According to an </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">interesting saying</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> it is believed that those who do not bathe on this day, go to the Narak (hell). So, there are 2 days I have to take bath now…</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br />Another legend concerns </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">King Bali</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">, who was a generous ruler. But he was also very ambitious. He conducted a Yagya that was so powerful that even gods were afraid of what he’ll ask as a boon upon it’s completion. Some of the Gods pleaded Vishnu to check King Bali's power. Vishnu ji came to earth in the form of a </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Vamana </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">(dwarf)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> dressed as priest. He approached King Bali and said "You are the ruler of the three worlds: the Earth, the world above the skies and the underworld. Would you give me the space that I could cover with just three strides?"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">King Bali laughed. Surely a dwarf could not cover much ground, thought the King, and agreed to dwarf's request. At this point, the dwarf changed into Vishnu ji and his three strides covered the Earth, the Skies and the whole Universe! King Bali was send to the underworld. Vishnu ji being as generous as he is, gave a lamp of knowledge to Bali and gave him permission to visit his land once in a year, on this day. And thus, every year his return was celebrated as choti Diwali. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br />I wonder if this Bali is same as the monkey king Sugreev’s powerful brother in Ramayana?</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">3rd day continued...</span></span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-style: italic;"></span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-63547622036875638182008-10-27T17:33:00.011+05:302010-09-06T00:07:05.639+05:30Diwali 1 - A Festival of 5 Festivals!<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">This began as a casual conversation with a friend on why, in Chennai, Diwali is celebrated a day before the rest of India celebrates it. And as I was looking for answers I was astonished how little I knew about my favorite festival! There are many facets to this festival of light & as many reasons behind the significance of Diwali. And the more I found, more there was to know. So, this is my effort to understand Diwali and the legends behind it that makes it so much more beautiful.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br />Traditionally, Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated for </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">five </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">days. Yeah! So Diwali actually is not just one night of fire crackers and lots of sweets and visiting friends and relatives - for more sweets. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Each day is special and has unique connotations, ceremonies and legends associated with it.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">1st Day: Dhanteras</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">The very first day of Diwali celebrations is Dhantrayodashi. The auspicious day of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Dhanteras</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">, as it is popularly known, ushers in Diwali festivities. Dhan = wealth</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">and </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">teras is 13. 13 th day of the Karthik month of Hindu calendar.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> Dhanteras is the festival of Wealth.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">One </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">interesting legend</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> behind Dhanteras is centered on the sixteen-year-old son of King Hima. As per his horoscope he was fated to breathe his last on the fourth day of his marriage owing to snakebite. On the appointed day his young wife illuminated the entire palace with numerous lamps and placed all her gold and silver coins and jewellery in a heap at the entrance of their bedroom. She did not allow her husband to sleep & regaling him by singing songs and telling stories.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">All through the night she sang songs and told stories.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">At the stroke of midnight</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">, God of death Yama devta, slithered in the Palace as a serpent. </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">The lights of the lamps, and the dazzle of the coins and ornaments blinded the snake. Frustrated, he waited the entire night, on top of the heap listening to the sweet sounding songs before leaving peacefully the next morning. Thus, the wife succeeded in saving the life of her husband. This is why the Dhanteras festival is also referred to as “Yamadeepdaan". The lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yama, the god of Death & to protect our loved ones from untimely death.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br />According to </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">another legend</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">, when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrit or nectar, it was </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Lord Dhanavantri</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> (the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">God of Ayurveda</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) who emerged carrying the pot of the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">elixir </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">on the day of Dhanteras and thus (after much fanfare) all the God‘s became immortal after drinking from the pot. And so, Dhanteras is also celebrated to honor Lord Dhanavantri, the divine Doctor.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK07Wxq7ibYKchAG9Y6ulh2-_Skdjy0yPfckusMqzAZ0-Nh9Xgi_OVlZkckGwi4wINS83VobuOvB8pJSx1Pu_O1eUZizUxV3BfmUArSubU2ZOv3UtdycRJ8k4mnVdq5DAsN6OlpmIjmJA/s1600-h/God+of+ayurveda.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK07Wxq7ibYKchAG9Y6ulh2-_Skdjy0yPfckusMqzAZ0-Nh9Xgi_OVlZkckGwi4wINS83VobuOvB8pJSx1Pu_O1eUZizUxV3BfmUArSubU2ZOv3UtdycRJ8k4mnVdq5DAsN6OlpmIjmJA/s320/God+of+ayurveda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261808784827841858" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">There were </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">14 ratnas or jewels</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> that came out of Samudra-Manthan (churning of the ocean of milk). One of them was </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Goddess Lakshmi</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">. She is honored on this day by doing Lakshmi puja.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Dhanteras is an </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">auspicious </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">occasion to purchase precious metals like gold, platinum and silver. Women purchase </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Dhan </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">like some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils as a sign of good luck. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">For children, this is the day to purchase all those fire-crackers, they started making list of weeks back! This day is also considered auspicious for setting up new businesses, commencing new projects, housewarming, fixing wedding dates etc. Diyas & Rangoli’s adorn the house, starting from this day.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">To be continued...</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-style: italic;"></span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-64126289863564906172008-10-25T00:21:00.002+05:302009-01-14T02:20:21.012+05:30Adverts & Nostalgia...<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">I was thinking about how people start behaving like animals when they are edgy, frustrated and stressed, and this flashback of an old Public Service advertisement on Doordarshan just flashed in my mind.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">It was like a bunch of guys jump into a moving bus and start pushing around passengers including ladies and make loud monkey like noises. The gang leader is interrupted by an old gentleman & the guy gets really angry and he starts shouting and his face is actually morphed into a devils face, red with horns! The old gentleman smiles and says something like 'at least behave like a human being and not like an animal". And the guy really gets embarrassed and his face turns back to normal and he offers his seat to the old uncle and gets down with his gang at the next stop. The message was, it's very easy to become an animal but it's not that difficult to act like a human. That was a great ad!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">I was searching for that ad on Youtube and though I didn't find that one I found some other equally terrific ads. Here they are, bring back the memory of old times...</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">The Old Hamara Bajaj ad. Notice the Flouroscent Green Bajaj Super? That was my Dad's Scooter. :). I still remember one evening I came back from School and saw it standing non-nonchalantly to our garden, shining gallantly in the afternoon light!</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"> I hopped onto it, started shifting gears and made sounds that will put Need for Speed to shame, while I rode my sturdy stallion, green color albeit and silently parked!</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oWFSG0YL_mM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oWFSG0YL_mM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">And here's the Bajaj for new Generation, preserving our Indian Values. Another great ad. Same jingle.</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-h8hrlbdEz4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-h8hrlbdEz4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Our very own Amul - The Taste of India...Love the Jingle!</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tl7Lnb2ocC4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tl7Lnb2ocC4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">And my watch! Titan...Apparently the Titan Jingle, which still continues, na nanana nanana nanananana...was composed by none other than A.R Rahman!</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M_2EEuW4r-w&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M_2EEuW4r-w&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Another Titan!!! Love this ad..seeing it for the first time, though it is very old. And similar to this theme, Titan is now airing it's 'Move on yaar' theme for fast track. Guess, every good thing comes back or a trend repeats itself every decade.</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/acSZfWKJhUs&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/acSZfWKJhUs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">"I am a Complan Girl, I am a Complan Boy!" - Remember? Notice Jr. Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia in this ad.</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-fysFHfBYM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-fysFHfBYM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">This is another one by A.R Rahman! I never knew that he wrote Jingles before storming into the movies...I love this music...very Rahman. It's for Garden Saarees.</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BLGOkI1g3Io&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BLGOkI1g3Io&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">I still remember, around Diwali time the Asian Paints ad will start streaming in "Khushi ke rang layin yeh ghadiyan..", and that, for me set the mood for Diwali...colorful, celebrative & Homely.</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W_OrrgJIqtA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W_OrrgJIqtA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">And of course Aamir Khan and Aish in Pepsi..before they promptly moved onto Coke.</span><br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DmfL4De6hjM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DmfL4De6hjM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">There were many mor...Lalita ji's surf...Lijjat paapad with the human bunny's...Nirma's teeaaooooonnnn...Vicco tooth powder (that still continues, no changes!)...Liril, 1st glimpse of a lady under a waterfall using a soap!..Mile sur mera tumhara...Dinesh with Sunil Gavaskar...Shahrukh 'mayur' khan...Ketki ji and many more.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">I guess advertisements also become a part of one's childhood woven into our fabric as we grow up. Many times they cultured our perceptions. announced what is in and what is geeky now, touched, inspired. Often forgotten, but when remembered bring back those sweet times of our lives. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">And lastly, do you remember the smell of a freshly sharpened Pencil? My niece have a drawer full of them and today when I opened it, this earthly fragrance just wafted through and the 1st feeling that arose in me was - fear of exams & anxiety. Weird! hehe<br /><br />And the best one...ek anek aur ekta...Unity in diversity... Very cute ad, Very sweet voice & diction and cutest lyrics will definitely make you grin! Amazing!! Can't miss this one.<br /></span><br /><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uaTYLy1Jgio&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uaTYLy1Jgio&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-1792389190227169132008-10-18T18:51:00.004+05:302010-09-06T00:05:21.594+05:30I have been Tagged!<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">1. If your lover betrayed you, what will your first thought be?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Denial. After that, in the past I'd have moped for a year. But now, move on..the person's not worth your time & energy.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">2. If you can have a dream coming true, what would it be?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">A recurring dream that I've been having for longer than I can remember is to be loved by her as much as I love her. However, that dream is now transforming into being as steeped in knowledge as Rajesh Bhaiya & Dinesh Bhaiya. Being a better, more loving, caring, compassionate & strong human being. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">3. What is the one thing most hated by you?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">'Literate' people littering around, physical & emotional garbage and being ignorant & arrogant about it.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">4. What would you do with a billion dollars?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Buy every material thing I want to...car, home theater system, lots of clothes, house, gifts for family and friends, travel....and then when I'll realize that no matter how much I can stuff outside, inside will still be restless. Then wisely I'll donate for the cause of homeless and mentally challenged kids and to take Art of Living to all the youths around the world.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">5. Will you fall in love with your best friend?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">I believe Love is friendship. If the person you love can't be your best friend then it won't last...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Being loved back by someone you adore.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">7. How long do you intend to wait for someone you really love?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Indefinitely...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">8. If the person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Be happy & do nothing...It's better actually cuz 1st it's a secret so there is no risk of heart break, awkwardness and 2nd I can love as much as I want without creating a relationship out of it and worrying about the challenges that'll bring. There is no attachment and no expectations of her response and the more I love more my consciousness will expand...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">9. If you like to act with someone, who will it be? Your gf/bf or an actress/actor?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Guruji</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Katrina Kaif!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Aamir Khan, SRK, Joey & Chandler.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">10. What takes you down the fastest?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">My unaware mind.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">11. How would you see yourself in ten years time?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Swami Ashwaneshwar Ji.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> :)<br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">12. What’s your fear?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">I am not as good as I can be.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">13. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">(Aparna) Very smart, enthusiastic, innocent, dedicated & devoted. And a terrific dancer :)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">14. Would you rather be single and rich, or married but poor?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Are they mutually exclusive...?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">15. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Sleep again!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">16. Would you give all in a relationship?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Yes, that's the only way...And giving and receiving goes together in a relationship...One can't give with an empty heart. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">17. If you fall in love with two people simultaneously, who would you pick?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Sadly & strangely, that does not happen with me! In the dream scenario, I'd choose me or sit back and relax & let them choose!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">18. Would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Again in past, it took a very long time for me to forgive and forget if that someone means a lot to me. If not, then I'll just be indifferent. But now, knowledge lets me move on much faster.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">19. If you get to go back in time and fall in love all over again , would it still be with the same person?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">No...I would Rise in love this time around. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">20. What will you do about climate crisis?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Frankly, I think that people who are just armchair activists 'thinking' about the issue just flatter themselves that they are doing something great & worthwhile & long lasting. But unless we do something on a large scale involving more people and continuously nothing lasting can happen. Numbers matter. Attitude matters more than that. We have to culture attitudes of people just lost in the periphery of their office and house, to responsibly care about our Planet.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">I am planting trees, conserving electricity at home & office, saving Petrol, reducing plastic and paper waste, not litter, becoming aware and spreading awareness.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">And I pass on the tag to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://chatteratii.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Oishee</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://thoughtshuttle.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Hari</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://ephemeralflower.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Madhuri</span></a>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-61742097935819938682008-10-17T22:23:00.011+05:302010-09-06T00:06:24.609+05:30Weekend's Here..Yay!!!<span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">I don't remember when was the last time I was so looking fwd to a weekend! After a mind numbing, coma inducing week at work, it's as welcome as Himesh Reshamiya dropping his nasal twang. now if only he drops his acting 'career' too...</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Yes!+ kept the energy high.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">I was co-coordinating Yes!+ from 10th-16th, so it kinda got hectic coming home at 11 and back to office at 7...But it was nice to balance them pretty effeciently </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">(pats back)</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">...Good course. I juggled between being a Yoga instructor, Photographer, The Laptop Guy, Music Arranger...</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">I was blissed out by the point I rested my head on the Pillow..</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-style: italic; " class="sqq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">“</span><span class="sqq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">- "I've been thinking Hobbes --"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; " class="sqq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><span class="sqq"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; " class="sqq"><span class="sqq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">- "On a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">weekend</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">?"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; " class="sqq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><span class="sqq"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; " class="sqq"><span class="sqq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">- "Well, it wasn't on purpose..."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">So Miss Aparna has tagged me...that'll be the next post madam!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">For now, read few very good posts today. All good things must be shared, so:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Hari's post</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">: </span><a href="http://thoughtshuttle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">http://thoughtshuttle.blogspot.com/</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> - True Love (</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Read the comments too</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Madhan's Post</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">: </span><a href="http://madhanlalvs.blogspot.com/2008/09/our-own-mind.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">http://madhanlalvs.blogspot.com/2008/09/our-own-mind.html</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> (</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">The Law of Garbage Truck</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Anir's Post</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">: </span><a href="http://anirvachan.blogspot.com/2008/07/io-what-will-you-regret.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">http://anirvachan.blogspot.com/2008/07/io-what-will-you-regret.html</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Goli's Post</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">: </span><a href="http://nonstopgoli.blogspot.com/2008/09/cola-life.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">http://nonstopgoli.blogspot.com/2008/09/cola-life.html</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> (</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Brilliant Coke intiative</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Oishee's Post</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">: </span><a href="http://chatteratii.blogspot.com/2008/10/blah-blah-blah.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">http://chatteratii.blogspot.com/2008/10/blah-blah-blah.html</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Madhuri's Post</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">: </span><a href="http://ephemeralflower.blogspot.com/2008/09/utsav.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">http://ephemeralflower.blogspot.com/2008/09/utsav.html</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> (</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">QnA with Bau</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Angeli's Post: </span></span><a href="http://just-for-jolly.blogspot.com/2008/08/story-in-5-words.html" target="_blank"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">http://just-for-jolly.blogspot.com/2008/08/story-in-5-words.html</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">And read My post on Bau & Dinesh Bhaiya's Blog!: </span><a href="http://bawandinesh.name/?p=297" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">http://bawandinesh.name/?p=297</span></a></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">(Read the comments too)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Loved this Video of the UN's</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> Stand up and Take Action</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> campaign seen in Ashram during Navaratri:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jrSW9Jlm_SA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jrSW9Jlm_SA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Another one with Ustad Aamir Khan, AR Rehman, Sachin Tendulkar...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><div style="padding-left: 0px; display: none;" ontop="true"></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iWRBPBYKQb0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iWRBPBYKQb0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">And Sachin smashed all the records today...I bow down to the Genius. A question to his 'critics'-do u really need more proof? You are truly a Legend sir in more ways than one!</span></span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-66544192316510179882008-10-12T22:33:00.006+05:302010-09-06T00:04:13.489+05:30When Superman saved me from becoming a Hitman!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwxfYrHRbHWE8mmWBaL-mbF1-3C_1Z0caip_Ikb7POCSHXnqghvIqaT7W4H-uyIf7sCnqPF93ewhaYVdOXlQ2GOIq69FQZU-XNKDfeMgvB4IkgadTAGeKE3PZdljLdWZnZwe9bNxf4CQ/s1600-h/Superman_Returns.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwxfYrHRbHWE8mmWBaL-mbF1-3C_1Z0caip_Ikb7POCSHXnqghvIqaT7W4H-uyIf7sCnqPF93ewhaYVdOXlQ2GOIq69FQZU-XNKDfeMgvB4IkgadTAGeKE3PZdljLdWZnZwe9bNxf4CQ/s320/Superman_Returns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256318056639662130" border="0" /></a><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">M</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">anaged to catch the climax of Superman Returns after returning from the course. Lois was going to light up a cigarette (a habit I guess she had left long time back) and at that moment she hears her son bidding good bye to someone from his room on the upper floor. She looks up and sees Superman 'hanging' around (who I guess she thought will never come back, for some reason) and she extinguishes the light.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">There was a time in my life, a particularly ’bad’ time, when I was absolutely and utterly infuriated with everything and everyone that had the misfortune of existing on the planet. So enraged was I, that I desired to be a terrorist or a shooter or someone along those lines. Every little thing used to boil me. This all consuming desire will arise in me to just go out and let loose a FY71 semi automatic on anyone or everyone in sight. In fact, when I found out that according to the Mayan Calendar world is going to finally come to an end in 2012, I exhaled a sigh of relief and exclaimed 'Good Riddance' with lot of hope.<br /><br />This went on for more than a couple of weeks. And so grateful am I that nobody in my close proximity is a cop, a soldier or a terrorist, for me to have an easy access of an assault weapon.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">I was so full of wrath towards everything. And that made me completely terrified! Of myself. It’s one thing to be afraid of another person or to be scared of Ghosts or of the things unknown but to be petrified of one's own self, of what fury one is capable of unleashing…is extremely unsettling.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">There is no worse emotion that one can experience, than seeing the evil in oneself. Especially for someone on the spiritual path, who should actually ought to be seeing God in oneself and others!<br /><br />And for me it was no different. For I can get angry as hell, for sure. But I've learnt, when I do or say anything during such time, I always end up hurting someone I don’t ever want to hurt and I always regret it for days later. And so I don’t really know the correct way of expressing my anger. But this thing I kept feeling was different. This was long pent up…something...something very solid and heavy.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">Overtime I figured I was so angry because I trusted her a lot. Even before I had any ‘feelings’ for her, she was a friend to me, my best Friend. And I sincerely hoped and believed that she will be there by my side when I'll need her the most. That she will communicate. She never did. That our friendship was genuine. I wasn’t sure now. That she was different than other women, I knew till then. May be not. And that’s why I ceased to have any belief in Love & Friendship and Marriage and other such important things in Life involving more than two souls, because in my great wisdom, I concluded - people are selfish & evil.<br /><br />And the result was this paranoid hatred towards everything. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">But going through my anguish of having to face up to this baffling thought of me as a Villain, some things I never could have thought can happen, happened. Some of the subtlest and deepest lines enunciated by Guruji began making sense. I started to have an understanding of people who actually went on a shooting spree in colleges etc. And of people who commit other wrong acts in a moment of ignorance.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br />I think that ordinary people like us become victim of only 3 things: Bad Times, Bad Timing and ignorance i.e. not being able to understand one’s own mind and deal with it. And this happens in a matter of moments of judgment lapse. And the entire life goes awry.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;">This is why workshops like Yes!+ and organization like Art of Living are so absolutely vital in today's day and age for youths. To understand ones own mind and patterns and engage in helping others live a fuller life.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><br /><br />We affect the lives of more people than we'll ever know. And that is also why people like, friends should be genuinely caring and responsible and be like superman for their Lois Lane. To be there at the right time to stop their friends from doing stupid things like - smoking or killing!</span></span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-31286048623862709852008-09-16T20:35:00.008+05:302009-01-12T01:26:55.008+05:30Innocence and Landmark!<span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">W<span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">hile I am waiting patiently and salivating at the same time for the Punjabi Makhani Pizza to be delivered, I figured I can divert my mind (and digestive juices) towards scribbling the 1st and looooong overdue post, from my brand spanking new Laptop.</span></span> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246647653595703858" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60EAmUb8RXx6AF42aTxIVCemRVFZp_auG3BgoBWgp1ij8w08sqO-2oNV3ssvkZpEYcZs7ypO8Hz3Wty14RD3Lv101wghQ5aswVDGbeJg-wOmAr-OM1BTvgVc3jnlEhCKxm4PsTOI3-qk/s320/xps.jpg" border="0" /><br />Yep, finally got the <span style="font-weight: bold;">beautiful Dell XPS 1530</span> delivered in Midnight Blue and it’s working like, me after an advance course with Guruji! That is to say it’s working clean, calm and fast and with pizzazz, élan and grace!</span></p></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /></span><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">But I digress…</span> </span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">So now days I wander in the hallways of Landmark in search of accessories to glamorize my latest crush and software’s to build a long time relationship with her. And since I am still in the initial stages of relationship, I strongly support adorning it only with Original and handsomely expensive Software’s and Games, which I suppose, would last until she starts to nag me and start bailing out on me and stop being a good friend.</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Thus far, I have accumulated GTA San Andreas, Sims 2 & breathtakingly scenic Crysis (Game of the year 2007) along with some random software’s. Haven’t finished either one yet though. I am more of a collector. An amasser of great things in life. Such as faithful friends and nurture them, which is another thing I haven’t done for quite some time.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"> </span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"></span></span> </p><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">I digress again…</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">So during one of such leisurely strolls in the fully stacked, brightly lit corridors of a shoppers delight in the heart of Spencer plaza - Landmark, I decided to check out the kids section. Her B’day was coming up and I thought to buy a gift (which I didn't), cuz the last time I bought it from the same section for her. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">And just walking around in the tiny tots section by myself, suddenly I realized that I was feeling so much at ease here than in another sections! It was a strange yet uplifting feeling of being free to do whatever I wish to. This is the kids section, and they are free from judgments - to judge and to be judged at, both.<br /><br />So I guess I, somehow got tuned to that energy of a child. Whatever a child does, it does with 100% originality and innocence without being wary of others watching. And that was the freedom I felt in the middle of the day, another afternoon when I was moping about job that isn‘t so great and random things, but more than that I was thinking about her.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">The energy of the children’s section, of the fluffy Bears, Red and Yellow twin pony-tailed dolls, Puzzle pieces, basketball hoops, remote controlled toys, Indian Barbie, games we played as kids and some real kids strewn around is enough to raise anyone’s energy level, bring them in touch with themselves, drop the reality for sometime and fly with the imagination of a Kid, once again. And one can smile at another visitor there and they will smile back without reservations and without thinking “Dude, what the hell is wrong with you?”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">And that’s what transpired that noon, in the kids section of bustling Landmark. Very simple, unassuming and underrated spiritual passage in the middle of the day. </span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Since then, I make it a point to be there whenever I am too much in touch with reality - which by the way is also described as Depression by authorities, to imagine again, dream the impossible again, see all the colors of life other than Black & White and realize that life actually is simple, until our mind and judgments complicate it and whatever the pressing problem seems to be at the moment, it is still an inconvenience and not a PROBLEM.</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">“If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you've got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience.”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Another children’s delight I have been to lately is at Westside. Strangely cute and freakishly small costumes for tiny toddlers. Only a puppy can fit into those, not an offspring of Homosapiens! But I prefer Landmark, as even the ceiling is designed for the Munchkins and I have to hunch while prancing around there. Although Moti would have fit there easily…</span></span></p>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-9159735531856231552008-02-18T13:32:00.006+05:302008-02-23T12:55:30.347+05:30Academy Awards fever 2008.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I watched ‘Juno’ yesterday. Now it’s a movie about a teenage girl becoming pregnant. This is a premise that is so over-used and everybody knows how such a story unfolds and concludes. Add to it a step mom, the stigma attached to such a person & a community full of gawking peers and judgemental public.<br /><br />However, this is where this movie is so unique & not clichéd. Juno is not preachy or depressing; it’s unapologetic and mature in its portrayal. It’s funny, quick, intelligent, warm & charming. And again, not ‘American Pie’ kind of funny, with wierd characters for friends, proms, booze, over dramatic parents or other such immature substance. But the humour comes from the soul of Juno. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The interactions between friends, boyfriends, parents, strangers etc. and the heartfelt way they explore there own truth as they trudge on along there path of life. It’s about following one’s truth, without explainations and also without being a martyr or a victim. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><em>"I mean, I'm already pregnant, so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into?"</em> : )</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">It's not loud at the same time it's forthright. It’s a beautiful movie, and for an adult subject like this, there are no explicit visual scenes & stellar cast which just adds to the beauty of the movie. </span><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LebNOwd6Ui8&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LebNOwd6Ui8&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">As I love heartfelt, true to life genuine things in the world this movie was a great watch. It's also been nominated for Academy awards this year, in the best motion picture and best actress category. This movie doesn't falters once, unlike the other nominated movies in the same category like 'Atonement', 'The Great Debaters', 'Michael Clayton' & 'No country for old men' which start brilliantly but looses their pace/direction only to manage a decent finish.<br /><br />My best movie for Oscar's this year is 'Juno' and best animated flick can be no one else than 'Ratatouille' & best action 'The Bourne Ultimatum'.<br /></span>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-80738521924999888652008-02-14T14:36:00.011+05:302008-02-20T11:23:27.321+05:30Musings of a free mind on Valentines Day : )<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">"<span style="font-style: italic;">Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me.</span>" -- </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dave, age 8<br /><br /></span></em><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab79CK1ba2n2xBToAy3nge3OAd8_GJscvR_Q-VVV1nC55Hl4HQOkR1ZE83KbeCRcTUbYpZaqQU5g2wPMiNwruCSQAe0ZMVmJnjX3zlzmA5X6lC9mMwOOnw6e_bYrrH9KYQ-XKxemYseM/s1600-h/304804760_0f3dc1693.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166786511180654898" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab79CK1ba2n2xBToAy3nge3OAd8_GJscvR_Q-VVV1nC55Hl4HQOkR1ZE83KbeCRcTUbYpZaqQU5g2wPMiNwruCSQAe0ZMVmJnjX3zlzmA5X6lC9mMwOOnw6e_bYrrH9KYQ-XKxemYseM/s320/304804760_0f3dc1693.jpg" border="0" /></a><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic;"></em><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" >"<span style="font-style: italic;">Ohh wow…I mean I am, I am uhh…flattered, really, but I am with someone else already, so…</span>" <span style="font-weight: bold;">or</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">"</span><span style="font-style: italic;">What? Since when? Are you sure? This is news to me! I mean I am surprised!!! Of course, pleasantly surprised. Wow! Ok so what do we do now?”</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">or</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">“Well thanks a lot, it’s so sweet of you. But I always thought of you as a good friend. Really I never thought of you this way.”</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">or</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">“WHAT?!! You got to be kidding me. Are you sure? I mean ME & you? How’d you even come up with this idea?”</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">or</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">“Yes, YES I’ll be your Valentine. I LOVE YOU TOO!!! I waited for you to say this to me for such a long time!!”</span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><em></em><o:p></o:p><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Well, when I think of 14</span><sup style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">th</sup><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> Feb, invariably what comes to one’s mind are some of the reactions that anyone can possibly receive or bestow (as the case may be), after one wears his/her heart on one’s sleeve and march out with trembling feet, carrying the entire butterfly effect in one’s tummy, towards the apple of their eyes, just to vocalize the thoughts they have for the other, for a long time, usually.</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:85%;">"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." -- <em>Greg, age 8</em><br />"I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." -- <em>Manuel, age 8</em></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Also, like a dialogue of some Spider man flick “With great rejections & heart break, comes great wisdom”, these responses act as constant reminder of what constituted the Valentines day in the years that have passed by (not mine, one must make it clear but of friends & friends of friends</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">:)</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">) & thus arm one with the wisdom to decipher the hidden meaning behind such diplomatic utterances, should there be a need in the future to repair one’s or a friends heart, after indulging in such shenanigans.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">So the 1</span><sup style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">st</sup><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> reaction translated into actual thought would be “Gee I knew you are enamoured by me. But what made you think that I am even interested in you at all, in the first place? So, thanks but no thanks! There is no one I am going out with currently, but if I reveal that to you, you will promptly begin stalking me and will get bolder the next time in your advances towards me. So, get a life!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Also vice-versa, if some one professes the 3 most dreaded words in such modernistic consumerist times we live in, to me, and who I don’t like that much or that way I’d invariably think of response no1.</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">"If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it. It takes too long." -- <em>Glenn, age 7</em></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">"Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife." -- </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic;">Tom, age 5<br /></em></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">So the main pitfall of being a free lazy goose on 14</span><sup style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">th</sup><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> of Feb is that you start imagining and wondering and thinking about your love life or rather the lack of one, and then the thoughts just start flowing. Some are bitter, resentful, sad thoughts. Few are bitter sweet nostalgic memories that bring a smile on your lips even as they leave you choked up with thin trail of tears from your eyes. And the wonder is, it doesn’t matter whether what you are thinking of actually happened or not but the mere thought of something you thought that might happen someday brings up emotions in you!!!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">And ahh what bliss, what ecstasy it is to listen to the melody orchestrated by the sweet symphony of the words and it’s meaning and their feelings contained in the last response – love united, love accepted.</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><span style=";font-family:book antiqua,times new roman,times;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic;">"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." -- Noelle, age 7<br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >"My mother says to look for a man who is kind. That's what I'll do. I'll find somebody who's kinda tall and handsome." -- <em>Carolyn, age 8</em></span><br /><em></em><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Contrary to popular belief that’s not the end, the real journey begins now. It can take one through the grandest experiences one can ever have or the lowest valleys one can ever imagine. It can lead one to one’s soul or it can leave one disillusioned hopping from one person to another. In any case there is a lot to know, lot to apply, lots of choices & one guide - Love.</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">What V-day stands for:-</span><a href="http://ashcash1in.blogspot.com/2007/02/love-is-in-air-ya-i-know-corny.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> http://ashcash1in.blogspot.com/2007/02/love-is-in-air-ya-i-know-corny.html</span><br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://ashcash1in.blogspot.com/2007/02/love-is-in-air-ya-i-know-corny.html"></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">As for me, I love her. And she does too. She just doesn’t knows it yet. She’s not that bright, kinda slow she is. </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">:)</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> My kinda love is not called unrequited love. Love finds a way, one way or another.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;">"Make the Divine your Valentine (your sweet Beloved). </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:85%;">See the Divine in your Valentine and make the Divinity your Valentine (your sweet beloved). Just BE. . .and </span><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">know that you are LOVED... That is BELOVED." - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.</span></strong></span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">So, Valentines or not, know that you are loved & blessed. Happy Valentines Day!!! For those who are single - Happy Independence Day!!!<br /></span></p>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-88774279159471464872008-02-05T14:42:00.000+05:302008-02-05T15:39:19.758+05:30Happiness is like a kiss, you must share it to enjoy it...!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;" ><blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;">This part of my life... this part right here? This is called "happyness."</span><blockquote></blockquote></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk4SDuCvxIFAgsQuXycI8pKW8y8Pz9U5sRYdUPOglaz7xMd2q0dBi3sNmm95acoC7oPDtSZZ57L6JVtmPr4QeavdQjWPO39A5mFCvVfy3UttrrRGadj5zrOjEYyb0VKWDmvZ3wur9R0Y/s1600-h/139184_large.jpeg"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk4SDuCvxIFAgsQuXycI8pKW8y8Pz9U5sRYdUPOglaz7xMd2q0dBi3sNmm95acoC7oPDtSZZ57L6JVtmPr4QeavdQjWPO39A5mFCvVfy3UttrrRGadj5zrOjEYyb0VKWDmvZ3wur9R0Y/s320/139184_large.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163432890072792978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Zindagi hai choti, har pal mein khush raho...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Office me khush raho, ghar mein khush raho</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Aaj paneer nahi hai, dal mein hi khush raho...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Aaj gym jane ka samay nahi, do kadam chal ke hi khush raho</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Aaj Dosto ka saath nahi, apne aap mein hi khush raho...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Ghar ja nahi sakte to phone kar ke hi khush raho</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Aaj koi naraaz hai, uske iss andaz par bhi khush raho...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Jise dekh nahi sakte, uski awaz mein hi khush raho</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Jise paa nahi sakte, uski yaad mein hi khush raho...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Laptop na mila to kya, Desktop mein hi khush raho</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Bita hua kal ja chuka hai, usse meethi yaadein hai, unme hi khush raho...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >aane wale pal ka pata nahi... sapno mein hi khush raho</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Hanste haste ye pal bitaenge, aaj mein hi khush raho...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Zindagi hai choti, har pal mein khush raho.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hanso aur hansao, na phaso na phasao!</span> :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">~</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" > <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">An Art of Living Anthem.</span></span></p><span><span><span style="font-family:comic sans ms;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span><span><span style="font-family:comic sans ms;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >"What is the worth of anything,</span></span></span></span><br /><span><span><span style="font-family:comic sans ms;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" > But for the happiness 'twill bring?" </span></span></span></span><br /><span><span><span style="font-family:comic sans ms;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" > -- Richard Owen Cambridge.<br /></span></span></span></span><br /></div><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:comic sans ms;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><p align="center">"Of cheerfulness, or a good temper -- the more it is spent, the more of it remains."<br />-- Ralph Waldo Emerson.<br /><br /></p> </span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;"> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">"The supreme happiness of live is the conviction that we are loved."<br />-- Victor Hugo.<br /><br /></span></p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be...”<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-59259207545509431962008-01-30T20:33:00.002+05:302010-09-06T14:16:47.511+05:30An extra helping of Life...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphnrjMANzBAbrsrZU1SLVJATOpwngQv0_wFjHKsIUgkchYU973b9CQEt98mlZp0tQo5XK_HeuZFjQjbuD1LWcJcz0OQle5hLEXVqe6JqOiZmMVLXGtkq94Hs49hqZQpXSVRLxkUaPBMs/s1600-h/bliss_02_1360_orig.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161286669145177954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphnrjMANzBAbrsrZU1SLVJATOpwngQv0_wFjHKsIUgkchYU973b9CQEt98mlZp0tQo5XK_HeuZFjQjbuD1LWcJcz0OQle5hLEXVqe6JqOiZmMVLXGtkq94Hs49hqZQpXSVRLxkUaPBMs/s320/bliss_02_1360_orig.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
So much has happened in life since my last post after Navaratri that I’m confused where to start? Which multicolored thread of life should I pick to start knitting on the blog again? <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">The sabbatical from work & Yes!+ have lasted almost 4 months & now, at the end of it, I find myself at peace.:) Peace from the discipline I was able to maintain in terms of Sadhana & knowledge, watching my thoughts, being consciously aware of my feelings, bringing myself back again and again, a multi fold times in alignment to who I am (at least the little glimpse of what I know of me now) & to what I look forward to become.<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">The journey (which is obviously continuing and will carry on) has seen me through; on one hand, really dark hours, lonely nights, agonized & lost with no belief, faith, purpose and no idea of myself & no one to share it with & on the other hand I’ve witnessed a glimpse of myself, bliss, joy of being able to read my own mind & channel my thoughts, experience the strength of regular Sadhana, the realizations from Guruji’s knowledge & the pure ecstasy of being able to implement them at the right time & experience an unimaginable flourish of positive emotions & thoughts & belongingness with others. I emerge much stronger, calmer, happier & with unshakeable faith in myself and in HIM than ever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><o:p></o:p></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">“Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">These 4 months have been an intimate advance course just between me & Guruji, and they have been precious. There have been days when I haven’t spoken at all! Which by the way, I wish to complement by talking as much as possible now (a quality janta doesn’t associate with me :) ). However, I want to talk knowledge, I want to speak words of such energy which inspire people, which brings silence to them and love in their hearts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">Many people, so I have heard, had many opinions & judgements on why I left and how I left & why I shouldn’t have etc. drawing their own conclusions. Well, I left because I could not continue to be miserable any longer, it was as simple as that. It was a wake up call, my soul crying out loud to leave everything or grow up! And I am glad that I did. I was sick & tired of feeling lonely, I was exhausted of hoping against hope, waiting for ‘her’ answer & being taken for a ride in turn & I was being drained by my own mind.</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">I could not lead a team of people when I myself felt that way. I want to take care of my people and reach out to others & I couldn’t do that when I had lost touch with my reality itself. It just seemed hypocritical to me. And I do things from the heart, if something does not appear right to me, to my values – I can’t do it & I voice it out as such too. That’s probably why I’m also one of the most politically incorrect people one can hope to come across. It was a courageous choice, if I ever wanted a chance at being happy & at changing the lives of others. It meant letting go of lots of baggage, turning into myself, facing my own demons, going through nightmares & sometimes avoiding sleep as much as humanly possible to avoid the nightmares, being so god damn restless, being brutally honest with myself & still be positive & loving.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><o:p></o:p>And I had to do it, to forget her, to “move on” as ‘she’ said it, as if it meant nothing. Two Years! I had to be away from her to be able to do that. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><o:p></o:p></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">I travelled to the Ashram many times to be in the presence of Guruji. And it was revolutionary! Although I have been in ashram on multiple occasions before, however this time I actually was able to feel the positive vibrations from ashram long after I came back. Every time I journeyed to the sacred place, my home now, I was going back to my old patterns of perceiving & being. Every time I came back, I found myself recharged & on a different height of consciousness to continue on the quest of finding myself. And since the last time I went there, those positive vibes and the changes in me thereafter, have stayed; have become a part, a second nature to me. The questions which I carried with myself were all answered every time I was in the presence of Guruji. And the wonder of it all is that they were answered in the exact same words in which I was thinking about them, as if HE was talking directly to me, leaving no doubt that this can't be a repetition of co-incidences.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">I have found that every smile doesn’t carry happiness behind it; there are some smiles which are just to veil the pain one is going through. How people who are the most verbal have the least sense of propriety or commitment. How people can say anything, as long as that makes them look intelligent or part of a herd. How people have forgotten the reasons why they chose to be on the spiritual path, if they ever had one. I have found people who have topped there college academics can be the dumbest people one can find. I have found people become ‘friends’ for time pass. I’ve found that if you are in love with one person for a long time & the other person is not reciprocating emotion, you end up being abused & used, doesn’t matter how patient or forgiving you can become.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><o:p></o:p>What I’ve also learnt is how beautiful people really are. There is so much joy in the world, at the same time there is so much sadness. Joy is light; misery is darkness. Light is everywhere, darkness is not a substance – just the absence of light. People get into relationships for sex, to end their loneliness, just to ‘go out’, to pump their ego rather than for the actual purpose of the relationships which is to grow, to share, to uplift oneself and the other, to help each other let go of their past baggage & become innocent & childlike again, to relate to one another, to find oneself & to implement all knowledge points</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">J</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">. Love does conquer all, it does move the world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><o:p></o:p>I’ve learnt that I don’t have to hide my pain; it’s required to be 100% in one’s pain too & then it flips and turn into bliss. Life is a process of creation not a process of discovery. One has to create one’s own reality. Anything is possible. We are not required to learn anything, all we need to do is be aware and centred and remember what we have already known for ages. One can be happy, no matter what the situation one finds oneself with. Accept and hit it. Happiness is really a state of mind. I’ve experienced pain is inevitable suffering is optional. I have learnt it’s necessary to forgive, not for others for ones’ own expansion. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">I’ve found that you know you are in love with someone when she makes you want to be a better person everyday and when her name becomes a part of your prayer. Not the prayer of asking her for yourself but requesting from God for her to be happy & healthy come what may, even though I've hated her sometimes for the hurt I have felt because of her. And I’ve found that without Love in the heart, meditation is empty. Love takes one through the most beautiful experiences, one can ever have. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">And thus the quest continues... But for now I am back with a bang! There is work to be done, roads to be navigated, smiles to be shared & people are waiting!</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;"><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f4cccc;">“Sometimes you don't know what you're missing until you reach out to touch it. Sometimes you can't see how beautiful something is until it steps back into the light. And sometimes you miss a love you almost didn't lose. But when you need beauty, dream.”</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797522154573108637.post-54209242863675565402007-10-22T14:02:00.000+05:302007-10-29T19:37:41.763+05:30At Home in Ashram....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3fHrpTWRaSnHOwPuAHJztFIf02U6e31KVTSxpq43P-69wfuYPEZz6HlRu1SyBx_LS8UyO0H1hEB0l-vcBY9hwZ09U66QDwzdmdH8inHnw5TjWlpt4hcQ6uNKOPAXaJvQtTsIuVZ5lBU/s1600-h/founder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3fHrpTWRaSnHOwPuAHJztFIf02U6e31KVTSxpq43P-69wfuYPEZz6HlRu1SyBx_LS8UyO0H1hEB0l-vcBY9hwZ09U66QDwzdmdH8inHnw5TjWlpt4hcQ6uNKOPAXaJvQtTsIuVZ5lBU/s320/founder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124528349989657090" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">OK I am back after exactly 2 months to blog the history in the making. These 2 months have been an assorted windfall of varied emotions - blissful, agonizingly painful, intoxicatingly ecstatic, anguish, full of hope & then fall from grace, suffering & resolve, faith & devotion, doubts & godlessness, secrets, lies, care, togetherness, hurt, affection, tears and cheers – all carelessly organized in one priceless gift pack. (More on this later)<br /><br /></span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">I was in the Ashram for 11 days for Navaratri special advance course and homas. By the way, that's also the place where all the Gods & Goddesses descended, last week. The experience is so profound and powerful that it has re-instated my faith in many good things in life & have given my perspectives and thoughts, on some others, a positive color & my commitment towards Guruji & her have become much stronger (though I started out to do just the opposite of that) . Guruji's <i>bhaav </i><span style="font-style: normal;">in</span><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Ganesh homa & in Chandi homa, the energy that manifested in him as Ganesh ji, Shiv ji & Devi, his playing the Veena, the <span style="font-style: italic;">garba</span> 20,000 people meditating during Ashtami & the vibrations felt afterwards was just celestial!<br /><br />And had a blast with Momo. If there is any other reason my time in ashram this time is unforgettable, it is Momo. I laughed so much after a very very long time. And in the process I realized this is how I really used to be before. I used to be very cool, carefree, I was able to laugh at many things which I take so seriously now & most importantly how much & how openly I used to laugh & also made others laugh.<br /><br /></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">I had started this course with a very heavy mind & immense negativity, which my skeptical mind believed cannot be reformed esp. even after doing 5 advance courses. As the course commenced, I would find myself sinking deeper into this chasm of sadness & darkness. Something, which I'd presume would be observed by someone who has come face to face with sudden but imminent death but have lots of unfulfilled desires & lots of things left unsaid to lots of people he cares for, and he knows against all hopes that no matter how hard he tries, he can't escape this, and all that he wants will just be lost in space. And in between all this agony, at some point, I must have reached rock bottom of misery because suddenly the fog started to clear out.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">It started towards the end of the 2<sup>nd</sup> last day of the course, during the process where we have to 'make something' (can't divulge what, coz it's the part of the course). In the beginning it was just another process, but as Vrinda ji's words fell on my ear 'do this with the innocence of a child', 'give your 100%', 'at this time there is no body else, just you and this ----', 'this is your finest creation, the person you love the most' & finally 'tell her what you havn't told anybody ever...and then it happened. Tears just started to flow, first salty then sweet ones, a wave of Love and belongingness just washed over my entire being for her & of gratitude for Guruji.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Gurji's message for this Navaratri: <i><b>Atmarati Avirodhena</b></i> – Rejoicing in the <i>Atma</i> (self) without any conflict. Surrendering or offering as Ahuti any conflict that come in our way & to all past hurts and feelings. Become <i>Nava</i> – new & fresh this Navaratri.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The effect of meditations combined with the prayers & homas is powerful beyond belief. It just blew me away. Witnessing Guruji in silence is such a profound and strong phenomenon. And his words, when he broke his silence, carried even more strength than before. 2,500 of us blessed souls would go bananas on his every move - rising up from his seat, pushing his hair back, fiddling with the mike in his unique way or even when he'll just say in his trademark style “haan?'.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">One of my teacher was Vrinda ji from Rajkot. This was my 1<sup>st</sup> advance course in Hindi & surprisingly it has been the best! Vrinda ji herself is so sweet in the way she speaks & her presence itself. She has a child like sweet innocent voice & when she speaks it's like words of wisdom flowing out with fragrance of flowers. And she will laugh ever so cutely on her own jokes while telling them. She said:<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">5 p's of life – Pyaas (Thirst), Prayaas (effort), Prateekhsa (Patience), Prem (Love) & Pooja (Prayer or surrender).<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Life is not क for kamaana, खा for khaana & गा for gavaana। It must be useful for the betterment of the society too.<br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">And there was this beautiful couplet she recited from Guruji which meant that when you sow a seed, you don't keep prying under the ground to see if the seed is sprouting or you don't water it 100 times a day to make it grow faster. Nature will take care of it, you need to have faith. Guru does the same with you, have faith. </span><br /></p>In Search Of Myselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14380259032724258486noreply@blogger.com0