Reflections of a Pilgrim

Music Of The Veena

2011-08-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

Music Of The Veena

NEW BLOG

2009-12-20T04:48:00.000-08:00

HEY ! I HAVE MOVED TO MY NEW BLOG.

PLEASE VISIT ME AT : http://ekta25.wordpress.com/

THANK YOU

Remembering Smt. Rajeshwari Padmanabhan

2009-08-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

The Yajnavalkya Smriti mentions:

“Veena vadhana tathvangna sruti, jathi, visartha talanjaaprayasena moksha margam niyachathi”
(”The one who is well versed in veena, one who has the knowledge of srutis and one who is adept in tala, attains salvation without doubt.”)

Well it is exactly one year since Smt. Rajeshwari Padmanabhan, the veena maestro and my Guru, passed away. It had been a day filled with listening to her veena pieces. While the day went by, I felt a celebration of music.

Yes, I would like to remember her as a great maestro, a warm motherly figure and someone whose talent was not commercialized. She was a musician of par excellence.

Nostalgic memories of her classes rushed back to my thoughts. While playing one of the pieces – Vinayaka in Hamsadvani, a surge of emotions overwhelmed me and I found myself crying for a while. Then composing myself, I decided that her life should be celebrated in her remembrance. I found this short video of her taking classes by Raghunath Manet on youtube.

Heartsong

2009-08-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

Remembered the amazing Mattie Stephanek today. What a child. What a darling. So much of wisdom, so much of love, so much of compassion. I need to learn from him. He is and will always remain my special inspiration. My angel Mattie Stephanek.......

“...A heartsong is something deep inside each of us. It’s our sense of why we are here and how we can keep going. It is like a purpose. It may be to live as a mommy or a daddy, or a firefighter or a deliver person, or a child with a disability who teaches others about patience and love and acceptance. Heartsongs are usually easy to hear when we are young, but we sometimes get too busy or hurt or angry to listen to them as we get older. And, just like any gift that isn’t cared for or used well, it is possible to forget how to listen to the message of each song, But even if we completely lose our heartsong, we can share someone else’s song until we are able to reawaken or recreate our own. ...” - Mattie Stephanek

DANCING NOTES

2009-07-28T04:27:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful Ghazal by the one and only Hariharan Ji……..

And then to listen to this beautiful rendition of “Krishna nee begane baro” of this great vocalist, Hariharan, you can literally see the notes dancing.

MUSIC - FOOD FOR THE SOUL

2009-07-28T03:16:00.000-07:00

I was listening to a Ghazal by Hariharan -‘JHOOM LE’ a beautiful ghazal from the Ghazal Album Kaash. Hariharan’s soulful music never fails to amaze me. I am not so familiar with Ghazals , but this one surely makes me feel the peace and tranquility.

Musical notes dance if we can watch them. Some go to watch a dance to watch the movements in the dance. I consider the notes – swaras of music themselves performing a dance. They twist and turn and slide and glide.

Swaras themselves are so expressive that each note has its own bhava, its own distinctive character and grace. It also depends on the performer, who will be able to bring out the best of the notes. Be it a vocalist or instrumentalist. If we can watch the fluid movements of these notes, we will truly understand the meaning of dance itself!

What wonder to be mesmerized by music and her greatest gift, her musicians! What astounding creators they are! They create such emotions in a person. Good music fills you up completely but at the same time leaves you with a longing for more.

Music – Food for the Soul……

DANCE

2009-07-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

Many people have many explanations about what dance is. The most remarkable explanation that I have ever heard was from my Teacher, Prem Rawat. These are not his exact words but this is what he meant.

True dance takes place when the heart is filled with such joy that it cannot contain itself and the body starts to move to the rhythm of the joy.

When the heart dances out of joy, the body starts to move and Real Dance happens. Otherwise everything else is just another form of exercise or movement of the limbs and body.

We would have found ourselves at some time in our lives, to have got up to dance when we felt real heartfelt joy. I have done that sometimes when I listened to some exceptionally beautiful music which invoked a joy and jubilation in my heart that all I could do was dance to its rhythm.

Moving on…......

2009-07-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

Can I move on? That is the real challenge I am faced with in my life at every step of the way. At times this whole thing seems like a game. We are challenged after a couple of steps along the way in our journey of life. That too after we have settled and come to terms with almost most of the situations in our lives.

Many a times, I have this question, of what this whole thing is about! We are born, grow up the usual way and as most children do. Some children have more challenges than the others. Somehow we end up as what we are at the present stage in life after many falls, rises, challenges, hurts, happiness, joys etc.

Most of the time, we are so caught up with all the happenings around us that we get lost in acting or reacting relating to those situations.

Do we take time to pause and question, what this is all about? I don’t seem to be doing that when I am in the midst of all the melodramatic activities in my life. Only when I have passed them, do I pause and analyze, question and try to understand what it is all about. – And that too only sometimes!

We are always placed in a position of opposites in our lives. I get disappointed when I think that it is all about everything being black or white. Now I have come to understand that it is also about the grey areas, pale grey areas, white areas and not so white areas in the whole picture. It is also about the blues, greens, oranges, yellows, reds, the pinks, the mauves and all the different hues on the palette of color.

This art, this life, this being is just not about right and wrong. . I have come to understand along the way that this journey is about falling down, learning, waking up and walking forward. This journey is also about forgiving, forgetting and understanding. And this journey is about adjusting, letting go and accommodating. If I fail to understand this simple formula I will never be able to come to terms with life and will be stuck in the same hole again and again. I have learned that I need to let go and move on.

Finally it is all about moving on ………..

Why oh Why?

2009-07-17T23:02:00.000-07:00

Teoh Boon Hock the political secretary of Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was taken in for questioning by the MACC at its 14th floor office in Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam.MACC said he was freed but his body was later found sprawled on the roof of a five-storey building next door.

‘Why would someone who is slated to get married tomorrow take his own life?’ This the question posed by Lim Kit Siang – the opposition DAP leader. Many questions are being asked, but will it bring him back to life. How will his family and his bride to be going to be consoled. Will they be able to come to terms with such a tragedy?

Why oh why?

What words,

What reasons to describe this death?

We have never met each other,

Nor have our paths ever crossed,

But my heart is in anguish.

Why oh why?

Am I tormented and restless?

Wrenched in pain and sorrow,

Thinking about the cruelty brought upon you,

Where is mercy and compassion?

Why oh why?

Another death, another tragedy!

One so young full of life and hope,

Promises to be fulfilled, journeys to be taken,

Why was it robbed from you so soon?

Why oh why?

Why this injustice, why this violence,

How many more Kugans have to follow,

How many more Teohs need to be lost?

How many more victims to endure?

Why oh why?

Who is responsible? Who has the answers?

When will the nation awaken?

When will it rise against these injustices?

Why this cruel fate?

Why oh why?

How long will this go on and who will be next?

Another flower, another leaf,

Plucked from the tree of life prematurely,

Taken away, so callously.

Why oh why?

'Silence'

2009-07-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

Be silent,
Only the Hand of God
Can remove
The burdens of your heart.

I guess, we would not have any words to go beyond this. The moment I read this verse of Rumi, my heart literally slowed and became silent. I don’t think I can find any other methods to unburden my heart or any other words which would bring such profound wisdom even when one reads it once. I could only feel wow!!!!! What wonder, how sublime!

What can I say other than to observe silence?

THE CREATORS OF OUR OWN DESTINY – Pt.1

2009-07-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

There is Disharmony …..

Disharmony between humans,

Disharmony between humans and nature,

Disharmony between religions,

Disharmony between cultures,

Disharmony between genders.

We find so much of agitation, anger, hatred and vengeance surrounding us. Every morning we wake up to read more news of pain and suffering in the lives of people all over the world.

We are bombarded with news of killings, terrorism and other calamities taking place everywhere. Some conveniently decide to ignore the tragedy and misfortune happening to others considering it as destiny. Others take it upon themselves to complain and do nothing about it while a few resort to deal with the problems with violence.

As individuals, we may think that we can’t change what is happening around us. But we are totally mistaken. We have the choice to bring about a positive change in our own lives and bring about a change in the relationships with people around us. As life coach Mike Jaffe says, “It is designing your life the way you want it to be so that life just doesn’t “happen” to you”.

We have the possibility to lead a more harmonious life and together as a society, we can change the state of the world. Change begins with the individual. Change does not happen when we wait for someone else to bring about it. What starts as a change in the life of an individual human being can then lead to a global change.

Significance

2009-07-14T17:15:00.000-07:00

Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.

- Mahatma Gandhi

How true! Sometimes there is a tendency in many of us to feel that what we are doing in our lives is insignificant. But if we really look at it, each and every one of us is a special being. We are so important that we were given a life in this world in the first place. Our conception is unique. Our lives are unique and our journey is unique too.

Each on of us is the little flower, though they may look alike, they are not the same. In the same way each grain of sand on the beach is unique by itself. I too am a unique person. I am an exceptional being and came into this world because I was not insignificant. Whatever I undertake in this life therefore will be significant and special.

I mattered therefore I am!

©ekta25

Rainfall on a Desert

2009-07-11T07:25:00.000-07:00

I have sort of got used to be by myself this past year or so. With both the children away, life has taken a routine by itself. I do enjoy the quietude and the tranquility it brings. Things have definitely slowed down now. This situation has in fact made me a little complacent and a little idle though. I think I am doing something or other, but the day seems to go by with not much completed.

There are days when I find myself motivated to do some work or other. Other days find me occupied with the computer or the television which leaves me quite disappointed that I have not attended to some important things. Lately I find myself procrastinating. I tell myself I should not be doing that but sometimes it just seems to be so.

Now with the children back for their holidays, they put me on my toes again. It is fun too having them around. I did not realize how parched it had become. It takes some company to make us realize how lonely we have become in their absence. But I am also a person who still needs plenty of time for me. I question myself whether I am selfish. I see some mothers who seem to be sacrificing their time and energy incredibly for their kids.

The last couple of weeks I have been busy with some work that I had to complete. Writing has been the furthest from my thoughts. But today, I took a breather to do some surfing and writing.

My parched lips thirst for some water,

My parched heart longs for some love,

Having company is like rainfall on a desert.

Farewell Michael Jackson!

2009-07-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

Music is like an ocean and Michael Jackson was one of her greatest waves to rise high. – Michael was a true gift indeed. All controversies aside, as a true musician, he was someone who brought so much joy to the people who came in touch with his music.

Watching the memorial service for Michael Jackson was truly emotional. There was joy and sorrow joined together. It was a befitting memorial for a wonderful human being. The ceremony was somber, peaceful and filled with so much of contained emotions. The eulogies by those who spoke about him were indeed touching and genuine.

To me music is something very special. All her musicians are special gifts. Few can have the talent that MJ had. Watching him perform as a child, in fact puts one in awe of his talent and versatility. Where did he get this enormous ability from? He never failed to amaze millions around the world.

The memorial made me smile, cry and laugh. Remembering his songs and watching people come out to give tributes to this person who tried in his own ways to bring people together. He spoke about the unity and reminded us that we are the world, we are the children. We are no different from each other. Such profound message which I hope would be adapted in our lives.

While MJ the wave was in his splendor, the world witnessed such joy and love from his music. Now the wave has gone back to the ocean to rest. May he rest in peace, knowing that he did break some barriers and in his own ways did bring the world a little closer.

Life is but a Dream....

2009-07-03T04:49:00.000-07:00

Row… Row… Row your boat,

Gently down the stream,

Merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream

This is a nursery rhyme most of us would have sung when we were kids. I too continued to sing it to my children when they were young. Not did I ever once pause to understand the meaning of this simple rhyme.

I guess I do take a while to comprehend certain things. Not certain, but most things. Isn’t this message amazing and profound? How many of us take things so seriously, that we forget to enjoy life itself. Everything around us becomes so pressing and demanding that we hardly stop to ask ourselves whether this is really important.

Should I give so much priority for things that could have been allowed to have been ignored? Do I need to get so involved with all the actions I perform everyday that I forget to feel that I am alive. It takes someone’s death to remind me how vulnerable I am. I am reminded of the dreamlike state of this life. That death is a certainty!

This simple poem reminds me once more that I need to row my boat gently. Yes, gently down this stream of life. My boat is extremely fragile. I can’t allow it to rock too much lest I get drowned. At the same time it reminds me that this life is only a dream, so I need to row this boat of mine cheerfully too. At the end of the day, I too will become a dream……….

REMEMBERING MICHAEL JACKSON

2009-06-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

Though it has been a few days since MJ passed away, I find it hard to put into words what I am feeling. It is still surreal and somehow feels dreamlike. I have not listened to his songs for some time and when this shocking news was conveyed to me by my son at 5 am, it did not register immediately. He was watching the news and the first thing I did was rush down to confirm it.

Michael Jackson's sudden death somewhat overshadowed the death of Actress Farrah Fawcett. Not that she was a lesser person but rather because MJ was so huge that we can't help but get facinated with him. Somehow people were obsessed with him while he was alive and remain obsessed with him in his death.

MJ's music would have had an impact on most of us. He was the King of Pop. His music moved both young and old. It is a very tragic ending to a person who could have had everything but ultimately did not have any peace of mind.

Michael Jackson's death brought back memories of Princess Diana's passing away. I was not able to do anything else other than sit in front of the television the whole day trying to get to terms with her death and trying desperately to hold on to the images of someone I had admired so much. I am sure many would be completely shaken and devastated by this heartbreaking news.

Even though we may not know these people personally, our hearts rush out to them and their families. This reminds me of the human family that Maya Angelou speaks about in her poem. We are ultimately bonded to each other, whether we like it or not and when someone else feels the pain and loss, it feels like our very own loss and pain.

I pray that he gets the rest and peace that he was desperately looking for in his life. He has given so much of himself to his music and promoted unity beyond the differences we see, in his songs. His legacy will live on.

May God give him the peace that he did not find while he was alive.

RIP Michael Jackson. We will miss you!

SUCH A TALENTED CHILD!

2009-06-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

While surfing youtube for a song, came across this video that I felt compelled to share with everyone. This little girl is singing the national anthem of India. Her words are crystal clear and the tune is absolutely perfect. You can see her with an imaginary microphone too ! She looks around 2 - 3 years old. Wow what an amazing child!

Human Family

2009-06-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

I have always felt that we seem to get caught up in all the differences. Somehow we are taught from childhood how different everyone and everything is. Strange but true that this is the cause of all the distress that we find around us. I don’t ever remember of being taught of the similarities.

All we are reminded constantly is of how diverse and varied each and everything is. We focus on the differences in the animals. We speak about the variety of flowers, fruits, seasons and name it, we know of all the differences.

Yet oddly we too teach our children the same things. We teach them how different every person is. We teach them about the different colors of skin and the disparity of the different races and nations.

It can go on and on, yet when will we be able to stop for a moment and say, I am able to see the oneness in all these differences? I can truly see the same chord running through the various people of the world. We as a human race share the same hopes and destiny. And to be able to say that I am truly glad that we belong to the same human race!

I read this simple yet thought provoking poem by Maya Angelou, where she speaks about the human family.

Maya Angelou

I note the obvious differences

in the human family.

Some of us are serious,

some thrive on comedy.

Some declare their lives are lived

as true profundity,

and others claim they really live

the real reality.

The variety of our skin tones

can confuse, bemuse, delight,

brown and pink and beige and purple,

tan and blue and white.

I've sailed upon the seven seas

and stopped in every land,

I've seen the wonders of the world

not yet one common man.

I know ten thousand women

called Jane and Mary Jane,

but I've not seen any two

who really were the same.

Mirror twins are different

although their features jibe,

and lovers think quite different thoughts

while lying side by side.

We love and lose in China,

we weep on England's moors,

and laugh and moan in Guinea,

and thrive on Spanish shores.

We seek success in Finland,

are born and die in Maine.

In minor ways we differ,

in major we're the same.

I note the obvious differences

between each sort and type,

but we are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

WHY GOD MADE MUMS

2009-06-20T03:21:00.000-07:00

A cute mail I recived which is just so funny and heart warming.

WHY GOD MADE MUMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the sticky tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mum just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of ?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mum?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's Mums like me.

What kind of little girl was your Mum?
1. My Mum has always been my Mum and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mum need to know about Dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mum marry your Dad?
1. My Dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mum eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My Grandma says that Mum didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mum doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because Dad's such an idiot.
2. Mum. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mum is, but only because she has a lot more to do than Dad.

What's the difference between Mums & Dads?
1. Mums work at work and work at home and Dads just go to work at work.
2. Mums know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but Mums have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.

4. Mums have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your Mum do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't have spare time.
2. To hear her talk, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mum perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. You know, her hair. I'd die it, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mum, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mum smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

JAgadodharana Fusion

2009-06-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

Jagadodharana - A composition by Purandara Dasa. This fusion piece is sung by Bombay Jayshree and is incredibly soothing to the ears and soul! Bombay Jayshree is one of the many talented musicians of Carnatic Music.

Purandara Dasa (1484 - 1564) also known as the father of Carnatic Music, a classical music form of South India, systematized the method of teaching Carnatic music which is followed to the present day.

Purandara Dasa was the first composer to include comments on ordinary daily life in song compositions. He used elements of colloquial language for his lyrics. He introduced folk ragas into the mainstream, setting his lyrics to tunes/ragas of his day so that even a common man could learn and sing them.

Purity of heart, devotion to God, and compassion towards all living beings formed the core of Purandaradasa's philosophy. A householder's life was no impediment to spiritual progress, as his own life was an example. According to him, mere accumulation of knowledge, repetition of formulas and observance of rituals are worthless if the heart is not pure. Equally useless is the wrangling over the "nature" of God.

Thank You.....

2009-06-09T04:38:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Somehow I could not pull myself together to write. Something just went off. I saw Viv’s comment and a special warmth embraced my heart. It is like someone who came by and gently woke me up from my slumber. How sweet of you Viv. Thank You. I went to Viv’s blog and read her latest posting Too tired to.........

I am tired too. Felt drained of all energy for the past month or so. The weather is not helping either. It is extremely hot with no rain. Not that I like too much rain though. But everything needs to be balanced. My brains have stopped functioning for whatever reasons! Shocking? Yes. I try to write something but I feel drained.

I am tired too. Tired of everything. Tired of going on...... Tired of talking, tired of writing...... Well I could go on.So much happens around us and within us too. There are times when we are able to overcome everything and still keep the spirit going on. There are times too when something just decides that it does not want to move on. I am going through one of those phases in my life.

It is like an engine breakdown. A void is there, but it is also a veil created not to allow any pain to go through. It is sort of an auto protection. A numbness, whatever we want to call it. It does not really matter.

All of a sudden I feel distanced from everyone and everything. I felt all alone. Though I seem to enjoy my own company. I don’t seem to want to speak to anyone unless it is necessary. Could I call it depression? A mid life crisis? A menopausal period with my moods going haywire? I wouldn’t know. I am not even interested to talk to anyone about it.

This aloofness seems quite comfortable too. I am not really worried about this space of time. I know it will pass. I told my self while it is here let me not get too agitated about it. The thought of having people care and feel concerned makes me feel wonderful. I know Indu you are always there with your encouraging words. Words can never express our friendship of all these years. I could take this opportunity as a time to thank all my readers who visit this site.

Thank you Sissy T for your sweet words. And of course Viv. I am touched by your words and many others who may not want to comment but visit this blog regularly. I take this opportunity to acknowledge all of your presence. To know that there are people who care for you is the best sensation one can experience. It is one if the most refreshing feelings of life.

I love you all and Thank You.

The Silence Surrounding Sri Lanka

2009-05-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

I found this very moving article which saddened me. The silence which is surrounding Sri Lanka is deafening indeed. Yes deafening with the cries of innocent people killed and tortured by the government of Sri Lanka. Genocide is taking place right in front of our eyes in Sri Lanka while the world is watching silently. Many may not really understand what is happening in Sri Lanka, thinking it is another terrorist warfare. The truth being very strange and shocking.

With all the technologies of this century the world is still primitive in its dealing with another human being.

Looking around we come to understand that we have not changed at all. We are still behaving like we are in the stone ages. The only difference being that instead of using hand made weapons to fight our opponents we are now using the latest weapons of destruction as though it is a video game.

“ If the Third World War is fought with nuclear weapons, the fourth will be fought with bows and arrows. ”
—Lord Louis Mountbatten

“ I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. ”
—Albert Einstein

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Arundhati Roy

March 31, 2009 "Boston Globe" -- -NEW DELHI - The horror that is unfolding in Sri Lanka becomes possible because of the silence that surrounds it. There is almost no reporting in the international press - or in the mainstream media in India, where I live - about what is happening. From the little information that is filtering through, it looks as though the Sri Lankan government is using the propaganda of "the war on terror" as a fig leaf to dismantle any semblance of democracy in the country and commit unspeakable crimes against the Tamil people.

The government is working on the principle that every Tamil is a terrorist unless he or she can prove otherwise, and civilian areas, hospitals, and shelters are being bombed and turned into a war zone. Reliable estimates put the number of civilians trapped at over 200,000. The Sri Lankan army is advancing, armed with tanks and aircraft.

Meanwhile, there are reports that several "welfare villages" have been established to house displaced Tamils in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts. The Daily Telegraph in London reports that these villages "will be compulsory holding centers for all civilians fleeing the fighting." Is this a euphemism for concentration camps?

Mangala Samaraweera, a former foreign minister of Sri Lanka, told The Daily Telegraph: "A few months ago the government started registering all Tamils in Colombo on the grounds that they could be a security threat, but this could be exploited for other purposes like the Nazis in the 1930s. They're basically going to label the whole civilian Tamil population as potential terrorists."

Given the government's stated objective of "wiping out" the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelan, this malevolent collapse of civilians and "terrorists" does seem to signal that the government is on the verge of committing what could end up being genocide. According to a United Nations estimate, several thousand people have already been killed. Thousands more are critically wounded.

What we are witnessing - or, rather, what is happening in Sri Lanka and is being so effectively hidden from public scrutiny - is a brazen, openly racist war. The impunity with which the Sri Lankan government is able to commit these crimes unveils the deeply ingrained racist prejudice that is precisely what led to the marginalization and alienation of the Tamils of Sri Lanka in the first place. That racism has a long history, involving social ostracization, economic blockades, pogroms, and torture. The brutal nature of the decades-long civil war, which started as a peaceful, nonviolent protest, has its roots here.

Why the silence? In another interview, Mangala Samaraweera said, "A free media is virtually nonexistent in Sri Lanka today." He described death squads and "white van abductions," which have made society "freeze with fear." Voices of dissent have been abducted and assassinated. The International Federation of Journalists accuses the government of Sri Lanka of using a combination of anti-terrorism laws, disappearances, and assassinations to silence journalists.

There are unconfirmed reports that the Indian government is lending material and logistical support to the Sri Lankan government. If this is true, it is outrageous. What about the governments of other countries? Pakistan? China? What are they doing to help or harm the situation?

In Tamil Nadu, India, the war in Sri Lanka has fueled passions that have led to more than 10 people immolating themselves. The public anger and anguish - much of it genuine, but some of it obviously cynical political manipulation - has become an election issue.

It is extraordinary that this concern has not traveled to the rest of India. Why is there silence?

Given the scale of what is happening in Sri Lanka, the silence is inexcusable. More so because of the Indian government's long history of irresponsible dabbling in the conflict, first taking one side and then the other. Several of us who should have spoken out much earlier, have not done so, simply because of a lack of information about the war.

So while the killing continues, while tens of thousands of people are being barricaded into concentration camps, while more than 200,000 face starvation, and a genocide waits to happen, there is dead silence from this great country. It's a colossal humanitarian tragedy. The world must step in. Now. Before it's too late.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arundhati Roy was born in 1959 in Shillong, India. She studied architecture in New Delhi, where she now lives, and has worked as a film designer, actor, and screenplay writer in India. A tenth anniversary edition of her novel, The God of Small Things (Random House), for which she received the 1997 Booker Prize, was recently released. She is also the author of numerous nonfiction titles, including An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire

Speaking Pleasant Words

2009-05-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

“I believe everyone is entitled to his and her views and that we should respect this. Of course, this does not mean we must agree with these views. We are definitely at liberty to disagree with them. But just because we disagree with them does not mean we should silence these people and not allow them to express their opinions” - Raja Petra Kamarudin

I read this in RPK's blog in one of his article and it reminded me of a very nasty experience I had with someone I know recently. I was rudely shocked to be told off in a very humiliating manner to have expressed my personal opinion about some political issue.

The incident left me very shattered and badly shaken for a week and even though I have come out of it gradually, the scar or pain is still there. There is a saying in Tamil by the poet Saint Thiruvalluvar on using pleasant words. Sometimes we do not realize how disastrous the outcome can become if we do not know how to speak to people with courtesy. This particular incident has left me with more resolve not to hurt anyone with rude words because the pain caused can be agonizing.

The relationship too can be strained even though the person can be one of your best friends.

Speaking Pleasant Words - Thiruvalluvar

Pleasant words are those which, full of tenderness And free from deceit, fall from the lips of virtuous men.

Better than a gift given with a joyous heart Are sweet words spoken with a cheerful smile.

A kindly countenance and sweet words Spoken from the heart-these are virtue's way.

Poverty-provoking sorrow will not pursue Those who speak joy-producing words to all they meet.

Humility and pleasant words are the jewels That adorn a man; there are none other.

If a man seeks good works while speaking sweet words, His virtues will wax and his vices wane.

Words yield spiritual rewards and moral excellence When they do not wander far from usefulness and agreeableness

Sweet speech which is stranger to pettiness inparts pleasure Not only in this life, but in the next.

Why would anyone speak cruel words, Having observed the happiness that kind words confer?

Tribute to the Violin Maestro Dr. L. Subramaniam

2009-05-13T17:41:00.001-07:00

One just has to listen to this incredible man on his violin. What can I say? I am wordless, amazed, hypnotized, captivated, mesmerized and any word in the language can be used to describe the feeling I get. Violin is one of my favorite instruments, but to hear this genius on the violin is exalting.

I do not pretend that I can do justice to his wonderful work, but in my own way, for my personal satisfaction, I am doing what a little grain of sand on the beach of the ocean does. Though the grain of sand may seem insignificant, it has its own unique place in the universe. Like it I am a little grain of sand in the presence of the vast ocean of Music and her Musicians.

I give my salutations to this great musician of our time. I have never met him, but would like to do so some day......

“Music is a vast ocean and no one can claim to know it all. The more you know, the more you realise how little you know. It is an eternal quest.”

- --- Dr.L.Subramaniam

India's master violinist performs live at the Royal Albert Hall in 1995. Here he improvises in Raga Charukesi.

A rare interaction between two masters of the violin.
They improvise and play 'Necklace Road' by L.Subramaniam.

Super Brain Yoga

2009-05-13T08:07:00.001-07:00

I received an e-mail from a friend about 'Super Brain Yoga'. Watching it I am amazed that this is what we kids were asked to do as a punishment. Most of the Indian children would have gone through with this.

Another interesting thing about this particular act which is called “Thoppukaranam” in Tamil which refers to the action one does in front of the deity Lord Ganesh. When we approach this particular deity who symbolizes Knowledge, we will automatically knock with our knuckles on the temples of our head and then perform the Thoppukaranam. (holding the earlobes with opposite hands and alternately squatting and standing up as shown in the video below.

I was truly surprised that an act which was so insignificant and also related to punishment happens to have such an astounding result when it is done. India has so much wonderful mysteries to be unfolded. These little simple things in life are made part of the daily life of an Indian from childhood. They are told to adhere to many things without questioning, which may look superstitious but in fact turn out to be beneficial to us. When practiced consistently they become such valuable habits. Today I learned that this simple act actually is amazing and of great value to me.

Superbrain Yoga® is a simple and effective technique to energize and recharge the brain. It is based on the principles of subtle energy and ear acupuncture. This powerful technique is explained in Master Choa Kok Sui's latest book Superbrain Yoga®.

Mahatma Gandhi's Prayer

2009-05-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

“AS SOON AS WE LOSE THE MORAL BASIS, WE CEASE TO BE RELIGIOUS.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS RELIGION OVER-RIDING MORALITY.

MAN, FOR INSTANCE, CANNOT BE UNTRUTHFUL, CRUEL OR INCONTINENT
AND CLAIM TO HAVE GOD ON THEIR SIDE.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

Listened to this wonderful song (prayer) which was Mahatma Gandhi's favourite piece. The song brings about such sublime sweetness. This video above is a rendition by the violin Maestro Dr.L.Subramaniam.

Conceived, Composed and Produced by Dr. L. Subramaniam. A new melody and feeling for Gandhi's favourite song.

Features Pandit Jasraj, Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam, Sultan Khan, Pankaj Udhas, Hariharan, Remo Fernandes, Bindu Subramaniam, Narayana Subramaniam.

Another Beautiful Version

Kirtan Vaishnava Janato

Translation

One who is a vaishnav
Knows the pain of others
Does good to others, esp. to those ones who are in misery
Does not let pride enter his mind
A Vaishnav, Tolerates and praises the the entire world
Does not say bad things about anyone
Keeps his/her words, actions and thoughts pure
O Vaishnav, your mother is blessed (dhanya-dhanya)
A Vaishnav sees everything equally, rejects greed and avarice
Considers some one else’s wife/daughter as his mother
The toungue may get tired, but will never speak lies
Does not even touch someone else’s property

A Vaishnav does not succumb to worldly attachments
Who has devoted himself to stauch detachment to worldly
pleasures
Who has been edicted to the elixir coming by the name of Ram
For whom all the religious sites are in the mind
Who has no greed and deciet
Who has renounced lust of all types and anger
The poet Narsi will like to see such a person
By who’s virtue, the entire family gets salvation

Poem by Rumi

2009-05-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

You are filled with God's glow.
It radiates out pure sparking light
making you appear as a mystical flower.
So why the sad face?
You have a bonfire of happiness within.
Why don't you immerse your heart
in its blissful sweetness?
Do you still think it's outside?
Listen, my friend,
the gold mine of all gold mines
is underfoot.
Won't you feel foolish
when you discover
your father has bequeathed
immense wealth?
All your wandering and begging
has brought you naught.
Come sit by the fire
and feel it's warmth.
Let's drink wine
and look at the moon
until we become mad with joy.

Rumi

Footprints

2009-04-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

Many people have various passions. I too have many passions in my life. But today my utmost passion has become to “learn”. Yes to become a student of life. I have taken a full circle and come back to the same place. We may call it a zero or a circle. Sometimes we go around looking for things everywhere when it lies so close to us.

Life is a beautiful school. It is how we look at it. All these years I struggled trying to catch the elusive. But when I recognize Grace and when I am able to trust, I find that I am carried in the arms of this compassionate power.

This reminds me of the story of a person walking along a beach. He saw two pairs of footprints embedded on the sands of the beach and after a while there was only one pair of footprints along the beach. He looked at God and said, “Look, when I was fine and happy, you walked alongside me but when I needed you the most, you abandoned me and I had to walk all alone”.

God looked at him and said, “You have misunderstood the truth”. “When you were doing well and were fine, I walked with you”. “There can you see those two pairs of footprints? And when you needed me the most, I carried you in my arms and those footprints are not yours but mine”.

Sometimes we have the tendency to forget the reality and everything becomes a struggle. Somehow when I can learn how to flow with the river and not against the current, I enjoy the journey. This journey of mine has been long and windy. I have had good times and bad times. But when the good times come, it overshadows all the pain and suffering and fills the heart that one can feel the heart dancing. Yes dancing because such joy is possible in this life.

I have to thank my teacher for helping me to see this joy and to feel the dance of life.

“The Beauty of Life is Life itself”. - Prem Rawat

Magic of Being Alive

2009-04-27T19:55:00.000-07:00

Spending a few days listening to Prem Rawat also known as Maharaji renewed my energy. Most of the time we seem to get lost in the day to day happenings of life, forgetting the simple beauty of life. To feel the magic of being alive and recognizing the breath is such an amazing experience.

Sometimes we need a reminder of how beautiful and simple this life is. For me this was what I felt when I had this opportunity to listen to Prem Rawat last week. Yes his message is simple and listening to him speak made me feel as though I had been washed by the fresh waters of the waterfall. Cleansed of the luggage I have been accumulating for some time. I feel lighter, happier and feel grateful for all that I have. Paused complaining about things and started to appreciate the wonderful gifts of Life.

This reminds me of the words of the Master, Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He said that when the ground is dry we notice all the potholes on the path. But when a heavy rain falls and there is water all over, it covers all the potholes and makes everything even. In the same way, when our hearts are filled with happiness, joy and contentment, we will stop seeing all the inadequacies and defects of things around us. We start to see the fulfillment and feel gratitude for all that we have.

"Raga Saga"

2009-04-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

About "Raga Saga" -

Electric Violin I, II and Violia - V.S. Narasimhan

Electric Cello - V.R. Sekar

Raga Saga is a widely hailed, ground-breaking work which captures V.S. Narasimhan's original integration of the Indian and Western classical music systems. A pioneer in this entirely new musical form of using the western quartet format for Indian music, Mr. Narasimhan uses a delicate, intricate, thoughtful approach in his artistic touch replete with an enduring blend of Western harmonies, counterpoint, and pulsating rhythmic structures.

Mr. Narasimhan is well known throughout India as a violinist who has worked with legendary Indian film music directors such as A.R. Rahman and Ilaiyaraja. In recent times however, his passion for classical music has led him down a different path culminating in the development of this new musical art form. He is uniquely equipped to produce a work of this kind because of his knowledge of and ability to play, perform, and compose in both Western classical and in Indian classical music styles.

He has melded together Indian tradition and Western form to create something beautiful. The added flair in the recording comes from his use of electric instruments. By using this approach, he was able to record all the parts (Violin I, Violin II & Viola) himself except for cello (played by the highly talented V.R. Sekar).

Hailed by numerous diverse, world-renowned musicians for his dynamic musicality, seamless improvisation and thoughtful artistry, V.S. Narasimhan has permanently altered the way in which we think about the Carnatic and Western music systems.

Most recently, David Balakrishnan of the Grammy award-winning Turtle Island String Quartet, had this to say regarding VSN's newest work, Raga Saga:

In speaking to the quality of this evocative and brilliant new recording . . . I will say that when I listen to this music, my heart erupts with joyous elation, then my professional curiosity kicks in, and I am filled with wonder and deep respect for the level of craft that went into producing this excellent CD. What I hear in these tracks is a voice on the other side of the world, seemingly entirely divergent yet at the same time oddly familiar, using the same classic instrumentation to provide yet another compelling new musical paradigm in the continuing evolution of the string quartet form.

www.stringtemple.com

"PEACE IS THE PERFUME OF GOD"

2009-04-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

"PEACE IS THE PERFUME OF GOD"

A beautiful video of wisdom and clarity from Prem Rawat's Message of Peace.

Prem Rawat (Maharaji) speaking at an event in Tel-Aviv, Israel, on February 12, 2009.

Duration: 13 minutes.

Buddha – The Radiant One

2009-04-10T09:01:00.001-07:00

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.

-- Buddha

I am unable to remove the picture of this “Buddha”. Somehow I find myself irresistibly drawn towards this picture. The Radiant Buddha as I would like to address him, exudes such peace and tranquility.

This portrait does not belong to me but to cyberspace. Knowing this reality, I still feel that I want to hold on to it. The portrait of the young Budha, sitting under a tree and meditating , makes me feel the serenity, radiance, peace and calmness.

This want to possess also reminds me of how everything I try to hold on to my life, truly does not really belong to me but to this Universe. Just as all these words, the pictures and whatever I write on the blog does not really belong to me, this whole thing that I call mine too does not belong to me. I am given a chance, an opportunity to enjoy and to embrace them for a period of time.

You may call me silly or sentimental, but I decided to maintain the portrait of the Radiant Buddha for remembrance on my home page. He inspires me to be tranquil, contented and radiant. A reminder to me that I need to feel contentment in my life too ………….

Kindness

2009-04-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

"Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love."
Tao Te Ching

Budha On Believe

2009-04-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

Buddha:

"Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it.

Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held.

Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books.

Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin.

Believe nothing just because someone else believes it.

Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true."

Following Your Passion

2009-04-04T21:09:00.001-07:00

Last Night my daughter had the opportunity to perform her first solo number in front of an audience.She has never been on stage and it was quite nerve-wrecking and exciting at the same time. Music and singing has been her passion since childhood and she used to practice singing at home, whenever she was free.

But as mothers are, or as I am too domineering as she says, I kept telling her not to focus on singing so much since her studies were more important. I remember her telling me once, “Ma – you have killed my dreams.” Yes. I was always telling her to concentrate on her studies and not to get distracted. Now that she is in College, an opportunity came to her to take part in a cultural night event.

Being selected to sing was as exciting for me as for her. I wanted to set the feeling right this time since she was crestfallen with my discouragement regarding her passion.

This was the first time my baby, my little princess, was going to go on stage and do her maiden performance! The feeling was exhilarating and I was as nervous as her. The only sad thing was that I was not able to be there to watch her live, singing her first number to an audience on stage!

Waiting for her to call me to tell me how she performed was restless for me too. I could not sleep the whole night imagining how she would have performed. After a number of calls she told me that she was not nervous and did pretty well. I am waiting anxiously to see the recording which she has promised to send me today.

So much for dreams and the possibilities of attaining them. It may be a small start but I know that this is the stepping stone for her. It has given her the confidence and elation that anything you love to do would give. I wish her all the best for bright future following her passion.

An inspiring quote by Sharon Cook & Graciela Sholander, I found which I feel that if any one of us follows, we will be able to feel total joy and satisfation.

"If you have ever felt such tremendous enthusiasm and desire for something that you would gladly spend all your waking hours working on it, that you would happily do without pay, then you have found your passion".

The Most Beautiful Word

2009-04-02T18:08:00.001-07:00

I have been trying to figure out which is THE most important, beautiful and inspiring word in the world. I know this may sound strange but I suppose these are things people with nothing else to do try to do!

Well many words come up and conjure many different images in the mind. Lets take the word "Love". Love is such a sweet word and feelings of happiness and joy immediately comes to the mind. But there is also sorrow and pain attached to this word when
loveis rejected.

"God"- This is the most misunderstood word I suppose. We have so many different interpretations of this word, that the world has come to such a state of hatred because of the misunderstanding of this word.

"Beauty" - This is also a very beautiful word. But not everything or everyone is beautiful. Words like Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder rushes in. So beauty can be a controversial word too.

Many words hold many meanings and bring about many different types of images to the mind. Most words bring about various emotions attached to them. The moment a word is articulated we come up with different types of images .

I think that the word "HOPE" is the sweetest and most beautiful word we can come up with. With Hope comes Love, God, Beauty, Success, Happiness and everything else. One may ask how can that be possible. Well I feel that when hope comes Love becomes a reality. Against all odds we will be able to experience this feeling of Love and know that there is this possibility.

Hope also makes God more tangible. Without Hope - God becomes someone, who is unreachable. God becomes someone who is unmerciful and without compassion. But with Hope, God is the most wonderful being who is all embracing and understanding.

Beauty is added on to the word Hope. Yes, hope gives us the inspiration to feel the beauty within us and around us. Hope puts a silver lining to the dark clouds. Hope brings a vision to the desperate. Hope gives a new meaning to life. Hope gives us a reason to go on in this life. Hope is a splendid thing. Hope makes everything and anything possible.

Therefore I consider that the most beautiful word in any language and any culture is HOPE.

"Creators"

2009-03-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

We seem to be spending so much time on the computer that I think we live in a different world. It has been quite a while since I came out to see the real world. This is becoming quite an addiction.

The touch of the keypad is exciting. Writing used to be the norm, those days. But now with the computer keypads, an upgraded version of the typewriter, writing becomes easier. Writing and being able to delete the unwanted stuff, while changing and doing so many different effects has become so much easier.

This reminds me of "The Canvas" that I wrote about earlier. This whole space is given to us to explore. Creating becomes fun too. The computer is amazing. I am finding out this late! Yes, writing is like an art too. For a painter, the colors, brushes, and the canvas allow him to come out with incredible pieces. The same thing applies to a musician. He may even become amazed with the unimaginable music he comes up with. Every one, who indulges in a creative fashion in fact, becomes a "creator".

Well creation is something incredible. The feeling is exciting. Imagine a child making a sand castle or trying to paint a picture. You can imagine the awesomeness of the whole thing. Each time you upload a picture or create your own stuff, the feeling is a child like jubilation.

My mind irresistibly goes towards the "CREATOR". Too much of a taboo for some, but I feel that this being or thing or whatever you want to call is also creating continuously. A very controversial subject, but I can't help pondering over it though. I am glad that I have passed those forbidden zones and times in my life and you could say I do feel quite comfortable in contemplating and questioning my mind about the Creator!

But this whole thing aside, I sometimes feel that we are totally living in our minds. This is an interesting subject that I want to go into later. I seem to be making the mistake of getting irritated when the phone rings. It puts a stop to the flow of what I am doing. Whether what I am doing is really important is another subject of discussion though!

Well right now, I need to go off to do my daily mundane stuff. Till next time…….

Food for Thought

2009-03-23T19:07:00.000-07:00

A Violinist in the Metro

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written,with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html

Wisdom

2009-03-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

By associating with wise people you will become wise yourself.

Menander

The seat of knowledge is in the head, of wisdom,
in the heart.

William Hazlitt

Of all parts of wisdom the practice is the best.

John Tillotson

The more a man knows, the more he forgives.

Catherine the Great

Breathing Therapy

2009-03-16T23:47:00.000-07:00

Something interesting I received in an e-mail from a friend.

"Our noses have left and right nostrils. Are these nostrils having the same function for inhaling (breathe in) and exhaling (breathe out)?

Actually it's not the same and we can feel the difference. Accordingly, the right side represents the sun and the left side represents the moon.

When having headache, try to close your right nostril and use your left nostril to do breathing for about 5 min.

The headache will be gone. If you feel too tired, do it the opposite way. Close your left nostril and breathe through your right nostril. After a while, you will feel refreshed again.

Because the right side belongs to heat, so it gets hot easily. The left side gets cold easily..

Women breathe mainly with their left nostril, so they get calm down easily.

Men breathe mostly with their right nostril, so they get angry easily.

When we wake up, do we notice which nostril breathes faster? Is it the left side or the right side?

If the left nostril breathes faster, you will feel very tired. Close your left nostril and use your right nostril for breathing and you will get refresh quickly.

You can teach your kids about it. The effect of breathing therapy is much better for adults.

I used to have painful headache. When consulted a doctor, he told me jokingly," You will be all right if you get married!" The doctor did not bullshit me as he had his theory and supported with testimony.

During that time, I used to have headache every night and I was not able to study. I took medicine but I was not cured.

One night as I sat down to medidate, I closed my right nostril and breathed with my left nostril. In less than a week, it seemed that my headache problem had left me! I continued doing it for about a month and since then there was no recurrence of headache in me.

This is my own experience. I used to tell others who also suffer headache to try this method as it was effective for me. It also works for those who have tried as well. This is a natural therapy, unlike taking medicines for a long time may have side effect. So, why don't you try it out?

Practice the correct ways of breathing (breathe in and breathe out) and your body will be in a very relaxing condition".

Remembrance

2009-03-11T01:53:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning with the remembrance of my grandfather. For the first time in my life, I shed tears in his memory and symbolically touched his feet with my heart. I have not thought of him often, because I have only met him once. He fell ill and wanted to see us all, his son’s children. He was in India and we had to fly immediately to meet him.

I was about twelve years old on my first flight with my brother who was ten then, traveling all by ourselves. The journey was unforgettable. All the air hostesses looked alike to us and we kept counting them again and again adding up to more than one hundred as they kept walking up and down the airplane. It was exciting for us kids to travel unchaperoned for the first time.

The village was slow moving. My memory of my grandfather is still quite vague. He was already of advanced age and his eye sight was failing. As children were, we were more interested in rushing out to see the place rather than staying to talk to him. I was fascinated with seeing the cows behind the house and the padi fields nearby. The mornings started with me running to the fields close by. The water from the dam was used to water the rice fields. It rushed out from the dam with such force that I could not wait to stand under the gush, for my morning bath. The green fields were a refreshing sight to the eyes too.

After the bath, I would come back to the house to see my grandmother ready with freshly made South Indian coffee, which is the best coffee you could find anywhere. I can still remember the aroma which is so tantalizing.
The fresh cow’s milk and filtered coffee’s combination is truly heavenly! After breakfast with Idlis , sambar and chutney, I would rush out to walk the streets of the idyllic Indian village with a girl who used to live close by.

I remember watching the children reciting the time tables, sitting on the verandah of the classrooms. These were the children from that village and surrounding villages, who had come to study there. This was one of the small villages surrounded by many other villages with no schools around.

Grandpa was inspired to start this school, to bring about education to the children of the village. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to the education of children. He believed that, education was the only key to bring people out of poverty and ignorance. He pursed his dream till his last breath.

People at that time were so much into the caste system, and children of lower castes were not allowed to go to school then. But grandpa stood against those policies and stubbornly went about accepting any child, regardless of his or her caste or background. There was a time when the people from his community, started to alienate him too for allowing the children of other classes to study in his school. This kept him unperturbed and he carried on with his work religiously. He fought for equality and was a staunch Gandhi follower. He preached and lived a life of simplicity, not spending much on him but in the building of the school and later a college which is still being taken care by one of his other sons.

Some years later, I had gone to do my visa at the immigrations. I met the officer, who on finding out about who I was, wanted to speak to me. He told me that he was sitting on that chair because of grandpa. There were no schools in his village, so he walked to this school from his village nearby everyday, for his primary and secondary education. Now he holds a position as an immigration officer. He felt such gratitude and told me what a great man grandpa was. Though his words made me feel proud of him then, it did not register too long in my thoughts.

An incident took place recently, which ties it with the memories of grandfather. A woman related to me, her story of how she was treated as an untouchable by her employer, which was heart wrenching to listen to. I do not want to judge the employer, but it reminds me of how corrupt this whole class and caste system is. Since she came from such an upbringing, she brought with her the system which has become engrained in her.

This is not about a particular individual. This is about the whole system. This system of class and caste can degrade a human being. Without giving an iota of consideration to the feelings of the affected person, the system eats away the self worth of a human being. The person looses all self-respect and feels utter humiliation and dejection. The woman's deepest pain and cry shook me to my core. She moved me to weep with her. At that moment her pain became mine too .

I have never really thought much about this system of class differentiation, which is still practiced in India widely though not so openly now. But remembering grandfather who was already opposing this system more than fifty years ago and fighting to eradicate it brought those tears to me.

What a noble hearted human being he was. I felt sad that I do not even remember his face clearly. But this morning, my heart prostrated at the feet of this wonderful gentle man, who lived with his principles of equality and died with them.

“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” -

Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863.

Quotable Quotes

2009-03-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

LIFE

"What most people need to learn in life is how to love people and use things instead of using people and loving things."
~ Unknown ~

"To be sensitive is to feel the thoughts and hearts of others as only you would want yours felt."
~ Author Unknown ~

"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it."
~ Buddha

Down Memory Lane - Pt.4

2009-03-07T01:41:00.004-08:00

Under the Banyan Tree

Thanks to facebook, I have been able to contact a few of my friends after 30 years ! Yes incredible isn’t it? I used to wonder all these years, whether I will be able to meet these people, since I did not know their whereabouts other than remembering their names.

It was so exciting to know that they too remembered me. Exchanging some messages, I find that, I may be able to get in touch with some of the other girls too. I am excited to know that they are around somewhere, and I have another chance to catch up with the people that I thought, I had passed by in this journey of my life. I thought that I may never be able to meet them in this lifetime. Sounds huge but isn’t that the reality? We sometimes end up never meeting some people who made an impact on us.

Memories of us being a little naughty runs through my thoughts. Can you imagine, going for a movie was taboo, back then. We would literally spin some stories to the wardens, to able to go out of the hostel on Saturday afternoons. A 20 to 25 minutes walk, depending on our pace, would take us to the bus stand close by. From there we used to go to the city to go to some theatre there for a movie. After the movie, we may go for an ice-cream before returning to the hostel. Coming back was a little difficult sometimes and we used to sneak in quietly without Padhu teacher’s knowledge.

Classrooms

She was some disciplinarian. There was always the worry, that someone might catch us rushing back late from our outings. Sometimes we had to hush them and rush in time for dinner at the dining hall. Exhausted but feeling happy and at the same time a little relieved, to be able to come back without any problems, we will go to bed to prepare for the next day. Imagine that was the level of mischief we were allowed!

There were times we were a litte bolder than that, but somehow it had to be within the limits. Sarees were the only attires allowed. Anything else was unacceptable. Some found difficulty in adhering to such strictness, but since it was a part of the culture there, we had to dress accordingly. I was not too experimental like some of the girls, who would wear pants beneath a saree and remove the saree on their way out during their jaunts !

The dining hall does look better now. There were no fans then.

That was Kalakshetra then, a different time, a different generation. Nevertheless it was fun. Sweet memories of coming together with students from all over the world. We gathered at this idyllic place, which also happened to be the place we had come to learn the arts. The pace was slow moving with ample space to be in tune with the natural setting of the environment.

Lying in bed at night, I would sometimes listen to the winds howling when the night was quiet and if it was going to rain. When the sea was rough we could hear the sounds of the waves on the beach close by. In retrospect, what a beautiful environment to be in. Walking on the sands of the campus was cumbersome at that time. Sometimes I wonder if given another chance, would I have looked at the place in the same way? I guess, I would have greater appreciation now.

I was too busy with my classes and practices. Getting up at 4 or 5 in the morning to practice my music. Bathing in cold water and having to only be in a saree was quite a challenge, but the fun was there too. We were not allowed to listen to any other music other than classical music. It took me some years later to be able to get used to listening to other genres of music. But it was fun to be able to come together from different parts of the world and living in the same environment and learning to adapt to the time and place there.

We had to adhere to the strict discipline, not to the extent of a monastery though! But I remember meeting Padhu teacher a few years later, when she told me that the place was not the same now. Times had changed and they could not expect the girls to follow their strictness as we would!

Wow! What a compliment coming from her. Yes dear Dr. Padmasini who was also a doctor of homeopathy, was in here sixties when I met her. She was a slim lady with silver hair and was always seen in a white cotton saree with the pallu wraped around her shoulders most of the time. She would have been a beauty in her younger days. You could see from her features. We used to fear her for her strictness. She was the doctor we would have to see when we fell ill.

Nostalgic memories of my times in Kalakshetra. Though the years have gone by so swiftly, the memories are still fresh like the jasmine flowers. I always consider it as one of my greatest gifts amongst other gifts, to have been given the opportunity to be in such a wonderful and beautiful place.

No grievance

2009-03-06T01:21:00.000-08:00

This is a song in Tamil. I try to hear and sing it every day if I can. Sung by MS Subbulakshmi, the nightingale of India. She was 82 years old when she sang this. This was her last song in her last ever concert. I had the great fortune to hear one of her live concerts some 30 odd yrs back. She looked resplendent as ever, her songs were filled with devotion and she poured her soul into her singging. The lyrics were by Rajaji.

The essence of the song is that "There is no grievance for me Oh Lord, when you are there".

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was to have said - "Who am I , a mere Prime Minister before a Queen, a Queen of Music ".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.S._Subbulakshmi

Canvas

2009-03-05T16:35:00.001-08:00

I have come to discover many things along this journey of life. More and more I see us all, as these travelers who have come to this beautiful place called Earth. We are learning, evolving and growing in love, compassion, tolerance and other similar qualities.

We have been given a canvas, colors and brushes. We can paint our canvases with beautiful images or ugly images. The choice is ours. Nature has given us this freedom of choice. Each day goes by, with me starting the day with a fresh canvas, brush and paint.

A beautiful work of art is created when I use the color of love and compassion. I experience joy as a product of that art. The particular piece evolves like an incredible tree with beautiful flowers blooming. When my art portrays impatience and anger, the painting becomes ugly. Hence, I experience pain and sadness.

I have a choice to paint happy images, images of tolerance, images of peace and images of love, which brings about happiness in my life or I can choose to paint images of hate, images of impatience, images of anger, or images of revenge, which invariably brings sadness.

We are at different stages of our journey, by the virtue of our individual nature. I can’t expect others to think as I do or be as I am. Tolerance teaches me to look at others in a new perspective. When I become tolerant, I understand that each person is as special and unique as I am. They too are a part of this wonderful creation. Along the way I am learning that I need to accept each and every person for what he or she is. Tolerance teaches me acceptance.

When we understand that there is no need for competition between anyone, we accept every one in their own terms. There is so much of abundance that we have enough to share with everyone. Each one of us has been given the space and time to grow and evolve in our own beautiful ways.

We all share the same earth, the same fate and the same destiny. When my canvas is filled with the celebration of life, I end up with the most beautiful and magical of paintings of hope, joy, love, compassion and happiness.

Heal the Soul

2009-03-04T06:34:00.000-08:00

When we are hurt, in pain or in anger, we are not able to think or deal with things in a logical manner. The pain and anger will overshadow our way of thinking and dealing with certain situations in our life. Each time I feel pain or anger arising within me, I turn towards an antidote. It could be a poem, it could be a joke, it could be watching nature or it could be music.

Something which brings calmness and serenity to us, helps us to cool down before we are able to deal with certain situations. There are times when things have to be dealt with immediately. Those aside when we have to deal with people especially, I see that I need to take a moment, collect myself before I can utter or do something that I may regret.

I tried to watch a video of the post-mortem report of Kugan, the boy murdered in police custody and I could not continue. Such pain and sadness arose in me that I had to take a break and went to youtube and found this song. I listened to the song for a few times before I was able to compose myself and continue with the day. Music does heal the soul.

The Dream

2009-03-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

One morning I found myself waking up from a dream. As dreams are, this was so real that I could continue feeling the dream even after I woke up. It was so incredibly real that it took me a while to realize that it was just a dream.

The moment I woke up, I remembered the story of Ashtavakra and King Janaka. This is the story of how once King Janaka had a dream. In his dream he was attacked by some neighboring kings and he lost his kingdom. He found himself being chased into the jungle and desperate for his life, he kept running.

Then King Janaka found himself hungry and tired. Looking around, he saw a hut in the distance and decided to go there to ask for some food. On reaching the hut, he found an elderly person who offered him some rice and dhall and he was left alone to prepare his own meal.

Hungry and exhausted, King Janaka walked to a nearby clearing in the forest and with much difficulty, prepared some kichadi (a soft mixture of rice and dhall )of some sort with the ingredients given and lay it on some grass to cool the hot food. Just as he was going to take his first mouth, he sees 2 wild boars running his way and they trample on his food which was on the ground. Giving up all hope, tired and hungry, his heart heavy and dejected King Janaka started to weep.

He weeps piteously, and tears roll down his cheeks. When the cool tears touches his cheeks he wakes up and finds himself in his palace, lying on his comfortable bed, being fanned by 2 beautiful girls standing near him.

The dream affects the King so much, that he calls all his ministers and advisors to explain the dream to him. Many come from far and near to give an explanation to his dream. Some say that, that was a dream and due to his good karma, he was saved from a life of poverty and it came only as a dream. Many came and gave various interpretations of their own to his dream. No answer was able to satisfy King Janaka and he offered the kingdom as a gift, if someone could interpret his dream. He also proclaimed that if the person could not give him a satisfactory answer, they will be put in jail.

No one was able to satisfy King Janaka . One day, Ashtavakra (a small boy) whose father was imprisoned by the King approaches him. He walks into the court of King Janaka and finds all those seated there laughing in jest of him. Ashtavakra – some one who’s body is deformed and crooked in eight places. Ashta meaning 8 and Vakra meaning twisted, walks towards the king with confidence.

He asks the king, “Why are you having shoe- makers in your court oh King ?” The King and all those in the court of the palace were shocked to hear a small and ugly looking boy uttering such arrogant words. All the ministers in the court become angry and start shouting at the boy. The king silencing the courtiers, looked at Ashtavakra and asked him the reason for his question. Ashtavakra without fear said, “Oh King! Only shoe makers judge a skin for its leather. They identify the leather from its quality and kind”.

“Here, I find your court filled with shoe-makers, who are only judging me by my skin and form. Hence I called them all shoe-makers” said the little boy. The court became silent and the King was taken aback by the wisdom of a child as such. Then the boy asks the King what he wanted to know. The king related his dream to Ashtavakra and asked his interpretation of the dream.

Ashtavakra, without any hesitation asked the King, “What were you having with you in your dream oh King?” The King recalled remembering holding a begging bowl. Ashtavakra asked where the bowl was now. The King said that he did not have it with him anymore. Ashtavakra then said to the King that, it was only a dream and hence he was not able to bring the bowl with him. This satisfied the King and then the little boy, looking around the huge palace sees the paintings of King Janaka’s ancestors.

He asks the King who they are and where they are now. King Janaka tells him that they were his ancestors, who lived before him and now they are no more. Then the boy asked the King, who this kingdom belonged to. The King said that the kingdom belonged to his fore-fathers and now that they are no more, it belonged to him now. Then Ashtavakra asked the king, “why did they not take the kingdom with them when they went?” King Janaka tells him that, now that they have died, they could not take anything with them from this world.

Then the boy asked the King who's kingdom this was now. The King replied that it belonged to him. Ashtavakra asked the King whether he would take the kingdom with him when he dies. King Janaka said that he could not do so. Ashtavakra looking at the king said, "since you cannot take anything with you from here, Oh King! Then this too is a dream.!”

Historical Day

2009-03-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

Lim Kit Siang

History has just been made in Perak with the Perak State Assembly convened and held under a rain-tree.

Twenty-one years ago, the doctrine of separation of powers among the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature suffered a grievous blow in the “Mother of Judicial Crisis” on 1988, from which Malaysia has not yet fully recovered.

Today, the doctrine of separation of powers has suffered another grievous blow with the powers and privileges of the legislature in Perak, attacked by the executive, both federal and state, which is also seeking to invoke unprecedented judicial interference with the legislature.

The Perak Speaker, V. Sivakumar, the legitimate Perak Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, the legitimate senior Exco Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, and all the Pakatan Rakyat Assembly men and women have done Perak and Malaysia proud.

They have written a glorious chapter in the history of democracy in Perak and Malaysia.

Despite the show of excessive and unnecessary force by the Police and FRU, the Pakatan Rakyat Assembly representatives were undaunted and were able to conduct its short but historic proceeding under a rain-tree.

Shame to the Barisan Nasional and UMNO leaders. They are afraid of the Perak State Assembly meeting. They are also afraid of returning the mandate to the people with the holding of state general elections.

There is no stronger proof of the illegitimacy of Zambry as Perak Mentri Besar as a result of the illegal and unconstitutional power grab in Perak orchestrated by Najib Razak

HOPE - Revised

2009-02-28T22:04:00.000-08:00

Hope fulfills my longings every day,
Hope wipes away all unwanted tears,
Hope mends a broken heart today,
Hope cheers me up in my despair.

Hope overcomes hurdles along the way,
Hope makes dreams come true my way,
Hope puts all my sorrows to shame,
Hope rejoices with me in many ways.

Hope gives me a reason to smile,
Hope gives me its own wings to fly,
Hope makes me dance with its song,
Hope walks with the lame everyday.

Hope is a splendour I say,
Hope only brings joy to my heart,
Hope gives me a reason to live,
Hope is all that I’ve got today!

HOPE

2009-02-24T17:06:00.000-08:00

Hope brings sunshine to my days,
Hope gives me a vision everyday ,
Hope mends a broken heart today,
Hope brings serenity to my way.

Hope puts a smile on my face,
Hope brings a song to my lips again ,
Hope wipes away all unwanted tears,
Hope cheers me up in my despair.

Hope brings a light to darkened days ,
Hope makes the dark clouds disappear,
Hope gives a vibrant color to my day,
Hope walks with the lame everyday.

Hope makes me swing in the air,
Hope makes me laugh like a child,
Hope gives me tremendous power,
Hope gives me a reason to smile.

Hope gives me its wings to fly,
Hope gives a sail to my boat,
Hope makes me dance with its song,
Hope makes no excuses anymore.

Hope ignores all obstacles along,
Hope overcomes hurdles on the way,
Hope makes dreams come true my way,
Hope rejoices with me in many ways.

Hope puts all my sorrows to shame,
Hope keeps all sufferings away,
Hope brings gratitude along my way,
Hope fulfills my longing every day.

Hope brings a joy to my heart,
Hope is all that I’ve got today,
Hope gives me a reason to live,
Hope is a splendid thing I say!

Jai Ho

2009-02-24T02:16:00.000-08:00

A R Rahman performing live at the Oscars 2009

A remix version of Jai Ho by A R Rahman.

Oscars - Love and Hope

2009-02-23T10:33:00.000-08:00

Today I watched the Oscars and it was such a proud moment for many Indians around the world. I too felt proud that the movie Slumdog Millionaire which was nominated for 10 Oscars won 8 of them.

What makes this movie special is that it potrays hope. Hope is so powerful that it wipes out everything else on its path. Hope is so tremendous that it can overcome all obstacles. It brings joy and positivity. Hope brings clarity to this life.

It is also special to me because A. R. Rahman, one of my favorite music directors was able to bag 2 Oscars for this movie. It was my daughter’s dream come true since she is a true Rahmaniac (Rahman fan ). But what really touched me was, during his acceptance speech, he said "All my life I had a choice of Hate and Love, I chose Love and I am here."

How wonderful to recognize that Love wins in the end. Sometimes we may get disillusioned along the way, when we come across the many hurdles in life, which become obstacles in our path. But if we can persistently choose good over evil, hope over despair, love over hate, forgiving over hatred, we find that there is a beauty and joy in it.

I find that this journey of life teaches me many things. I learn many lessons each day. Some are so subtle that I may miss on them. It takes time and patience to listen to the voice of the heart. I have often questioned myself, what do I really want? Invariably this heart wants to be happy over everything else. Yet the tendency of the mind is to get caught up in all the dualities around.

And like the compass to help a lost traveler, I too need to be put on track again and again. I try not to judge myself too harshly, now that I understand that I need to be patient with myself and others in this journey of mine. It gets easier when I am able to spend more and more time in fulfilling this mission that I have undertaken. To be happy and to treat others as I would like to be treated. And above all to allow Love to conquer and be the winner !

Amazing Child

2009-02-20T17:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday evening while I was travelling, I watched the sunset. It was a beautiful scene and it seemed to me like the sun was hiding behind the clouds and peeping outside from behind them.

When I met Bhavitraa that evening, I tried to describe the sunset to her and went on a vivid description of how beautiful the sunset looked. To make it more interesting, I took a veil and placed it before my face and described how the sun was hiding behind the clouds and how I felt that it was shy and kept going down to hide behind the clouds.

Listening attentively, she looked at me and said “Okay, I will give you the sun." Everyone looked at her and became silent for a moment, waiting for her to continue. I wondered how she was going to get the sun for me. She said simply, “I will paint it for you and give you the sun." When we asked her what color she will paint and she said immediately "pink." She will paint me a pink sun and give it to me ! How more simple can things be? The wisdom of a child of three amazes me.

Amazing Child!

All throughout my life, met many kids,
But have never seen someone like you.
Was I too engrossed in my daily chores,
That I have missed on upon them.

Or are you simply someone special?
Quite different from the others.
Cute, adorable, naughty and sweet,
Angelic, charming, smart as one can be.

Bright like the sun, with such imagination,
You make me pause on this journey of mine.
To stop for a moment and take a breath,
And see how amazing a child can be!

Rumi

2009-02-17T21:10:00.000-08:00

For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself.
From within, I couldn't decide what to do.
Unable to see, I heard my name being called.
Then I walked outside.

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don't go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don't go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don't go back to sleep.

The Search

2009-02-16T22:08:00.000-08:00

" Don't look at your form, however ugly or beautiful.
Look at love and at the aim of your quest. ...
O you whose lips are parched, keep looking for water.
Those parched lips are proof that eventually you will reach the source."

- Rumi

Awakening - The Universe

2009-02-15T20:40:00.001-08:00

An awakening took place in me one day. Strange but true all of a sudden I felt that all these while, I have been thinking backwards ! It may sound ridiculous but yes, all these while earlier, my outlook to life had been like, okay, you are born, this is your karma and you have to go on living whether you like it or not. I felt that I had no choice but to accept the so called fate.

At the same time I am faced with so much of suffering everywhere around me and I cannot do anything about it. Then my burning and constant question became, "Why this creation? Why do one need to be born, to go through all these pain and suffering ? Would'nt it be better if this whole thing did not happen ? Is the creator a sadist, enjoying watching the suffering of the people ?

One day all of a sudden like a paradigm shift, something just became clear in my head. My perspective changed abruptly in a split of a second. Strange but true, I realized that this world, that these relationships that I have been given and everything that I see around me, have been given to me to enjoy and to be appreciated.

I have been given this gift of life. I am a special being, like each and every one of us on this earth. I have come here not to suffer, but to feel the joy and abundance of life. Everything that I see around has been placed for me to enjoy. Every human is a creation out of love by the creator and has come here to feel the joy, happiness and abundance of the universe.

I have been walking along with a screwed up vision of life until then! Now the burden was no more there. I felt as though the weight had been lifted from my back. I need not hunch any more, therefore I can start walking upright and this felt light and free !

Today I read a poem by Rumi, and here I found that he spoke of the sleep and the awakening. Yes awakening to my true reality. I can imagine myself as the embryo denying the reality of the Universe.

Rumi's poetry is so widely appreciated because it has the capacity to uplift our own consciouness. Reading the words of Rumi can awaken in ourselves, our own spiritual self.

The Universe

What if someone said to an embryo in the womb,
“Outside of your world of black nothing
is a miraculously ordered universe;
vast Earth covered with tasty food;
mountains, oceans and plains,
fragrant orchards and fields full of crops;
a luminous sky beyond your reach,
with a sun, moonbeams, and uncountable stars;
there are winds from south, north and west,
and gardens replete with sweet flowers
like a banquet at a wedding feast.

The wonders of this world are beyond description.
What are you doing living in a dark prison,
Drinking blood through that narrow tube?”
But the womb- world is all an embryo knows
And it would not be particularly impressed
By such amazing tales, saying dismissively:
“You’re crazy. That is all a deluded fantasy.”

One day you will look back and laugh at yourself.
You’ll say, “ I can’t believe I was so asleep!
How did I ever forget the truth?
How ridiculous to believe that sadness and sickness
Are anything other than bad dreams.”

Happy Birthday to you !

2009-02-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

You will always remain my little baby,
No mater how big you may grow,
Wonderful adorable child of mine ,
The darling apple of my eyes.

What austerities have you done?
Many come and ask of me,
To beget such a child like you,
In this lifetime of mine.

I know of no austerities,
Nor any poojas have I done,
You are a just a beautiful little gift,
From the wonderful Grace Divine.

To be cherished and to be loved,
As each and every other soul,
To be understood and to be protected,
Like all the children of this earth.

So let me take this opportunity,
To wish you a happy birthday,
May all your dreams and wishes come true,
May all the blessings be upon you.

May you walk as a loving and compassionate soul,
May you bring hope and understanding to others,
May you treat others as you would like to be treated,
May you have all the joys of the universe!

Becoming Aware

2009-02-12T05:58:00.000-08:00

Each day is a learning process in the journey of this pilgrim. Since I have taken upon myself to start this journey, so many new lessons are taught to me by the Universe. I was reminded of something important today. I have heard about it earlier, but today it sounded so crystal clear, like ya, I understand. Gary Zukav was speaking on the Oprah Show and they were talking about marriages. I guess we can apply this to each and every relationship that we have. Gary spoke about "Intention".

To ask myself, "Where do I come from when I do or say something? Do I come from a place of anger, do I come from a place of cynicism, do I come from a place of hatred ? Or do I come from a place of Love, Hope and Compassion".

When my intention is to hurt someone, I will invariably hurt the person I am dealing with. Even though I may say that I did not mean to, the other person will feel the pain. Intentions create the Reality. When we feel angry, jealous, hatred, superior or inferior we are coming from a place of fear. So if someone is angry, jealous, hateful, superior or inferior, that means they are frightened. Instead of dealing with those emotions they throw out their negative reactions.

Sounds complicated, but when I started to work on myself, rather than focus on other's faults, I find that this is really not as difficult as it sounds. When I come from a place with the intention to hurt, the other person automatically becomes pained and reacts accordingly. The problem becomes more complicated like two people throwing balls at each other. When we start the game of hurt, it continues till both parties are extremely exhausted and shattered. Haven't we all gone through this game?

More and more, I am learning to react less to the circumstances around me. I need to stop and analyse where I am at. How am I going to react to a particular situation. When I come from a place of non judgement, I find that there is no friction there. I am on my journey of self awareness. Slowly recognising that the most beautiful part in the process of becoming aware is the happiness it brings.

All these years, I went around blaming others for my pain and suffering. I have started to understand that I am the cause of all the pain in my life. Difficult to digest ? Yes it is like facing your own ghosts ! But along the way we come to terms with it and a sweet understanding takes place. There is more joy than we can imagine. There is a freedom and we can start taking our flight.
-To fly in the wings of freedom -

Angel from Heaven

2009-02-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

Mattie's peotry is theraupatic to me. What do I know of Mattie other than that he was a young American poet and peacemaker. Yes, I have only seen him on The Oprah Show. Yet he has touched me in a way, very few people could ever do. Who are you Mattie ? My Angel from Heaven ?

Heartsongs by Mattie Stephanek

I have a song, deep in my heart,
And only I can hear it.
If I close my eyes and sit very still
It is so easy to listen to my song.
When my eyes are open and
I am so busy and moving and busy,
If I take time and listen very hard,
I can still hear my Heartsong.

It makes me feel happy.
Happier than ever.
Happier than everywhere
And everything and everyone
In the whole wide world
Happy like thinking about
Going to Heaven when I die.
My Heartsong sounds like this:

I love you! I love you!
How happy you can be!
How happy you can make
The whole world be!

And sometimes it's other
Tunes and words, too,
But it always sings the
Same special feeling to me.
It makes me think of
Jamie, and Katie and Stevie,
And other wonderful things.
This is my special song.

But do you know what?
All people have a special song
Inside their hearts!
Everyone in the whole wide world
Has a special Heartsong.
If you believe in magical, musical hearts,
And if you believe you can be happy,
Then you, too, will hear your song.

Taking Responsibility

2009-02-09T23:20:00.000-08:00

Time to stop the blame game. Time to have a post-mortem done. Time to take responsibility for our actions. Yes, each and everyone one of us ochestrated this symphony. This concert taking place in Perak, which may pave the way for more concerts to take place elsewhere. One may ask, "But I sit in Penang, I have nothing to do with this. I am an ordinary citizen, trying to make a living, working to support my family," so on and so forth.

Yet, we as individuals, are connected to the rest of the society. As the saying goes "No man is an island". We cannot live as recluses. As Dr. Martin Luther King rightly said, "It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. We are made to live together because of the interrelated structure of reality. Did you ever stop to think that you can’t leave for your job in the morning without being dependent on most of the world? You get up in the morning and go to the bathroom and reach over for the sponge, and that’s handed to you by a Pacific islander. You reach for a bar of soap, and that’s given to you at the hands of a Frenchman.

And then you go into the kitchen to drink your coffee for the morning, and that’s poured into your cup by a South American. And maybe you want tea: that’s poured into your cup by a Chinese. Or maybe you’re desirous of having cocoa for breakfast, and that’s poured into your cup by a West African. And then you reach over for your toast, and that’s given to you at the hands of an English-speaking farmer, not to mention the baker. And before you finish eating breakfast in the morning, you’ve depended on more than half of the world."

Man has always been looking at ways of protecting himself from the others. Since the stone ages , we have always had to deal with someone or something. We were fighting the animals, and since then we are still fighting the different societies, races, religions, and countries. We seem to gather as one, only when we see a common enemy. Somehow it is in our nature, to become united when we have some outsider come in. I suppose this world will only unite as one if we have some aliens coming from outer space !

Looking at the situation here in our country, what has transpired ? I do not want to go into the details since everyone is aware about it. Many of us are still stunned from the recent happenings and still reeling in shock and amazement about the whole thing. All these while, most of us were sitting in our comfort zones, ignoring what has been happening around us. Other than some politicians, (most of them have their own selfish reasons), many activists have been working tirelessly and selflessly to bring about a change in the society. They are not able to reach the larger public due to lack of manpower and social awareness amongst the people.

Though we saw the tsunami of change taking place during the last election, we did not do enough to bring about a proper change. Many of us were passive fence- sitters. We were not serious enough and took the responsibility of voting for our rights very lightly.

If we can only go beyond our differences and start to work as one - One Race ! If we can truly understand, that we are all interelated and each and every action and reaction of ours will have its own repercussions. Is it a dream, to begin with, to bring about a change in our thinking ? Are we as a society never going to grow up into adults, rather than remain like kindergarten kids fighting for a toy? When are we going to look at the bigger picture ?

"If we are seeking to develop a just society, some say that the important thing is to get there, and the means are really unimportant; any means will do so as long as they get you there. They may be violent or they may be untruthful. They may be unjust means to a just end. There have been those who have argued this throughout history. But we will never have peace in the world until men everywhere recognize that ends are not cut off from means because the means represents seed and the end represents the tree ". In the words of Martin Luther King.

Can our politicians work harmoniously, ironing out their differences and work genuinely towards a just society? Can we as individuals throw away our biasness and learn to accomodate each another? Can we as a society, work together, understanding and respecting each others differences ? Is it a dream ? Or am I naive ? Is my hope unattainable ? Have we become so arrogant and selfish that we can never look at the similiarites. As my teacher says, "We have not been trained to look at the similiarites but rather look at the differences."

Will we have the courage to look within ourselves and find our faults ? Will we have the strength to bring about a true change in ourselves ? Only if, we can come together as one race, going beyond our differences, are we going to be able to become successful in our endeavour. Before we can even become one as a human race, can we start off as One Bangsa Malaysia ? Is it too tall an order ? Otherwise, will it always remain a dream ?

Recipe For Peace

2009-02-08T20:15:00.000-08:00

"I want to be a poet, a peacemaker and a philosopher who played."

-Mattie Stephanek-

Mattie left us with this beautiful concept of peace, which he wrote May 12, 2002
(12 years old)

Peace is possible.
Make peace an attitude.
Want it.
Make peace a habit.
Live it.
Make peace a reality.
Share it.
Peace is possible.
Make peace matter.
Our matter.
Make peace a priority.
Our priority.
Make peace a choice.
Our choice.
Peace is possible.
We must
Think gently,
Speak gently,
Live gently.
Peace is possible.
Be happy with who you are.
Be happy with who others are.
Be happy that we Are.
Peace is possible.
Role model acceptance.
Love others.
Role model forgiveness.
Encourage others.
Role model tolerance.
Treasure others.
Peace is possible.
Peace is possible.
Peace is possible.

~Mattie J. T. Stepanek, May 12, 2002
In Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait Through Heartsongs

Cry my Beloved Malay Soul

2009-02-08T09:29:00.000-08:00

A thought provoking article by AB Sulaiman in Malaysiakini.com

http://malaysiakini.com/opinions/97705

Cry

2009-02-07T20:10:00.000-08:00

I cry often.

I cry when I listen to music,
I cry when I read a poem by Mattie.

I cry when Kugan is murdered,
I cry when the country is betrayed.

I cry when Obama takes his oath,
I cry when I read Martin Luther King.

I cry when I listen to my Master,
I cry when his words awaken my soul.

I cry when my heart is filled,
I cry when love becomes unbearable.

I cry when good people are hurt,
I cry when evil seems to be triumphant.

I cry for a patient mind,
I cry for a forgiving heart.

I cry for strength and wisdom ,
I cry for a compassionate heart.

Above all I cry,

I cry for a heart which is full,
Filled with Love and Compassion.

For Our World

2009-02-07T03:16:00.000-08:00

With so much going on around us, we tend to forget the simple truths in life. I remembered Mattie Stepanek today. This angel, who came to this earth, lived for 14 years with the wisdom of a 1000 year old. (1990-2004)

Each time I think of him, tears well in my eyes and my heart bursts with Love. The love that he lived and practiced, in his few years on earth. His poems are like medicine to the wounded heart. His songs make me weep and after the shower of tears, I feel soothed and calmed. Cleansed of all the impurities I have collected along the way. His poems are like the waves on the beach, coming to wash the dirt away.......

He began writing when he was about 3 years old. Before he passed away in June, 2004, Mattie had written thousands of poems, dozens of essays and short stories, and presented a bound anthology of his writing to the Library of Congress.

Mattie’s poems of peace and hope have touched millions of lives; his heartsongs continues to reach people of all ages around the world. His life view is one of love and generosity and as a poet and a peacemaker, his desire is to bring his message of peace to as many people as possible.

In Mattie’s words, “we must remember to play after every storm and to celebrate the gift of life as we have it, or else life becomes a task, rather than a gift. We must always listen to the song in our heart, and share that song with others.”

FOR OUR WORLD

We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

September 11, 2001
© Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek
From the book HOPE THROUGH HEARTSONGS

Rhythm of the Heart

2009-02-05T06:06:00.001-08:00

East meets West. A suberbly arranged and performed piece by V.S. Narasimhan.
A new approach to Mokshamu Galada one of my favourite Kritis, which never fails to amaze me each time I hear it being performed.

Mokshamu Galada - The strings of my heart are plucked to the rhythm of this piece by Tyagaraja in Ragam Saramathi.

Meaning:
Is salvation attainable by anyone in this world, who has not realised the Self? Are you not, Lord, ever ready to vouchsafe your vision to those intensely yearning for it? Is Beatitude attainable by anyone who has not experienced the profound ecstacy of devotional music?

The vital force praaNaa and anaala, fire, combine to generate praNava, the Omkaara (sound of Om). From that Omkaara, the seven musical notes emerge. To those who cannot intuitively perceive the mind of Shiva, who worships naada through the VeeNa, is salvation attainable?

The Christmas Sermon

2009-02-03T17:35:00.000-08:00

I found this speech so compelling that I felt that I needed to read it again and again to cherish it in my heart. I happened to come across the website of Vannessa Leigh, in which she had put up this article. I have to thank Vanessa for placing this wonderful speech of Dr.Martin Luther King on her blog.

Peace on Earth…

This Christmas season finds us a rather bewildered human race. We have neither peace within nor peace without. Everywhere paralyzing fears harrow people by day and haunt them by night. Our world is sick with war; everywhere we turn we see its ominous possibilities. And yet, my friends, the Christmas hope for peace and good will toward all men can no longer be dismissed as a kind of pious dream of some utopian. If we don’t have good will toward men in this world, we will destroy ourselves by the misuse of our own instruments and our own power. Wisdom born of experience should tell us that war is obsolete. There may have been a time when war served as a negative good by preventing the spread and growth of an evil force, but the very destructive power of modern weapons of warfare eliminates even the possibility that war may any longer serve as a negative good. And so, if we assume that life is worth living, if we assume that mankind has a right to survive, then we must find an alternative to war?and so let us this morning explore the conditions for peace. Let us this morning think anew on the meaning of that Christmas hope: “Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Men.” And as we explore these conditions, I would like to suggest that modern man really go all out to study the meaning of nonviolence, its philosophy and its strategy.

We have experimented with the meaning of nonviolence in our struggle for racial justice in the United States, but now the time has come for man to experiment with nonviolence in all areas of human conflict, and that means nonviolence on an international scale.

Now let me suggest first that if we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective. No individual can live alone; no nation can live alone, and as long as we try, the more we are going to have war in this world. Now the judgment of God is upon us, and we must either learn to live together as brothers or we are all going to perish together as fools.

Yes, as nations and individuals, we are interdependent. I have spoken to you before of our visit to India some years ago. It was a marvelous experience; but I say to you this morning that there were those depressing moments. How can one avoid being depressed when one sees with one’s own eyes evidences of millions of people going to bed hungry at night? How can one avoid being depressed when one sees with ones own eyes thousands of people sleeping on the sidewalks at night? More than a million people sleep on the sidewalks of Bombay every night; more than half a million sleep on the sidewalks of Calcutta every night. They have no houses to go into. They have no beds to sleep in. As I beheld these conditions, something within me cried out: “Can we in America stand idly by and not be concerned?” And an answer came: “Oh, no!” And I started thinking about the fact that right here in our country we spend millions of dollars every day to store surplus food; and I said to myself: “I know where we can store that food free of charge? in the wrinkled stomachs of the millions of God’s children in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and even in our own nation, who go to bed hungry at night.”

It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. We are made to live together because of the interrelated structure of reality. Did you ever stop to think that you can’t leave for your job in the morning without being dependent on most of the world? You get up in the morning and go to the bathroom and reach over for the sponge, and that’s handed to you by a Pacific islander. You reach for a bar of soap, and that’s given to you at the hands of a Frenchman. And then you go into the kitchen to drink your coffee for the morning, and that’s poured into your cup by a South American. And maybe you want tea: that’s poured into your cup by a Chinese. Or maybe you’re desirous of having cocoa for breakfast, and that’s poured into your cup by a West African. And then you reach over for your toast, and that’s given to you at the hands of an English-speaking farmer, not to mention the baker. And before you finish eating breakfast in the morning, you’ve depended on more than half of the world. This is the way our universe is structured, this is its interrelated quality. We aren’t going to have peace on earth until we recognize this basic fact of the interrelated structure of all reality.

Now let me say, secondly, that if we are to have peace in the world, men and nations must embrace the nonviolent affirmation that ends and means must cohere. One of the great philosophical debates of history has been over the whole question of means and ends. And there have always been those who argued that the end justifies the means, that the means really aren’t important. The important thing is to get to the end, you see.

So, if you’re seeking to develop a just society, they say, the important thing is to get there, and the means are really unimportant; any means will do so long as they get you there? they may be violent, they may be untruthful means; they may even be unjust means to a just end. There have been those who have argued this throughout history. But we will never have peace in the world until men everywhere recognize that ends are not cut off from means, because the means represent the ideal in the making, and the end in process, and ultimately you can’t reach good ends through evil means, because the means represent the seed and the end represents the tree.

It’s one of the strangest things that all the great military geniuses of the world have talked about peace. The conquerors of old who came killing in pursuit of peace, Alexander, Julius Caesar, Charlemagne, and Napoleon, were akin in seeking a peaceful world order. If you will read Mein Kampf closely enough, you will discover that Hitler contended that everything he did in Germany was for peace. And the leaders of the world today talk eloquently about peace. Every time we drop our bombs in North Vietnam, President Johnson talks eloquently about peace. What is the problem? They are talking about peace as a distant goal, as an end we seek, but one day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. All of this is saying that, in the final analysis, means and ends must cohere because the end is preexistent in the means, and ultimately destructive means cannot bring about constructive ends.

Now let me say that the next thing we must be concerned about if we are to have peace on earth and good will toward men is the nonviolent affirmation of the sacredness of all human life. Every man is somebody because he is a child of God. And so when we say “Thou shalt not kill,” we’re really saying that human life is too sacred to be taken on the battlefields of the world. Man is more than a tiny vagary of whirling electrons or a wisp of smoke from a limitless smoldering. Man is a child of God, made in His image, and therefore must be respected as such. Until men see this everywhere, until nations see this everywhere, we will be fighting wars. One day somebody should remind us that, even though there may be political and ideological differences between us, the Vietnamese are our brothers, the Russians are our brothers, the Chinese are our brothers; and one day we’ve got to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. But in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile. In Christ there is neither male nor female. In Christ there is neither Communist nor capitalist. In Christ, somehow, there is neither bound nor free. We are all one in Christ Jesus. And when we truly believe in the sacredness of human personality, we won’t exploit people, we won’t trample over people with the iron feet of oppression, we won’t kill anybody.

There are three words for “love” in the Greek New Testament; one is the word “eros.” Eros is a sort of esthetic, romantic love. Plato used to talk about it a great deal in his dialogues, the yearning of the soul for the realm of the divine. And there is and can always be something beautiful about eros, even in its expressions of romance. Some of the most beautiful love in all of the world has been expressed this way.

Then the Greek language talks about “philia,” which is another word for love, and philia is a kind of intimate love between personal friends. This is the kind of love you have for those people that you get along with well, and those whom you like on this level you love because you are loved.

Then the Greek language has another word for love, and that is the word “agape.” Agape is more than romantic love, it is more than friendship. Agape is understanding, creative, redemptive good will toward all men. Agape is an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return. Theologians would say that it is the love of God operating in the human heart. When you rise to love on this level, you love all men not because you like them, not because their ways appeal to you, but you love them because God loves them. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “Love your enemies.” And I’m happy that he didn’t say, “Like your enemies,” because there are some people that I find it pretty difficult to like. Liking is an affectionate emotion, and I can’t like anybody who would bomb my home. I can’t like anybody who would exploit me. I can’t like anybody who would trample over me with injustices. I can’t like them. I can’t like anybody who threatens to kill me day in and day out. But Jesus reminds us that love is greater than liking. Love is understanding, creative, redemptive good will toward all men. And I think this is where we are, as a people, in our struggle for racial justice. We can’t ever give up. We must work passionately and unrelentingly for first-class citizenship. We must never let up in our determination to remove every vestige of segregation and discrimination from our nation, but we shall not in the process relinquish our privilege to love.

I’ve seen too much hate to want to hate, myself, and I’ve seen hate on the faces of too many sheriffs, too many white citizens’ councilors, and too many Klansmen of the South to want to hate, myself; and every time I see it, I say to myself, hate is too great a burden to bear. Somehow we must be able to stand up before our most bitter opponents and say: “We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will and we will still love you. We cannot in all good conscience obey your unjust laws and abide by the unjust system, because non-cooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good, and so throw us in jail and we will still love you. Bomb our homes and threaten our children, and, as difficult as it is, we will still love you. Send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our communities at the midnight hour and drag us out on some wayside road and leave us half-dead as you beat us, and we will still love you. Send your propaganda agents around the country, and make it appear that we are not fit, culturally and otherwise, for integration, and we’ll still love you. But be assured that we’ll wear you down by our capacity to suffer, and one day we will win our freedom. We will not only win freedom for ourselves; we will so appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory.”

If there is to be peace on earth and good will toward men, we must finally believe in the ultimate morality of the universe, and believe that all reality hinges on moral foundations. Something must remind us of this as we once again stand in the Christmas season and think of the Easter season simultaneously, for the two somehow go together. Christ came to show us the way. Men love darkness rather than the light, and they crucified him, and there on Good Friday on the cross it was still dark, but then Easter came, and Easter is an eternal reminder of the fact that the truth-crushed earth will rise again. Easter justifies Carlyle in saying, “No lie can live forever.” And so this is our faith, as we continue to hope for peace on earth and good will toward men: let us know that in the process we have cosmic companionship.

In 1963, on a sweltering August afternoon, we stood in Washington, D.C., and talked to the nation about many things. Toward the end of that afternoon, I tried to talk to the nation about a dream that I had had, and I must confess to you today that not long after talking about that dream I started seeing it turn into a nightmare. I remember the first time I saw that dream turn into a nightmare, just a few weeks after I had talked about it. It was when four beautiful, unoffending, innocent Negro girls were murdered in a church in Birmingham, Alabama. I watched that dream turn into a nightmare as I moved through the ghettos of the nation and saw my black brothers and sisters perishing on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity, and saw the nation doing nothing to grapple with the Negroes’ problem of poverty. I saw that dream turn into a nightmare as I watched my black brothers and sisters in the midst of anger and understandable outrage, in the midst of their hurt, in the midst of their disappointment, turn to misguided riots to try to solve that problem. I saw that dream turn into a nightmare as I watched the war in Vietnam escalating, and as I saw so-called military advisors, sixteen thousand strong, turn into fighting soldiers until today over five hundred thousand American boys are fighting on Asian soil. Yes, I am personally the victim of deferred dreams, of blasted hopes, but in spite of that I close today by saying I still have a dream, because, you know, you can’t give up in life. If you lose hope, somehow you lose that vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of all. And so today I still have a dream.

I have a dream that one day men will rise up and come to see that they are made to live together as brothers. I still have a dream this morning that one day every Negro in this country, every colored person in the world, will be judged on the basis of the content of his character rather than the color of his skin, and every man will respect the dignity and worth of human personality. I still have a dream that one day the idle industries of Appalachia will be revitalized, and the empty stomachs of Mississippi will be filled, and brotherhood will be more than a few words at the end of a prayer, but rather the first order of business on every legislative agenda. I still have a dream today that one day justice will roll down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. I still have a dream today that in all of our state houses and city halls men will be elected to go there who will do justly and love mercy and walk humbly with their God. I still have a dream today that one day war will come to an end, that men will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, that nations will no longer rise up against nations, neither will they study war any more. I still have a dream today that one day the lamb and the lion will lie down together and every man will sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid. I still have a dream today that one day every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill will be made low, the rough places will be made smooth and the crooked places straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. I still have a dream that with this faith we will be able to adjourn the councils of despair and bring new light into the dark chambers of pessimism. With this faith we will be able to speed up the day when there will be peace on earth and good will toward men. It will be a glorious day, the morning stars will sing together, and the sons of God will shout for joy.

Coutesy of :

http://vanessaleighsblog.wordpress.com

Playing for Change

2009-01-30T22:18:00.000-08:00

From the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", comes the follow up to the classic "Stand By Me" and the second of many "songs around the world". Featured is an incredible track written by Pierre Minetti performed by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it traveled the globe.

A Tribute to A R Rahman

2009-01-29T17:26:00.000-08:00

A beautiful video compilation by Raaja. We have to listen to the music of A R Rahman to understand what a genius he is. I dedicate this video to my Rahmaniac daughter, who was instrumental in my introduction to Rahman and his music !

He has just pocketed the prestigious Golden Globe award and now A.R. Rahman nicknamed “Mozart of Madras” by Time magazine has stunned entire India with 3 Oscars nominations for his work in Slumdog Millionaire. It is a dream come true for India.

He was nominated one for Best Original Score and Best Original Song categories for two of his compositions — ‘Jai Ho’ and ‘O Saya’.

The film Slumdog Millionaire has got 10 Oscar nominations, while AR Rahman 3 nominations.

Rahman, one of the most talented music composers of Tamil cinema, stepped into the limelight with Mani Ratnam’s Roja, which bagged the National Award for him. Rahman, a graduate in western classical music from Trinity College of Music, London, has composed many experimental melodies, raps and hip-hops.

His music created a new trend, scaled astonishing heights of appreciation and grew to become a sensation. Many of his compositions might actually sound ordinary the first time. But his compositions are an intriguing cocktail of musical pieces that would blow your mind.

A.R. Rahman's path to Hollywood

Rahman Born January 6, 1966 to R. K. Shekhar, a composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam-language films started to learn the piano at the age of 4.
His father died when Rahman was 9 years old, he was forced to start work as a keyboard player to support his family at just 11 years old.

Dropped out of high school to pursue his music career.
He converted to Islam from Hinduism in 1989 along with his family.
At the age of 11, he joined, as a keyboardist, the troupe of Tamil Composer Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

His first debut film Soundtrack Director Maniratnam “Roja” in 1992 turned out to be the world’s 10th best soundtrack ever, as rated by Time Magazine.
The debut “Roja” led Rahman to receive the Rajat Kamal award for Best Music Director at the National Film Awards, the first time ever by a first-time film composer.

His soundtracks gained him recognition in the Tamil Nadu film industry and across the world for his stylistic versatility in his pieces including in Western classical, Carnatic, Traditional/folk, jazz, reggae and rock music.

Rahman has sold over 200 million albums worldwide: more than Madonna and Britney Spears combined.

Law of Attraction -2

2009-01-27T20:40:00.000-08:00

What is the Law of Attraction?

The Law of Attraction is a deceptively simple philosophy by which we can live life on our own terms and attract things, experiences and people to us. In the simplest possible terms, the Law of Attraction says that "like attracts like." This is evident in the world around us -- think about old sayings like, "birds of a feather flock together," or "tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are."

But the Law of Attraction takes the concept of "like attracts like" to a deeper level: the level of thought. This means that not only do we attract circumstances, material objects and people to us according to our actions, but also according to the thoughts we consistently hold in mind. This too can be seen on a commonsense level.

For example, it is obvious that people who succeed in business spend a great deal more time thinking about business success than people who do not do well in business, and the Law of Attraction explains why this is true.

On a deeper level, the Law of Attraction is based on the concept that everything in the universe is simply energy. Over the past century, scientists have begun to understand this fact as well, and especially within the field of quantum physics, there is now an understanding that all material "things" are actually just energy vibrating at a certain frequency.

This means that energy vibrating at one frequency takes on the appearance of a tree; energy vibrating at another frequency takes the appearance of a person, or a car, or a blade of grass, or anything else that exists. Don't misunderstand: this is not science fiction or "new age" spiritualism. It is real science being conducted by real scientist in laboratories every single day.

Just like everything else in the universe, our thoughts are "things" too. This means that our thoughts have power and the concepts we consistently keep in mind DO affect us. Again, this can be seen on a very commonsense level. If you grew up in a home where you were told you were inferior to other people every single day of your life, do you think by the time you were grown you would have a poor self image?

Of course you would, because you had been presented with this information over and over and over, and it has become your habitual way of thinking. But even in this extreme circumstance, you are still not a victim. You always have a choice what you choose to think, regardless of what other people may say or do, or what you see going on in the world around you.

Of course it can be difficult to think good things about yourself, when all you ever hear are bad things, but you can still do it -- get just takes more concentration and focus. At the end of the day, you are always responsible for your thoughts -- so am I, and so is everyone else.

This idea scares some people -- they really don't want to be responsible for their lives or their thoughts. But in fact, it is actually great news. The fact that only YOU are responsible for your life means that YOU are in control. You can create it anyway you want it, or as I often like to say, "It is what I say it is." This is not egotism -- this is taking responsibility for your life, and once you reach this point, the Law of Attraction begins working for you instead of against you.

Now let's break all of these ideas down and apply them to your day to day life. Understanding the Law of Attraction means understanding that you are NEVER a victim. You attract everything that comes into your life -- both good and bad. This can be difficult to accept at first for some people. After all, none of us want to face up to the idea that we have attracted a bad situation, person or experience into our life. But the truth is -- we do.

This is the first concept that must be clearly understood in order to use the Law of Attraction to create the life YOU want. You must take responsibility for everything, and everyone in your life, with the understanding that you have attracted these things by virtue of your thoughts.

So does this mean that you have to closely monitor your thoughts, and be ultra careful what you think about every day and night? No, not exactly. But it does mean that you should pay special attention to the things that are "on your radar" on a daily basis. You see, it is your PREDOMINANT way of thinking that determines what is attracted to you.

For example, if you occasionally think about poverty and poverty-stricken people, but you're PREDOMINANT mindset is one of wealth and abundance, you can expect to attract a lot more abundance and wealth into your life than poverty. This may sound like a ridiculous oversimplification, but it is absolutely true. The more you think about a thing, the more you attract that thing to you.

And it doesn't matter if the thing you are thinking about is something you want or not. For example if you have a friend or loved one with a disease, you might begin to spend a lot of time thinking about that disease. This would be a very poor choice to make, because anything that you think about consistently will move closer to you in your life. In other words it will be attracted to you.

The great psychologist, and originator of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dr Albert Ellis, is famous for saying, "We become what we think about." This is the simplest way of explaining how the Law of Attraction works and how you should organize your life -- and your thoughts -- to create the life that YOU desire, the life that only you can create.

Unfortunately, we lived in a world where the Law of Attraction is not understood well at all. Every day, well-meaning people focus their attention upon horrible things, things they do not want in their life, things they want to fight against, or to do away with. The problem is, by doing this they simply attract more of these things into the world.

Mother Teresa understood this concept well, and when she was asked to participate in an anti-war rally, she flatly refused, saying, "I will never attend an anti-war rally -- call me when you have a pro peace rally and I'll be there." Mother Teresa understood that our attention and our thoughts have power, and anything (whether good or bad) that we give our attention to will grow stronger and become a bigger part of our lives.

To summarize, to work with the Law of Attraction it is important to remember that you are NEVER a victim -- you have attracted everything and everyone in your life by virtue of your habitual way of thinking. Understanding this will lead you to the obvious conclusion that it is of the utmost importance that you pay attention to what you allow "on your radar." This means making it a point to never focus on things that you do not want. To do so is to simply attract more of these things into your life.

And finally, working with the Law of Attraction means understanding that above all else, you are a CREATOR. You create your own reality, and you co-create the reality of others. This means that if there are our people or situations in your life that you are not happy with, it is up to you (and only you) to change them. No one else can create in your experience -- only you can do that, and the process always begins with a single thought.

Thoughts are the building blocks of your reality. It begins with a single positive thought, focused with a laser-like precision on a thing you desire to have in your life. That single positive thought expands attracting more positive thoughts, which expands and attracts even more positive thoughts, which expands, and so on, and so on.

This is what is meant by the expression, "The more you feel good, the more you WILL feel good." Every good thought and emotion attracts to it at another good thought and emotion, and pretty soon you have an avalanche of positive thought and emotion running through your life, attracting only the best the universe has to offer.

Remember, using the Law of Attraction is all about using the power of your own thoughts. Everything begins with the thought -- there is no building, business or even relationship that did not begin with a single thought. Understanding the power of your habitual way of thinking, and taking responsibility for it, will help you create a life of unimaginable beauty, abundance and success. And the method by which this happens is known as the Law of Attraction.

From: Jon Mercer, MA
Law of Attraction Coach, Author, Traveler, Mystic, Alchemist

In Memory of Kugan Anand

2009-01-27T18:43:00.000-08:00

"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain but for the heart to conquer it."
-Rabindarnath Tagore

Another day another death. What makes this death different from the rest? Here is a young 22 year old youth, who was denied justice. Kugan was mercilessly totured and killed by the very authorities who are supposed to protect us. Kugan followed the many others who have died whilst in police custody.

Our hearts bleed for Kugan and his family. May his soul rest in peace knowing that his death brought an awarness to this nation about the cruelty and injustices brought upon not only to him, but to many others before him by the inhumane actions by people in power.

His death has not gone in vain but will bring about a powerful repercussion. He should be given due respect and his funeral should go on with no form of disturbance. I ask of those who will be attending his funeral to practice restrain and to give him his due respect.

His final journey should take place with the utmost of dignity. We will have to leave it to nature to take its course. The law of karma will work on its own accord. All we need to do is to excercise patience and trust.

Down Memory Lane - Pt.3

2009-01-26T02:49:00.000-08:00

My first memory of enjoying watching the rainfall was when I was about 4 years old. It was a beautiful afternoon and seeing the clouds gathering in the sky, I rushed in to bring my small mattress and started to lay it on the ground at the doorstep of my home.I was excited and did not want to miss the rainfall.

The front door was left ajar so that I could look at the scene outside the house. I lay on the mattress with my hands on my cheeks and began to watch the little drops of water falling from the sky. They seemed magical while I felt safe and protected in my home. Rainfall has always fascinated me and when it started to grow heavier; I quickly got up to fold my mattress and ran into my room. The weather was cold and I was starting to get wet.

Years later, as I lay on my cot on the verandah of my hostel, I watched the rain again. This time it was a sunday afternoon and some of the girls had gone out. The hostel was quiet and peaceful. The building was located close to the beach. As beaches are, one can imagine the sand everywhere. The winds had blown very strongly earlier and picked up the sand to fly with them. Dark clouds were already gathering over the horizon. The trees were doing their own dance and bending ever so gracefully to touch the ground. They reminded me of how nature was prostrating to mother earth.

What a beautiful afternoon! I was feeling drowsy after lunch, but the scene outside the french window was too beautiful to turn away from. Slowly the rain started to fall, gently at first and then it grew heavier and heavier.

Oh Raindrops
Tears of the sky
or of the heart!

There were no tears in my eyes. I was happy, other than feeling homesick once in awhile. Many people love to take a nap when it rains, where else I have the tendency to feel all energized and excited. Here was a beautiful weekend and I had no cares in the world. I was lazing around relaxing and watching nature do its beautiful dance once more. Yes the dance of the rain with the earth.

The trees were swaying gently with the wind and the chirping of the birds nearby sounded like musical notes to my ears. I was blissfully enjoying the beauty of nature and all of a sudden images of the fishing folks living close by crossed my mind. The fishing village was situated very near our hostel ground. I felt a sadness overcome me. Here, I was enjoying the comfort of a roof over me and a safe place to stay. I felt protected and was kept warm by my blanket. I started thinking of them, living in their small huts on the beach very much nearer to the sea.

Ever so often we will hear of winds blowing off their roofs away. For some, the rain will fall through their broken roofs and they would be cold and wet inside. My eyes started to moisten with tears and I began to say a prayer for them.

Since then, every time it rained, a surge of gratitude would rise in my heart. I felt blessed that I had a roof over my head to protect me from the rain. My thoughts would go to all those who were homeless and were getting wet in the rain. I will remember the fishing folks living by the ocean. They would have to deal with the rain and the waves which might come to wash their huts away ......

Oh Raindrops…….
Tears of the Sky -
Or of the Heart!

Heart Dance

2009-01-21T18:34:00.000-08:00

Why does my heart dance and cry eachtime I hear this piece ?

One for the heart pt-1

2009-01-18T17:45:00.000-08:00

Tim Gallway's words reminds me of my very own quest, my journey and the lessons that I have learned from my own experiences. The special person who taught me of how to live this life in a more meaningful manner is Prem Rawat. Yes, every body around us teaches us many things but here is someone who taught me to look for my own answers from within me.

Some how even though I have been quite vocal about many things, I feel that mere words could never bring justice to what I feel about this whole process. It has taken me all this while to pen my journey with the guidance of Prem Rawat whom I call Maharaji. Finally I told myself, that these are not words but these are my feelings which kept wanting to pop up and ultimately I needed to bring them out. Just like you cannot stop the flower blooming, or the fruit from ripening my heart needed to express my feelings too.

I got to know about someone, who has been my main source of inspiration and guidance since then, my teacher Maharaji, 34 years ago. How amazing! He was 17 and I was 17 too.

My quest started even as a child. Longing for something more than what was around me. Somehow life went on as usual as for a child of 12 or 13. But here I was amongst my other day to day activities, trying to find an answer to some questions which never seemed to go away. A longing, an unfulfilled desire if I may say so, kept nudging me again and again.

Sweet Longing,
The insatiable thirst for the divine.

1974- Hearing the message of Maharaji - "What you are looking for is inside of you".
Incredible news ! The message rang a bell. Here I was, looking for answers to my questions, having heard many people speak before and being left somewhat not quite fulfilled. Then there was someone bringing me a very simple message. I did not understand the profundity of this simple message but my heart got hooked on day one. I came home with such joy in my heart that it could never be reversed again.

Karunai Deivame

2009-01-18T16:23:00.000-08:00

My all time favourite Priya Sisters at one of their best. The superb redition of this beautiful piece in ragam sindu bhairavi sung with so much of devotion.

Guest House

2009-01-13T02:11:00.000-08:00

This poem by Rumi, teaches us of how to face adversity in it's face. Never to give up. Isn't that the nature of this beautiful heart. This poem teaches us to accept everything which comes by our way. Good and bad comes to make us stronger and to become more compassionate human beings.

I dedicate this beautiful poem to every heart!

The Guest House

This human being is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected vision.

Welcome and entertain them all.
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.

He may be cleaning out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame.
the malice meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent,

as a guide from beyond.

- Jelaluddin Rumi

Kahlil Gibran - On Love

2009-01-12T18:42:00.000-08:00

Love gives naught but itself and takes
naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be
possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Sweet Longing

2009-01-12T18:30:00.001-08:00

Sweet Longing

The insatiable thirst for the divine.

Sweet Longing ,

Surrounding my heart.

Sweet Longing ,

Where I want to belong.

Mandolin Srinivas

2009-01-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

Live in Concert at Indian Gate, Swarytsav 2002

Soothing to the heart - by the Maestro Mandolin U.Srinivas.

Raghupathi Raagava Raja Ram.
Pathitha Paavana Seetha Ram.

Bubbles

2009-01-11T22:18:00.000-08:00

I was watching these children blowing bubbles one day and I felt that we are like those bubbles too. Each one of us are a bubble of our own. We travel in this journey of life surrounded by everyone around us. We may seem to have many friends and family members with us but we are in fact alone.

Most of the time we are involved with relationships with other people. They can be family members, friends or strangers who come into our lives. We meet people in our lives from time to time. I remember my friends in primary school then in secondary school,and College. I often think of them and wonder where they are now.

We are all travelers in this journey of life too. It is like a train journey. We board the train in a particular station and the train takes off. On this journey of ours, we see many things in the train and through the window on the outside too. Sometimes we see people and sometimes we see only hills and houses and vehicles. Many people get in the train at various stops and others get down. We would have come in contact with them for a short while. We may have had some casual conversation with some and sometimes we may have made a lasting friendship with others.

Soon we will have to get down from the train at some point of the journey and move away from those we have met. In our journey too, we meet various people. At a point of time they may be our closes buddies and would have meant everything to us. I remember meeting a very dear friend of mine after many years. Somehow there was no more rapport between us this time. I realized that along the way we had taken different routes. We had grown apart.
We met for a short period of time and them went on in our separate routes fulfilling our own journeys.

Our lives too are the same. We meet people, become friends and after some time we outgrow the relationships. I used to wonder what happened along the way. Just like the bubble we have taken off on our own path. Nothing can really bind us as one. We may sit and talk and feel the comradeship amongst friends but at the end of the day we are this one lone bubble, come on it's own visit. The journey of this bubble to fulfill it's visit.

The journey of this lone bubble is in fact not lonely at all. It is not a sad tale at all. This bubble has itself for it's friend too. In satisfying all the other relationships outside, the bubble forgot that it too had a relationship with itself ! The bubble never took time off to be with itself and see what a gift it was.

This bubble went around appreciating everything around it. It forgot that it is also the most beautiful, colorful and wonderful being too. It did not really need others to make it complete. This bubble by itself can feel the joy. When others watch the bubble enjoy it's existence and floating in joy, they too start enjoying the sight.

We have watched children enjoying themselves and felt a joy just watching them. All they did was to be themselves. This bubble too has to be itself and enjoy being this most beautiful and precious being on the face of this earth.It is one of it's kind, very special and unique, on it's own journey towards it's destination.

Forgiving

2009-01-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive.
He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Yes I have heard of this many a time. But it is easy to hear someone say it or read it somewhere but it becomes difficult to put this into practice in our own lives. It was some years back. I had watched the Oprah Show and some of the guests were speaking about forgiving.

I always thought that I could never forgive the 2 people in my live who had betrayed me. One of them was someone I had loved and trusted. They had brought a blow to my heart and I have been carrying this feeling with me for many years. Every time I remembered the hurt, the feeling was like having a knife being put through me and having it turned repeatedly within.

It was late at night around 11 pm. I was discussing this issue with my son and all of a sudden he looked at me and said, "Amma - You need to let go. You need to forgive and move on !".

It was like a slap on my face and I could literally feel the burning sensation. I told him to leave me alone and felt that I wanted to weep my heart out all alone. The pain was unbearable and the time had come for me to stop running away and face the truth. I had to forgive. Period. The pain was becoming torturous .

Abandoning all my pride, in the silence of the night, all alone, I cried out loudly to myself - "At this moment today , I forgive the 2 people who have hurt me deeply. I hold no more grudges and carry no more pain. From the deepest part of my heart I have forgiven them. I want to be free of the burden of carrying the pain. I hurt the most when I do not forgive". I needed to stop hurting. It was no more a want but a fundamental need. A need that if I had not fulfilled, would have become an everlasting pain in my life.

Amazingly and slowly since then I started to feel lighter and as time passed by I began to feel the joy and freedom forgiving brings. A heaviness had been lifted from my heart. I had put down the baggage I had been carrying all these years. Many years have passed by but the memory is still fresh in my mind. Today it is no more someone else's words but my own experience which has taught me, that to become free I have to forgive. I had to let go and move on with my life. I needed to forget the past and live in the present. Only then was I able to take the flight of my heart in the wings of freedom.

Vande Mataram

2009-01-10T22:10:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite version of this beautiful composition by Bankin Chandra and sung by Rabindranath Tagore.

Bombay Jayashree, Unnikrishnan, Sanjay Subramaniam and Sowmya render their version of Vande mataram.

Vande Mataram ! The National song of India

Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!

Endaro Mahanubavulu

2009-01-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

Endaro Mahaanubhaavulu is a song written by Tyagaraja. This song was composed by him after watching the great Shadkala Govinda Mara perform. It is composed in Telugu. The song is a dedication to all the great maestros and performers. The line : "ENDARO MAHANU BAVULU ANDARIKI VANDANAMULU" means "Salutations to all the great men in this world"

Rajhesh Vaidya's presentation of this piece is an expression of Joy.

Love

2009-01-09T07:05:00.000-08:00

When Love embraces me,
No work is menial,
When Love engulfs me,
No task is mundane.

No act is a sacrifice,
No job seems tedious.
No pain is felt somehow,
Only pure joy left to be known.

Many people have this habit of complaining about their jobs. There is a tendency in parents to complain about their responsibilities. One of my friends was going on as usual about how much he was sacrificing to support his family. He felt sore that no one in his family understood his predicament. Neither his wife nor his children !

This is the same song sung by almost everyone of us. Suddenly this small verse about Love started forming in my head one day while I was driving. It struck upon me how true it was that we fail to understand what work is all about. We take this act to be burdensome. Since we assume that our responsibility to our family, society and nation is forced upon us, we feel the pain and burden heavily.

Somehow, we fail to comprehend that whatever we see around us is a gift given to us for a short period of time. Our parents, spouses, children, friends and almost everyone and everything surrounding us are precious gems to be cherished ! While these relationships last for however long they may be, we need to feel joy in performing our duties towards them. How wonderful it will become if we could only realize that Love is the only factor needed to sail through our lives smoothly and painlessly.

Mundane tasks like cooking, driving the kids to school, taking our parents for a stroll or spending time with an elderly person will no longer be demanding but rather become acts of love and joy.

Surprisingly I happened to come across a verse from Kahlil Gibran which puts this so aptly :

"Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy".
-Kahlil Gibran

When Love embraces me,
No work is menial,
When Love engulfs me,
No task is mundane.

No act is a sacrifice,
No job seems tedious.
No pain is felt somehow,
Only pure joy left to be known.

Ode to a Mother

2009-01-07T19:33:00.000-08:00

An angel from heaven,
A gift from the most divine.
Always giving , never receiving,
Incomparable and most wonderful.

A warrior on earth, fiercely independent,
A courageous and compassionate darling.
A human so sweet, A person so kind,
Someone so special, someone so adorable.

Mother dearest, my sweetest shining star,
Someone who teaches me love and compassion.
Mother dearest, my teacher my guide,
Someone who holds me so special within her heart !

Mother

2009-01-07T06:31:00.000-08:00

Someone who carries you in her womb and brings you into the world. Someone who cares for you day and night and watches over you. A mother is that special someone whose every thought is on her child. And I too have a mother, someone sweet and eccentric at the same time.

As a child, I remember her being my mentor and friend. My friends used to say that we were awfully lucky to have her for a mom. They even wished that in their next birth they wanted her as their mother ! I adored her with all my heart and thought that she was the most awesome mother in the world. I felt like the luckiest person on earth to have someone so incredible and adorable as my mother.

She gave so much of importance to our character building. I remember her reading to me many books and explaining the moral values of each one of them. She would always say that real success was not in money or positions but in upholding good values in life.

As time went by and I grew older, I began to notice her shortcomings. I started observing that she was not as perfect as I thought she was.

My sister and I used to get really worked up when she gave away our things. She had this unique quality of giving away anything if someone came to her with a sorry plight. I remember telling her off as a teenager to donate only things belonging to her. I was upset when she had given away my favorite dress to someone we knew. I told her to donate her things and let us donate ours !

There are times that none of our friends will understand us when we complain about her. Can there be something called too much of giving ? Everyone who knows her comes to her defense and we daughters will invariably be put at fault !

I soon started to criticize her and complained about her faults to her. She was quick to rise to her defense. Somehow she felt that on the contrary, she was quite right ! I started to compare other mothers and told her how they were better mothers than her. How they gave so much of importance to the material aspects of their lives unlike her.

When I became a mom myself, I started to feel ashamed of my selfishness. Even after all my criticisms she responds to me with a childlike nature. Someone who rarely keeps grudges and forgives easily, she humbles me again and again and still continues to teach me simplicity and humility.

I began to understand what she must have endured.I do not find myself sacrificing my time and energy for my kids as she had done for us. What a courageous warrior she is! A strong person who never gives up hope, Mother is always quick to come out of any situation. She puts me to shame when I drool in self pity!

Today I can proudly say that she has taught me many things and above all she has taught me dignity and taught me to give uttermost importance to good values in my life. She has taught me never to give up but to walk forward positively.

As I have matured and grown wiser, I have come to understand that she is the sweetest angel from heaven. Mother has a gentle and childlike quality. Quick to forgive, she has a very loving disposition. She showers everyone around her with so much of love that whoever comes in contact with her will be invariably drawn by her benevolent nature.

Mother - Thank You for being who you are !

The Law of Attraction

2009-01-06T07:47:00.000-08:00

An interesting article I read by Steve Pavlina on the Law of Attraction.

The Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction simply says that you attract into your life whatever you think about. Your dominant thoughts will find a way to manifest. But the Law of Attraction gives rise to some tough questions that don’t seem to have good answers. I would say, however, that these problems aren’t caused by the Law of Attraction itself but rather by the Law of Attraction as applied to objective reality.

Here are some of those problematic questions (all are generalizations of ones I received via email):

* What happens when people put out conflicting intentions, like two people intending to get the same promotion when only one position is available?
* Do children, babies, and/or animals put out intentions?
* If a child is abused, does that mean the child intended it in some way?
* If I intend for my relationship to improve, but my spouse doesn’t seem to care, what will happen?

These questions seem to weaken the plausibility of the Law of Attraction. Sometimes people answer them by going pretty far out. For example, it’s been said by LoAers that a young child experiences abuse because s/he intended it or earned it during a past life. Well, sure… we can explain just about anything if we bring past lives into the equation, but IMO that’s a cop-out. On the other hand, objective reality without the Law of Attraction doesn’t provide satisfactory answers either — supposedly some kids are just born unlucky. That’s a cop-out too.

I’ve never been satisfied by others’ answers to these questions, and they’re pretty important questions if the Law of Attraction is to be believed. Some books hint at the solution but never really nail it. That nail, however, can be found in the concept of subjective reality.

Subjective reality is a belief system in which (1) there is only one consciousness, (2) you are that singular consciousness, and (3) everything and everyone in your reality is a projection of your thoughts.

You may not see it yet, but subjective reality neatly answers all these tricky Law of Attraction questions. Let me ’splain….

In subjective reality there’s only one consciousness, and it’s yours. Consequently, there’s only one source of intentions in your universe — YOU. While you may observe lots of walking, talking bodies in your reality, they all exist inside your consciousness. You know this is how your dreams work, but you haven’t yet realized your waking reality is just another type of dream. It only seems solid because you believe (intend) it is.

Since none of the other characters you encounter are conscious in a way that’s separate from you, nobody else can have intentions. The only intentions are yours. You’re the only thinker in this universe.

It’s important to correctly define the YOU in subjective reality. YOU are not your physical body. This is not the egoic you at all. I’m not suggesting you’re a conscious body walking around in a world full of unconscious automatons. That would be a total misunderstanding of subjective reality. The correct viewpoint is that you’re the single consciousness in which this entire reality takes place.

Imagine you’re having a dream. In that dream what exactly are YOU? Are YOU the physical dream character you identify with? No, of course not — that’s just your dream avatar. YOU are the dreamer. The entire dream occurs within your consciousness. All dream characters are projections of your dream thoughts, including your avatar. In fact, if you learn lucid dreaming, you can even switch avatars in your dream by possessing another character. In a lucid dream, you can do anything you believe you can.

Physical reality works the same way. This is a denser universe than what you experience in your sleeping dreams, so changes occur a bit more gradually here. But this reality still conforms to your thoughts just like a sleeping dream. YOU are the dreamer in which all of this is taking place.

The idea that other people have intentions is an illusion because other people are just projections. Of course, if you strongly believe other people have intentions, then that’s the dream you’ll create for yourself. But ultimately it’s still an illusion.

Here’s how subjective reality answers these challenging Law of Attraction questions:

What happens when people put out conflicting intentions, like two people intending to get the same promotion when only one position is available?

Since you’re the only intender, this is entirely an internal conflict — within YOU. You’re holding the thought (the intention) for both people to want the same position. But you’re also thinking (intending) that only one can get it. So you’re intending competition. This whole situation is your creation. You believe in competition, so that’s what you manifest. Maybe you have some beliefs (thoughts and intentions) about who will get the promotion, in which case your expectations will manifest. But you may have a higher order belief that life is random, unfair, uncertain, etc., so in that case you may manifest a surprise because that’s what you’re intending.

Being the only intender in your reality places a huge responsibility on your shoulders. You can give up control of your reality by thinking (intending) randomness and uncertainty, but you can never give up responsibility. You’re the sole creator in this universe. If you think about war, poverty, disease, etc., that’s exactly what you’ll manifest. If you think about peace, love, and joy, you’ll manifest that too. Your reality is exactly what you think it is. Whenever you think about anything, you summon its manifestation.

Do children, babies, and/or animals put out intentions?

No. Your own body doesn’t even put out intentions — only your consciousness does. You’re the only one who has intentions, so what takes precedence is what YOU intend for the children, babies, and animals in your reality. Every thought is an intention, so however you think about the other beings in your reality is what you’ll eventually manifest for them. Keep in mind that beliefs are hierarchical, so if you have a high order belief that reality is random and unpredictable and out of your control, then that intention will trump other intentions of which you’re less certain. It’s your entire collection of thoughts that dictates how your reality manifests.

If a child is abused, does that mean the child intended it in some way?

No. It means YOU intended it. You intend child abuse to manifest simply by thinking about it. The more you think about child abuse (or any other subject), the more you’ll see it expand in your reality. Whatever you think about expands, and not just in the narrow space of your avatar but in all of physical reality.

If I intend for my relationship to improve, but my spouse doesn’t seem to care, what will happen?

This is another example of intending conflict. You’re projecting one intention for your avatar and one for your spouse, so the actual unified intention is that of conflict. Hence the result you experience, subject to the influence of your higher order beliefs, will be to experience conflict with your spouse. If your thoughts are conflicted, your reality is conflicted.

This is why assuming responsibility for your thoughts is so important. If you want to see peace in the world, then intend peace for EVERYTHING in your reality. If you want to see abundance in the world, then intend it for EVERYONE. If you want to enjoy loving relationships, then intend loving relationships for ALL. If you intend these only for your own avatar but not for others, then you’re intending conflict, division, and separation; consequently, that’s what you’ll experience.

If you stop thinking about something entirely, does that mean it disappears? Yes, technically it does. But in practice it’s next to impossible to uncreate what you’ve already manifested. You’ll continue creating the same problems just by noticing them. But when you assume 100% responsibility for everything you’re experiencing in your reality right now — absolutely everything — then you assume the power to alter your reality by rechanneling your thoughts.

This entire reality is your creation. Feel good about that. Feel grateful for the richness of your world. And then begin creating the reality you truly want by making decisions and holding intentions. Think about what you desire, and withdraw your thoughts from what you don’t want. The most natural, easiest way to do this is to pay attention to your emotions. Thinking about your desires feels good, and thinking about what you don’t want makes you feel bad. When you notice yourself feeling bad, you’ve caught yourself thinking about something you don’t want. Turn your focus back towards what you do want, and your emotional state will improve rapidly. As you do this repeatedly, you’ll begin to see your physical reality shift too, first in subtle ways and then in bigger leaps.

I too am just a manifestation of your consciousness. I play the role you expect me to play. If you expect me to be a helpful guide, I will be. If you expect me to be profound and insightful, I will be. If you expect me to be confused or deluded, I will be. But of course there’s no distinct ME that is separate from YOU. I’m just one of your many creations. I am what you intend me to be. But deep down you already knew that, didn’t you?

Dawn of A New Day...........

2009-01-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

The dawn of a new day,
The dawn of a new year,
The dawn of new hopes,
The dawn of new promises,
The dawn of new commitments,
The dawn of new learning,
The dawn of new passions,
The dawn of new resolutions,
The dawn of new achievements,
The dawn of new understanding.......

A new day, a new year has dawned upon me. What does it hold. A simple day unfolds with the continuation of yesterday and the day before yesterday and all the days before that. I am a product of all the days that I have lived.

What do I really want ? Everything around me changes constantly. Some subtly and others dramatically. These constant movements are like the waves in the ocean. I keep moving on in life, changing, adjusting and learning to hold on to certain things but above all letting go of many things.

In the journey of this pilgrim not unlike others, many lessons have been learned. I choose either to become bitter from the past or to become more of the opposite - forgiving, gentle, kind, loving, sweet, sympathetic, tender or warm.

I create the environment around me. The river of life takes me along. I either choose to flow helplessly like the debris flowing with the river or I have a choice to live consciously in this journey.

To become conscious of my every action, word, reaction and response. I have the choice to choose to be patient rather than angry. I have the choice to be compassionate rather than cruel. To love rather than hate.

I have been given all these choices to make my life more joyous, fulfilled and meaningful rather than to be thrown about constantly all over, by the negative actions and reactions like in a storm !

It's easier to let go and be bumped around in the storm. It takes great strength to take hold of the reigns of my life and walk on consciously. When I feel hatred, I create hate around me. When I feel anger, I create discomfort and anger in the people around me. When I feel love, I create a loving atmosphere around me. When I am at peace, I bring about a peaceful ambience around me.

One of my most important lesson in life:

Being at peace with one's own self, is the final and ultimate achievement in life.

The Potter and the Pot

2008-12-31T06:25:00.000-08:00

One day the potter decides to makes a pot. He finds some clay and goes to his hut and starts to knead the clay. He then places the clay on the potter's wheel. After molding the clay into the shape of the pot , he places the soft clay pot in the furnace to harden it. The pot starts to cry in pain.

The pot cries out - "Why ? Why me ? It hurts and burns. Why is this suffering brought upon me ?".

The potter watches in silence and carries on molding the pot.

"Why this silence..." the pot starts wondering. Then it starts to cry out again. "Don't you realize what I am going through ? Hey ! What are you trying to do ? Don't you understand that I am going through such pain" the pot asks.

The potter watches in silence and carries on molding the pot.

The pot starts to wail more and asks " Do you exist ? What is this ? I do not comprehend what is happening to me. Oh is this my Karma - my fate ? What have I done to deserve this treatment ?".

The potter watches in silence and carries on molding the pot.

A spark of joy touches the pot. The pot sees the hands of the potter removing the pot from the fire. The pot feels a surge of relief. "Oh something nice is happening to me, I am free and I can take a rest " . The pot starts to wonder whether it is being prepared for something.

The potter watches in silence and carries on molding the pot.

The potter seeing that the pot is not ready yet sends the pot to the furnace again. The pot starts weeping piteously. "Oh the pain and torture I am going through. Why me..... what have I done to deserve this fate ? Thoughts run crazily and the pot is absolutely devastated by it's predicament.

Then the potter removes the pot for a while and the pot starts to feel the cool air. It's spirit is raised and it starts to feel a little clarity dawn upon itself. It says to itself " I understand that I am being prepared for something - but I wonder what..... ? "

The potter watches in silence and carries on molding the pot.

The potter removes the pot from the fire finally. The pot is overwhelmed with joy. The potter cleans the clay pot and leaves it aside. Then the potter takes the pot and fills it with pure cool water from the spring. He places the pot in the middle of a beautiful garden.

People from far and near come to see this beautiful pot and rush to drink the cool and sweet water from the little clay pot.

The water of Love,
The water of understanding,
The water of patience,
The water of Joy,
The water of sharing .
The water of giving.

The potter watches in silence.......

The pot with eyes filled with tears looks at the potter,

Thank you dear potter - the pot speaks in silence.
Now I am filled - filled with the joy of understanding !

The potter watches in silence , with a smile on his lips.

Vijay Prakash - The Rising Star

2008-12-30T18:50:00.000-08:00

Vijay Prakash - The singer with a tremendous voice. When my daughter showed me the video on youtube I was spellbound. My eyes were filled with tears of joy, watching this amazing boy singing with so much of bhaavam. He will reach many peaks of success with such a wonderful soothing voice. What a talent !

Thirukkural -" Words of Wisdom"

2008-12-27T17:52:00.000-08:00

I am a great advocate of the Thirukkural. My first book of thirukkural was given to me by my mother who is a passionate reader herself. She reads widely and encouraged us, her children to read. Since I was not fluent in Tamil, she bought me books translated into the English language. I was lucky to have followed her advice as a child, then as an adult reading has become one of my passions. I particularly like works like the Thirukkural, Upanishads, works by Shankaracharyar, The Baghavad Gita to name a few. I am definitely drawn to philosophical works. Some of my other favorites are Confucius and Lao Tze. This pilgrim is on her journey and continues in her learning. Learning is a joy. I have learned so much from the Thirukkural and hope to learn more.

Thirukkural is a precious gem among the classics, unique in the deliverance of code of conduct to mankind to follow for all time to come. It enshrines in it 1330 couplets under 133 chapters, each chapter comprising 10 verses. The chapters again fall under three major divisions. Virtue, Wealth and Love. This treatise encompasses the whole gamut of human life and by Thiruvalluvar, its illustrious author illuminates every bit of it! This classical work written in Tamil, has been translated in over 60 languages of the world.

Thirukkural is the masterpiece of Tamil literature with the highest and purest expressions of human thought. Its ethics and values are applicable to all religions, countries and time. Thirukkural's immortality and universality are unquestionable.
I feel that every person should read this beautiful work of wisdom regardless of what nationality, race or culture they belong to.

Many believe in memorizing the words of this ancient work (Thirukkural) and taking part in competitions. I for one do not believe in this. I feel that anything learned should be understood by the mind, assimilated and put into practice in our lives.

So today I start this humble journey of mine to follow the versus of Thiruvalluvar and learn again these beautiful timeless words which will help me to walk further in this life of mine.

Time

2008-12-25T23:23:00.000-08:00

Time is my friend,
Time keeps me company.
Time is my teacher,
Time teaches me patience.

Time is forgiving,
Time heals my wounds.
Time forgets all pains,
Time forgives all hurt.

Time is like a balm,
Time treats me gently-at times.
Time is like a mother,
Time waits for me - the child.

Time is not my enemy,
Time is Love -Eternal Love,
Time is my friend,
Time is timeless.
.

Wisdom

2008-12-25T22:03:00.000-08:00

"Ignorance is seeing
The impermanent as permanent,
The impure as pure,
The painful as pleasure
and the non-self as self."

Patanjali(Yoga Sutras 11.5 )

This is one of the most self-explanatory verses we can find. Patanjali has put in essence what this world needs. The world, meaning people like us need. We need to see the impermanent as impermanent, the impure as impure, the painful as painful and the non-self as the non-self. How close can we get to reality. All the confusion happening around the world is due to the ignorance of the human mind.

The priorities that we place on wrong things, make it harder for us to come to terms with reality. The whole world is rushing in madness,trying to catch the impossible. What dramas we humans enact -all the developed by this human mind ! The hatred which is created by us when there are differences.

From childhood, kids are told about us versus them. This attitude is carried forward from family to community to race to religion to language to nation to ...... ? If we don't call this ignorance, then what else can be called ignorance. Our children need to unlearn many things. They need to have their priorities put in order. As my Teacher says we are taught the differences and not the similarities.

The differences are highlighted even as a child. They are taught the differences in the the colors of the skin. When in school children are already aware that the other child is of a different color, race, religion and so on. No one attempts to teach the similarities because no one has been trained or taught to look at the similarities.

How will we be able to unite as a world ? Hatred is instilled in a young mind when he sees the differences in the others. Parents, teachers, friends and the society as a whole teach the child that whatever is different is not to be trusted. Society teaches the child that we are different from the others. Do we even get along with the so called "we". I don't think so. We have our differences even in our own homes and families.

Who is responsible in bringing about wisdom when there is so much of ignorance.
Who is responsible for this education. I strongly believe that the parents play the primary role. The ex-president of India Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam says that the 2 most important people in a child's life are it's parents and primary school teachers. They are the first pair of hands that shape the child. They play THE most important role in the child's life.

I remember as a child of 5 yrs , my mother telling us stories from the ancient scriptures. Every day we, my siblings and I were told moral stories which were so interesting that we used to keep asking her for more. She kept stressing on the moral values in each story and instilled in us a strong sense of values.

My parents were strict disciplinarians which was very difficult to digest at that age. But now looking back, I feel that our strength comes from all the discipline and moral values instilled at that tender age. Today we find so much of importance given to very superficial things in life. Values are not taught and practiced. Many parents feel that if they teach their children to be "successful" then their children will be happy. What is success if even with all the education, money and status you are still a miserable and unhappy person.

I have seen many kids who are jealous and show hatred towards their classmates if the others perform better then them. The child learns by emulating their parents and by learning from them. A mango seed produces only a mango tree not a coconut tree. So whatever we as parents behave or teach is what the child is going to learn.

They are at a vulnerable stage of live where anything and everything will get impressed on their minds. Here parents and teachers play a pivotal role in teaching and instilling good moral values in the child.

Ignorance is when we see the impermanent as permanent. The child needs to be taught that, all his classmates and peers are also travelers in the same journey of life. They are our co-passengers and we need not fear their success. If we can make them understand that they will never take away what is supposed to be theirs, then the child will develop a sense of self-confidence. They will understand that they have nothing to fear from the others.

Similarly, we can gently make our children understand that ignorance is also seeing the painful as pleasure. Our kids get into many habits which may look pleasurable but end up in pain. If only we as parents and teachers can teach our children what these ancients scriptures have taught us and to apply these values in our lives, I am sure we can bring about positive change in the world around us.

These characteristics develop and as the child grows into an adult they carry forward all these habits. Then we see the same drama unfold in the work place, in the family and in the society as well. Negative values and behavior bring about negative results and likewise when positive habits are developed, then we find positive, uplifting, wholesome people who are able to bring about peace and love around them.

So much of terror is created by man to destroy the other man in the name of justice. What an irony !
Anger which leads to hatred which in turn leads to revenge can be reversed if only we can apply good moral values, not only in our children but in our lives too. This world will become a more peaceful place. Once a wise man said "Life is measured not by the number of days you have lived, but by the number of lives you have touched."

"So wisdom is recognizing
The permanent as permanent,
The pure as pure,
The pleasure as pleasure - and
The Self as the Self."

2008-11-29T20:19:00.000-08:00

I dedicate this video to the Indians who were, are and will always be resilient in the face of times of adversity. I condemn the terrorist attacks in Mumbai as a cowardly act of a people who are full of hate and fear. These are elements who are unable to tolerate the success of the Indians.
They fail to understand that greatness of a people comes from a heritage filled with a heart full of compassion, tolerance and wisdom.

Down Memory Lane - Pt.2

2008-11-20T17:15:00.000-08:00

Kalakshetra is synonymous with Rukmini Arundale. Fondly called athai by every one around her, one cannot imagine Kalakshetra without her. We used to be in awe of her. She set up Kalakshetra which provided an institutional setting for the students of music and dance. Here she retained the positive aspects of the system and persuaded outstanding musicians and dance gurus to join the faculty and created for them an ambience devoid of commercial considerations. I still remember there was so much of excitement in the college, when the then prime minister Morarji Desai offered the chair of the President of India to Rukmini Devi Arundale in 1977. She declined, preferring to dedicate herself to the arts .

I could say that I had the greatest honor of coming across some great legendary figures who have amazed and inspired me. Some of them were in Kalakshetra. I was young and quite naïve then. I had no idea that these were some of the greatest musicians, dancers and artists of our time.

I remember going to MD Ramanathan sir's classroom whenever I found some free time to listen to him singing. Ramanathan Sir is known for his unique style of singing. He had a fabulously deep and resonant voice which used to keep us all in awe. He would be with his students teaching them and sometimes singing all by himself.

Another legendary figure I have to mention is the maestro Shri Bhoodalur Sastrigal who used to play the gottuvadhyam. He used to look so fragile yet so magestic since he was of advanced age during that time. A sweet natured person who was always lost in his music. Such a blessing to have been able to sit before him when he was free, and he used to demonstrate the gottuvadhyam to my friends and me.

I also have to say about my vocal master, Mr. Mani Iyer who was a disciple of Shri Papanasam Sivan. A gentle soul with so much of simplicity. I remember him walking with his black umbrella in his hand. An unassuming man, Mani Sir was a patient and genuine teacher. When he was not teaching he could be found in his class with his tambura all by himself singing. I had the privilege of learning a number of Papanasam Sivan’s kritis under him.

Down Memory Lane - Pt.1

2008-11-20T08:56:00.000-08:00

Just the other day someone I know asked me about the great maestro, MD Ramanathan and immediately memories of many great legends who have left an indelible mark in my life rushed in. I suppose as we grow older we have the privilege of going down memory lane often. If not for anything else, it is because we have the time to sit and ponder. When we are young we are always rushing to get things done and miss out on the valuable experiences and relationships that we come by. The passage of time teaches us to value and cherish the wonderful journey we have taken.

Yes , today this journey of mine when I look back has been above all a sweet one. Everyone’s journey is beautiful if we only know how to appreciate all that we have experienced. Time is a wonderful gift to us. It teaches us patience. Time soothes us and heals all the wounds.

So, my journey too has been with it’s ups and downs. However insignificant one may seem to the rest of the world, we as an individual are in our own world. I realize that I came to this beautiful land called earth – to experience all the joy that it has to offer. How strange that I have mistaken it to be a mixture of pain and joy. It is only pure joy if I only know how to embrace it. I have been given this beautiful gift of appreciation and when I can learn to use this tool , what a journey this can become !

Yes , who can forget this banyan tree? This is where our mornings started off. Our daily prayers accompanied to the sounds of the tambura .
We would gather every morning under this beautiful tree. Students from every where came to this beautiful place to learn the arts. The peaceful atmosphere and holistic approach was the secret to it’s attraction. Remembering this banyan tree brings calmness to me. I am back 30 years ago, sitting under this beautiful tree. We would start off with the shlokas in Sanskrit followed by songs dedicated to the various gods.

Black and White

2008-11-11T17:38:00.000-08:00

This poem was nominated by UN as the best poem of 2006
written by an African Kid

When I born, I black

When I grow up, I black

When I go in Sun, I black

When I scared, I black

When I sick, I black

And when I die, I still black

And you white fellow

When you born, you pink

When you grow up, you white

When you go in sun, you red

When you cold, you blue

When you scared, you yellow

When you sick, you green

And when you die, you gray

And you calling me coloured?

courtesy of http://sjsandteam.wordpress.com/

Freedom

2008-11-04T01:51:00.000-08:00

Spread your wings,
and fly -
Fly in the winds of freedom.

Trust

2008-11-04T01:21:00.000-08:00

I trust.
I trust that whatever may happen ,
I trust that it happens for the good.

I trust,
I trust that whatever I lost,
I trust that I lost it for my benefit.

I trust,
I trust that whatever I have gained,
I trust that I have gained it for my betterment.

I trust,
I trust that the pains that I have endured,
I trust that the pains were to learn my lessons of life.

I trust,
I trust that the joys that I have received,
I trust that the joys were for me to appreciate all the blessings I have.

Prince Rama Varma

2008-10-08T17:10:00.000-07:00

A beautiful rendition of Janani Ninuvina in Reethigaula.

Listening to him performing on the veena or singing brings such tranquility. Described as a "Prince among musicians and a Musician among Princes" Prince Rama Varma, a member of the Royal Family of Travancore, is a direct descendant of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma and Raja Ravi Varma.

A Portrait of My Guru

2008-09-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ludwig Pesch who was kind enough to send me this picture of Rajeshwari Teacher. I remember Ludwig as a student of flute in Kalakshetra. I admired his passion, dedication and talent. I wish him all the best in his journey of music.
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LINK: http://home.planet.nl/~pesch082/