Monday, January 18, 2016

Beauty, life and love are eternal - 'Snowflake' Bentley

Bentley's words contain some profound messages for all of us. He studied the science behind snowflakes and that lead him to a deeper understanding of life and a fascination for nature. Similarly in all our learnings, we must go beyond the mere facts and figures, to develop a feeling of wonder for this miracle that life is!

Bentley's labor of love ..
“The snow crystals . . . come to us not only to reveal the wondrous beauty of the minute in Nature, but to teach us that all earthly beauty is transient and must soon fade way. But though the beauty of the snow is evanescent, like the beauties of the autumn, as of the evening sky, it fades but to come again.”

"One has the pleasant certainty that in her deep reservoirs Nature keeps an endless source of beauty and that, over centuries, storms will continue to flood the surface of the earth with new and beautiful jewels that will entertain and delight everyone that loves beauty."

"this exquisite beauty so lavishly scattered over the earth and yet there should be no despair for this miracle like unto the miracle of  the springs awakening will come and come again for all time..either here or somewhere in the universe. For beauty, life and love are eternal. The things that make the universe worthwhile and justify its existence."

"The deeper one enters into the study of Nature, the further one ventures into and along the by-paths that, like a mystic maze, thread Nature's realm in every direction, the broader and grander becomes the vista opened up to the view."

"There is a need of a greater love for, and appreciation of such things, of the beautiful and wonderful in nature...There are oceans of enjoyment, soul satisfying pleasure to be had in Nature's art and beauty, as shown freely to us in the common things all about us."


"I am a poor man, except in satisfaction I get out of my work. In that respect, I am one of the richest men in the world. I wouldn't change places with Henry Ford or John D. Rockefeller for all their millions! And I wouldn't change places with a king; not for all his power and glory. I have my snowflakes!

It isn't what we have, it's what we do and enjoy that makes life worth living.  - Wilson A Bentley

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Infinite beauty of a snowflake

Nature's transient designs
There is not much to be excited about in the winter. I discovered by chance that that is not true at all!! The ordinary snow that falls on us by the tons carries in it the most infinitely beautiful miracle of nature hidden in every single snowflake!

I was cutting out paper snowflakes for the children when my husband casually mentioned that each snowflake is unique in its design. That to me was a mind boggling wonder!! It set off a train of events.. I read more about snowflakes, learnt about Wilson 'Snowflake' Bentley, got some books and DVD's from the library. I threw out my first snowflake cuttings as they were not hexagonal in shape as snowflakes should be and cut new ones for the children.

After learning about snowflakes and looking at Bentley's pictures of them, I learn humbly over and over again, that great joy lies in appreciating the transient beauty of nature. Money can never buy this joy for nature gives it for free to all who care to stop, look and feel.

"There is a need of a greater love for, and appreciation of such things, of the beautiful and wonderful in nature...There are oceans of enjoyment, soul satisfying pleasure to be had in Nature's art and beauty, as shown freely to us in the common things all about us." - Wilson 'Snowflake' Bentley

Monday, January 4, 2016

Tagore: O enchanting mother of earth ..

Tagore loved the earth as a beloved son loves his mother. He worshiped her with tender affection all through his life.. 

Oyi Bhubano Monomohini  
Oyi bhubano monomohini ma
Oyi nirmalsurjakarojjal dharoni janakjanonijanoni
Nilsindhujaldhautocharontal, anilbikampito-shyamal anchal
Amarchumbito bhalo Himachal subratusharo kiritini
Pratham prabhate udoy tabo gagone pratham samrob tabo tapobone
Pratham pracharito tabo banobhabone gyandharmo kato kabbokahini
Chirokalyanmoyi tumi dhanno desh bidheshe bitoricho anno 
Janhobijamuna bigolito karuna punnopijusstannobahini ..

Meaning:
O my enchanting mother of earth, mother o mother ..
O mother earth, bathed in the bright, pure glow of the sun, o mother of all ..
Blue waters of the ocean washes your feet, billowing in the wind is your green protective veil
Kissing the blue sky, the snowy white peaks of the Himalayas adorns your crown  
The very first dawn arose in your skies, the very first prayer echoed in your forest
You the harbinger of knowledge, you brought enlightenment and wisdom
Forever prosperous you are my blessed mother, nourishing the world with food
Overflowing compassion of your rivers quenched thirst for eons as streams of nectar flows from your breasts
O my enchanting mother of earth ..