The Inspiration of Late Bloomers

At the age of 37, as I gaze at the horizon I see endless little possibilities. At 5yrs and 3yrs, my children are a bit older and are not as needy as they used to be. There are so many things I would like to do ...  so many things I want to learn ... so much I want to give.  I look up to these women.  

Rukmini Devi Arundale was a dancer of Bharatnatyam. She was inspired by the beauty and spiritualily of this art form and started learning Bharatnatyam at the age of 29 and presented it on stage at the age of 31yrs despite strong public protests.

Julia Child the famous American chef spent many years working as a secret intelligence officer. She was 49 yrs when her first book was published, 51yrs old when her TV program “The French Chef” first aired.

Violinist Vanessa-Mae who debuted in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at the age of 35 . This is what she said "I am 35 and I only took up racing a few months ago. There is no pressure, only really good spirit. If you do everything when you're young you leave no fun until the end."  

Maya Angelou is an author and poet. Her life is truly inspiring...a life of great courage and indomitable spirit. She is a creative genious who wrote her first autobiography at the age of 41.

These inspiring women have shown us that any age is a good age to learn something new. Age is never a barrier in following our passions.  

Types of Food: Satvik, Rajasik and Tamasik

My father is a veritable repository of Sanskrit shlokams (verses) having learnt alongside his father Subramanian Namboodiri who was a temple priest in my native village Mundur, Kerala (India). My father has a knack for pulling out an apt shlokam for any occasion. Talking about the 'Vitality of Food' in my previous post, I was reminded of one of my father's all-time favorites on the types of food according to Hindu scriptures. 

Ayuh-sattva-balarogya-
sukha-priti-vivardhanah
rasyah snigdhah sthira hrdya
aharah sattvika-priyah
( Food that promotes longevity, virtue, strength and health. Food that enhances happiness and satisfaction. Food that is tasty, smooth, firm and hearty are dear to people of Satvik nature.)

katv-amla-lavanaty-usna-
tiksna-ruksa-vidahinah
ahara rajasasyesta
duhkha-sokamaya-pradah
( Food that is pungent, acidic, salty, excessively spicy or hot. Food that is sharp to the tongue. Such food that promotes sorrow, remorse and regret is called Rajasik and is favored by people of Rajasik temperament)

yata-yamam gata-rasam
puti paryusitam ca yat
ucchistam api camedhyam
bhojanam tamasa-priyam
(Food which is stale or old and tasteless. Food that is putrid and has been castaway. Food that is not palatable. Such food is desired by those of Tamasic nature)

Vitality of our food

A while ago, I attended a bread baking workshop lead by baker Vitold Krueger at the Village Market. Listening to Vitold on his philosophy and practice of baking, the class for me was more a lesson in spirituality and wisdom than baking. Freshly baked organic bread and bagels just happened to be an end product of the class.

Vitold talked to us about the grains, stone grinding and the subtle spiritual energy that goes into the kneading and baking. He talked to us about the vitality of the food we eat...that the grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables are all living entities. The high heat of processing, distances that our food travels, our acts of repeatedly heating and freezing simply kills it.

Ultimately our diet is just "dead food" that has to be enriched (with supplements). All it provides us is empty calories and more chemicals in our bodies. Eating real food nourishes the body and the soul! Real food is also medicine when it retains all of its vitality.

The Love of Thousands ...

It was my parents 40th wedding anniversary last week. My sister wanted to make a video for them containing old photos of times gone by. As I was digging through old photos, I came across so many pictures of my parents with my kids, my mother-in-law with the kids, pictures of our siblings and our dear friends. I felt a deep sense of gratitude for all the time and love they have poured into our lives. They have stood by us through the rough times and the happy times.

Here is a picture of my mother-in-law presenting my newborn son to my 2 year old daughter who had kidney surgery just a week prior.  What would we be without all these people? We are the result of the love of thousands ..the love of generations!!

Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands! - Linda Hogan

My talented sister

As my older sister is preparing to launch her first book I am inspired to write a post about her. 

As kids, I excelled in academics while she excelled in the arts. She lives music and our house was drowned in music. She slept with our tiny red radio cum tape-recorder next to her pillow. "Man Chahe Geet" was her favorite. Bathroom singing was our daily pastime. You could hear high pitched, plaintive "Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi" ... "Naa.. Jiya Lage Na .." from the bathroom. Thinking of days gone by makes me smile.

Even as a school girl, she used to sew dresses using saris or old clothes. Though the stitching was not very robust, we used to wear it and they were actually quite pretty. She used to cut and style her own hair and even ours! Do you see the fringes on both my sisters hairs in the photo below?

We wanted to have a low diwan in our house and my parents refused to buy one. So we constructed one with wooden planks stacked on top of each other. It was wobbly but we did use it for a long time. :)

She used to play the Veena. She was good in drawing, painting and craft. She was a hockey player and represented her school in the regional level. Some of her school friends used to call her "talent". From the time I can remember, I know her to be bold, fearless .. diving into things and giving a 100%

My parents named her Prathibha after a doctor they knew. Prathibha means "talented" in Hindi! She has lived up to her name. She has and will always inspire me!

Perfection is a state of being

My 5yr old daughter started learning Bharatanatyam. As she begins learning, I too discover the joys of learning. This shlokam holds the key for any dancer to excel in this art.

Yato   Hasta   Stato   Drushti
Yato   Drushti   Stato   Manaha
Yato   Manaha   Stato   Bhavom
Yato   Bhavom   Stato   Rasaha
(Where the hand goes, there the eyes should follow
Where the eyes are, the mind should follow
Where the mind is, there the expression should be brought out
Where the expression is, there the flavor will be experienced)

Arun Shankar, my second cousin who graduated and taught at the renowned Kalakshetra, Chennai

Perfection and grace in any activity requires the complete coordination of body, mind and all the senses. 

Deeper meaning of Mantra Pushpam

Veda means "understanding" in Sanskrit. Mantra Pushpam is about a deep understanding of nature and all elements in nature. As one ponders on the elements, the interconnectedness of all of creation is revealed to us.

Yopam pushpam veda

The sublime inter relationship between air, water, fire, light and heat from the sun, the moon, stars, clouds, rains is what sustains life and keeps the continuous flow of life energy. In this understanding, we will understand ourselves, our place in the universe and our purpose in life. Only this understanding can bring everlasting peace in us allowing us to sail through life in tranquility

This sacred interconnectedness of all things in the universe was understood not only by the wise sages of India but also by the native, or tribal people all over the world who lived in close proximity and alignment with nature.

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.  - Chief Seattle
 
These is nothing superior. Like pearls strung on a thread, everything is hooked unto me. ( mattah parataram nanyat| kincid asti dhananjaya | mayi sarvam idam protam | sutre mani-gana iva )  - Bhagavad Gita

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. - John Muir 

A human being is a part of the whole called by us as universe - Albert Einstein

The Circle of Life

It is mid-november and all the leaves have fallen. Tiny empty nests of birds come in full view on the trees. Today I picked up a small abandoned nest. I am amazed at the beauty and symmetry of the nest. So light, yet robust. Soft inside with an opening that was a perfect circle. 

The circle that I saw reminded me of this quote by Black Elk (Oglala Sioux)

 "You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round..... The Sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.... Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves."

Pow-wow and the dance of the first nations

I am deeply influenced by the environmental wisdom and spirituality of Native Americans. I have wished to witness a Sun dance or a Pow-pow for a long time. This summer, I got a wonderful opportunity to attend the pow-wow and traditional gathering of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation about 25 miles south of Hamilton, Ontario. We spent the day immersed in the colorful sights and sounds of drums, songs and dances of the first people.

My daughter and I made native Indian bracelets from beads, bones and tanned leather.

Oh! Canada

Why I love this country? For the single reason that it provides every mother her basic right of exclusively caring for her child for the crucial first year of life.

Any other nation, however powerful and presumably developed, that doesn't allow for this basic right is committing a grave crime against humanity. To think of the millions of babies and mothers deprived makes me sad and angry.

Khushi, the face of happiness

Khushi is a young Nepali woman who helps us occasionally with household chores. Khushi means happiness in Hindi. What an apt name for this girl! Her presence is like a whiff of fresh air straight from the valleys at the foothills of the Himalayas. Like a wildflower, she carries with her the purity, beauty and majesty of the mountains wherever she goes.

Earning a living in a far away land, so far from her husband, family and friends, what is it that lights her spirit? If she can be so lighthearted, happy and vibrant despite the daily hard physical work and without the solace of loved ones, what is stopping us?

Khushi let me post a picture of her on her wedding day. Beautiful isn't she? :)

Its Raining Apples

If all the raindrops were apples and more apples

Oh what a rain that would be

Standing outside with my mouth open wide.

Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh 

If all the raindrops were apples and more apples

Oh what a rain that would be  

Cooking Downunder

A business trip lead me to a week long trip to the Australian National University in Canberra. I chose to stay with my cousin in her graduate housing room instead of a hotel. Her room was just a few minutes walk from the conference location.

My cousin and a dozen of her friends shared the chores of grocery shopping, cooking dinner and washing dishes. The camaraderie that they shared was heart warming.

One evening I volunteered to cook for them and the day before I left Canberra, I treated them all to a nice takeout dinner from a local Indian restaurant. Here is a picture of everyone digging in. Adios! Canberra

Love makes the world go around.

Love is food for the soul. Have you seen how love spurs us into action? Love is that invisible fuel that makes the world go around. 

Have you noticed how a few loving words can make people forget their physical ailments and get them up and moving. The love for a beloved or a friend will get you to tap into your creativity and make something beautiful for them. When you love, you want to make this world a better place.

Love is an unlimited, renewable resource. Tap into it. Take a lot of it, give a lot of it! :) 

To Dwell in another Realm

We live in a world governed by politics, economics, turmoil, excitement, vulgarity, violence and constant noise. We plough through life in a desensitized state lost in a maze of man-made laws and mess.

To understand oneself we need to turn off all the noise. In this silence we become sensitive and everything starts making sense. We see the subtle, unchanging laws of nature which governs all existence. We  will see the amazing perfection, symmetry, beauty, equality, purpose and meaning of all of creation and ultimately our own.

In this silence, we will tune in to our body. We will feel the body through the different stages in a month. We will notice the heightened sense of sexual desire during certain times. We will see the effect of certain foods, why we feel lethargic or tired. We will understand our moods and feelings and why people around us react or behave the way they do.

This understanding is essential for our happiness and well being. A quote from Albert Camus that aptly summarizes this. In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion. 

Mama and Joey

We saw emu's, grazing kangaroos, wallabes, a swimming platypus and several birds in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Just as we were driving out, we got to see this lovely kangaroo mama with her joey peeking out of the pouch. 

I learnt that ..
* Kangaroos usually have one young annually
* The joey is born the size of a jelly bean
* It crawls several inches up into the pouch after birth
* It latches on to one of the four teats inside the pouch
* It stays this way drinking milk for several months
* After a few months its eyes open and it looks out of the pouch
* At 8 months the joey can leave the pouch and stand on its own.
* At 10 months it gets too big for the pouch and stays out all the time
Nature never ceases to amaze! :)

Hidden gems : Places to visit around Toronto

I am a nature lover and a lover of good food. I find myself drawn to parks, farms, nature trails, vegetable/herb gardens, cooking classes and the like. If you live in (or visiting) Toronto, you may enjoy these little hidden gems.
Parks/Garden's 
* Mill Pond Park
* Toogood Pond
* Phyllis Rawlinson Park
* Evergreen Brickworks
* Riverdale Farm
Farmer's markets
* Top Tomato Foods
* Reesor's Farm
* Forsythe Family Farm
* Village Market
Inspiring places
* Richters Herbs
* Hill Potter's Guild
* The Depanneur
* Kavanah Garden
Local websites
* ManningCanning
* Not Far From A Tree
* Life With A Baby
* Corin Pinto

Cruelty of our Reality : Crime against our own kids?

The summer is over and the kids are back in school. Full-day kindergarten started in my daughter's school this year.

I reach school at 3.15pm to pick up my daughter and watch as the kindergarten teachers have a hard time lining up the kids against a wall inside the enclosure. There are a handful of fortunate kids that go home, usually picked up by a stay-at-home-mom or by a grandparent. Majority of them are herded to the "after-school" program.

Everyday my heart aches for these little children. Their frail bodies stooped from a long, tiring day carrying a heavy backpack way too big for them. A feeling of helplessness engulfs me. The feeling was echoed by the kindergarten teacher who told me that the kids are way too small for such a long day. Some are dropped off as early as 8am and reach home after 6pm. The schools have no facilities for an afternoon nap. Some kids are too tired and just doze off on the hard floor. She was dreading winter when it gets even worse.

Are we pushing our kids beyond what they are ready to handle?
"This is the cruelty of our reality" to quote verbatim the kindergarten teacher.

The Tug At My Heartstrings ..

A few months have passed since I suffered a second trimester miscarriage. My heart is still raw from the loss. The sight of an infant, a family of three children, a pregnant woman, soulful music, the sunset .. the smallest of things can tug at my heartstrings and flood me with tears.

No one will understand. My heart is still raw... still raw.. 

Yin and Yang

I have sometimes wondered at the contradiction of things. How can so much hardship be tied with so much joy?

Raising a child involves endless work, constant attention, sleepless nights and exhaustion. But  some of the sublime joys of life are tied to being a parent. Very few things can give you the same sense of joy and satisfaction as seeing your child grow.

Gardening is another example. You spend the whole of spring and summer tending to the garden,weeding, watering the plants, nourishing and protecting them. It involves a lot of time and effort and in most cases simply uneconomical. But the feeling of seeing the bounty of Fall when you reap the fruits of your labor are incomparable.

This is the philosophy of Yin and Yang I learnt. Yin-Yang are two opposite principles of nature that cannot exist without each other. To skip the hardships seeking an easy path means to skip the joys too. Spring only comes when winter is over!!

To Kill A Crimson Rosella Bird

I couldn't contain my excitement as I aimlessly wander about the city of Canberra. Canberra is a birder's paradise with a stunning variety of local birds.

The loud and fearless Magpies, large numbers of Crimson Rosella's,  Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Red wattlebirds, tiny Blue Fairy-wrens, the Black Swans on Lake Burley Griffin, Australian Wood ducks, a large flock of Black Cormorants .. the list goes on and on. The most beautiful of all I thought are the colorful red and blue Crimson Rosella's. They were all paired up and busy building nests preparing for the mating season. Spring is in full bloom here.

Picture courtesy:australianmuseum.net.au

My cousin was driving me around the main landmarks of the city. We were on the highway and going fast when a pair of Rosella's flying very low crossed our path. To our shock, the bird in front bumped hard on our windshield several times, went over the moving car and fell on the road. It all happened in a split second. There was nothing we could do. From the side view mirror I saw the two birds on the road. The injured one's fluttering body and its mate standing next to it on the busy highway.

Shock, sadness engulfed me! I shudder to think what happened to the birds.

What is it with Brits and Books ..

You will never find people of English origin without a book in hand. On buses, trains, while waiting... anywhere and any place seems appropriate to immerse oneself in reading. It seems to be awefully important to them.

I got to observe two vacationing families on a boat sailing along the coast of Rhodes Island off mainland Greece. A English family of four sitting directly opposite me was rather quiet. The father was immersed in his book, the mother in hers and two barely teenage kids also busy reading thier own books. They spent most of the journey in silence except for an odd comment here and there asking for water or sunscreen and an occasional glance at the far away horizon.

The Greek family of six on the opposite side of the boat on the other hand seemed to be having a lot of fun. The little kid running back and forth from mom to grandma, spoilt with a lot of kisses. They were loud, laughing and poking fun at each other, enjoying the ride, chatting and eating.

As I watched them it became clear to me that Life is to be lived first hand. Life simply cannot be experienced by reading a book devouring someone else's second hand accounts.

Red cardinal and Green grasshopper

The weather was very mild yesterday with a cool breeze blowing and the sun showing up occasionally from behind the clouds. Yes, it is September and Fall is here. Looks like the red cardinals love this weather. I spotted atleast four of them today nicely camouflaged among the red leaves and berries of Sumac.

Suddenly one cardinal leaped out of the bushes to catch a green grasshopper right in front of me. The grasshopper tried to escape several times only to be caught again by the cardinal. After a few attempts, the cardinal flew away with the grasshopper firmly held between its thick red beak.

Pressure canning with Christine Manning

Thursday morning was a busy time. The kids were off to summer camp. My mother-in-law and I got busy tidying up the house for a private class on pressure canning "Spaghetti sauce". The kids had spent the previous evening washing up 15 pounds of tomatoes in the backyard while I washed the mushrooms and herbs ( basil, oregano and parsley) for the next day.

Christine (of Manning Canning) was at our door a few minutes earlier than expected. She brought with her all the equipments, pressure canner, knifes, cutting boards, a large steel plan and every else that we would need. We got busy with cooking and chatting for the next 4 hours.

The end result was 5 bottles of authentic, yummy, flavorful "Spaghetti sauce"!

Baby Blue Herons

I see the beginnings of Fall. The days are getting shorter. The first colors on leaves are here, some yellow, some bright red. I had reached the end of the trail where there is a small swamp in a secluded area. I have seen the Blue Heron here several time. Today, I saw two birds flying over the swamp. From their flight and the pointed feet, I instantly recognized them. They were baby blue herons. Just slightly larger than a pigeon. It warmed my heart to know that the adult Herons had a successful mating season this year. The babies are thriving and I will see them around.

Caramel Candy ( aka Caramel Rava Laddu )

Yesterday my dear friend Pooja gave me a bowl of leftover caramel syrup that she had made to drizzle over brownies. With my daughter having such a sweet tooth, I am a grateful recipient of the sweet treats that she makes. She suggested that the kids could have apples dipped in caramel syrup as a snack. I didn't have apples so I used pears instead.

I wondered what else I could do with the extra caramel syrup. I turned to my mother-in-law who came up with the idea of making Rava laddu with the caramel syrup. She made it today and rolled it into small brown balls to fool the kids into thinking this is candy. This is what it looks like.

Brilliant idea isn't it! Now lets see if the kids get fooled :)

A wonderful sight : Caspian Tern diving for fish

Today as I walked along the lake, I noticed a Caspian tern flying high above the lake looking for fish. The tern can easily be mistaken for the common gull unless you notice the distinctive orange beak and a black cap on its head. It flew several rounds scanning the surface of the lake with its beak pointing downwards. I stopped on my track and watched.

Suddenly I got to witness the tern do a swift dive into the lake and up it came with a small fish on its beak. What a breathtaking sight. It made my day! Here is a picture I got from www.robertbotts.com

The Impact of Plastic

I came across this picture and felt that I should post it.

A Gift of Food is a Gift of Love

There is something beautiful about sharing a home cooked meal. It is an expression of love and friendship. 

Yesterday evening my neighbour's son Zamin brought us a tray full of food. A plate of warm basmati rice and chickpeas, sweet dates on the side, a glass of pink faluda and a small plate of sliced cake soaked in custard and topped with strawberries.  It was the Ramadan Iftar meal, the evening meal when muslims break their fast at the time of sunset. Knowing we are vegetarian, Saba my neighbour sent us only what was vegetarian in the Iftar meal.

I was touched by this sweet gesture. It was a gentle acknowledgement of our friendship. With every mouthful, I was conscious of the time and love that went into making this meal.

Rhubarb Brandy Jam this time

After two days of enjoying the outdoors, we spent a lazy afternoon yesterday making Rhubarb Brandy Jam. It was a family event with my 5yr old daughter Smriti helping me wash up the rhubarb, dad chopping rhubarb and mom and grandmother doing the cooking and canning. My 3yr old son helped by sleeping for most of this time.

Small things can lift your spirit

Today after a period of sadness and loss and staying indoors, I went for a walk on my regular path along the nature trail. I saw so many birds, it was as if they all showed up just to welcome me.

A dull red female cardinal, a blue heron in the swamp hunting fish, a rose-breasted Grosbeak, a cedar waxwing on a tree full of bright red berries, a few swallows perched on the fence along the pond and two red-headed woodpeckers pecking the same tree looking for worms. I could feel my spirit lifting. I am happy again!

Poem: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou

A poem on what freedom really means. This is cry from every animal captured in zoos, from every lab animal, from every pet. All enslaved and deprived of their freedom in their natural environment.

The free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wings in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with fearful trill
of the things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

Maya Angelou

Strawberry ..jammin

Yummm! ..a large pail of hand picked ripe strawberriers getting transformed into little cans of strawberry jam for our loving family and friends to enjoy!

Dealing with adversity

Many a times in our lives, we are faced with uncertainty and adversity. To deal with them involves dealing with the physical and the emotional aspect of the adversity.

The physical aspect is usually not under our control. We will have to bear with it as it comes. Often times it is the emotional aspect that torments us way more than the physical aspect. We will suffer less when we ride the wave as smoothly as we can and we come out with fewer scars.

We have a lot of control on how to deal with our emotions. Our first tendency is to withdraw into a shell and dwell on the problem. Our thoughts control our emotions. It is easy to let the mind takeover. The mind will let your thoughts sway from the past to the present and to the future. The mind will ponder on all the possible ifs and buts. The mind will bring up past circumstances aggravating the present situations. The mind will worry about how other people will react, what other people will say and think.

The best way to deal with the situation is to keep the mind empty of thoughts and be more present and aware of our day to day activities. This lets us face the problem directly without wallowing in our thoughts, hopes and dreams. All of which is pointless anyway.

July ..the season of Wild raspberries!

As I walked towards the end of the trail close to my house, I spotted light green prickly bushes with an abundance of what looked like orange buds. I went closer to get a better look. They were not buds of flowers but tiny wild raspberries slowly ripening. My kids and Colleen's kids had a great time last year picking and eating the ripe raspberries from these bushes. In a week's time, the fruit will be ripe .. almost black in color with a burst of sweetness. Can't wait to take the kids there again..

Look at all the ripe wide raspberries I picked on my morning walk today. My three year old son ate them all in one sitting.

To toil is easy, To see joy is hard

A lot of us struggle and toil endlessly every day of life. There is a sense of accomplishment in struggling from dawn to dusk as if every ounce of energy was used productively. This is easy to do. Just rush through the day in a half awake state.

The key to life is to see joy and beauty everyday, in ordinary things despite everything! For this one needs to be intensely awake every moment and face life fully. Not an easy task and done by a rare few.

Anondo Dhara Bohiche Bhubone

An immortal song by Tagore urging us stop wallowing in our petty miseries and wake up to the endless outpouring of bliss.

Anando Dhara Bohichhe Bhubone 
Dino Rojoni Koto Amrito Rosho
Utholi Jai Ananto Gogone
Anando Dhara Bohichhe Bhubone
(Joy and bliss flows through the universe
Day and night so much ambrosia of life overflows
Through endless skies.
Joy and bliss flows through the universe)

Pano Kore Robi Shashi Anjali Bhoriya
Shoda Dipto Rohe Akhhoyo Jyoti
Nittya Purno Dhora Jibone Kirone
Anando Dhara Bohichhe Bhubone
(Sun and moon drink in this divine offering it
And stays glowing forever their eternal light
Everyday the earth is replete with the light of life.
Joy and bliss flow through the universe)

Bosiya Accho Keno Apono Mone
Shartho Nimogono Ki Kaarone
Chari Dike Dekho Chahi Hridoyo Proshari
Khudro Dukkho Shobo Tuchho Mani
Prem Bhoria Loho Shunno Jibone
Anando Dhara Bohichhe Bhubone
(Why are you sitting all on your own?
Preoccupied within yourself for what reason?
Look all around with an open heart.
Brush away your little sorrows
Fill your empty life with love
Joy and bliss flow through the universe)

A beautiful rendition by Rezwana Chowdhury Bonnya on YouTube

Today's News - Free flowing filth into our lives

There was a time when I caught up on the news first thing in the morning. This has changed over the last few years because of motherhood duties taking a higher priority. During this time, my day started off by peeking out of the window. The sunlight of dawn, the clear sky and the sound of birds welcomed me to a new day. After a hiatus, I have started catching up on the daily news again.

Top news on CNN
    Cleveland abductions; Abortion doctor; Jolie mastectomy; Victim of 'sexually depraved monster';   Prison guards hit with feces; Sergeant faces sex assault allegations; How a man becomes a monster;

Top news on BBC
    US kidnap accused to plead innocent; QPR striker quizzed over gang rape; My life as a 'plus-size' model; An old-fashioned spy scandal; US man dies dribbling ball to Brazil;

Everyday I am startled, shocked and left shaken by what the media brings to me. Each one of these a blow to my psyche. Not a single news to lift my spirit and belief in humanity.

All around me, I see goodness and beauty. My eyes see the innocence of children, the outburst of life in spring. My ears hear laughter and chatter of friends, the song of birds, music from the wind chime. I feel the love of a beloved, the love of a parent for a child, the joy of a grandmother.

I refuse to believe that the world is full of such filth. I refuse to wash my spirit everyday in this sewage. I will rely on what my own eyes see for real, what my ears hear for real and what my mind and senses feel to form my opinion of the world and not what the media spews at me.

That soft space within

When I am in the midst of pure natural beauty
When I watch birds soaring in freedom
When I snuggle next to my sleeping child
When I think of my sweet grandmother
When I read a beautiful poem
When I listen to soulful music

I take a deep breath and enter that soft space within

A perfect union disrupted by loud humans

A bright and sunny early April afternoon, I stood on the pier that juts into the Toogood pond in Unionville and looked around. A pair of Canadian geese caught my eye. They were taking turns dunking their head into the water for what seemed like a few minutes. I realized in an instant that this is a mating ritual. Very soon the male was on top of the female. The male biting the female's neck probably to steady itself amid the throes of an intense sexual union. I watched in complete stillness.

All of a sudden two nannies and toddlers arrive at the scene and immediately start dropping pieces of bread into the lake to attract the geese. The mating pair tried to continue on, but with the nannies screaming "honk honk" and "bread bread" there was little hope for them. Their union was abruptly terminated. The male dismounted and tried very hard to steady himself.

A feeling of distaste and sadness engulfed me. A perfect union of nature was disrupted by intrusive, insensitive and loud humans. I walked away quietly with the bad feeling lingering for a long time after.

A Bad Marriage

Domestic life with those who don't agree with you, is like dwelling with a cobra in the same hut. - Tirukkural 890

You will be bitten, poked, prodded, wounded day after day. Your spirit will suffer from daily blows of harsh words, criticism and disapproval. If you can't distance yourself from the cobra, may you find solace in things that you really love. Otherwise you will wither like a plant deprived of water under a merciless sun.  

Rich in sunny hours and summer days

“Many a forenoon have I stolen away, preferring to spend thus the most valued part of the day; for I was rich, if not in money, in sunny hours and summer days, and spent them lavishly” – Henry David Thoreau, Walden

This is how I feel every day since I began working part-time. The sunny, quiet afternoon hours are really the best part of the day. I walk around lazily looking at whatever catches my eye. Everything slows down as mother nature enjoys a nice afternoon siesta.

Oh! Nesting pairs everywhere ..

As I walk around the open areas and trails, I see nesting pairs of birds everywhere.

The Canadian geese are all paired up. The female eating while the male guards. One sleeping, the other watching. The mallard duck pairs are spreading out to different areas in the swamps securing a private territory.  A pair of mourning doves resting quietly at the foot of a dense shrub. The slender and delicate bird perfectly camouflaged with the brown branches. When I see the red cardinal in the woods,  I know that its dull colored partner is somewhere close hidden in the thickset.

It is as if I am witnessing Spring for the first time in my life .. 

The Coo of the Mourning Dove

Every morning as I head out from home to work, I hear this very haunting coo of a particular bird. A far away "woo-OO-oo-oo-oo" .. a pause and then again "woo-OO-oo-oo-oo". I wondered what mysterious bird must have such a distinctive coo.

I wanted to find out on the web..but what would I search for? The only option was to ask a birder in the region. I almost gave up hope of finding out until I chanced upon a very slender, greyish brown bird that looked like pigeon. I looked it up and found out that it was the Mourning Dove.

Imagine my surprise when I found that this was it!! The Mourning dove's plaintive coo is what gave this bird its name. "woo-OO-oo-oo-oo"  ... "woo-OO-oo-oo-oo" ..

Mother's tea

My mother is visiting for a few months. The best thing about having mom at home is the tea she makes for me. Every morning my sweet mother will ask me "milk or chai". Mostly my answer is "chai". I sit cross-legged on the sofa sipping hot tea and looking out of the window. A soft start to a brand new day ..

Manicured Park Or Wilderness

I used to jog in a large well manicured park a stone's throw from my house. The grass was neatly trimmed. Precisely spaced apple trees lined the pathway. There was a water fountain, a rose garden, an artificial waterfall, a pond, a gazebo. It was a dream park.

Occasionally, I would jog in the nature trail a little further away. Slowly it dawned to me that the nature trail had such a different quality to it. What was it about the nature trail? Was it the sound of the water in the meandering stream? Was it the rustling of the leaves on the mature trees?

The abundance of life in the wilderness struck me! The sound of the crickets, snails everywhere, fungi, red and black caterpillars crawling slowly, dragonflies, butterflies and the bees, the rabbits safe behind the dense growth of trees, the squirrels far up on the trees, birds of all kinds, small slithery snakes, and raccoons.

I realized that a park simply lacks the community required to sustain life. The wilderness provides food and a safe, sheltered environment for just about every form of life. A landscaped park is a sub-standard version of the wilderness. Needless to say, I haven't felt the urge to visit the park very often.

It reminded me of what Thoreau said "In wildness is the preservation of the world."

Dadirri : Deep Listening

I recently read about "Dadirri". It has always been a big part in the lives of the Aboriginal people of Australia. According to  Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann, Aboriginal writer

“Dadirri is inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness. Dadirri recognises the deep spring that is inside us. We call on it and it calls to us.

When I experience dadirri, I am made whole again. I can sit on the riverbank or walk through the trees; even if someone close to me has passed away, I can find my peace in this silent awareness. There is no need of words. A big part of dadirri is listening.”

“In our Aboriginal way, we learnt to listen from our earliest days. We could not live good and useful lives unless we listened. This was the normal way for us to learn - not by asking questions. We learnt by watching and listening, waiting and then acting.”

“My people are not threatened by silence. They are completely at home in it. They have lived for thousands of years with Nature’s quietness. My people today, recognize and experience this quietness, the great Life-Giving Spirit, the Father of us all.”

Grateful for an ordinary day

There was a time in my life when I yearned for an ordinary day. My two year old daughter was very sick for a period of six months. She had surgery a few days before my son was born. I was torn between caring for a sick child and a new born.

All that I wished for then was an ordinary day where the children are healthy and happily playing around. A day where we go about doing our normal chores, enjoy simple home cooked food, laugh, talk and cuddle up on the sofa.

I live my life with the backdrop of this knowledge. I am grateful for every single day!
I know how perfect a "normal" day is. How beautiful "ordinary" things are.

A lone "Red Cardinal"

I took a different path today and walked into the nature trail despite all the snow. The sun was shining brightly. At a fork in the trail, I decided to walk towards a dense forest of pines.

In the thickset of tall bushes along the stream, I could hear different bird songs. I stood still on the bridge when lo and behold, I spot a lone red cardinal on a leafless tree. The red color standing out in the background of white and gray. The shy bird stayed there just for a few seconds before disappearing.

(Picture courtesy: http://pinterest.com/shjoll /red-cardinal/)                         

 
Small black, white and grey birds flitted about among the branches. I found out that the tiny yet plump birds are the Black-capped Chickadee.  

 

  (Picture courtesy :montananaturalist.blogspot.com)

Cedar Waxwing

My daily walks are always filled with surprises. I wondered what is in store for me today ..

As I walk on my regular path, a whole flock of birds swish past me and settle on a bare leafless tree. I stopped on my tracks, tiptoed close to the tree and peered up to get a closer look at them. What wonderful little birds! All of the same kind, sitting proud with their eyes looking far ahead. Tiny birds with the colors of brown and gray, a beautiful brown crest on its little head and a yellow tipped tail. It looked as if each bird was gently held and its tail dipped ever so slightly into bright yellow paint. The air was filled with the thin whistles of the birds.

All of a sudden, the birds fly up from the tree together, go around to settle again on top of another tree. What a display of exquisite aeronautics...like a trained troop of synchronized dancers. Are they a variant of the red cardinal? They had a similar crest. I had to go home and find out!

It turns out the birds were a flock of Cedar Waxwings! To know that I have lived in Canada for 10 years and to have never seen one before.

(Picture courtesy: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/cedar_waxwing/id)

The anticipation of Spring

A mid-day walk on a quiet sunny March day along the road lining the lake and I hear a big rumpus up ahead. A few steps down the road and I get a full view of the lake swarming with geese with a spotting of a few mallard ducks here are there. The ice on the lake is barely melting, and all the Canadian geese are back!.

Oh! what a cacophony! The geese are in a frenzy of activity. Honking and grunting. A few standing tall, thrusting their chest forward and swiftly fluttering their powerful wings. A few others are vigorously preening and some others are somersaulting in the lake trying to clean their backs. Each one of them shaking off the last remnants of the winter blues.

I stood still watching them for how long I know not... I was reminded of the Kumbh Mela in India when scores of Indians flock to the Ganges.

They were getting ready for the spring and another wonderful season of life!  Mating, laying eggs, raising the goslings. I looked around and couldn't help but smile. The sunny sky, a gentle breeze so slightly warm. The air was pregnant with the anticipation of Spring and so was I

Kayena Vacha - An offering to the divine

Kayena vacha manasendriyairva
Buddhyatmana va prakrite swabhavath
Karoomi yadyad sakalam parasmai
Narayanayeti samarpayami


Whatever I do for others with my physical being, through words, thought, senses, intellect, heart, soul and innate tendencies, I offer everything to the divine. 

Stay close to mother nature

A man's heart away from nature becomes hard - is an old Lakota saying

The more we are surrounded by inanimate things, the more deadened we become. Our senses die a slow death and so do we. Buildings, cars, concrete, plastics, computers and devices. Our days are lifeless, spent tied to desks prodding on computers and our evenings are worse, spent flopped in front of the TV. We become insensitive to everything .. smells, tastes, sounds, feelings and our surroundings.

To be alive is to feel deeply and intensely. To be awake with every sense. This is only possible in the lap of mother nature always throbbing and pulsing with life. Simply dig the earth gently and you will see the soft soil teeming with life.


..when you strain your ears to hear a far away bird song..
..when you see the multitude of hues in the evening sky..
..when you feel the cool softness of the grass under your bare feet..
..when you stop to smell a wild sage leaf..
..when you watch the fluttering leaves on a tree...like a million sparkling diamonds of a magnificent chandelier.  You are alive!!

To be alive is to be surrounded with life in all its forms.

Why fix the house when the home is crumbing?

We are all guilty of doing this. We want to perfect our house. The interiors, the deck, the kitchen, the garden, the furnishings. The list is endless. The amount of time, money and effort we spend on this means we have less time to ourselves, less time with our loved ones, less patience, less family time.

The few precious hours of leisure required for rest and rejuvenation is now devoted to perfecting the house, a mere physical structure. All this leads to a stress filled home, putting a big strain on our personal relationships and happiness. Slowly and steadily, the "home" starts to break down.

Why then do we embark on the futile exercise of perfecting the house when the home is crumbing? If only we can use our time to build the "home". To fix our relationships, to fill our homes with joy and laughter, to relax and enjoy a quiet weekend.

Nature is the real Teacher

All life lessons are learnt while observing nature

Look around when Spring comes, the rays of the sun warms the soil and a million buds shoot out eagerly all of their own accord. You will then believe in the tremendous life giving power of nature.

Have you ever observed how a deep gash heals? I observed a deep cut on my finger for a week and watched the miracle of healing everyday. The cells slowly growing into the wound and completely covering it up with not as much as a mark left at the end. You will learn to just be and and let nature do its work of healing.

Look at how a single blade of grass grows in the wilderness. It lives in harmony with all other plants, and creatures around it. Only taking what it needs to live fully, to grow and when time comes to slowly wither away. You will learn that the only purpose of life is to live. To really live in harmony with everything else. 

At the end of autumn, when all the leaves have fallen from trees. The nests of little birds come in full view. The tiny homes that the birds loving built to lay eggs and raise their young ones. You will learn that a home needs to be small, cozy and warm. Just big enough to raise your family. Anything bigger will lack warmth and fall short of its purpose.

Have you watched animals with their young ones? A bison calf and its mother are inseparable for a whole year after its birth. A mother black bear will never leave its cubs out of her sight for 2 years. This teaches us to keep our children close and never leave them far away to be raised by others. 

What is Poetry

Poetry is an attempt to capture an intimate feeling in words. It is a cup that holds an overflowing emotion. Poetry draws us out of the drudgery of everyday living and urges us to see differently, think differently and feel differently. It lets us sink into a different world and let the feeling envelop our entire being.

Today is a work day. An end February friday. I am in no mood to work. I am tempted to indulge and and Tagore's poem aptly captures my feeling today. Come with me, lets savor these gems! 


A Moments Indulgence - Rabindranath Tagore
I ask for a moment's indulgence to sit by thy side. The works
that I have in hand I will finish afterwards.

Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor respite,
and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil.

Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs; and
the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.

Now it is time to sit quite, face to face with thee, and to sing
dedication of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.

Matsuo Basho's Haiku
Oh, these spring days!
A nameless little mountain,
wrapped in morning haze!

a peasant’s child
husking rice, pauses
to look at the moon

Rumi's Poem
There is a candle in your heart,
ready to be kindled.
There is a void in your soul,
ready to be filled.
You feel it, don't you?
You feel the separation from the Beloved.
Invite Him to fill you up, embrace the fire.
Remind those who tell you otherwise that
Love comes to you of its own accord,
and the yearning for it
cannot be learned in any school.

Meaning of Gayatri Mantra

Hinduism is very deeply rooted in nature. The most sacred Gayatri Mantram is an astounding wake up call to each one of us to meditate everyday on the wonder and splendor of nature. Only the understanding of nature can truly enlighten us.

Earth, sky and waters ..

“OM BUHR, BHUVA, SWAHA
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YONAHA PRACHODAYAT”

Oh earth, sky and the waters  (ie the 3 worlds bhuh, bhuvaha, suvaha)
That glorious radiating light of the sun 
We meditate upon the splendor of the divine
May this illuminate us with an understanding of reality.  

Why do I write?

I write for myself and my two children. I write because my love for them overflows my heart and spills over into the pages of this blog. I hope they will one day understand everything I want to tell them, see everything I want to show them and retain the essence of everything that I hold dear.

I write for you, my darlings so I can tell you how much I love you. I write so I can show you all the beauty I see. For one day, I hope you will see it too...early in your life rather than later.

I write so I can show you how to be really alive every day of your life. To look at the sky afresh, to feel the warmth of the sun, to feel the crisp air, the wind in your faces.  I hope one day you will be able to see through the clutter and noise and all that is unreal and learn to love silence and feel the deep peace in your heart. Then you will see the perfection on this earth and the perfection in your self. That's when life really begins and your heart will bloom with joy!! 

"So I write of what I know and some day our hearts will meet in these words, -- if you let it happen" - Chief Dan George

An (extra)ordinary day

I'm working from home in the upstairs room. I can hear the sounds from around the house. My sister is visiting for the weekend. She is listening to music and working on her laptop. Dad is in the basement chatting with my little son. Grandfather and grandson sharing a nice time. Mom is done with the morning chores and is dusting the sofa.

Is this just an ordinary day or really an extraordinary day?

Poem: Pain

Mother, I couldn't sleep last night
My heart ached knowing your daily pain
In silence you have borne for so many years

Of what use is my worry and lost sleep
I fret no more. My love is with you and
I know the power of the earth will heal you

The Great Blue Heron - My totem

An afternoon jog on a frigid mid January day. The lake is partly frozen and the geese have all gone down south seeking warmer weather. Only a handful of mallard ducks lazing on the waters under the mid-day sun. I was happy to see them still there. Running a few steps along the path and what do I see .. a lone Great Blue Heron standing still in the swamp under the bridge. What a surprise! My heart soared with joy.

The numerous times this bird has greeted me on my solitary walks along the nature trail. I know the Great Blue Heron is my totem.