The "Third Eye" of wisdom..

Lord Shiva is depicted with an open third eye. The third eye is the inner eye or the mind's eye. It is the way we perceive the world when we have a spiritual connection to everything. With the wisdom of the third eye, our view of life changes and living becomes joyful.

Great poets and philosophers like Tagore, Kuvempu, Thyagaraja, Wordsworth, Rumi, Gibran, Maya Angelou, Muir, Thoreau .. all saw the world through the third eye. It is the reason why their works are sources of endless inspiration.

While John Muir filled pages and pages of his journal with accounts of his experiences and exquisite delight and wonder at seeing the ridges, domes and canyons of the Yosemite. His companion shepherd Billy saw nothing in the Yosemite ..only to say .."there is nothing worth seeing anyway, only rocks .. a dead good place to keep away from" to which Muir laments.. "Such souls, I suppose, are asleep, or smothered and befogged beneath mean pleasures". Like Billy most of us chug along in our lives asleep and befogged, blind to the beauty and every day miracles.

"Blessed are those who see beautiful things in humble places where others see nothing." - Camille Pissarro

A dream: To paint Plien Air..

Canadian landscape paintings

What we search on the internet reveals some of our deep longings. Whenever I get some time to relax, I find myself searching for the paintings of Robert Genn, John Pryce or the Group of Seven. What is common in all of their work is the pristine Canadian landscape.

Every once in a while my mind projects an image far into the future and what I see is an image of me and my daughter painting En plien air in some remote Canadian location. This recurring dream may just remain a dream but it still brings cheer to my heart.

Why plien air I ask myself? The reason perhaps is that plien air painting combines my three loves, my love for nature, my love for the beautiful Canadian landscape and my love of painting. Instead of driving by in a car and getting off to take a picture of a beautiful scene, wouldn't it be better to hike to a nice location, sit there and soak in the beauty of the landscape and then create something from what you have just taken in? 

This is what Robert Genn, one of Canada's most accomplished painter has to say of plien air ...."Plein air is something special. Plein air is an occasion, an event, a happening. Plein air makes plain days magic. Plein air has integrity and honesty. But above all plein air is the breeze, the birds, the passing parade.  

Who needs cigars when you're inhaling life?"

The Content of our Character ..

For years I have admired my husband's paternal uncle. A man of few words, he is a thorough gentleman! To this day I haven't seen anyone with such a pleasant demeanor, simplicity,  broad mindedness and an unshakeable serenity.

According to Hinduism, every man's life should be a continuous journey towards self improvement. We must strive daily to polish our character from the state of a crude rock to that of a smooth river stone. For us, he is a living example of one who has carefully cultivated and refined the content of his character over the years. 

Even at the age of 75 years, he enjoys a fit, agile body and great stability of mind due to his discipline and moderation in every aspect of life. With his exemplary integrity, ever pleasant nature and unlimited love, he is a role model and an example of what we can only aspire to be.

"Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing" - Albert Schweitzer

Navratri or the Fall : Which festival to celebrate?

The glorious colors of Fall

The nine day Navratri festival has begun. For nine days Indian's all over the world will worship Shakthi, the divine mother of the earth. For Navratri this year I intended to setup a small Golu at home with an assortment of Indian dolls and figurines resting in my basement for years. I haven't gotten to it yet ..

..for every bit of spare time I have, I am drawn outdoors by a strong invisible hand to witness mother nature's festival of Fall. When I see the riot of colors outside, the trees dancing to the tunes of the northern winds and the carpet of leaves at my feet, I see Shakthi, the divine mother dancing around me in all her glory!

My eyes long to drink deep of her intoxicating cocktail of colors. The dolls may have to sit in the basement for a little longer ..

A Painter's World ..

My painting from John Pryce's class

Every now and then, I feel the need to escape from my familiar world and into the world of the artists. The artists speak a different language. In their company, I would hear phrases like ..
"did you notice the sumacs are just turning red?". 
"when you see blue asters, you know fall is near". 
"do you see the yellow of the goldenrods in the foreground..?"
"it is important to capture the distinct shape of the Jack pines"
"the granite rock faces of Georgian Bay are unique to that region"

Plein air painters have a close connection and awareness of the landscape and wild life around them. They see more keenly and feel more deeply and that is transmitted into the paintings!