Friday, February 22, 2013

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.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

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.  

Monday, January 28, 2013

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

Friday, January 25, 2013

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?

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

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

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

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.