Saturday, April 25, 2009

Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it...

Almost two and a half millenia before today, the great master Confucius said that everything has its beauty. More importantly, he added that not everyone sees it. Simple words. But, the effect has not been lost over all these years. How often do we categorize everything..every person..every moment around us into "beautiful" and "not so.." ?? Consider it. A rose is beautiful. Yes. What about the thorns? They too are beautiful. Their beauty lies in the fact that they are never scared of withering. The sunset is beautiful. Yes. But, what about the sky? It is beautiful too because it can show different designs to different people. Again, we find some people beautiful. And the reference is usually based on their exterior looks. Same is the case with relationships, friendships, situations, moments and memories.

Let me tell you now a tale of another age...Long ago..when everyone could speak to each other. Including man. Birds. Animals. Mountains. Rivers. The sun, the wind and even the stars.

Once there was an argument between two little house sparrows...The female house sparrow was quite upset with her lover. She felt that no one cared about her. Including him. He tried to convince her of his love. But she would not listen. She kept sobbing. He asked her what would make her happy. Wiping her tears, she told him to find out the most beautiful thing in the world. And bring it to her. Then she would be happy..Her lover was shocked. He did not know what to do. He went and spoke to his friends..the pigeon and the crow. Both told him that it would be very difficult.

But the sparrow did not lose hope. For he loved her. More than anything else in the world. So, the sparrow went to the tree and asked him about it. The tree said its fruits were the most beautiful. The sparrow smiled..but did not believe this. The tree told him to go to the mountains...for they can see from such great heights..The sparrow flew..and flew..Was very tired. But, he did reach the mountains. They told him that their snow covered peaks were the most beautiful. The sparrow was not convinced. He was asked to go and talk to the all knowing wind. So, the sparrow decided to go and talk to the wind. The wind was surprised when the tiny sparrow asked him about the most beautiful thing in the world. The wind said that its ability to change forms made it beautiful. The sparrow laughed. This made the wind angry. It blew like it had never blown before. The sparrow could barely hold on. The force of the wind blew him towards the sun. But, he was determined. So, he asked the sun the same question.The sun told him that his sunset was the most beautiful. The sparrow was not one to believe this. He told the sun about what the others claimed to be the most beautiful. The sun got irritated. How could this little one speak like that? So he shone like never before..The sparrow then was feeling very hot. Fortunately, it was evening soon..The sparrow was relieved. And then there was darkness..the stars twinkled..The sparrow thought this was his last hope..For the stars spanned across different worlds. Surely they would tell him correctly.

So, he went up to the North Star. Shining very bright. The star was puzzled. How did this little one make it upto here? Nevertheless..the star was calm..He thought for a moment..Then he asked the sparrow..."Why did you come all this way?" The sparrow replied, "My lover wants me to bring her the most beautiful thing in the world..But, I dont know what it is.." And then he told the star about all the experiences that day. The star smiled. In a knowing manner..he said, "My dear sparrow..Love is the most beautiful thing in the world..Go back to your lover..and give her all of it." The sparrow was happy. He went back to his lover. And told her that she was the most beautiful thing in the world. And he dearly loved her. And she was finally happy.

Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it...Everyone has love....but not everyone sees it.

Monday, April 20, 2009

About the stars and the moon...the ocean..and love..

I write of very ancient times..A tale as old as the universe itself. As old as love itself. Long long ago. There were no stars. No moon. The night sky used to be empty. Only darkness.

In a far away land, there lived a king. He had only one daughter. The princess was of unmatched beauty and grace. She fell in love with a poor peasant. The king did not like this. The princess pleaded with her father for her love. Her heart was one with the poor peasant. The king did not listen. He cursed them both. They would never be together. They would live forever but without each other. Now, there lived a fairy. She was very kind and generous. She could not bear to see the agony of the two lovers. But, she could not take back the curse of the king. However, she did modify it. She turned the princess into the stars and the moon...And the peasant became the ocean. They would never meet again. They would come together only at the horizon. Yet, they would remain apart...

Ages have passed by. Their love continues to endure.. The stars twinkle. The moon shines. And the waters below glimmer..The stars reflect in the heart of the ocean. The waves rise and fall with the cycle of the moon. The ocean touches his love..and feels her. True love. True love...

I close my eyes. I lie on the green grass. Beneath the star lit sky. Every twinkle fills the heart with joy. I can see the divine play. Beautiful. Sublime..The scene is set..Their tale of love is there for me to see...Memories, moments and magic..And this..the starry night..Like a kaleidoscope. As I look at the stars..I reflect in a different way every passing moment. If only I could tell you...

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The belly rules the mind...

Eating is nice..Cooking is better..I personally feel cooking is the greatest art form. It appeals to all the senses. Come to think of it, cooking is a science as well. A fusion of science and art. Wow ! Cooking which keeps in mind the nutritional aspects of food as well is a perfect example of this fusion. My mom is a great cook. Me not so great. I learnt cooking from her. I have now been cooking for the last 2 years..ever since I have been in the US. The onions are the same..The tomatoes are the same..Even the spices look the same. But, everyday is a new experience. Everyday, I find something new, something interesting when I cook.

I dont know what makes the food taste better..The ingredients or the effort..May be both. My mom would tell me that a nice meal would always take care of all worries. Today, I am even more convinced. When someone has a delicious meal, there is a feeling of satisfaction. How often are we satisfied in life? Not often. In fact, I am quite sure that a person is most happy when she has a wonderful meal..And if that meal is self prepared or by someone who is dearly loved, it is even more delicious.

Seems apt..I end this piece with a recipe..One of my personal favorites. Pav bhaji. Heat some oil in a pan. Add finely chopped onions to this. Add a touch of ginger and garlic. Fry the onions till golden light. Add chopped capsicums (bell peppers). Prepare some tomato puree and add it to the pan. Heat for some 5 mins to bring out the flavors of the tomatoes. Then, separately mash up boiled potatoes, peas and some florets of cauliflowers. Add this now to the pan as well. Add some chilli powder and turmeric powder. Then, add the pav bhaji masala which is readily available in any Indian grocery store. Add a little water to lighten up the gravy. Cook for 15-20 mins on light flame. Add salt as per taste. Finally, add some finely chopped coriander leaves to the bhaji. Usually, people have this bhaji with lightly toasted bread (pav). Some finely chopped onions and a sprinkle of lemon. And my Pav Bhaji is ready...

Saturday, April 18, 2009

A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible...

Today, I planted a few trees at the corner of Hudson at Madison in Redwood City. It was a wonderful experience. Working for a few hours with other people who were unknown to me was a new experience. There were no prejudices. No prior notions. All of us had only one thing in mind. Planting trees. I dont remember the names of all the trees that I planted today. But, the name of the first one...yes..It was the first tree at the corner. Cercis canadensis ssp. texensis 'Oklahoma'. Got it from one of the arborists on site. Reddish purple flowers in early spring before the heart shaped leaves.

The grass is green. The sky is blue. The soil is brown. I am no tree expert. But I love greenery. I now realize why Kahlil Gibran said that trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky. Trees represent human nature in a subtle way. Both trees and the human spirit want to grow. Both need to overcome challenges. It is simply not about survival. It is about color and fruitfulness. It is about expanding our reach. It is about our deepest desire to live. Leave behind a mark. Every tree was once a seed. Something small. But, it is mysterious. How does it become a tree? How does it know its functions? How does it know its responsibilities? How does the human spirit realize "itself"? And its meaning?? Reflection perhaps...

Consider this Welsh saying: A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible...

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Gone with the wind....

It was just another beautiful late evening. I left from my workplace. As soon as I came out in the open, I was full of awe. The wind blew..The trees swayed..The waters in the lagoon went into a rhythmic trance. It was diificult for me to decide. Whats more eye catching ? The wind or the lovely sunset. It was chilly. Not at all pleasant. I was wearing full sleeves..that helped but not much. Then, I decided to walk all the way to the train station, which is about 15 to 20 mins walk from my workplace. Like I had a choice? I was working late and all buses/shuttles were gone. So, I had to walk. But, once I came out of the building, I was thinking. I would have walked irrespective of the buses and shuttles. Saying it was breezy would be an understatement. My bag was flying all over. I was holding onto it for good. It was breathtaking..Those 20 mins were just mind blowing..no puns intended..Cold..windy..walking against the wind..I was not having fun, but it was a once in a while opportunity.

The wind blew. It seemed as if it wanted to reach out to me. It wanted to say something to me. It was a divine experience of sorts..As for the gale..it touched my face...and every nerve paid obeisance. My inner self knew what it wanted to tell. Though it did not speak any words...my inner self did hear and..did understand. I dont know what it is like coming face to face with Him. But, in moments like these..the spirit of every living entity becomes one with that of nature. And your heart is filled with divine bliss..and solitude...

Monday, April 13, 2009

All the kings and queens....

A game of cards..pretty interesting. One player deals. Everyone plays. Everyone wants to win. But only one actually does win. You never know what hand you are going to be dealt with..You may almost never have the best cards. You always want to be in a position in which the other guys are. Life, money, career, relationships and love are all like a game of cards. Expectations. A player always expects that the next hand will be the helpful one. But, rarely is that the case. The art of winning involves not picking the right cards..but in putting them together in the right way. The best player is one who can play competitively with the worst possible deal.

Life is like the full set...Money...the set of spades...Career..the set of clubs....Relationships..the set of diamonds..and Love is the set of hearts..However, I find this the most puzzling...You have the kings, the queens and the jacks..and ofcourse the aces. But, you are always looking for the joker...

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Shine like an early drop of dew...

A sight to behold..I wake up in the morning. I look outside. The grass is lush. The sky is clear. The birds are humming..Beautiful early spring day it is. But, even more beautiful than all of these are the dewdrops. Dewdrops live a short life. They are gone before most of us are awake. Those fortunate to witness their refreshing presence realize why the grass is lush green and why the air has a certain feel to it.

The small circle of life..the dewdrop. Look at it. It reflects my innermost thoughts. I know I can confide in it my deepest feelings and wishes. I trust it. Perhaps the most amazing thing about dewdrops is...I touch it..and a genesis of sorts takes place..One dewdrop is replaced with countless droplets..Ever eager is this dewdrop to spread its beautiful and refreshing qualities. If only I could live a life of dewdrops...spread joy everywhere every moment....The dewdrops...ethereal and exemplary. The best compliment that I have to offer to the dewdrop is this..Your presence actually makes the rose look beautiful.

Shine like an early drop of dew
Poised on a red rose petal.
The dew-drop carries in its eye
Mountain and forest, sea and sky,
With every change of weather;

(From "Dewdrop and Diamond" of Robert Graves)

Saturday, April 11, 2009

The rest is silence....

All emotions known to us can be put under two categories. Silence and the rest. Silence allows us to put forward our thoughts in a way that even the loudest argument cannot. The person who is silent more often than not knows why she is silent. What is remarkable is that the person on the other side knows it as well. How this amazing exchange takes place continues to puzzle me..?? A picture speaks more than a thousand words. Actions speak louder than words..Silence conveys more than words..Then why do we speak? May be because it is the inability of words to convey the meaning and its might..that makes pictures, actions and silence more effective. The white background makes the shadow play more effective..

But, can silence sometimes be wrong? Not telling someone the truth...This is worth debating..Is truth desirable even if it is bitter..or does silence act like a charm in such a case? I would prefer the truth..the purpose is as important as the means. Not telling someone how much you appreciate them is as good as not appreciating them. If you really love someone, say it. Staying silent will not help. Admitted, true love rises amidst silence..Words cannot express the feeling. But, regretfully..in this age..mere mortals need an exhibition. Hamlet said that rest is silence. Somehow, it is always deafening..

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Being curious...has no cure..

Many times..I keep asking questions..Some people around me think I am crazy..some appreciate my curiosity..Some think I am dumb..I think I need to know the truth..the secret..It is pretty exciting to always be in the quest of something..sometimes answers..sometimes questions..There is a fine line between curiosity and paranoia. Asking one question is natural. Asking many questions is being curious. Asking same question many times over is refusal to accept the inevitable. Asking same questions expecting different answers is paranoia..

Whatever be the case..if the doubt is genuine..if the question only helps clear the perspective, it is worthwhile to ask it. Nothing should stop one from asking that question..Some of the greatest challenges in life were overcome because someone was obstinate enough to ask questions to the obvious. Some of the most wonderful innovations in life were achieved because people questioned the status quo. Some of the greatest discoveries happened because people questioned the farthest known limits.

Curiosity kills the cat..This is always used to scare the cat..To convince him to step down..But, the cat always steps up one notch..Why? Because the cat knows he has nine lives...

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Heartbeat..the most beautiful sound in the cosmos..

There are somethings in life that have neither any explanations nor any reasons. How far does the universe extend? Why do people fall in love? Where is God? We do not seek any answers. The questions themselves reveal the answers in a subtle way. These answers are not spoken. But, everyone knows the truth. And we accept it.

Our heart..perhaps the most faithful companion. Our mind may have second thoughts. It might be confused. It might waver. But, our heart always does what it does. Stays true. Stays dedicated to the one task it lives to do. It ceases to do its duty when the purpose is over. There is nothing else to do. Of all the sounds that our ears know, the most beautiful is that of the heartbeat. Consider this. It takes a moment of silence to reveal this sound. Which other sound commands such a majestic obedience? If one listens carefully to one's heartbeat, one can hear the sound that resonated when the cosmos was born. One can hear the sound that lies trapped inside every living entity.

The heart makes the most important decision of our life...The ones whom we love. We trust our heart to do this right. I ask myself..How difficult is it to listen to one's heartbeat? How difficult is it to realize what the heart wishes to say? A moment of silence...And I can hear every living bit of me call out to me..I can feel the whole universe call out to me...The heartbeat..Most real..Most beautiful sound in the cosmos.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Ignorance is bliss....really for some..

I have heard this many times..But, now it seems more apt than ever before..due to some of the people around me..No news is good news..No decision is great..Nothing to discern..even better..
Sometimes, when we know something..we tend to think about it..think a lot about it..worry about it..For those who dont know anything..they never reach this situation. This is perfectly exemplified by the story of the frog in the well. For that frog, the well is the universe. He does not want to know what lies outside. He thinks that the calm waters of the well represent the rivers, the seas, the oceans...Wait, does the frog really believe this out of limited knowledge or ignorance ? Or does he wish this to be true?

Ignorance..depends on how one sees it..For the one who has it, he has no worries..For the one who knows about the other guy's ignorance..remaining ignorant of it is tough..Really ignorance is bliss...Happiness knows no bounds...so does ignorance...for some..

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Smile when you walk...

I often would go on evening walks..People known to me would spot me..They would smile..I rarely paid attention to them..Not because I am arrogant or wanted to avoid them..I was simply talking to myself..and never would see people around me. Talking to oneself while walking seems funny..Some people think that I have some sort of a disorder..But, it gives me a chance to clear up some space in my head..and relax those overworked neurons a bit..My close friends will vouch for it..I need to do this...

But,now as i look back..I think I should have atleast smiled back at those people..In fact, one should smile while walking..One never knows who is watching..who is coming by..Atleast if one doesnt want to stand and talk to them, easiest way is smiling..and moving on. A smile costs nothing..great investment as it fetches one right back from the other side..And if its a pretty gal who smiles back..it is a sure profit..You dont need to know any special language to smile..

My not smiling in the past..has cost me some friends..I have never seen them again. Perhaps, I left them with an impression of vanity and self centredness...I regret it..But, I move on now..with a smile on my face when I walk...It is never too late to smile..For this curve extends to infinity.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Desire links non-being to being...

Desire..everyone wants something..love, happiness, success, wealth, fame and long life..Is it good or bad to have many desires? Should we desire anything..or let things come by our way just like that? What is a desire? When does it turn into greed? The essence of being a human..is desire. Satisfaction with anything stops us from moving towards a better future..a better life. When someone desires something with real faith and passion, follows it up with prompt action..that person will get what is desired. The whole universe wants us to achieve that thing..helps us to achieve that thing..It may not be easy..but the path is not shut..

Urgency..a sense of purpose about that desire is what begins the quest...That desire remains the ultimate goal..Goals, yes..thats the word..When desires become goals..when actions become stepping stones for those goals..the desire is fulfilled. One who desires to know the most precious corals in the ocean..will never know them if she sits on the shore..She needs to go and fathom the depths of the ocean..strive against the water pressure, feel the currents..and marvel at the wonders beneath...

Dreams..desires...destiny..all mean nothing without decisions, dedication and devotion. Rig Veda puts it right...Desire links non-being to being...

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Good opinion once lost....

I still remember..My favorite school teacher used to say that first impressions always last. Never really accepted myself..Our mind sees what it wishes to see..believes what it wishes to believe..Our own nature and its inhibitions may affect our opinions..Sometimes, we view others through the prism of our own success and failures..sometimes, an opinion is formed in a fleeting moment..It may even take an age to form one..

It takes a mighty change in a person or an object to force one to change one's opinions about that person or object. Even more difficult is accepting that change of opinion..How easy is it to erase one's words written in sands..?? We may remove them..but they remain etched in our thoughts ..and mind. Opinions ideally must be flexible..their rigidity enforces limitations in our own behavior..our own character..But, then is anything ideal in life?

Good opinion once lost..lost forever..was thus in one conversation between Darcy and Liz..May be I am prejudiced too...

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Confuse everyone... and thy name shall remain...

What is the best way to make people remember you? Writing it on a piece of paper and handing it out to them is perhaps not what I had in mind..Calling them up many times..not that either. Well, confuse everyone around you..Thats the name of the game..The more you confuse people, the more they think about you..The less you give out information, the more you are in demand..This may seem funny, but somehow I have seen it working with some people around me..

Can you recollect how many friends you met today who told you something important, something helpful..I dont think so..Now, you certainly remember the craziest thing that happened today..That which confounded you..And voila...the first person on your mind is the person who did it..Even easier, if that person laughed at that time..Because, more often than not, in such cases, only that person must have laughed..

Now, some may not agree with me. I may have even left you confused to an extent..If that is the case, then the name remains..Else, whats in a name..