There is Always a Next Time

A few days ago, I was walking on the street where I saw a beautiful pink flower in a nursery. Enchanted by the beauty of the flower, I wished to have it at home. That reminded me of an empty pot at home. I stopped by and bought seeds of the same flower. I walked back to home and as soon as I reached home, I sowed seeds in the empty pot. I watered it everyday. 

Finally the day came when the seed turned into a tiny plant with two tiny leaves. I was happy to see that. Just like everyday, I watered it. Each day with more love and care. A few days passed and it became a beautiful plant. Looking at the plant, I took a moment and played back the series of events that turned a seed into a well grown plant. I was anticipating a flower soon and I started watering the plants just like always with love and care.

I never knew that the day I was waiting for is so near. I could see a bud the very next day. I showed it to all the family members and was enthusiastically explaining how beautiful the flower will be. Everyone was happy to see me happy. The bud grew for two days and I thought next day I can see the flower. 

Next day the very first thing I did in the morning was going to the garden to see the flower. Unfortunately, I could not see the bud. I thought it is a nightmare and pinched myself but it was true. I could see that the bud withered before it bloomed. That made a sunny morning gloomy. The morning tea was not as tasty as before. That for which I gave my love and care was no longer there. 

I still watered the plant with a hope that another flower will definitely bloom. A few days passed, the plant had another bud. I was in doubt that this bud will bloom. I did not wanted to spoil my morning by doing it as the first thing. I waited until my household chores are over. Before stepping out I could see a flower from the window. Yes. That was it. The bud bloomed into a beautiful flower. I called my family members to show that flower. Everyone admired the beauty of the flower. After a few hours I could see some butterflies fluttering around the beautiful flower. That was a moment of happiness.

With this incident, I understood that we should never give up the hope. Be it flower or something else, there is always a next time. There is definitely a moment of pain but the pleasure definitely follows. That is when you understand the real meaning of happiness. 

Without being sad, one can never feel hapiness to the fullest. Happiness and sorrows are a part of life. Taking it equally and moving on is something more important. Sometimes with a tear in the eyes and sometimes with a wide smile, keep going forward... Never lose hope. Live life to the fullest. Remove the word called failure from your dictionary and replace it with a word called experience. Grow through the experiences. Never give up. Remember that THERE IS ALWAYS A NEXT TIME.

Where is God?

Recently we visited a well known temple. It was a special occasion that day and the temple was fully crowded. The temple was decorated with the flower garlands and people coming out of the temple were discussing  about  the gold jewels on the God's idol. There were queues. One was too big and the other was moderately big and other was small. Big queue is for all. The second one was for those who paid some money and the small queue was for those who pay more money.

I could even see some people quarrelling among themselves losing patience. The sole purpose of going to temple is to attain peace of mind. Not to make the mind and body suffer. Temple is a place where the mind should calm down not the place where it lose the left over peace. I could see people carrying flowers as offering to God. I felt like God is being offered to the god.

Standing in the big queue, looking at the petty fights, I started thinking about how commercial these temples has become! What is the purpose of temples and where actually is god? How can someone put boundaries to the boundless? Is it the only place where God exist? Why can't the people go towards the truth and find out where the god exist?

These questions reminded me of the story that I was narrated by my grandmother. It was the time when humans were being created. Among the creators, a discussion was going on about where the part of the source of creation (god) should be kept such that humans can hardly find it. A creator said "inside the core of earth".  Another creator said "man would dig it out and find it one day".  Another creator suggested "up above the sky"  This was also opposed by saying "man has intellect.  There is no doubt that he will find ways to fly and find it out". A smart creator then said "let us keep it inside him so that only the one who is able to find his own self find the god" Everyone agreed to this and kept it inside human. Another creator said "every creation should have God inside it. Let's keep it in every living and non living thing that we create" This was agreed by all the creators and since then whatever was created, living or non living thing is having God nowhere but inside. This was just a story told by my grandmother still there is a truth in it. The truth is god is in every living and non living thing around us.

When a person takes a step towards the self discovery, he finds out that the whole universe is full of God. He who is the part of universe is also having God in him and the stone which is the God's idol Is also having God in it and the stone which has taken the form of steps pillars and walls also have God in it. Like an empty vessel is filled with air outside as well as inside, God is inside as well as outside. He has no boundaries. Let us walk towards the truth and find out who we are. Let us live a life that is full of abundance.  Let us see God in each and every person each and every thing around us. May the light of the knowledge of self erode the darkness in us and help us walk towards the truth and help us find the god in and around us.

"asathoma sadgamaya"

The shining stars

It was a full moon day. I was all alone for an entire day. That day was so difficult to spend that I started feeling like I have been alone for an year. With the heavy thoughts of loneliness, I turned towards the window and saw the light. On moving the curtains aside, I saw the stars which were shining bright in the night sky. I locked the door and walked straightaway to the terrace. I was amazed by the beauty of night sky.

The beauty of night sky beautified my thoughts. Each and every star was miles together far awsy from each other. Though it is far from each other, it never turned dim feeling that it is a lonely dim star. It was shining with all its glory due to its internal energy. All it has is that inner strength to fight the darkness, thereby beautifying the entire night sky.

If the star ever thought that what difference can it bring about by shining alone somewhere in the corner of the night sky, when there are other stars shining brighter than itself the star would never shine. It would never have given hope to someone who has lost all the hopes of reaching the destiny in the dark night. There wouldn't be that fragrant flower blooming when the sun goes far.

When a person explores his own inner strength and move ahead in the path towards the destiny, no one can stop him from shining. Everyone is blessed with that internal energy. There is no-one in the entire world who is not capable of doing something special. Who knows? There may be a flower budded in him to such an extent that it is waiting for a ray of light to bloom.

Lonliness or I should call it as 'being with oneself' gives an opportunity to explore the unexplored, understand the strengths and unconditionally fall in love with that one thing which can take away every grief and establish connection between the what a person is and what he want to be. The one who becomes the person he want to be, shines like a star. Belief is all that is required. The stars brightened my gloomy day. It gave me a message "Believe yourself and shine on". I took out my pen and paper and took a step towards what I want to be.

The Journey

It was early in the morning before the sunrise. I packed my bag and rushed to catch the bus. Luckily, I was on time and my journey begun. It was the time for sunrise. I could see the red sky and the rising sun and the mild rays of sun touching the tender leaves. The rays of sun made the tender green leaves sparkle. I was travelling in a public transport enjoying the bliss of sunrise.

The journey continued and as planned. The sun was shining bright. More than Half of the distance was traversed. Destination was a only a few kilometres away. I was happy because I was about to reach the destination an hour earlier than planned. The fact that I am going to reach earlier than planned made me happy.

Suddenly I heard a noise and the bus stopped. There was a breakdown. All the passengers were requested to get down and wait for the next bus. Everyone stood beside  the highway waiting for another bus. The bright sun was not as pleasant as it was before. There was a desperation while waiting for another bus.

Standing under a tree in the edge of the road, looking at the beautiful flowers in the tree, the philosopher in me woke up after a long sleep. The bus broke down but the journey did not end. The bus may be different but the destination remains the same.

Life is also a journey and sometimes the unplanned and unpleasant events hamper the pleasant journey of life towards the destiny. But the destiny should never change. The determination to reach there one or the other day should remain as it is.
Never stop no matters what happens. You may be late but you will reach for sure. Who knows, the unpleasant event might have happened so that more happiness gush in.

Finally, the wait ended and a super luxury bus came there. A more comfortable journey begun from where the previous journey stopped. I reached my destination in a more comfortable way. The journey ended in a happier way. 

Transcend

It was the day of my first flight. I woke up early in the morning and took a cab to reach the airport. I was on time and boarded the flight during sunrise. The flight took off and I was happy to see the clouds around. The thought that I am between the clouds made me so happy that I forgot everything else. I peeked out of the window to see what is visible. I could hardly see what was there on earth. No humans, no vehicles, no animals, nothing differentiable. 

This journey enlightened me with the fact that we are one of the 'smallest of the small' creatures on this earth and when seen from a certain distance, none of us are visible. The flight landed and I came out of the airport but my mind was still in between the clouds trying to remember what was visible from the top view. Everything looks so small and same.

Sitting in the cab, untangling the tangled earphones, I started thinking about the applicability of 'smallest of small concept' and realized that the same is true for what we so call as 'problems'. When there is a problem we must take a top view of it. Stand far away, break the connection and think whether it is worth to worry about. There won't be anything to worry about. The universe is much much much bigger. Earth is a small entity in the big universe. We- the humans are small creatures on the earth and the problems are smaller than that. Rise up to such an extent from where everything is negligibly visible. Everything seems to be one and the same.

Whenever something uncontrollable happens, rise up and see it in such a way that it seems small and indefinable. Take it as an opportunity to transcend the worldly happiness and grief. There won't be any pain or pleasure. Peace and bliss replaces pleasure and pain when one transcends. 'Transcend', experience and grow through it.

Live fearless

A few days ago I was asked by my neighbor to take care of her daughter in her absence. I was very happy about it since I will be able to enjoy the unconditional  love and innocence . Accordingly, she dropped her kid  at our house and started.  I thought that the kid would cry but surprisingly she did not.  I played with her for quite some time until I was sure that she is comfortable with me. I gave her some snacks and turned on the TV.  She switched it into an animated show.

I just saw the title "the Boogie man"  and went away to finish off my work.  She was watching it. After sometime I returned.  She said that she want to change her dress. I asked her to bring her bag from the room.  She denied.  I asked her the reason.  She said that she is afraid of Boogie Man in the dark room.

I was curious to know about this Boogie Man.  So I asked her "who is it?".  She said "it is a dirt monster.  It will be hiding under the cot and it will come out if I go alone" I understood that it was the impact of the TV show that she was watching. I asked her "how to vanish it?".  She said "the hero of the show used a vacuum cleaner. That might work"

Looking at her innocence,  I smiled and I convinced her not to get scared and there is no such thing like a Boogie Man. I wanted her to come to reality and get rid of her fear. So I insisted her to bring it. After all, my efforts didn't fail.  She brought the bag from the room all by herself.  It was then that she understood that there is no such thing like a Boogie Man

Next day when I was changing the channel.  Co incidentally, the same show was being played again. I remembered what happened the other day and smiled.  I started thinking.  All of us will be giving  way to this thing called the Boogie Man that doesn't exist. That is nothing but fear.  Most of the times we will be thinking about certain events that will never happen and be scared about it. Even though we know that it is just an illusion.

In case of the kid,  it is the innocence and inability to distinguish between the reality and imagination.  But for the others it is all because of inability to live in present.  It is the inability to trust that we are all a part of big play and our role in each scene is fixed. Fear brings you down. It will stop you from taking a step ahead. It is a dirt in the mind. It will do nothing but pile up some negative thoughts. 

To vanish this dirt Monster - Boogie Man called fear,  all we need is a vacuum cleaner called trust.  Once we have done what we can, we should believe that the outcome will be what it should be. Ideally, the thing called fear doesn't exist at all.  We create it all by ourself and keep hiding from it. Let's not create it and let's not be afraid of it. 

|| Live fearless ||

From Darkness to Light

It was a busy day at work. As soon as I returned, there was an unplanned power shutdown. I was walking slowly through the stairs with the aid of dim light of the mobile. Unfortunately, the mobile switched off. With a great difficulty, I came up to the last step and I fell down. I was hurt, just physically. Before I got up from there, a thought entered into my mind like thunder and lightning in a silent, dark night.

With the mild pain and darkness around me, I managed to walk up to the couch and sat all alone thinking deeper about the thought that entered my mind with the pace of lightning. I closed my eyes for a while and opened it after sometime. The darkness around me was not so dark anymore. I felt as if my eyes were habituated to that. How easy it is for the body to get adapted to the things around! I wonder why it is not so easy for the mind.

Because of the darkness inside it, every day the mind falls and hurt itself thereby causing emotional breakdown. Tears break through the eyes and dries on our cheeks. The lie, envy, that ego, those thorns of the dried rose and that unreachable star will be sitting in the darker corner of the mind pushing us in to the dark well of sorrows, remembering those instances which caused pain.

In such a time, a ray of light is what it awaits for. The small twinkling star shining far far away keeps the hope alive. It says that light follows dark and happiness follows grief. Day follows night and everything will be alright, bright, lovely and colorful.  Dark night is required to understand the value of light. Likewise, Grief is required to understand the value of happiness. A positive thought is all it takes to turn grief into happiness.

A positive tweak about a brighter tomorrow dried that drop of tear at the edge of eyes before it fell onto the cheek. Meanwhile, the broken wire was fixed. The power was restored. Lights brightened the living room. This time I did not just saw the light. I experienced it. I experienced the pleasure of light that followed the darkness. It was a light that can enlighten the mind for a better tomorrow. Let’s walk from darkness to light. Let’s hope for a better tomorrow.

Wishing you a happy diwali

||Thamasoma jyothirgamaya||

Living in the garden of love

Millions of words, millions of stories, millions of songs describe the beautiful feeling called love. Even after that, I believe that love is a feeling beyond these words songs and stories. There are different forms of love experienced at different stages of life. It starts even before we step into
the world. That is when we are sleeping peacefully in the womb of our mother.

The mother expresses her love to the infant in the womb in the form of the nutritional food she takes even though she does not like the taste. In the form of a soft sweater, that she weaves and imagine her cute little baby wearing that sweater. In the form of that magical touch which can only be felt. That is the first form of love that a person can experience and responds to that love by the move which only a mother can feel. Thereby, acknowledging the love that was felt for the first time.

As soon as the baby comes out, it will experience another form of love by the kiss from the father and the warm hug that soothe the crying baby. In the form of cute names that the neighbors and relatives call. Sometimes, in the form of toys, chocolates, ice creams and sweets for his sweet little kid. If these are the seeds of love implanted in the early stages of life, there is more than this for the kid when the seeds sprouts and starts growing up in the garden of love. Sometimes it is experienced in the form of the moral values that a child receives from the teacher. Sometimes in the form of bedtime stories that the grandpa narrates and in the form of crunchy snacks that grandma prepares. Sometimes it exhibits in the form of a fight with a sibling and a help from a friend.

Nurtured by mother, father, grandparents, relatives neighbors, siblings, friends the implanted love grows wide and green in the garden of love. By that time, a person will be in his teenage. At this stage, the person experiences love in the form of the unseen dream that is seen at the glance of that special person. In the form of a special feeling, when that special person pass by. At this stage of life, sometimes pruning becomes essential if the plant is growing wider than expected.

Pruned and beautified, the plant starts adding glory to the garden of love. By this time, the plant will be having thick stems and few buds at the tip of the stem. By then, the person will be an adult. At this point of time, he experiences love in the form of care from his spouse. With this, the buds start blooming and the plant in the garden of love will start the transformation into a tree. The flower becomes a fruit. The fruit will become a seed and the seed will be implanted into the heart of another infant.

How beautiful this cycle of love is! This never ends and this garden of love will grow without any boundaries and this garden will have only those plants and trees that never dry. Everything will be green fertile, glorious and colorful. Every person who is born in this garden will be 'living in the garden of love' forever. Love never ends. It grows far and wide along with the time. 

Everyone's Titanic

A dream, an excitement, a love is an inseparable part of everyone's life. Additionally, there is also a titanic in everyone's life. This titanic is a combination of dream, love and excitement. There is a Jack to every Rose and a Rose to every Jack. Every Rose sees the butterfly and bubbles around her Jack. Every Jack sees a blooming bud in his Rose.

It’s not about the rosy lips chubby cheeks and dimple chin. It’s about the magical strand of invisible string called love which binds them so tight that they become an inseparable part of each other. No one knows why. No one knows whether they can stay together forever but they will be bound together so tight that they cannot even imagine about separation.

They laugh together. They understand each other to such an extent that they don't let each other cry. Even if a drop of tear comes out of eyes, it dries before falling onto the cheek and turns into a smile. The fear of separation gives the biggest grief ever for those who get into their titanic. This titanic is luxurious. But still it is a titanic.

If it is titanic, it is bound to hit an ice berg unexpectedly when everything is alright, thereby leading to a disaster. Everyone will have one such person who is a source of pleasure. It is a universal truth that a pain is associated with every pleasure. A hypnotic wave pushes lonely people to this titanic. This is 'everyone's titanic'. People will get into the titanic even though they know that it is meant to break.

The Key to Destiny

It is a beautiful feeling to sit alone at the beach and watch the ocean. The bright sun rays and the splashy waves, the soft sand, the sprinkling droplets of water which sparkles like diamond whenever the waves are rushing and that fine-line which separates the sky and ocean, the ship that looks like reflection of kites in the sky, those little fishes jumping up and diving back. Looking at it all day without doing anything is what I call as a peaceful day.

In one such peaceful day, I was sitting at the beach. Along with the waves of ocean, I saw a big treasure bottle coming towards me. I ignored it for the first time. Somehow it grabbed my attention. I took it into my hands and started dreaming. I was very happy in my dream world. I was sitting like an innocent kid with treasure bottle in my hand. I heard someone saying, people who went in search of such treasures, lost their life. I was scared. I threw it back into the ocean and continued my peaceful day.

The bottle came back to me along with a bigger wave, much closer to me than it was before. I stood up and started thinking whether to take it or not. I took it into my hands again. This time, I dared to open the cork. I was mesmerized by the magical fragrance that came out of it. I was happy. I knew that such happiness will not last longer. I closed the cork and threw it back to the ocean again. I thought that someone else will pick it up.

This time I started to walk away from where I was sitting before so that it does not come back to me. While I was walking away, I saw a broken bottle. I never wanted my treasure bottle to break. I walked back to the place where I was sitting. When I reached that place, I saw that the treasure bottle was already at the place where I was sitting. I took it into my hands, opened the cork and took out the key.

The key was having beautiful calligraphy of the word 'DESTINY'. It was the key to my destiny. Sometimes we find our destiny and sometimes the destiny will find us. The treasure bottle containing the key to destiny comes along with the waves in everyone's ocean of life. Only a few people will be dare enough to go for a treasure hunt. Among those who go for the treasure hunt, only a few people will be able to find the treasure. Among those who find that treasure, only a few people can keep it forever. Those who keep it forever will lead the life they always dreamt of.

A Fairytale Life

My eyes were closed. I was in my fairy-tale land. I was flying in between the clouds, coloring rainbows, painting the wings of a butterfly, making the buds bloom. I was flying and flying and flying up above the world towards the bright light. Suddenly the light became so bright that the rays started hitting my eyes. I opened my eyes and saw the sun rays entering into my eyes through the window. Then i realized that I was in sleep. I was in a dream where i was having wings. 

With a smile on my face, I woke up and prepared a cup of hot coffee. I sat outside enjoying the cup of coffee  looking at the beauty of the rising sun in the misty morning. I was happy to see the dew drops over the grass shining like diamond. The sparkling dew drops took me back to my twilight dream. I started to think about a fairy-tale life.

A fairy-tale life is an ideal life everyone dream to have. Life would become beautiful if we were having those magical powers. Everything we want would be 'just a spell away' from us. Almost everything would be fixed by true love. In short, everyday would begin with 'once upon a time' and end with 'happily ever after'.

In our ideal fairy-tale life, We will be thinking about flying in the vast blue sky but real life will plan something different for us. It will push us deep into the water where our goal would be to reach the land and survive before flying. 

Do not let the reality destroy your fairy-tale life. Even though it's not a fairy-tale life, live it in terms of a fairy-tale. If there is a gap between the fairy-tale life and the real life, no matter where you are, What's happening right now. Cast a spell called positive attitude to fill the gap and enjoy your fairy-tale life.

A language with No Words

There are many languages in the world. No matter how many languages exist in the world, no matter how many billions of words are present in each language, still there is something beyond the reach of billions of words in thousands of languages.

Recently, I visited a library. I saw a section in the library which was having only dictionaries of different languages. Standing in front of such a big shelf, I felt that it lacks something. It was a strange feeling for me. Standing in front of treasure of knowledge, a person can rarely feel that.

I was thinking about what actually made me feel that. I came out and saw a lady who could not talk. Her eyes were filled with tears. She was carrying a baby. Without any words, only with gestures she conveyed what she wants.

Then i was going back to home in a public transport. A person who was sitting beside me seemed to be very happy. He was a tourist. He was speaking about the places he visited and was admiring it. He was speaking in his language and i was speaking in my language. There were some words between us which we did not understand but i could make out that he was extremely happy.

I reached home in that sunny day and sat over the chair drinking a glass of cold water. My cat Pongo came through the open window. She sat over my lap and started cuddling. After 5 minutes she got down and stood in front of the kitchen adorably looking at me with her tiny round eyes. I understood that she was hungry.

There were no words. All that I found was feelings and emotions. I understood why i felt so when i was standing in front of the big dictionary shelf. Dictionary may have thousands of words. It can describe thousands of words. But it cannot describe the emotion. Words are incomplete without emotions.

Emotions are beyond the reach of words. It is just like air. It cannot be seen, cannot be heard, cannot be touched but can only be felt. When you feel that there are no words to explain what you feel. Stop explaining and start expressing. surrender yourself to the "language with no words".

The Babysteps

It is so adorable to watch a baby learning to walk. The baby tries to stand and walk, crawls when it lose balance and fall. It's so lovely to watch the triumph on its face when it walks one more step. it claps, laughs and tries to run towards the mother and hug her. In the meantime, it falls, cries and get wounded. Even after falling it will neither give up nor becomes disappointed. Stumbling and mumbling, it will learn to walk, run and one day make others run behind it.

We will be laying such baby steps, often in our life. whenever we are trying to learn something new and different, we are laying such baby steps. At some point, we may fail. In such a time, it is important to remind ourselves that we were crawling before we started to walk. We fell down when we were learning to walk. It's natural to fall or fail. It is important to wake up and continue to walk.

Beginning to walk after a fall may be difficult. Have courage to get up and start walking. Three 'P's are important in our life. The first P is Passion. Without this we will never start. The second P is perseverance. Without this we cannot continue. Third P is patience. Without this we cannot win.

Intellectuals say that the process of learning never ends. Starting from the day of our birth, we will be learning something new very often. In such a time, ups and downs are common. Come out of your comfort zone, walk, run and fly. 

Have faith in yourself and your capabilities. Be courageous enough to lay "the baby-steps" often. Continue your journey. Sometimes with a drop of tear in your eyes. Sometimes with a glorious smile. Know that it is just the beginning and never ever give up.

Passion Never Dies

 Despite of the regular routine, most of the times, we would like to be different from others. No matter what is being done for the sake of getting basic needs. There is something a person always want to be. Something to think about. Something to do beyond the reach of a common man. Something which steals the sleep. That is a dream. Dream is not the one that is seen while sleeping. It is the one that does not allow to sleep.

 Most of us will be afraid to pursue our dreams. We try to push it into the bottom of heart. Its not just a piece of sponge. Its a spring. When we try to push it to the bottom, one fine day it will bounce back and that day dream will be called as passion. Once your dream becomes your passion it will start flowing in your blood. Creating wonders for yourself as well as others. Letting it flow in your blood without blocking it, is the only way through which passion leads to an unplanned unexplored and valuable destiny.

 This happened to many people.  May be you are one of those. One fine fortunate day, this happened to me as well. That fortunate day is the day I was upset with my personal life and few other things that I cannot change. I could not sleep that day. I was peeking out of the window every now and then. There was nothing but few stray dogs. I closed the window and laid down on the bed.

 A ray of light from the street light, entered the room through the window. I ignored it for few minutes. Then i followed the light. That ray of light directly fell over the blank book and a pen stand inside the shelf. I Just took a pen out of my pen stand and the blank book. I Started writing. I was gathering the chunks of my imagination and out of the box thoughts, writing it down slowly into the book. The ink in my pen was over. I took a pencil and continued writing. When I continued to do it, stress lines turned out to be a beautiful curve called smile.

 I wrote and wrote and wrote till I saw the ray of sunrise entering directly to the book in which I was writing. It was then I realised that its already morning. In fact, I understood that 'passion never dies'. The process of dreams turning into passion was going on for the whole night. If you are experiencing what I called as fortunate day, go back to your dreams. Know that "passion never dies".