Evolving and Learning as I walk along my life path

On maids

2007-01-22T00:45:00.000-08:00

One thing that always amazes me is when a woman manages and keeps her house up-to-date. How she manages the house staff.

Recently, I had occasion to visit one of our relatives in Bombay. She lived in one of the upmarket areas of Santacruz. Minimalist though comfortable furniture and very well maintained and clean. Her housemaid executed her instructions properly.

I seem to be devoid of maid handling skills, especially getting work done from them which I am paying them to do. Lacking in these qualities, I am full of admiration of women who manage to do it successfully.

Ya Maula !!

2006-06-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

Ban on women proposed at Ajmer shrine

I am sure the women also visit the shrine with deep devotion. Is it not going against the wishes of the Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti to prohibit women from offering prayers there.

Its the old story again..."Blame the women for everything that is wrong and penalise them"

In case the Khadims are worried about causing distraction a simple solution could be having separate enclosures for men and women.

Mera Desh

2006-05-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

What kind of a nation are we?

Isn’t it amazing that an actor who shoots endangered animals – blackbuck, is welcomed and embraced by fans once he is out of jail.

But another actor who supports the rehabilatation of displaced villagers is condemned and we have people demanding an apology from him ?

And how can we justify drinking water that has been got by creating misery for thousands of people? Won't we have to pay for this injustice?

The Monster in your Home

2006-04-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

I remember a time when cable TV was newly launched and the indian audience who was starved of good entertainment had the whole goodie shop thrown open to him/her. So everywhere you went everybody spoke of “Santa Barbara ” and “The Bold and The Beautiful ”.

If you felt like visiting your relatives you had to choose the time carefully. You can be sure that when you land up at their door; everybody but everybody will have eyes only for the characters on tv. Conversation whittled down to monosyllables. You felt non-existent. Slowly you tried to understand and also tamely watched the goings on of a very foreign family.

After a couple of years, just when you thought the novelty was waning off; you were bombarded by another set of characters. This time Indian and all with very complicated, intertwined relationships. OH GOD!!

Possessing a very slippery hide, this monster could rarely get its claws into me.

And I hoped a day would come when at least some part of the populated world would come to their senses and realize that conversation and spending time with real people was far better for the soul than with any virtual model. But it is not to be.

A recent case was today. My young nephew celebrated his birthday on March 31. This time when I visited Bombay, I picked up a gift and looked forward to spending warm moments with him and his mother(my cousin). When I reached their place, I found mother&father both stretched out on the floor watching tv. The only person who was ecstatic about my visit was my nephew. After spending some time with him I left.

But this has left a bitter aftertaste.

I'm addicted to T.V.

I can't get away

I flip through the channels

every night and day

overdose on movies

sit-coms and soaps

I feel my life

is tied up in ropes

The T.V. is a nemesis

I believe it so

I can't think for myself

have to get up and go

I'm wasted on commercials

and adsconned by the latest fads

buy this buy that

and all that crap

a death wish

a void

I'm caged

a beached fish

I'm a tube-head mental case

with no direction

in this techno-fixrat race

with satellite

and cable

hypnotizedby a faceless ones fable

I'm locked in

and unableto pull free

from the mind numbing

life sucking T.V.

By Dare -January, 2003

My computer is feeling blue

2006-04-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

Since the past week my computer monitor has got a severe case of bluendice.

people with jaundice look yellow.

my monitor turned blue.

today finally with some TLC from the local computer service guy, she has turned has regained her colour.

Here a school, there a school, everywhere a school-school

2006-04-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

Nasik has been sprouting schools all over.

I dread opening the local newspaper, I may just be assaulted by a full page ad trumpeting the facilities at one school or another.

‘ICSE,CBSE, SSC, IB,… you name it, we have it’ seems to be the rule. So most of these schools have branches – one for SSC, the other for ICSE, the third for IB and so on.

As I drive around the city, there is nothing to protect me from blitzkreig of hoardings shouting out the facilities at each school. And as if that wasn’t enough, some of them have resorted to sending out hand-delivered brochures to prospective parents.

Acres of green lawns, swimming pools, gymnasium, beauty parlour, cybercafe, etc…
I will forgive you if after going through the brochures, you mistake the beautiful campus and the amenities provided to be part of the latest holiday resort.

The paint has to yet dry on the walls but the tom-tomming of the school’s ;achievements’ have already begun.

Most of these ads have testimonies by the students.
‘Thankyou Mummy and Daddy’ says one ‘ for sending me to _______ school.

‘In this school, I am trained for all the Maths competitive exams’ says another and proceeds to rattle off all their names – Maharashtra Talent Search, Abacus …(the others I forget)

I can imagine this conversation in the near future.
Parent 1 : My child’s school has air-conditioned buses to pick him from home and drop him back.

Parent 2 : Oh that’s nothing. In my daughter’s school, they use air-conditioned buses to transport the children from one class to another.

HAVE THEY GONE BONKERS O’WOT???

Seat reservation for students

2006-04-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

"HRD Minister Arjun Singh's latest move to reserve another 27 per cent seats in 20 Central universities and IIMs, IITs and NITs following the 'Mandal formula' has sent shivers among sections of students "

I am not able to accept reservation of seats for students on any basis other than merit and individual capabilities. And if lack of money is a hindrance to further education, let’s subsidise fees for deserving students. Lets provide them with study material, etc at no cost or lower rates. But no reserved seats or we will end up with a mediocre educated class.

For the same reason, I am not ok with reservations for women in elections. Let’s prove ourselves and win seats based on our achievements and performance not handouts.

Celestial Voice

2006-04-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening, I went to the Kalaram Mandir.

After paying my respects I sat in the mandir for some time chanting and I could feel the energy all around.

There has been a week long Ram Janmotsav celebration and each evening a well-known exponent of Indian classical music has performed.

Yesterday a young vocalist – Kumar Akshay sang. His voice just lifted me like an eagle swooping from the skies, picking me and soaring again; not to make a meal of me but to let me taste the joy of flying in unending skies.

The experience of listening to such a performance in a mandir is vastly different from attending a theatre performance.

Kalaram Mandir was built in 1790 by Sardar Odhekar of Peshwa. It houses a black stone image of Rama. The temple is made of complete black stones, which has four doors facing East, West, South and North.

p.s : sorry for the long gap between posts

Soldiers

2005-10-17T00:22:00.000-07:00

have you noticed how we tend to be grateful to the our soldiers for taking the burden of defending our country. we seem to have dumped the task of protecting our country on them and wash our hands off . on republic day and independence day and a couple of other such days we pay tribute to them and make a noise about how they are giving up their own comforts for the country.

don’t we all have the responsibility towards our country. if the soldiers are given the task of physically defending our country from foreign and internal aggression. similarly we are assigned the roles of protecting our country, democracy, freedom, dignity of its citizens and we should fulfil our duty.

i feel sick when i see people, both ordinary and celebrities and ‘netas’ tomtoming the sacrifice offered by the soldiers and not acknowledging their own duty towards the nation.

Navratri

2005-10-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

Our road has been overtaken by small traders. Space has been marked out for stalls and bamboo and cloth are being fashioned into small shops. during the nine special days our street will take on the festive air of a jatra.

There are the regulars – the peta-wala from agra, the mom&pop bhajia stalls, the traditional chivda stalls and stalls selling pooja paraphernalia.

Kalika mata’s mandir has been spruced up with a fresh coat of paint . Ma looks resplendent all decked up.

The bhakts will throng the mandir right from early morn till the 12 midnight aarti.

The excitement is infectious. we are looking forward to playing garba.

Sania Mirza

2005-09-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

i find the ruckus kicked up by the mullahs over sania’s dresscode to be downright disgusting. instead of applauding her efforts and dedication to the sport they try to pull her down .

dear sania

please don’t bother about the rabblerousers. a dress code is a minor thing compared to what you have achieved and the goals you continue to strive to achieve.

surrender all this to God and just go out and do your best.

my prayers and best wishes for your success.

Sarvaguna Sampanna

2005-09-01T02:48:00.000-07:00

saw an exquisite brass idol of ganapati at dadar. intricately carved with a lot of detailing. every inch of shelf space in the shop was stocked with idols. radha-krishna under a tree. shiv-parvati-ganesh.

and the reason we were there – ma durga in various poses in her full glory and splendour. it was difficult to choose. watching our dilemma with amusement, the shop assistant went into the back of the shop to return with an idol that was just perfect. sitting on a lion with flowing tresses with eight arms and a face that was truly unique. this was the one who would come home with us.

p.s. have learnt a little, to see God not only as nirguna but also as sarvagunna.

mumbai local

2005-09-01T02:44:00.000-07:00

been to mumbai yesterday. everyday millions of people use the local trains in mumbai. they see the same drab overcrowded stations, dirty stalls, filth daily.

most of them commute to and fro from home. so they see the same sight at least twice a day.

why do railway stations have to be the standard metal frame type. they look like industrial factories rather than public places. couldn’t we have architecture that was beautiful.

if the railway stations were spruced and kept clean and green what a difference it would make to the commuters. wouldn’t this sight gladden their hearts and make their daily travel a little more pleasant.

Nutshell

2005-08-29T03:17:00.000-07:00

i am reading, no the right word would be browsing through the pics in "The Universe In a Nutshell" by stephen hawking and it is astounding. i find the information awe-inspiring but i am not able to absorb it at one go, so i chew at it little bit by little bit.:-)

Koffee

2005-08-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

after Karan Johar’ show everybody spells coffee Koffee . :-)
did you notice the new audio Koffee with Kishore

i like one thing about hot tea and coffee. after a while a layer of cream forms on top like a skin keeping the tea/coffee below warm so that it doesn’t cool too soon. so nice na.

I miss DD

2005-07-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

Point of discussion – “how meaningless TV soaps have become”

I get nostalgic about serials like Udaan, Oshin, Rajni, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi

I also remember some would be episodes on stories based on Indian writing.

Why can’t we have them back again?

HOT STEPS

2005-07-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

The new stepper for the gym arrived. The carton was in tatters after surviving the transport from Mumbai. Dhirubhai Angadia delivered inspite of the rains.

Now the problem of assembly. Our usual serviceman was tied up elsewhere and he wouldn’t be able to come for another 2 days. So “S” and I decided to tackle it ourselves and hey we did it. No big deal.

Surprise for the members when they come tomorrow. ;-)

p.s. since blogger has made it easy to upload images, i am having fun

Mumbai Rains

2005-07-27T23:13:00.000-07:00

Every year when heavy rains lash Mumbai a number of trees are uprooted.
After dealing with the immediate issues, I wish the BMC makes an effort to replant these trees rather than cutting them off.

p.s. feel sorry for the car owner.

Gurgaon

2005-07-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

Watched the violence at Gurgaon

I think the ordinary policeman should be trained in crowd control and anger control. If the mob was armed with stones and sticks and threw stones at the police first, the police should have been trained to curb their own anger and deal with the situation.

Our police should include this as part of their training program. Morals and sensitization towards the people they serve should also be included.

Are Women Responsible ??

2005-07-19T21:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a heated discussion on the rape incident are Marine Drive.

“Aren’t women/girls attracting this kind of incidents by wearing indecent clothes ?”, said one member.
Does that mean that women who dress modestly or even wear burqas do not undergo abuse?

Do you know how shaming it feels when I have had to slap a guy with frisky hands. My face turns red, my head feels hot with the blood rush and somewhere deep inside I feel violated. And I am still trembling long after the incident.

What about the times at the traffic signals when men take the opportunity to give women drivers the once over?

Why do I feel I have to be absolutely alert when I am travelling in a bus, at the bus stop, at the railway station, in crowded subways?

Why can’t we get stricter with men who think eve teasing is form of flattering women? Who feel that women on the road are goods (maal) to be ogled and leered at, mouths watering with lust.

Have you ever looked into the eyes of a man who has these kind of thoughts going on in his head. You feel so vulnerable and naked.

Why don’t we teach our sons to respect women right from the time they are young?
Why don’t we object when members of our own family behave in a disrespectful manner towards women?

I do not agree when the media cries that we are not the keepers of morals in society. Every one every single person influences another by his behaviour. So wouldn’t this effect be exponential when the message is given out by the media – magazines, tv, radio, newspapers, etc. So stop pushing the envelope and be responsible.

You show a girl getting her way by titillation and exposure and young girls will grow up thinking that is the way to get ahead in life and get things your way.

You show a girl getting her way by titillation and exposure and young boys will think that all girls are manipulative using their bodies and sexuality to have their way rather than their intelligence and capabilities.

WHEN WILL WE WAKE UP ??

“WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE?”

2005-07-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

I had asked this at the last yoga class.
Yesterday nobody had actually thought about it so they were not ready with the answer.

“Life is living in the now. Just enjoy what you have. Don’t worry about the future” piped M. The others were silent.

Haven’t you ever thought about it.

Some of us are married, others are in the process. Is that all there’s to life, get an education, get a job, get married, have kids, take care of them, when they grow, they get married and have kids and then you take care of the grandkids. And your life is over. Please think.

Another thought was pre-marital counseling. Marriage changes everything. Adjustments will be required. But only if they are done by both sides is there balance otherwise bitterness sets in. A pre-marital counseling program helps the couple to understand what living together is going to entail. I could see S. who plans to get married in August hadn’t thought about this.

The Boss

2005-07-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

There’s a contest going on at the multiplex – publicity for the movie “Sarkar”

“Who’s The Boss ?” in your life.

So tell me " WHO’S THE BOSS IN YOUR LIFE? "and why.

Train Journeys

2005-07-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

My most favoured mode of travel is by train. Even the short journey from Nasik to Bombay is made wondrous as the train chugs through quaint Deolali, cool Igatpuri, rustic Kasara. In the rains the sight of so many streams coursing down the hills is wonderful. Nature bathed in mist and I feel like I am among the clouds.

One thing mars this beautiful experience – TRASH. Thrown out by careless passengers. So more and more I now also have the sight of litter, paper and styrofoam cups and like on the sides of the tracks to contend with.

Could we stop this please?

A few suggestions
• use a bag or maybe the plastic in which your sandwich arrives or some such thing to collect your trash and then dispose it at the next station’s dustbin.

• alternatively the railways could make it compulsory for the catering companies to also circulate one of their staff to collect the trash just as they come around selling cold drinks, eatables, etc.

Would love to hear your suggestions.

Dichotomy

2005-06-27T05:49:00.000-07:00

Been reading about how a lot of wealthy Parsi families made their money in the opium trade (TimeOut Mumbai magazine). Of course they also were philanthropists with a lot of charitable works.

But doesn’t this dichotomy exist everywhere. I think we should grow up and be able to accept the good with the ugly without trying to push such things under the carpet. And when faced with a choice we should be able to call the spade a spade without negating all the good work done by the person.

Even if Pataudi was a great cricketer he should be held responsible for the black buck killings. Ditto Salman (though I like him a lot)

And also the lesser known but influential people in society.

There should be a sense of justice where they are treated like citizens. No baying after their blood just because they are celebrities but asking them to bear the consequences of their deeds in a just manner.

Karma

2005-06-27T05:32:00.000-07:00

Reading about reincarnation and the soul’s journey has raised more questions. I am halfway through the book. Hope I get those answers by the end.

Questions raised about the sanctity of life, abortion, meat eating(this I have understood), about reaping what we sow if not in this lifetime then the next or the next…

Do all the bad things that happen to us have their origin (cause) in acts that we did in previous lifetimes. What about new acts? How do we react?

Suppose we are being abused in a relationship; do we protest and fight back or accept it as a result of previous acts and use it to work bad karma?

Still not able to understand the importance of caste and how it affects our karma. If at the end of it all we finally make it to higher and higher levels and finally get out of this cycle we do have to come back to it maybe many many years later but nevertheless we do have to come back. I pray for some answers.

Right now I feel as if my mind is a swirling pool of confusing thoughts.

Dancing in the Rain

2005-06-27T05:27:00.000-07:00

Been to Bombay yesterday. Could not miss seeing her in the rains. Yesterday being Sunday the streets in south Bombay were deserted. Such a break from the mad rush on the weekdays. We sat on the parapet hugging the wild sea near Nariman Point; just the tetrahedrons between us and the lashing fierce waves. That moment was worth the whole trip to Bombay.

The rains also wrap Igatpuri in thick shrouds of mist, caressing the hills with small streams and waterfalls and the trees turn green with joy.

Reincarnation and the Soul

2005-06-24T05:52:00.000-07:00

I am reading about reincarnation and the soul’s journey over multiple lifetimes till it reaches its destination and merges with the Supreme.

This book is based on the Vedas and it is heavy stuff. I read a couple of pages and have to stop and think over what I have read, understand it and proceed.

Fresh Mornings

2005-06-24T05:43:00.000-07:00

It rained today. And everything around smelled fresh and green.

We had the yoga class indoors. The rain kept some of the members in bed but the brave 5 who did come had a wonderful experience especially during omkar when the whole room reverberated and I could feel the vibrations in my body.

Yoga sessions on the terrace are beautiful but holding the class indoors has its plus points too. The gulmohar outside the window swayed softly in the falling rain.

Food

2005-06-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

I have been an on and off vegetarian since the past 2 years. (more on than off and definitely more on since the past six months)

When I did not place such restrictions on food I could make lovely prawn curry and surmai fry and rogan gosh and chicken gravy.

After turning vegetarian I found it increasingly difficult to even taste non-veg. food. Earlier I would have urges and then eat a little but I have noticed that these occasions became rarer till they finally stopped.

I have not placed such restrictions on my son. I have left him to choose what he likes to eat though I have explained my stand. My dilemma is – he relishes my prawn curry and surmai fry and wants me to cook for him. How do I tell him that I am no longer able to do it as the sight of raw meat is nauseating to me.

Life

2005-06-21T06:05:00.000-07:00

Since I started believing in reincarnation and the cycle of life and death and karma I have become calmer. The “why”s have reduced.

Why did this happen to me? Why did I have such a painful childhood? Why is this happening to me?

My prayers now always include – “God let me have no fear”

Hurts and Salves

2005-06-21T05:17:00.000-07:00

When people cause us hurt or pain how do we retort back?

Recently my son’s friend phoned to say he would be coming to play in the evening but did not turn up. My son who had waited for a long time was annoyed.

Next day in school during lunch break he scolded him in front of the other group friends. My son probably felt justified in doing so; but in the process he had caused hurt to his friend.

What do you feel??

I think it is important to point out a wrong in a firm but non-abusive manner. That way the opposite person does not take it as an affront but as a genuine intention to help him improve.

Grit and Determination

2005-06-16T05:34:00.000-07:00

Just been reading “Make the Connection” – a book on how Oprah Winfrey dropped from 237 pounds to around 150 pounds with a lot of help from Bob Greene.

It talks about her days of trying every fad diet on the market, her weight yo-yoing, her bouts of depression at not being able to be in better control of her body, the feelings of embarrassment when she could sense her colleagues all noticing her grossly overweight body but not wanting to talk about it in case they offended her. She knew they surely spoke about it behind her back.

Her grit and determination not to give up in spite of so many defeats, her realization that she was using “eating” not only to satisfy her hunger but more to assuage feelings of neglect, feeling unloved, etc. Her resolve to run the marathon and complete it. It gives hope to many for whom the battle of the bulge is a tough one.

But this story shows the direction – fight it not only with exercise and a healthy diet but also with your mind.

Maula !!

2005-06-14T23:00:00.000-07:00

Some lines of verse I heard and they have penetrated my heart and touched my soul.

Zindagi ko savaar de, maula!
Zindagi ko savaar de, maula!

Iske ruh ko, nikhaar de, nikhaar de, maula!!

Zindagi ko savaar de, maula!

Holy Smoke !

2005-06-14T04:22:00.000-07:00

i am a strong opponent of smoking in any form - cigarettes, bidi, hookah, etc. and for that matter any use of tobacco, but i do agree that sanjeev kapoor without the hookah (shatranj ke khiladi) and sharmila tagore without the beedi (mausam) would not make such an impact.

i suggest a simple solution. at the beginning of the film it would be a good idea to display a most horrendous picture of persons afflicted with throat / lung cancer in all its graphic gory glory with a bold warning that this is what smoking leads to. i have seen one such poster at my doc's clinic and everytime i have to turn my face away in repulsion.

what say you?

Movies,etc.

2005-06-09T23:59:00.000-07:00

Went on a movie watching spree. Watched Star Wars – Revenge of the Sith with my son. There were so many layers of meaning in each scene. I enjoyed explaining the intricacies to him. It was fascinating to watch how chancellor palpatine uses confusion, deceit and the carrot of power to pull Anakin to the dark side.

And then I had to watch Bunty and Bubli for amitabh and rani and abhishek and … I was awed by puneet issar’s physique. His massive body filled the whole frame. Awesome. It was nice seeing rameshwari after a long time. And I liked the punchline at the end when rani says ‘ agar mujhe aur ek bhar bhi aam ka achar banana pada to main mar joongi’.

Conducted my Friday morning yoga class. Everybody was back after a fortnight’s break so of course all the body parts groaned in protest.

Tomorrow we are beginning a book discussion club at our library. Looking forward to it. And this Sunday I am taking my gym girls for a picnic. Still getting the logistics right.

I will get down to writing Part II of the travelogue soon. – I promise.

The nomad returneth - I

2005-06-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody

Back from a wonderful vacation and I am rejuvenated.
My son and I turned into nomads never stopping at a place for more than two days.

Arrived at Udupi and picked up a Mangalore guide to plan my sightseeing.

First stop was Kemman to stay with my cousin– close to the backwaters. Idyllic. It was very very hot and sweaty and the power cuts were not helping.

In the evening we visited another cousin’s place (God bless large families of yore) which is on the river’s edge. My son and my cousin’s son amused themselves by trying to catch baby crabs. Modus of operandi – dangling a plastic rope whose other end had some jelly sweet smeared on it. Everytime a tiny crab would try to crawl up the rope the boys tried to pull it up but the crab would wisen up and dig its claws into the sidebank rather than the rope.

The view was beautiful – confluence of 2 rivers. Any other place and this house would be turned into a resort blessed as it is with the heavenly view.

Next morning my son and I refused to be house bound. We rented a rick to Malpe beach. It was beautiful, non-crowded. The sands were white. Found this nice resort – Paradise Isle. We had a good breakfast while listening (Japanese/Korean/???). I suppose some south east asian executives with some mangloreans trying to explain the school bus system in mangalore.

Then our rickshaw driver insisted we visit Malpe port. Not a very good idea. A fishing port is going to smell of what else but fish. But nothing prepared me for the assault on my nostrils. Must confess since I turned vegetarian two years ago any smell of meat is highly revolting.

But I was amazed to watch the bidding on the catch of the day in progress. Interested buyers stand in a circle around the seafood they are interested in and the bidding begins with one chap calling out the bids. We saw a whole catch of at least 50 large crabs going for 50 rupees.

Then on to Manipal to see the medical college campus. Then a wild hunt for Hastashilpa Kendra. Turned out it no longer is open to public but managed to get photo (after maneouvering my camera through the grilled gates. It is a reconstructed house symbolic of old manglorean architecture with wooden columns, terracotta lattice grills. I wish we could see inside.

What we did get to see is the insides of various creatures at the KMC Anatomy Musuem.
My son was alternatively repulsed and fascinated by the various live samples and moels.
But by the end of it we did not have the stomach to visit the pathology museum.

On the way back we stopped at the famous landmark eatery at Udupi – Diana. I could see from the packed seating area that it was very popular. I had to have the veg. bonda and teh settled for dahi wada. Satiated we made our way home.

Exhausted and sweaty we rested during the humid afternoon. Evening called out to us and we just had to go out somewhere. Boarded a bus to udupi. Did some street shopping (only looking no buying) then headed to woodlands. Had a sumptuous mini thali which was enough for the two of us. The waiter offered us generous second helpings and our eyes popped out at the bill. Only 18 rupees !!!!!!! Wow!

Boarded a monster which passes for public transport back to kemman just in time to meet another cousin (a priest interested in music who was leaving the next day for Prague). Loved the starlit sky. Too bad we could not sleep out.
Part I of the travelogue ends

Vacation

2005-05-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

Isn’t that a sweet word.

I will be out of town till 4th June – first to Mangalore then Bangalore.

Will fill you on the details.

Sharing

2005-05-19T21:17:00.000-07:00

Just completed my pranayam & yoga class.

The best part of the class is the last. – discussion , when all of us talk on something that has touched us during the week. Today it was on attachment to people. Especially those that are closest to us and the power they have to hurt us.

Do your part – without expecting anything in return, so when you get thorns flung at you instead of roses they do not pierce you so much.

Pranayam

2005-05-19T06:11:00.000-07:00

Have been going to a pranayam class. The first few days were painful.
Lessons learnt :
• sitting absolutely still in one position for more than a minute is very very difficult.

• concentrating on your breath is ……(is it possible) how do I stop the volley of random thoughts in my head

• how do I stop myself from going off to sleep while doing shavasan.

Have overcome the initial obstacles I seemed to have progressed a little.

• I could sit still without my knees crying out in agony.
• I did feel the vibrations first in my belly then throat then skull during omkar
• I did not feel sleepy
• I am slowly beginning to understand finally that there is a link between controlling our breath and controlling our life, emotions, feelings.

The Beginning

2005-05-19T05:47:00.000-07:00

Hi, I must warn you – this is my first blog, so bear with me.

a couple of days ago I came across “sizzling blogs” at rediff.

This finally pushed me over the edge. Meaning I had to stop thinking about penning personal thoughts, ideas, prickly issues and just start blogging.

Ever since I was a kid (was that ages ago), I have been thinking about eternal questions like : if God made me then who made God and the like… yeah, yeah I know too esoteric.

I still have not really understood the answers. This goes on while I am about my daily duties – work, family, etc.