collection of my thoughts

2011-03-28T01:53:00.002-07:00

For once let me cry for Thy sake,

Like never before and never again.

Ages it had been since the divine tears rolled,

The cheeks have turned dry and barren.

Crush my heart with all Thy grace.

Squeeze it until it lets go the last drop.

Turn me into that fairy little feather,

Ready to fly into the Freedom of Yours.

2010-09-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

That tenderly green shoot,

Ripped open the brown earth a while ago,

Now lay at the mercy of the dark gutsy wind.

Surrounded by a pool of mirky water,

With sunlight in abundance,

Just survived the onslaught.

The Sunrise

2010-07-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

Standing on the edge of the continent,

My waist lying beneath the water,

I was all patient in the midst of waves,

For the sun to rise.

The music in the air heightened,

With all the birds announcing his arrival,

In ways inimitable and yet beautiful beyond measure.

The lazy early morning winds caused by the eagerly waiting plants

Carried the music just in time to the horizon to welcome him.

The excitement reached a crecsendo,

As he let out the newborn's wail.

And all heads turned towards him,

Catching a glimpse as he popped out his head.

Beautiful he was though covered in blood.

No Rules

2010-06-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

Just as I had sat down to study with utmost seriousness, it started to rain. I had no other choice but to quit my plans. Not that there is no roof over my head but I would not miss it for anything.

As I walked over to the terrace , I could see a thick layer of water with numerous bubbles scattered over it. They were of different sizes moving in random, haphazard, disorderly fashion and yet there was something beautiful with them. None of these lasted forever though some stayed longer than the others.

It reminded me of the lively, green football grounds of my school and the matches we played on the rainy days. At the end of the games hour we looked at each other and selected one among us as the player of the day based on how brown his white shorts and briefs turned out to be. The happiness to be judged as one was beyond words and he happens to lead the rest out of the ground; a special privilege which was much sought after.

These matches, however, were entirely different from the normal matches. We called them 'rain football'. There were no rules. No fouls and no penalty awarded in the course of the match. The opponent can push you with all his might but cannot be penalised. 'No rule' was the only rule that prevailed. Naturally these matches were haphazard, disorderly just like the bubbles but they were very popular, more popular than any other game played in the campus.

'Rain Football' had a tradition. Every new student comes to know about it first than the school curriculum. Five years ago when the 9th std boys won the inter class football competition beating the senior most , it not only broke the tradition of the 10th std retaining the cup but also made Maulana, an instant hero of the school.

He had three essential qualities: agility, deception and an eye of an expert marksman that are so important for any game but more so for football. And these he had in abundance. He was also ferocious at times and never hesitated to use brute force against his opponent especially when he comes close to scoring a goal.

Exactly a year later, the result was similar. Akbar, a newcomer to the 9th std made all the difference. He was not as good as Maulana with regards to any of the three qualities but somehow he always could come up with weakness in his opponents. And once noticed he never fails to exploit it. His brilliant coordination with his mates ensured that the strategy was implemented clean and without much ado.

Maulana was naturally upset. It must be that way because it was clearly written, atleast in his world, who the winner would be the moment he won for his class last year beating the seniormost in the school. No one had the slightest doubt untill well, Akbar exploited them with his acumen.

Interestingly, Maulana had to be sent off for commiting a serious foul play and was out of action for the last 20 minutes of the game. He believed that had he played, his team would have won but others had a different opinion.

So when after the game they met Maulana said, " Real football is not bound by rules. Rules protect the skill-less and provides them with chances to win. If you think you are a genuine player, play and win against us. Let there be no rules." Akabar was not a guy who likes to shy away from challanges moreover he had just won an incredible match.

The following sunday when the physical trainer was supposed to be on leave they decided to play. Somehow the news spread to other classes and everyone were present at the main football court. From the first few minutes it was clear why Maulana wanted the rules to be done away with. Two goals were scored by him and in both cases he indulged in serious foul play. As he was about to recieve a pass from his mate, he pushed his only opponent standing before him and now had enough time to let the ball go past the goal post. The second goal was also similar. By the end of first half one of Akbar's team mate was badly injured and were behind by two goals.

Few minutes into the second half, it started to rain but both the teams had no intention of coming off the ground. Somehow Akbar's team managed to score three goals in a very quick span of time. Maulana became unstoppable. He would now go to any extent to level the scores as time was running out fast. It was then three rare incidents took place and they had a profound impact not only on the players but also all those who were watching the match. Twice, Maulana got the chance of penalty shoot out. Normally he had as much as 5 out of 10 chances to score and when the stakes were high it jumped to 8. But just before he was about to kick the penalty shoot out he slipped and could not hit it properly. The third incident was that in an attempt to save a goal

somehow he happened to score a self goal. The match ended 4-2.

Now, it was the turn of the 9th std students to prod their seniors to play 'no rules' football the next sunday. Strange coincidence but a similar story unfolded the next sunday. Maulana indulged in foul play and at the end of first half his team was leading. It rained it the second half . Maulana missed to score easy opportunities and was part of a self goal. Akbar's team ended up winning the match. Wondering how similar the events were, Maulana was lost in thoughts. He got subdued.

The next sunday, Maulana did not indulge in his usual ways. Their team won the match. The next day in every class right from the 6th std to the 10th std, students narrated the events of the past three weeks to their teachers. And in turn the news spread to the school management.

Though they reprimanded the boys involved in playing such matches, they but could not help from wondering the turn of the events. They found the students to be discussing about it quite often. The surprise package was when almost all the skits enacted for the cultural day had somehow brought in the theme of the football matches. This was when the school management realised how much effect it had on their thinking.

Maulana echoed the feelings of his fellow students when in the monthly school magazine, he wrote, "There is always a rule even when there are no rules. That is the rule of God." Impressed by the developments the school mangement declared the second saturdays amd second sundays to be 'no rules' days. There was no timetable issued on these two days of the month. The students were allowed to spend time as per their own interests. Though initially the school management was wary of their decision, over a period of time they found that except for one or two problems, generally these two days were free of any untoward incident. Some chose to play all the day, some spent watching movies and so on but there was no report of any complaints from any quarters. They thought perhaps what Maulana said was right and the boys were well aware of it.

A Poet's Realisation

2009-10-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

A great poet lies deep within every heart,
Waiting for that special 'rain day' to open its door.
And as he comes out breaking the chains of restlessness,
He resembles the genie that never tires.

And what a realization!
An year ago, I despised a few and liked a few.
Now I have no distinction.
Everything is like that 'rainy day' filled with beauty and bliss.

The dusk and the dawn, the dead and the alive, the dew drop and the blue ocean,
The war and the peace, the wrinkles and the smooth and slippery, You and me.
The poet hardly finds any difference,
Immersed in that state of blissfulness where words flow like a gentle stream.

I know the 'real journey' has only just begun.
The flight to the Oneness guided by the pure and transparent words,
Is all joy and ecstasy increasing at every step further.
Finally when I reached It, the words just wouldn't come to me.
I have for the first time realised my inability and also the vanity in describing It.

Under The Sky

2009-08-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

I felt like a king as I slept under the sky,
Watching its vastness that couldn't be captured in one sight.
And yet, a minuscule is only what I could see after all the attempts.
Stretching far behind the horizons; lied majority of it vastness.

It reminded me of the vastness within.
The energy and the potential I have known,
Is but a tiny speck of the mammoth that lay buried.

This world has seen countless men, that have enriched its thoughts;
And yet they are a small part of the countless others unheard of;
That were as humble as the Mother Earth, complaining of nothing;
Who have seen order and symmetry in such vastness.

Love Without Any Reservation

2009-08-17T22:46:00.000-07:00

"A straight line, infinitely projected must end in a circle. I may remark that this idea explains the ethical theory that you must not hate, and must love. Because, just as in the case of electricity the modern theory is that the power leaves the dynamo and completes the circle back to the dynamo, so with hate and love; they must come back to the source. Therefore do not hate anybody, because that hatred which comes out from you, must, in the long run, come back to you. If you love, that love will come back to you, completing the circle. It is as certain as can be, that every bit of hatred that goes out of the heart of a man comes back to him in full force, nothing can stop it; similarly every impulse of love comes back to him."

Swami Vivekananda

Beyond and After

2009-07-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

Words can convey only that much and then silence takes over.
Work can accomplish that much and then prayer takes over.
Science can reason only that much and then comes God.

Work

2009-06-29T23:33:00.000-07:00

Work selflessly so that it benefits your own self.
Work untiringly remembering that a day will come when you must retire.
Work anonymously so that one day the world looks back at you.
Work with passion that teaches to look at things with equanimity.
Work with love untill that love becomes overwhelmingly large and you can work no more.
Work to remain not to work.

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Giants have walked upon this earth moving mountains.
And yet there is still lot of work to do.
How sorrow would have been my plight had there been no work.
How sorrow it would have been if those great souls accomplished everything.
It is He who creates work for me because He loves me.

Winning The War

2009-05-31T23:45:00.000-07:00

In the midst of the fiercest battle of Bhairavi,
Karthikeya, the king, moved like fluid,
Cutting across the enemies battalion swiftly.
Resolute power and the lightening speed of his sword were always feared about.

The final moments have come as he faced his arch rival,
At a sword's distance, breathing fire and eager to pounce on him any moment.
Karthikeya thought this woud be his last battle if he lost or even otherwise.
He won the intense battle but a more intense one stayed within.

People awaited eagerly for their's king return.
Finally as he arrived from the west,
The evening sun beneath the thin grey cloud appeared like a majestic halo,
That formed the pictersque background to his victory parade.

Celebrations continued for another week,
The last day of which witnessed a dramatic turn.
Kartikeya handed over his royal sword to Manikanta, his nephew,
On which were the inscriptions: Protector of the People.

To him he said, "To earn something is difficult.
To give away that is more difficult. I have won both the wars."
Karthikeya smiled knowing well that Manikanta was puzzled and added,
"All that is earned is always an obstacle." Manikanta was more puzzled.

Twenty years later Manikanta dropped his sword into the sheath tied to his waist.
Few hours later, he knew, it would ruthlessely cut the throats of the people,
People much like his own, if any the differences were meaningless.
He clearly saw the irony: for some he won the freedom, for several others it ended.

The kingdom was the last obstacle that prevented him,
From embracing the larger kingdom of humanity.
He remembered Kartikeya's words and clearly saw what he meant.
His duty beckoned him as he sped away to the battlefield.
But he knew he has more than one battle at hand.

The Eternal Journey

2009-05-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

There you come and go every day & night,
Oh Sun & Moon, lighting the sky with thy might and grace.
I wonder have you, but once, stopped for a while.
Just for a moment, to look back and see the distance you have covered.

A bigger purpose must be at the back of your mind,
For what else would explain thine eternal journey.
Here I lay surfing over the waves of my thoughts,
What could be the purpose that drives you every day & night.

Let me not rest, just like you, till mine is done.
Perhaps this is exactly why you come every day & night,
To make us realise that we are here to move,
To make us realise our own dreams.

This body shall disintegrate even if it works or not.
Let it disintegrate as I choose to work,
Till I can no longer see the rising Sun.
And then I shall know, immersed in the eternal peace, mine is done.

Oh Infinite

2009-04-29T05:49:00.000-07:00

You are mysterious; beyond the comprehension of humand mind,
Yet everyone likes to talk about You.

You are kind granting every wish asked for,
Yet You remain the same.

You are the powerful, all else is Your creation,
Yet are so loving.

You are all incusive manifested in everything in the space,
Yet You are not that.

Salutations to You, Oh Infinite. Salutations to You.
The most beautiful, the mention of whom stirs the body and mind,
Salutations to You, Oh Infinite. Salutations to You.

'I' am the Soul

2009-04-22T02:15:00.000-07:00

If 'I' am the Soul, what need I have of the clothes.
Is not 'I' covered by the skin!

If 'I' am the Soul, what need I have of the food.
Did 'I' ever cry of hunger or celebrate after the sumptous feast?

If 'I' am the Soul, what need I have of the education.
What is that 'I' doesn't know about?

If 'I' am the Soul, what need I have to care about the good and the bad.
For when did 'I' learn to differentiate.

'I' am the Soul, 'I' am the Soul,
Dancing in the glory of Thy name,
Unmindul of all but Thee, but Thee.

When Gods Cried

2008-10-28T08:12:00.001-07:00

In deep thought he closed his eyes to ponder over the serious problem that confronted him.
The playing pebbles, he placed in the pouch, were missing.
Countless were the number of times he visited the pouch in a day.
And with pride filled eyes, he displayed his prizeless possession.

With a sudden jerk, he opened his eyes in disbelief.
His eyes closed, he was able to see it. The Future!
Shocked was he and trembled with fear as he recollected what he saw.
The darkness behind his closed eyes gradually retreated as a snow white glow poured in.
And on the white screen thus formed , the future ran, in the present.

The missing pebbles in the hands of a mischevious boy, crackled against each other.
Later as the pebbles failed to sustain his joy and attention;
They found a place beneath the earth, packed and parcelled with utmost care.
As the future continued to flow, the fear of future crept in.
He opened his eyes into the present, the veil of future broken.

He looke hither and thither to find the clues of what had happened to him.
Everything remained the same; in the sky and on the land.
He looked at himself, front and back, all about him.
Nothing changed; neither any weight gain nor weight loss.

The urge to recheck it all over again was mischevious but he lacked the courage.
As the former started to dominate, he gradually let his eyelids drop.
None was visible.He shifted his head to the right and then to the left; the darkness remained.

He opened his eyes and closed them quickly;
He let one open and the other closed; interchanged the position;
He tightened his eyebrows and then broadened them;
All in vain , he was left with dissappointment and darkness.

He decided , no more, and laid back peacefully in serene thought.
This time he had a similar experience with a different message.
He saw his master against the same background and his voice was crisp and clear.
"Nature lets you know everything as and when it sees you deserve and there in lies a purpose in doing so."

The boy arose and set out for his journey,
Like a marooned sailor who caught the glimpse of green,
With intent , conviction and purpose in his stride.
Armed with a new dawned realisation and vision that could see through the present,
He moved from place to place filling the missing links and unravelling the hidden future for his brotheren.
Soon he became a welcome guest and he was loved wherever he went.

This morning as he prayed, to let the Supreme Director guide his day;
He saw from within; he had to play a slightly different role, today.
Neverthless, with a smile on his face and a heart filled with love,
He reache his destination, a lake, to perform his final role.

The Gods gathered in the skies to witness this great actor;
He who had seen little difference between life and death;
He who had enacted his role with perfection and equanimity;
Now waded down the lake knowing perfectly well he would be becoming one with it soon.

Never have the Gods seen before such an young boy,
Embrace his death, with the innocence of a newly born lit on his face.
As he walked down the lake, tears rolled down their cheeks.
The Gods blessed him as he descended and disappeared into the lake.

News of the boy's death travelled and brought the villagers to the lake.
The grief stricken villagers knew, they have lost this strange visitor, a cheerful loving brother.
In fond remebrance of him, they decided to build a monument on the lake's bed.
The lake was completely drained but to their astonishment they found rich placer deposits of gold.

The Nature's fury and floods have denied their harvest for decades;
It's the same floods that have brought the placer deposits to the lake.

Few have realised the purpose of the boy's death,
Neverthless, the battered village, henceforth, showed signs of growth.

How sweet is such a death to embrace upon!
How sweet would it be if all deaths were for such purpose!

The Cheerful Monk

2008-05-10T01:58:00.000-07:00

Far beyond the hills, in a small hut, lived a huge Monk.
So simple was his living, emptiness was all that the hut had in it.

As the sun descended down the hills, villagers near by descended down to where He lived.
All the mornings, the hut was deserted, save the Monk.
All the evenings, the village was deserted, save none.
Hundreds of people thronged the Monk's hut every evening.
Wonder what sermons the Monk gave daily.

Speechless! The Monk never gave any speech.
Neither He uttered a single word.
The hut stayed as calm as in the mornings.

As the villagers took turn to visit Him,
He looked into their eyes and smiled.
What lied in the smile that attracted the villagers is not known.

Days and years passed, unknown to the outside world, the evening ritual continued.
All that the Monk did to the villagers is to look into their eyes and smile at them.
Never did the villagers see Him in any other colour.

One day, the orange red sun stayed unusually long in the western sky, before it descended down the hills.
The villagers reached the Monk's hut as the sun disappeared into darknness.
There the Monk, as usual, greeted them with His smile of Infinte Love.
Only that he was lying on the ground, His heart no more active.
All in His life He smiled, in death He smiled.
He knew nothing but to smile.

Surprisingly, neither grief nor sorrow was visible on the villager's face.
Cheerful, as ever, they were, lifted the Monk onto their shoulders and buried Him in His hut.

The Monk possessed nothing and left behind nothing,
A few cheerful villagers, with everlasting joy in their hearts.
Never did the villagers frown nor let their hearts drown in sorrow,
Never did they break their promise to the Monk.
The Monk has left behind a legacy, truly a great legacy.

The Journey of My Life

2008-05-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

Awaken from a strange dream, I got out of my bed.
Alone I walked, along the street.
Walking, though without direction, my steps took a definite path.

Strange it seemed, the neighbourhood looked different than I know it.
As I crossed the streets, I lost the acquaitance of my surroundings.
All I could see around, I simply call it 'Beautiful'.

Stranger it seemed, my feet never stopped to let my mind savour the beauty around.
There was a definite pull, I felt in my feet, to what lay ahead.
Every step of my unending journey leading to a more beautiful scenery,
I walked unaware of what lay ahead.

Gasped I was, as I turned to my right,
I witnessed the destination of my journey.
There lay ahead, a wonderful water body.

Must be created by a Master who never erred.
For It transcended all human imaginations.
A beautiful Lake at the end of a beautiful journey.

Behold! The Lake had no ripples!
Neither was my reflection seen in It!
Disturbed at this, I picked up a stone.
I rose above the foolish thought and let the stone go.

I pondered over the Lake with a calm mind.
It obliged and showed my reflection in It.
I still pondered over It.
It started to grow bigger untill I found myself in the Lake.
The Lake, now, touched the horizon but yet It continued to grow.

An unknown peace descended and gripped me.
I enjoyed every moment like the evening child on the beach.
The nectar of peace, I wished, it could be mine forever.

Alas! The disturbing selfish thought brought me back to the Lake's bank.
I retreated unable to ponder over It again.
I returned the next morning.

The longer I pondered over it, the longer I stayed in It.
The more I stayed in It, the greater was my wish to stay in It.
This journey of mine continued for days unknown,
Untill I finally realised that 'It' was my Consciouness.
Oh Yes, my Consciousness, the Lake within.

The Sky and Beyond

2008-05-02T02:04:00.000-07:00

Don't believe, Don't believe in any kind of limitations
For they are just the offshoots of our imaginations.

We being part of the unbounded Nature
Should also know 'Unboundeness' is our characteristic feature
'Infinite' is the only thing that pervades all the Nature.

The past has not seen the begining of time
Neither the future will see it's end.

Limit, like the ever receding horizon, is never encountered
All mirages dissappear when the distances are removed
And limit is a mirage.

Oh God, the greatest lover of human kind,
How will Thy Creations know any limitation!