BE AT EASE

E is for Ease.

The other day I watched a video of a question-answer session in the ashram of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev based in Tamil Nadu a southern State of India. Sadhguru is a mystic and a spiritual guru who discourses on all aspects of life and its wellbeing. He is regularly invited by Educational institutions and Corporate houses worldwide to answer questions about life issues. In the ashram in India, interested people are trained in Isha Kriya, which is one of the ways of meditation and attaining overall wellness.

“Isha Foundation is a non-profit, spiritual organization founded in 1992 by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. It is based at the Isha Yoga Center near Coimbatore, India. The foundation offers yoga programs under the name of Isha Yoga.”

Key people: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

Method: Yoga programs, meditation, tree plant...

Location: India; Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Wikipedia

In the video, an attendee asked him about the causes of modern-day life being so stressful and jumpy. His simple answer was that people have forgotten how to be at ease. Most of us are an amalgamation of past memories, ideas, emotions, impressions, experiences and all sorts of prejudices. They are limiting the innate human desire of boundless expansion.  They keep us knotted and deplete our energies. We lose the ease of living.

‘We should stop fixing the world,’ he says. The limitless potential of each human being goes waste in managing inanities. He says that we should try to obliterate the boundaries of individuality and open up to life. The lesson, in a nutshell, is to free oneself from the shackles of the past. He calls it ‘living with the dead.’

In a way, according to him, the identification with the burdens of the body and mind is limiting the growth of enormous power of each life. One should be conscious of life, of each breath and countless possibilities will open up every moment. To be at ease requires erasing of self-created bounds by our physical and psychological structure. The secret of a meaningful existence is distancing ourselves from these two.

Friends welcome here as always. 

Sharing with:

ABC Wednesday
My corner of the world

IT IS TIME TO DATE EVERYDAY PLEASURES.

D is for date,delight.

Friends it is the time of my life when I need to learn to date simple delights of everyday life. However, the monkey mind being a restless entity keeps provoking me to be up and doing. It cautions me against embracing the comfort zone come what may. It is aware of my inclinations, my spirit of inquiry, and curiosity. It is slowly resigning to the limitations of aging though.

Since outings are a less preferred choice these days, I’m evolving into a person who enjoys living within the boundaries of home life. My balcony (I spend summers amidst hills) figuratively has turned into a window for interaction with the natural world. It allows me to converse with it whenever. My balcony overlooks the narrow valley surrounded by hills covered with groves of refreshed pines and lush greenery. Regular spells of monsoon showers have brightened the ambiance. 

My morning starts-if it is not raining- with a leisurely walk in my balcony. While sipping my first cup of tea of the day I watch lanky pines in their crowning glory. Either they are very still or I see their boughs laden with fresh needles swinging happily in the cool moist air. The rain-washed bushes, shrubs, and random vegetation release placid smug vibes. Well soaked and saturated they look cheerful and secure under the protective canopy of pines. The visual intoxication fills me with positivity and I look forward to the unfolding of the day. The glowing morning messages me to make the most of the day.

There are a few other harmless but joyful activities I indulge in. My newfound liking for crocheting keeps me satisfyingly busy when I’ve nothing else to do. You Tube 

videos have helped me in learning the basics of crocheting.

I love reading books. Hubby uploads books on my Kindle, which I select from Amazon.com’s Book section.

 I'm a creative person by nature. I keep visiting some sites suggested by Pinterest for DIY projects. I may not do them but then the marvelous ideas are sometimes overwhelming.

There is so much to learn and do but the hitch is if your physicality enables you to carry on the struggle, which new ventures entail.

I‘m reminded of John Milton’s dilemma, which he versifies in his epic poem ‘The Paradise Lost’.

Milton lost his eyesight early in life and was unable to write. However, the thought that God will question him about his wasting the gift of writing gnawed him constantly.  In his poem, ‘On His Blindness’ he poses this question to himself. Then deep down his mind conveys the answer as well. Here is the poem.

On His Blindness

(1655)

WHEN I consider how my light is spent   Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,   And that one Talent which is death to hide   Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present         5   My true account, lest He returning chide,   “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”   I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need   Either man’s work or his own gifts. Who best         10   Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,   And post o’er land and ocean without rest;   They also serve who only stand and wait.” Friends draw your own conclusions about the theme of the poem! Friends welcome here as always! Sharing with: ABC Wednesday Nature Notes My corner of the world

THE LETTER 'X' IS A PHENOMENON.

X is not simply another letter!

Though X is the 24^th letter of the English alphabet and the least used yet it is formidable in its persona. It is powerful, it is mysterious, and it is iconic and somewhat vain. Its symbolism has multiple profound references in history.

Here is a short sampling of X in some of its numerous avatars:

X growls its way in words with dominance. It makes its presence felt come what may.

X words enjoy the literary onomatopoetic effect. EXaggerated (hyperbolic) and eXcruciating are good examples of words where the jarring sound nearly hints at the meaning. Phonetically these demand tough articulation in tune with their semantics.

You can’t ignore the word ‘eXtraordinay’ for example. It is special, awesome much more than the ordinary.

Some X words possess slightly negative connotations. ‘Extreme’, ‘Excess’-something not desirable,  ‘Xenophobia’-fear of foreigners- something frowned upon. In clothing, line XL- extra-large and XS extra small signify the choice of the few.

X’s presence in some words invariably characterizes them with elements of mischief, intrigue, chauvinism or an authority or novelty e.g. Axe, tax, sex, maximum, Xerox, axis, nexus, Xanax (name of medicine).

Then there are original expressions having alluring properties, which make you sit up and think. You are enticed to explore their origins, meanings, and contexts. A few of them are:

Xmas- Its spiritual association with Christianity. X is an abbreviation of Christ, which has been accepted for centuries.

X rated- drawn towards sex or pornography.

Generation X- those born between 1969-1979 in America.

Malcolm X – a Muslim revolutionary.

X rays – A diagnostic tool.

X sports- short for extreme sports with the risky and daredevil component.

Swastika X or cross- signifies evil, used by Hitler in Nazi Germany.

X files- documents containing mysterious and secret information about state matters.

X a sign of multiplication in Mathematics and in Algebra signifying a variable.

X stands for the Roman numeral 10.

X has many more diverse, historical and exciting associations waiting to be explored.

 ...

Friends welcome here as always! 

Sharing with:

ABC Wednesday

SELF-APPRAISAL AND A PROMISE TO ADD ZING TO LIFE.

                                                     

I think it is incumbent on us to conduct a silent appraisal of the year gone by in relation to ourselves. What it involves is a reality check, introspection, and some philosophizing. Self-analysis of our thoughts, actions, behavior, and relationships is a pathway to self-improvement. Socrates said the unexamined life is not worth living. Likewise looking within is a movement towards a greater understanding of self which is akin to acquiring wisdom. It is an effort at learning lessons and moving on. 

Lack of self-awareness is one of the painful absurdities of life. It means a static existence, which like driftwood has no will of its own and can be hauled at any point. Even the natural world follows the cyclic rhythm, which glorifies each seasonal change and its’ potential. Nature weaves positivity in all its avatars that teaches us to balance life’s polarities and make it more meaningful.

This going within, examining oneself in all aspects of one's life is a never-ending process for an insightful being. It takes us beyond the limited mundane part of life and sows the seeds of developing an aspirational outlook

To make the most of this wonderful and blessed journey, why not add some zing to make it more exciting. Here are some suggestions for the likes of me.

•   Follow a fixed routine for reading and writing to exercise your mental faculties. Solve something interesting like Scramble (locate the words in jumbled letters) or Spellathon, (to make as many words as possible from the given letters in the puzzle) which most of the newspapers carry these days. Think of playing some computer card games to challenge the gray cells.

• Remain busy in some activity or the other, as it would also ensure compulsive grooming in the morning.  I for one try to dig out something to do if I have free time after finishing the designated tasks. I may do more than my share of routine activities but if I don’t accomplish something extra I feel my day wasted.

•  Don’t brood ever or have self-pity. I left it long back.  It is the easiest way to self-destruct. Getting bored is the luxury, which our short stay on this planet doesn’t allow. The negativities only cause mental and physical draining. Rather exult in being alive with manifold elevating choices waiting to be explored.

•  Surf the net to find solutions to minor health issues in place of rushing to the doctors at the slightest indisposition. Google search engine is of great help in selecting the right websites.

•  Learn new things. Be a jack of all trades. Open up to nature and its beauties. Click photographs and share with your loved ones. Time is bristling with a variety of picks. The initiator is only you!

•  Love yourself. Eat well. Exercise daily. Let the travel bug take you here and there.

I think these ingredients are enough to earn a zestful ticket to life


Friends welcome here as always!                          

 Linking to:                                                                     

ABC Wednesday
Nature Notes 
.Our World   

'NEVER SAY DIE' SPIRIT

S is for Spirit:

ABC Wednesday’s prompt letter 'S' did put me in an unenviable state of mind.  I could not decide for almost half of the week about the appropriate subject to go with the letter 'S'. The result was procrastination. And lack of focus to generate something appealing. The task was tough so it kept on being postponed.

The comfort zone went on winning. The inner police had to remonstrate, and chide, to wake me up to shake off the self-imposed laziness. It had to go because the compulsion to write was much more powerful than temporary lassitude.

A ten-minute stroll in my driveway was a trigger point for a new idea. It’s luckily the one, which I needed to motivate myself. It’s the much-critiqued idea encompassed in the phrase ‘Never say die' spirit, which flashed suddenly into consciousness.

Friends some people are fortunate to be born with a bubbly positive outlook. Some acquire it while in the thick of life experiences. There are others who never learn it.

A healthy attitude towards life is a blessing because we traverse many rough terrains during the course of our lives. We've to endure them as they are beyond our control.

While I'm at it, let me share a few thoughts with you on the subject!

 Life is no cakewalk:

The existential crises, which everyone faces at one time, or the other have the potential of dragging us into despondency and feelings of inadequacy. Only a resilient attitude can overcome obstacles and challenges of life.

Develop confidence:

Uncertainty is the only certainty of our lives. Confidence in oneself enables an individual to muster up the courage to face all types of circumstances.  Giving up is no option for him. His never say die spirit inspires others to carry on whole-heartedly despite roadblocks. Such people always succeed where a weak one might leave the arena vanquished.

Safeguard your core values:

To sustain a balanced and resilient stance in our life we need to be vigilant not to let our core values be eroded by negativity prevailing around us.    Even in the face of coercion or intimidation stick to the fundamentals of your personality.

  

Have a good company:

The company we keep holds the mirror to us. Those who pull us down and discourage us need to be shunned. Befriend like-minded individuals with vision and willpower who'd move ahead with dedication in their preferred line of work.

Cultivate reading habit:

Reading inspiring life stories of successful people who succeeded against heavy odds and came out unscathed bolster our resolves.

Learn time management:

To be productive each day is very significant for developing overall confidence. For this, one has to learn time management.  A determined schedule for the activities of each day should be planned meticulously. My personal experience tells that a planned day achieves considerably in terms of work done. The satisfaction is highly uplifting.

Follow an exercise regimen:

It is imperative for us to look after ourselves in all aspects of life. Keeping good health is most important. We women who sit in front of computers for hours together must do aerobic exercises to keep fit. A short walk and some stretching exercises daily improve blood circulation, digestion and activate sluggish cells. A well-balanced diet energizes and makes us feel good. Deep breathing exercises promote feelings of wellness.

Control negative thinking:

Furthermore, we should always take note of the intrusion of negative thoughts in our mind, which should be crossed out immediately. Negative thoughts drain you out completely and push you into depression and inertia. These are deadly enemies of a fulfilling life.

To summarize it can be affirmed that giving up on any task how much humongous it may be is no solution to life’s situations. This option is irrelevant for living a meaningful life. 

The list can stretch endlessly but I shall be extremely happy if I can stick to the few shared above.

Friends welcome here as always!



Sharing with:

ABC Wednesday

PRE-WINTER RAIN COMES KNOCKING AT MY DOOR

Wishing you a happy Diwali!!!

                                          Images courtesy: google

                                                                                ****

R is for 'Rain':

Though October ushered in the much-awaited change in the weather in the plains of North India, yet the day temperature stayed uncomfortably warm. Last week’s unexpected rain stepped in unannounced to surprise us with its blessed mild chill. It marked an amazing entry. When we went to sleep at night, all was calm and serene. A clear blue sky sans any trace of clouds. No other hint of impending rain either. No thunder, no sound of speedy wind usually a precursor to rains. It came like an angel in the soft footsteps. The world down under stayed ensconced under their blankets. None was disturbed with an unusual activity in the middle of the night. Yet it rained unobtrusively, peacefully.

  

What a pleasant surprise it was when I got up in the morning, drew the bedroom curtains and saw the backyard all soaking wet. A gaping expression welcomed the scenario. The day started on a charming note. With remarkable alacrity, the sweet coolness of winter crossed the threshold to facilitate festive outings and donning of fashionable winter outfits.

The whole of India is experiencing the feverish excitement of  Diwali celebrations. Festivities to welcome the queen of festivals ‘Diwali’ are at its peak here. The glitter, pomp, and show are evident all-around. The newspapers ads are overwhelming and attract potential customers with price cuts and gifts. People are arranging strings of colorful bulbs on their roofs and entrances. The spirit of joy and gaiety pervades all households. 

The advent of November with its pleasantly moderate coolness post light spell of rain generates healthy vibes.

The sudden showers have surely added to the cheerfulness of the festival of lights!


 Friends welcome here as always!

 Sharing with:

ABC Wednesday
Doses of wild... Yam 

A QUEER INCIDENT

Q is for Queer:

                  

Sometimes one experiences such a queer incident that one ends up being traumatized considerably.

One such incident happened to me a few years back. It shook me and scared me about my vulnerability. Sadly my faith in people got a slight beating.

We were putting up in the hills during the summer. One day we planned to go shopping in Solan (one of the important cities in H.P). It is situated at a distance of about 12 km from our place. With sufficient cash in my purse, we drove in our car to Solan. Since the narrow main bazaar was always buzzing and overcrowded with all sorts of vehicles, we preferred to park our car at a safe distance and boarded an auto rickshaw to reach our destination.

After finishing our errands, we again boarded an auto for our return journey. As soon as we sat in the auto two dark-skinned women wearing gaudy outfits, seemingly belonging to the lower class hurried towards us to get into the same auto. Though there’s space for only one the auto driver did not object. I protested mildly but thinking it was public transport didn't make it an issue. On hindsight, I realize  that they sensed a potential naïve target in me and that is why they ran to get into the same auto.

I felt very uneasy adjusting but bore it somehow. The din on the road was deafening besides it being a bumpy ride. It was painfully funny because in the small space the women were partially slipping and adjusting all the time. I just avoided looking at them and caught hold of the rod above to stabilize myself. In a vague manner, I remember the woman next to me constantly eyeing me. My purse was in my lap unattended. The duo to my relief got off on the way. 

I had not imagined in my wildest dreams that I could be robbed.  When we sat in the car, I rummaged my purse for something and found to my shock and disbelief that all my money was gone. The women thieves did it to me.  I even suspected the auto driver was part of the conspiracy. I still get goosebumps when I reminisce about the incident. It took me a few months to restore my self-confidence.

Now I act like the proverbial 'once bitten twice shy'. Whenever we go there, I prefer to walk rather than take an auto.

 ****


Friends welcome here as always! 


Sharing with:
ABC Wednesday

INNER JOURNEY IS AN EVERYDAY AFFAIR

Inner journey creates possibilities for unchartered journeys.

Our inner voice goads us to listen to the call of yonder mountains.

INNER JOURNEY IS AN EVERYDAY AFFAIR                             

Human psyche’s veiled corridors,

Nurture an inner voice.

A lurking quiet force,

A shadowy presence that rules,

Pokes, as well as admonishes.

Perhaps the inner voice is more of

A guiding lighthouse,

Going back and forth eternally.   

Sneaking deep into mind’s keyhole,

Living, reliving moments never told.

It's spell catapults a thinking mind

To heights hitherto unassailable. 

..

Isn’t it that man is the chosen one?

To play God’s magic on earth. 



Friends welcome here as always!

Sharing with:
ABC Wednesday
Image-in-ing 
Nature Notes 
Pictorial Tuesday 
Wednesday around the world 
Our World 

IMAGES: MONSOON SCENARIO AMIDST HILLS

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."  
Rabindranath Tagore.

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. Rabindranath Tagore
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/rain

                                                                                                                           

We're witnessing the fag end of monsoon season in the hills, where we're putting up these days. Below are a few pictures of nature's spectacle, clicked during the week.

Dark clouds holidaying.

                                                                                 ****

Pines and sundry vegetation in our complex.

****

A spider's web held me spellbound in the morning.
****

                                                                        Afternoon shot during a walk.

                                                                                            ****

 Joyful lush green valley overlooking our balcony.

                                                                                      ****

A thin sheet of mist engulfing the peak of the hill, while the sun tries to wriggle out.

                                                                                      ****

The greyish sheet of clouds that stays the whole day.

                                                                                 ****

Purple hues adorn our lawn.

                                                                                    ****
Friends welcome here as always!


Sharing with:

ABC Wednesday
image-in-ing
Pictorial Tuesday
Our World
Nature Notes 
Wednesday around the world 
 Sky Watch 

HEART O HEART!!

From my archives: Autumnal scene (in the US) charms the heart!

"Your heart is the most powerful organ. It breaks, heals and becomes stronger again."

It is your heart!

Let it be never caged.

Let its potent vision be never grazed.

Let it articulate its smoldering spells.

Let it not throttle its cathartic swells.

Let it smash the toxic social bonds,  

Let not its tenderness with pretense downed.

Let it flourish in a swirl of loving kindness,

Let it receive the sensations of warm-heartedness.

Let it smile to wean the miseries away,

Let it smoothen muddles that bind night and day.

Let not its heartstrings be ever incommunicado,

Let them burst with courage, faith, and bravado.

Let it not be messed up by gibes and prickles,

It’ll surely transcend the inane and the fickle.

........

Friends welcome here as always! 


Linking to:
ABC Wednesday
image-in-ing 
Nature Notes
Our World Tuesday 
Wednesday around the world 
Friday foto friends 
Sky Watch Friday 

               

OVER TO KERALA BACKWATERS

Travel opportunities!


 TRAVEL DIARY: KERALA

For more than three weeks, I'd disappeared from the blogosphere. Yet I missed my weekly creative journey and favorite blogs!

In fact, my husband and I were in the Indian state of Kerala to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. From the usual cake cutting and partaking goodies with friends and family, we had planned to explore the picturesque land of coconuts, lakes, rivers, canals and inland waterways of Kerala about which we had heard a lot.

Kerala is known as God's own country. It is a land of coconut groves, sunny beaches, intriguing backwater cruises, fragrant spices, banana plantations,  herbal plants and lush green verdure. It is an exotic travel destination.

"Kerala lies along the coastline to the south-west of Indian peninsula. It is flanked by the Arabian sea on the West and the mountains of the Western Ghats on the east."

 "Backwaters in Kerala is a network of 1500 km of canals both manmade and natural, 38 rivers and 5 big lakes extending from one end of Kerala to the other. Backwaters are one of the major tourism product of Kerala, being unique to the state." Wikitravel.

Kochi which was our destination is a gateway for travelers to Kerala and is its commercial hub. Its 'Marine Drive' is a posh area with eating joints, show rooms and shops selling all brands of mobile phones. People here look dark but are strong and healthy. The locals throng all the tourists' places even on week days. At every other corner stood a church. Did not see any Hindu temple, though. It has a sizeable Muslim population also.

" Bolgatty Palace ( where we stayed) is a former palace built by the Dutch in India, on Bolghatty Island in Kochi, Kerala. ... Bolgatty Palace has a swimming pool, 9-hole golf course, ayurvedic centre, and daily Kathakali performances and is a holiday destination for tourists." Wikipedia.

The structures here exude an old world charm. The sloping stylish roof lined with brick tiles looks imposing. On the right is the dining hall and in the foreground is the swimming pool for hotel guests.

 Another dignified looking building having suites for guests.

 The sprawling lawns of 'Bolgatty Palace' were well manicured with gorgeous plants around.

The 'International Marina' bordering Island Resort, offers mooring facilities for pleasure yachts and small sailing boats. Here we met an English couple who had been sailing around the world since 2014.

The Swimming pool at Bolgatty Palace and Island Resort.

Kerala Govt. sponsors some special cruises called sunset cruises for which we got a booking.  It's a kind of a small ship and had AC cooled interiors. But that was no fun. All converged on the deck and had a blast of a time. Captured a similar boat from the deck while being awe struck by the vastness engulfing us. Here we 're already in the Arabian Sea waters.

Took this one from the border of our  Resort.

The two of us hired a boat for a one and a half hour cruise in the lake. The wind kept on playing with our clothes and hair but was cool and naughty.

Friends welcome here as always.
Sharing with:

 Our world
image-in-ing
ABC Wednesday 
Wednesday around the world