Beginnings

The Distance between inertia and "beginning" is so vast, that upon contemplation, it appears too large to cross.

When we do begin, we make discoveries,
We discover Strengths,
and hopes, dreams not yet lived...
beloved hiding places and
Parts of ourselves....
It's so much easier NOT to begin... what if we begun a dream... and it didn't work???...or we were no good at it, or it didn't satisfy us the way we always imagined...???
We can begin Over and over and over, as many times as we want or need to. We can begin to change our beliefs and the ways we categorize ourselves... "oh I've never been a good ....................."
BEGIN AGAIN
I m GOING to BEGIN to be:
A person who tries many new things...
A person who is Sometimes irritated...
A person who explores new tastes...
A person who travels lightly...
A person who IS...
and i'll continue to add new beginnings to this list...

Columns of the World...

I came across these really beautiful lines by the Mexican poet Betsabee Romero at a visit to this year's Kolkata Book Fair... I m reproducing it here, go on read them..u'll really like it...

Books as a bastion of memory and growth,
sustenance of dreams and utopias torn down by reality
in every news item
in every life
in every silence
given the injustice and oblivion.

Symbolic foundation of invention and creation,
of voyages and real or imaginary paths.

Literature, story, word
the structure and coordinate
that articulate and join irrevocable resistances and struggles.

Books, indubitable and indispensable
fragments of our cultural architecture.

Our literature,
column, roof and floor of our reflections
relative and witness of what's ours
that which defines us
and builds us, deep down.

Reading is the most roving habit
the baggage that holds the most time
history and lives accumulated in words
a translator that speaks in perfumes, tastes, phrases, geographies,
a continent held up by words
written and read in family circles.

technology falls, bursts, fails;
modernity has betrayed us countless times,
literature makes up the pillars
the columns of colors and words that seem to faint away
sometimes
but that, thanks to the great works,
like our pyramids
and their meanings
lift us up.

The Six Mistakes Of Man

1. The delusion that personal gain is made by crushing others.
2. The tendency to worry about things that cannot be changed.
3. Insisting that a thing is impossible because 'he' cannot accomplish it.
4. Refusing to set aside trivial preferences.
5. Neglecting development and refinement of mind, and not acquiring the habit of reading and study.
6.Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do.

( Cicero)

An auapicious start to 2009...

I visited the ISKCON , Mayapur on the 2nd of this month, it was an incredible experience. Though not a staunch believer in any of the many sects professed by the Hindu religion, my visit to ISKCON was indeed one which filled me with pride and a sense of glory for what Bhagavatism has achieved in the international arena of religions.
ISKCON was started by Srila Prabhupada, a follower of Bhagavatism and professing the "Bhakti Marga"... It became an international movement in the 1970's with the establishment of it's first 'mandir' in Chigcago. ISKCON emphasises on 'Bhakti'... singing in the praise of the lord Krishna... as a way to enlightenment and the subsequent salvation.It doesn't believe in the cult of sacrifice or hard hitting ritualism.
My best experience was the early morning prayer "Arty" done at 4:30 am.. in the prayer hall where everyone gathers. What amazed me most was the number of followers from different nationalities, regions, cultures, languages all chanting to gather "Hare Rama Hare Krishna", one ardent devotee whom I had the fortune to meet was a Chinese national, she doesn't know English, Hindi or even Bengali but can speak chaste Sanskrit!!! and the joy she felt while singing along was worth beholding. Then there is this ritual of taking out a procession of the idols of Krishna and Radha every Saturday evening, decked up elephants, two beautifully decorated chariots and scores of devotees take the deities around the ISKCON compound, the entire path is strewn with flower petals and and there is constant chanting of hymns and beating of drums together with the blowing of conch and the fragrance of incense sticks... the atmosphere becomes enchanted and magical and I can tell you that even the most staunchest agonist will become a believer.
The "Mahaprasadam" is another thing of amazement. Probably due to the international presence, a devotee can get anything as the Prasadam, from cakes to pastries to cookies to the very Indian 'mithaies', 'payasam', tasty 'jibegajhas' and what not... of course everything is strictly vegan..they do not believe in partaking of flesh of any kind... This visit of mine will be etched in my memory as long as it can be.. I m definitely looking forward to my next visit to Mayapur soon and hope I'll get another chance to visit soon enough. Hare Krishna...

Invictus.....

I was so encouraged by these lines...thanks Vivek...love u dude... :)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

The Sprit of Christmas..

Merry Christmas to one and all.. :) the Christmas is here and finally the time for bringing out all the gifts we bought for each other..time for cakes and cookies, get togathers and merry making..in short time to have the 'time of the Year'... so i guess... all of u must have bought stuff for someone or the other...and may have received some in return... some were stuff that u had been hoping to get for many days and some that are pretty useless... only you don't throw them away because they are gifts and you can usually gift them to others later on....
The one thing going on in my mind is what's the best gift one can gift to someone... something they love??? something they have been eyeing for a long time??? something you know they'll appreciate...or simply something that fits into your budget... i know most of us choose a gift keeping all the above factors in mind... i would like to pose a question here..is gifting a 'thing'...something tangible... really important..can't we give something more intangible like maybe our prayers...??? of course most of us aren't really sincere when it comes to praying for others.. it may not be intentional at all... just something we may forget to do..quite natural and humane... But this Christmas..i have resolved to do something..pray for 3 people..who need my prayers..ofcourse people who i know that is mostly my frends..3 frends who i know are in need of something, i have resolved to pray for them..and of course without their knowledge..just pray unselffishly..till 31st December...let's see if i can do it... u guys can try it out... Merry Christmas... Joys be to all.. :)

Moments of Retrospection...

My heart tells me to run away,
My mind stops me...
' Run away, run away, run away from yourself;
Run away and be a lil' free'
At times think I, is it not better to listen to my heart,
Break the confines of my mind,
And seek a new 'start' ?
At times... to find myself, surreal it may seem;
Even of for a moment, even if in a dream.