A snarling extension to one's persona

 

As if hundreds of stray dogs weren’t enough, the village lads have started keeping pet dogs, not with the cause of polishing the streaks of affection in them. The pitbulls and other fierce dogs—hardly needed for security—are a fierce snarling extension of their angry selves to present an intimidating picture. Two lads walk with their dog. Another one passes on his bike. ‘Take away this fat sloth!’ he taunts. ‘Saale, we will make him pee on your bum!’ they shout with derision. A fierce dog is an expression of raw, romanticized anger to them. And they flaunt it. It scares ageing people like me though.  

The weightlessness of a joyful, loving responsibility

 Osho tells a beautiful story of a Sanyasi named Bhavani Dayal. He was on a pilgrimage in the Himalayas.. it was a very hot noon and he was moving up the hill with his bedroll on his shoulder ...he was sweating and breathless because of the weight and the steep climb...in front of him a small hill girl was carrying her brother on her shoulders. She herself was small and that is why she was also struggling, panting, sweating ..all  breathless. The Sanyasi said to her, 'Daughter you must be feeling a lot of burden and weight on you.' The girl said, 'Swami ji the weight and burden is on you. He is not a burden, he is my brother.' The Sanyasi was shocked. A small girl taught him a big lesson of life. Where there is love, there is no burden in life. It was joyful for her to carry the physical weight of a little brother, while he joylessly struggled under the physical weight of his belongings.

Belated Diwali Greetings

 

Light a little lamp of friendly bonhomie and care among your small circle of friends and family. We should always remember that there are a few people who would have tears of sympathy for our pains, smiles on their lips for our gains, a friendly hand to help us rise among slippery rains. It’s a very tiny lamp burning with its little wick, throwing gentle pale rays around us, helping to light a stage, a tiny stage in the infinite darkness around, the stage that defines our existence, a stage that is set up for us to understand the meaning and purpose of this life. It’s a very small lamp and needs tiny drops of the oil of trust, support, encouraging smiles, tears of empathy, gentle words and an assurance that we are there around you, keeping you safe from the darkness ready to encroach from all around. It’s a gentle light, with soothing rays. But it lights up our lives like a bright sun, helping us move over the little troubling pebbles of life scattered on the path.

Keep this little lamp burning. It’s a delicate, fragile light but has the strength the beat the darkest clouds of loneliness and pain. And like all delicate things it needs a very careful, gentle attention and protection. Keep your little lamp of hope and friendliness burning. Keep it safe. Keep your palm around the glow to save it from the chance winds. Keep supplying tiny drops of love, care and share. This is your little lamp to help you on your journey. Keep praying for the light of your tiny lamp. Keep it glowing.

People will come and go from the little dim-lit stage around the tiny lamp. That’s inevitable. But you have to keep your little flame alive so that you aren’t in dark when someone passes by you. Maybe others need the light of your little lamp. Keep it alive. Keep alive the flame of hope, love, belief in people, happiness and joy. And when you light lamps on Diwali tonight, see the sanctity of your little lamp in all the flames around. Wish you all a very happy Diwali! Belated though!

Vrindavan Verve

 Vrindavan Verve...

A poet's walk through countryside solitude

 

Celosia argentea or Plumed cockscomb blooms in a corner. A bit of sunshine, dewy moisture, cool breeze and no human foot intruding...and mother nature offers a lovely bouquet of smiles to a solitary walker with poetic sensitivities...we humans might consider them as weeds but they are a perfect breakfast table for a flock of moths who are high on nectar..

A lonely tree...must be missing the company of its brothers...it will be a world when trees will be barcoded and numbered. No worries... let's make the most of what is left... thankfully we are the generation that is lucky to see unnumbered and uncoded trees.

Golden shades of ripe paddy...a prelude to nice, luscious aroma on your table.

There is light everywhere and darkness alongside...you have to position yourself in life to have your portion of light rays and your little puddle of shadow..