The Journey to the Top

There is one mighty mountain there! Doesn't necessarily need to be scaled?

Somewhere sometime ago you already climbed a mountain. Why again?

You take the pain, overdo your body. Why?

And the reply was "why not?"

The mind and the heart ignites such conversations just before or during the summit. But what matters is what's the mood after it. That moment of elation forgets all the trouble, pain and doubts you ever had when you get to the apex.
The mind and the heart (soul) have different  weapons to tackle each other. The mind, more aggressive, attacks with logic while the soul takes defence of passion. For an adventurer it's an opposite story. The passion acts as a cyanide and fills up the nerves killing cells of doubts instantly.

Its a fresh world out there when you start the climb. A carnival for a wandering soul. The dress code is all green- lush, dark or light, music is acoustic and the choir is in sync. All they want is you to perform. While the breeze starts the music, sing out your heart's song as chirping birds and cricket will join in.
All along the trail there are different families of wild flowers, trees, shrubs unique in their ways but living together as a community. They have been here for years protecting, stabilizing and controlling the earth's systems. The curvy muddy path embedded across mountain's chest gets strenuous. Your endurance is what's required. This journey is yours and only you can complete it. The struggle is temporary and the mountain top isn't too far. Move on!

Now the wind is crisp, the views are better and the surroundings quieter. You can't ignore the heart's thumping and your breath was never so loud. Your sweat slowly evaporating with the sweet breeze. You focus even more on the dwindling path and your technique. You start imagining being there (top). Few more steps!

The top is visible. But your strength is declining. Stop? No. Give that last push. Give all of yourself. Walk, sprint, run but don't stop until you're there. You're there.

Yes! You're there. You did it. Drop off your backpack. Rise at the vantage point, lift your arms, face towards heaven and scream. Scream anything that comes to your mind. Let the breeze cool off your body's engines. You deserve it. Let the world know of your feat.
Sit down in a corner. Soak in the atmosphere, blend with the nature and the look at the view. There's the point where you started off. Remember? You wondered what's there at the top a few hours ago. You were curious as to what is it like to be a the top when you were down. Well, now you know?
Your soul had a desire and that gave you purpose. Purpose to push yourself into the uncertainty and explore the facets of this beautiful world you live in. Yes, it definitely meant taking risks. But it also meant that you try. And while you committed yourself, started the journey, you discovered who you truly are, what's your role in this world and what you are capable of. You relentlessly search what's important to you and to fellow beings. This big world as you see from top is yours. Embrace every moment till you're here. And now you know what it feels like to be at the top.

Dance: An art in motion

The abstract barefoot movement turning into rhythmic patterns
The hands outstretched in the eternity manifesting myriad shapes and forms
The mind so lost and at the same time so focussed...

An expression of the soul longing for the divine. A call of lover to romanticise. A drug to trip in ecstasy.
Its an outburst of emotions
Its a poetry, it's a prayer.
Its meditation, it's salvation.

Some call it dance but essentially it's an artist working on himself (art).
Be it a trance or an ethereal vocal
hypnotic illusion or a psychotic delusion
cheerful carol or a melancholic ballad
the soul, like a flowing river, forever rejoices.

Haiku Poetry

My experiments with Haiku poetry.

A Haiku is a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world.

Here's my first Haiku

                    far in the horizon
the sun sprinkled clouds and sky orange
                    on a girl's canvas.

Doodled and Quoted

Vulnerable!

We all are vulnerable
in the dark night
when the deep secrets
lash out shredded.

                               We all are vulnerable
                               when the cold breeze
                               echoes our fears
                              to our estranged people.

We all are vulnerable
with the sorrowful howl
realising what we possess
can be taken away.

                               We all are vulnerable
                                before the God
                               & honest prayers flogs
                               us to confess our sins.

चल

You're a Bird

You're a bird
not b'coz you don't have wings.
You're a bird
as you wish to fly.

You're a bird
not b'coz you have a journey to complete. You're a bird
as you have no destination.

You're a bird
not b'coz you don't build nests.
You're a bird
as you don't have a home.

You're a bird
not b'coz you don't look back.
You're a bird
as you see what lies ahead.

You're a bird
not b'coz you can't chirp.
You're a bird
as you can sing.

You're  a bird
not b'coz you don't migrate.
You're a bird
as you wander.

What I lost in the world, I found in the woods.

Walking along the curvy Mountain Road I noticed a soothing silence. As I turned right, I saw a Colony of large, huge giant- like structures. Green Manhattan- I wondered. A dense jungle of Pine coniferous trees standing gracefully with their impeccable cone like structures, their wrinkled trunks manifesting abstract patterns, thorny green leaves looking fresh after the rain and cuddling the newly born fruit. Some sang songs of joy, some danced in ecstasy and others let their hair fondled as the crisp fragrant breeze caressed through them. I got rid of my bag, stretched myself and sat on the edge of the road. This was that forget-everything-get-one-with-nature moment. I relaxed my back and head on a rock and the calmness around me forced me to close my eyes.
I knew that my tough trek up the hill has made me earn this moment. Next instance I wondered I work hard all day back home but am I this happy and more importantly will I ever be this happy. All our lives we have followed the Maslow's theory of hierarchical needs. But with every satisfied need we give birth to an unsatisfied want. And the storm sets in when we start chasing our  neverending wants. The game of possessing more and more has started and the imbalance between giving and taking is increasing. We commit sins and create religion confessing and asking for forgiveness and continuing committing sins thereafter. We judge we compete but we fear being judged and losing. We have created this game but have we the forgotten the rules?
I sighed! took a deep breath and the petrichor made me forget what I was thinking. I opened my eyes and saw the sun rays sprinkled in the woods and chasing the mist. Lamenting here will be no justice to this place, I thought. We can't resist the joyous feeling in the magnanimous abundant nature, can we? I felt lungs filled with pure oxygen, body drenched in cold breeze,  soul refreshed, thoughts washed and heart filled with gratitude. I stood up, smiled and silently thanked the trees for giving me what I lost.

Not Greed but Passion will get you what you want.
Not Possessions but Experiences will make you rich.
Not Religion but your Acts will set you free.

Wisdom Bites

Life of a Nomad Shepherd

The life of a mountain Shepherd is a battle of survival with gruelling everyday challenges. With extreme weather conditions and lack of necessities, nature has forced him to live a nomadic life. But this Shepherd has evolved over the years and learned to live and survive in the merciless mountains. This landless man spends his entire life with his herd of sheep which over the time becomes his family and the only possession. He cares, protects, feeds them all his life and the sheep in turn gives him enough to earn his livelihood. This barter system which unfolds into a relationship of love and sacrifice is a unique gift of nature and a selfless act of mankind.
The Shepherd takes up a multi dimensional role of a mother, father and a friend. He raises the lambs, takes the herd to graze, protects them from wild animals, toils hard to find water and shelter for them.
When the season changes and weather worsens, he takes the sheep thousands of miles across the landscapes and terrains to a safer place.

This perennial flow of love, concern and togetherness shows that a relationship can exist in the strangest form where no words are spoken and there are no expectations yet there is a sense of understanding and a rope of faith that binds them. This also shows that the survival of mankind depends on  essentially two things only- to love and be loved.
This illiterate poor Shepherd makes a life with what he is given and unknowingly throws a question at all of us. 

 

A kashmiri sheepman walks with his herd of sheep on the banks of river Sind in Sonamarg, Kashmir

An Evening At The Garden Bench

I'm one of those lucky and fortunate ones who quite often gets free time in the evening. And what better way to witness it than by sitting in a garden.
In this fast paced Era where where everything is fast paced- fast Internet, fast commute, fast food and fast living; slowing down is outdated. But I slow down, calm down and relax in swing-like bench which suspends between two trees. And from where I sit I see lush green Australian grass bordered by beautiful shrubs and pine trees. The fragrance of the flowers; the fresh, soft and dry summer breeze; the soothing dark and light green landscape and the cloud patterned orange sky is the perfect setting for me to relax, ponder and  soak in this moment.
As I lie awestruck,  I see life moving in various forms. Birds playing and singing while picking materials for their nests. The warm winds playing music to which the plants and trees dance in unison. I hear voices of children and ice cream vendors, etc.
As I gather my thoughts, I realize how everything around  us will somehow come to an end. The plants will wither, birds will die and we mortals have a destined end too. But at the same time, it's so inspiring to see how these plants and animals make the most of time and resources they have. The flower whose duration is the shortest in a plant family blooms to its fullest stretching its petals,  spreading colours and sprinkling fragrance. The fruit which springs out sweetens itself overtime and provided with as much nutrients as it can. The  trees and animals live to protect their families, are used for numerous things and continue to be of value even after they die. They all with restricted thinking and freedom perform their role so beautifully and with no vices.
They preach lessons without saying. Lessons of humanity, lessons of helping other  lessons of love and lessons that we should seek,  endure and learn from.

As the evening sun drops off the horizon, the shadows give way to silhouettes, birds escape onto the trees, I recall the Louis Armstrong's song 'what a beautiful world'.
A Beautiful World. Indeed.

An Australian Victory

On 29th March, 2015 I was indeed happy watching the cricket world cup final in anticipation of an Australian victory. A victory which was synonymous to cricket for laymen. A victory of a nation which values its sports and sportsmen. A victory of a champion team. And a victory for me too. An Australian victory it was.

I don't recall what made like Australian team so much. Maybe it was their jersey colour yellow or the way they played their cricket, there was something that attracted me when I was very young. From that point onwards I have been a keen follower and a passionate fan of this incredible team.

Surely, being a fan of this team has never disappointed me. In fact, it was given equal dividends of interest and belief shown in them. The brand of cricket they play- tough, competitive and the never- give-up attitude has influenced to the maximum extent.
Their culture which promotes sportsmanship, the process right from selecting prospective talent, grooming then into quality players and creating a professional team which is known for discipline, integrity and commitment.

Over the years Australia have produced some outstanding players and leaders. Their captains have always led by example and have won big matches. Their dominance in the world cricket was evident when they won three consecutive world cups and ranked no. 1 for 12 years at a stretch. But they were under the scanner when they lost in quarter finals in 2011 world cup questioning whether they are good enough. At that time the team was in a  transition stage as many senior players retired. But I, like any other fan, was hopeful that they would come back strongly.

I am a huge cricket fan. I have grown up playing cricket day in day out. I have always loved Australian team and hardly missed their matches. An aussie win really amuses me and gives a sense of satisfaction and contentment. Strange but true, oz cricket does affect me personally. Aussies way of cricket had inspires and influenced me and my game too. They have taught me the necessity of teamwork, the essence of leadership and importance of handwork. I have grown up favoring and watching this team win lots and lots of matches, tournaments and cups. This 2015 cup was equally special.

It's tough favoring a team other than the home team specially if you are born in a country where cricket is religion, players are celebrities and in a cricket loving family it seems almost impossible. I have had lots of quarrels and criticism, but at the end of the day I would want to admire what's best.

What a better sight in cricket than an Australian win. And the best of it all watching them win a World Cup.

Quote UnQuote

If you remember it, you have not lost it.

-the Emotion-er

Don't forget to Sing

Do you sing? I'm not talking about how good or bad you sing. We all can sing. But do we sing that often?
Life's best enjoyed when we truly indulge in ourselves and in our well being. How often do we interact, think and even stay with ourselves?
Sing a song, this time, just for yourself. Let it out, whatever, lyrical non lyrical, humming, anything.
Sing out loud in your car, bathroom, bedroom. Don't care for the world. Don't care about the notations, just keep singing..
Just let it out. Create your own compositions. Impress your own self. Smile. And don't forget to sing.
If life was a music track, would you let it go blank and be a karaoke for others or add vocals to it and listen to it in silence? Choice is yours.

Is Religion a form of Slavery or a way to Enlightenment

From time immemorial, makind has worshiped religions and has feared God. In early days, something which the human mind could not understand was given the name Act of God.
Our society is more of a religion driven  society rather than a culture driven one. Our religions define us, control our actions somewhat and make us believe in the word- Trust.
But have we become slaves to this religion or is it something which really enlightens us and vital for our survival?
My friend talked about will religion ever die. I feel religion has become a way of living for people. It's something they are used to and presence of religion makes them feel secure.
I think there are numerous benefits and disadvantages of having religion. But time has come to closely watch whether religions are creating values in our lives (like the tech era).
But no religion does strike as a taboo in the present world.

Perfect Life or Perfect Moments?

We all aim for perfection but the bitter truth is that no one of us is perfect. No matter how hard we try, but there will be some imperfections.
So what should we do then? Well we all can make perfect moments. Isn't it?
We can strive hard and make our memories and moments perfect by doing the best we can. Life is to be loved to the fullest. We should accept and love the imperfections and make our moments worth living.

Life is measured in moments we live, why not try making them perfect.

The girl who sacrificed her money box

I am into microfinance business. And this business continues to amaze me keep me motivated. The essence of microlending lies in helping the poor sections of the society to earn their Livelihood respectfully.
Although, in India, particularly Rajasthan, this model has not been effective. Major reason being the women cannot judiciously decide on how to utilize their resources.
But on a better side, some incidents do restore my faith in this model and that humanity and maturity does exist.
A recent incident I came across was a woman, who borrowed a loan from me, had to pay her installment but she could not due to some reasons. So she took her 6 year old daughter's piggy bank and collected 100 ten ruppee coins to pay the installment. Luckily she had that much.
She brought along her daughter at the center and I asked her why did you allow mom to use your savings.  She quietly responded that "my mom needed it, I had to."
I was awestruck for a moment and then smiled at her. 
At that moment, I was satisfied and proud of myself that my business is and does creates value. Values that our economy needs. Values that the humanity needs.

One might argue the they have so little but they are happy and contended. And seeing them I realized it's not how much we have but what we make of it matters. Making the best use of money they borrow, spending it wisely and when it's time to repay, repay it with full sincerity. I felt that this is the essence of micro finance. But then I realized, perhaps, this is the essence of humanity.

The pic is of those coins she gave me for the installment.

Thanksgiving Thusrday

Isn't it a blessing to wake up healthy and get a chance to live one more beautiful day. Sometimes we get too busy to be mindful of what God blesses us with everyday. A morning is full of surprises. The sunrise, chirping of birds, the fresh breeze, the prayers are all a bliss.
We start our day with the morning. It's gives us an opportunity to pray, eat healthy, think good, read good and have a little chat with the family. It's the time to be with family and spend some lovely moments before we all get busy with the days work.
It's also the time to be thankful to God for giving us one more day to live, to do what we always wanted to, to keep everyone of us healthy and to keep us all safe.
Be mindful of these surprises and have a lovely morning.
-The Emotion-er

Is There A World Beyond?

My first lone trip to the distant Andaman islands. Alone as in first ever long trip where I travelled all alone throughout. I always wanted to visit a  group of islands water locked facing  towards  the vast endless oceans. It makes me think that is there a world beyond the waters? The water makes us feel lonely and it  seems that we are at the edge of the world. The world ends here; not any farther.
The sea has its own life, it struggles, breathes,  shows anger, stays calm, reacts, gets excited and frowns often. It's intriguing to watch all these emotions. The palm and coconut trees swings to the tune of the humid winds. The dark clouds, well, they are omnipresent in this part of the world.
Travelling alone makes you realize what your fears are. And gives you many reasons to do away with them specially if u travel alone. Watching these islets in the sea, it seems that nature has its own society and any human interference strikes so alien and  just destroys the their harmony and serenity like civilized people entering a tribal area. The people our here are so very human very kind and nice. Watching them it makes us realize that we actually need very little money and that money is not everything. One major thing to be enjoyed here is nature. Trek into the hearts of the evergreen forests, swim across the seas, explore the dark corners of the islands.
The swift breeze on the beaches or Hills which fills you with zest and instill in you a mystic energy that remains for a very very long time. And shouting at the corners of the coast "is anyone out there"  and not getting any answer is very satisfying. Like any other trips, there are certainly few takeaways from this journey. The most important is travel to know who you are, what you like and to know what you love.

Awestruck

I wondered I pondered
The nature's spectacle

I searched I discovered
My love for nature

I walked I explored
The nature's wonders

I sat I relaxed
For the awe of nature.