10th June 2006
I think at one point in time, it used to be easy to say. I'm not hurt, it's all spiritual. Nowadays, we need a deeper, rational explanation. If consumers have become demanding, so have the seekers of the truth. So be it.
Affection and affected are 2 different words. Of course, they sound the same, but they mean different things. It is very good, very commendable to have affection for someone. But not good to be affected by someone, or anything related to someone. How? When we say namaste, we are not saying hello to the person, per se, but to the soul or spirit within. We are actually bowing down in humility (yeah, so it's not technically a hello or a hi five, but an actual salutation. Try saying namaste with a stiff back and try to really mean it. Not possible. You WILL bend a bit at least). Same thing with affection. Have affection towards a person's spirit. How? Your affection must be genuine and deep. How? It has to be selfless. Why? Because as we all know, if you expect nothing, you're loving for no reason. If there has to be a reason, it has to do with GIVING. When you give, its human nature to be happy. Getting affection confused with attachment? Back to the nature of our good 'ol spirit. The spirit or spark or soul, give it any name, is DIVINE. If its divine, it is all pervasive, it is yours, it is mine, it is ours, it is ONE. We are ONE. We can only be attached to something, if we are separate from something. Therefore, if your affection is directed towards a person's spirit, you will not have to worry about attachment, and hence, the prospect of being affected.
The key to this is practice. Practice with constant prayer. Especially during any conflict in the mind. Focus on the rational explanation. If it still fails (By the way, everyone has a different definition of failure. If you're cool with crying in private, you have not really failed if that's what happens to you, or if that's how you deal with things. Define for yourself.), then you can go back to the good 'ol maxim, 'I'm not hurt. Its all spiritual'. Believe it or not, once you do say it, out aloud or mentally, it becomes the sacred responsibility of the elements to knock some sense into your head.
And knock they do. :)
Friday, June 09, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
21st April 2006
Ok..yes, been an amazingly long long time since I last wrote an Outpour. Doesn't mean I haven't felt anything. Maybe I'm just lazy and can't be bothered writing immediately anymore, maybe what I have felt is too gargantuan to bother summarising or maybe what I have experienced is too out of this world to describe. First of all, hello to several newcomers on the list. Please feel free to share what you read as Outpours via email or on the Web at http://www.tno.blogspot.com/ And also, parag@post.com is a fictional email address. So don't write there please.
Ok, this isn't just about a hello, I haven't written in ages, so let's just say hello session. I'm going to describe 3 things, 1 of which is an incident with an attached poem. The other 2 are short, I hope, statements on, well, you'll see..
1. I'll start with the statements: When you meet someone mysterious, you realise they are mysterious, only afterwards, cause you don't see them very often. So don't make the mistake of judging someone mysterious the moment you see them because they look like Manisha Koirala in Dil Se or because their eyes are saying whatever etc. Point is, if by chance, eventually and finally you do realise and really believe (after some time ofcourse), that the person you have met is ACTUALLY mysterious, then I will advise make the most of it. Here's why:
a) The same way, positive people exploit any future uncertainty in their lives by becoming more determined, become more determined. For example, have that drive to know more at face value, and not by judging or assuming. So, try to see that mysterious person more often, interact with that person more often. Find out more.
b) The same way, you don't understand why certain things happen to you, yet you realise you're alive, breathing and still in the reckoning for something, be grateful. For example, thank the mysterious person for making your life more colourful and more uncertain (see reason 1a).
2. Ok, swiftly onto thing number 2. I will make this really short to make up for number 1. 'sometimes, doing something and getting it done is easier than explaining or justifying that something.. saves energy' This is exactly what is written on my unsaved notepad file.
3. Ok, my favourite bit...this Outpour is going to be really super long, only because I am adding a poem at the end. But first, the story:
At the pure sensory level, i.e, what I actually see, feel, hear etc, a lot of amazing things have been happening, and without much effort. The beauty is, now I really believe, the less I try to make sense of my random observations or feelings, the greater the chances those observations or feelings would be put to good use. Today, I was out at Parkway Parade, suburban mall. Before entering the mall, I noticed an employee of Water Rise: Pancake and Burgers, behind the counter. Split second observation, but felt quite weird. When I was leaving the mall, it started drizzling, I was really determined to get home, but something pulled me to that restaurant. And now, here's the poem. What came out of it? This poem, and eventually, some 18 hours later, this Outpour which I didn't think I would write. Also, it stopped raining the moment I finished writing the poem.
Water Rise: Pancake and Burgers
pause to watch the fountain jump from the ground
pause to sip on frothy japanese lemon tea
pause to remember the sparkling confusion in your eyes,
when asked how different is japanese tea?
pause to accidentally meet your glance from afar
I was thinking, you'd be closer,
mopping the wet ground beneath
pause to thank you for your ready response
when asked for a pen and paper to write on
pause to watch the fountain dance forever in mid-air
pause to remember to compliment the japanese tea,
$2.50, but yes, it was different
pause to ask for one more sheet of paper
because you deserve to know why,
and I deserve to remember
20th April 2006
(written on location at Water Rise)
Ok..yes, been an amazingly long long time since I last wrote an Outpour. Doesn't mean I haven't felt anything. Maybe I'm just lazy and can't be bothered writing immediately anymore, maybe what I have felt is too gargantuan to bother summarising or maybe what I have experienced is too out of this world to describe. First of all, hello to several newcomers on the list. Please feel free to share what you read as Outpours via email or on the Web at http://www.tno.blogspot.com/ And also, parag@post.com is a fictional email address. So don't write there please.
Ok, this isn't just about a hello, I haven't written in ages, so let's just say hello session. I'm going to describe 3 things, 1 of which is an incident with an attached poem. The other 2 are short, I hope, statements on, well, you'll see..
1. I'll start with the statements: When you meet someone mysterious, you realise they are mysterious, only afterwards, cause you don't see them very often. So don't make the mistake of judging someone mysterious the moment you see them because they look like Manisha Koirala in Dil Se or because their eyes are saying whatever etc. Point is, if by chance, eventually and finally you do realise and really believe (after some time ofcourse), that the person you have met is ACTUALLY mysterious, then I will advise make the most of it. Here's why:
a) The same way, positive people exploit any future uncertainty in their lives by becoming more determined, become more determined. For example, have that drive to know more at face value, and not by judging or assuming. So, try to see that mysterious person more often, interact with that person more often. Find out more.
b) The same way, you don't understand why certain things happen to you, yet you realise you're alive, breathing and still in the reckoning for something, be grateful. For example, thank the mysterious person for making your life more colourful and more uncertain (see reason 1a).
2. Ok, swiftly onto thing number 2. I will make this really short to make up for number 1. 'sometimes, doing something and getting it done is easier than explaining or justifying that something.. saves energy' This is exactly what is written on my unsaved notepad file.
3. Ok, my favourite bit...this Outpour is going to be really super long, only because I am adding a poem at the end. But first, the story:
At the pure sensory level, i.e, what I actually see, feel, hear etc, a lot of amazing things have been happening, and without much effort. The beauty is, now I really believe, the less I try to make sense of my random observations or feelings, the greater the chances those observations or feelings would be put to good use. Today, I was out at Parkway Parade, suburban mall. Before entering the mall, I noticed an employee of Water Rise: Pancake and Burgers, behind the counter. Split second observation, but felt quite weird. When I was leaving the mall, it started drizzling, I was really determined to get home, but something pulled me to that restaurant. And now, here's the poem. What came out of it? This poem, and eventually, some 18 hours later, this Outpour which I didn't think I would write. Also, it stopped raining the moment I finished writing the poem.
Water Rise: Pancake and Burgers
pause to watch the fountain jump from the ground
pause to sip on frothy japanese lemon tea
pause to remember the sparkling confusion in your eyes,
when asked how different is japanese tea?
pause to accidentally meet your glance from afar
I was thinking, you'd be closer,
mopping the wet ground beneath
pause to thank you for your ready response
when asked for a pen and paper to write on
pause to watch the fountain dance forever in mid-air
pause to remember to compliment the japanese tea,
$2.50, but yes, it was different
pause to ask for one more sheet of paper
because you deserve to know why,
and I deserve to remember
20th April 2006
(written on location at Water Rise)
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
23rd February 2006
How we think, consciously or subconsciously, like a shampoo conditioner, creates the smoothness that we desire in our life. From birth, we are conditioned through what our 5 senses perceive of the world we live in, we learn to judge, form biases and prejudices but unfortunately, forget how to forget. Such complex conditioning seems second nature (read natural) for a highly advanced and intellectual mammal like the homo sapien. Yet, we feel most liberated on days we make a conscious effort to think simple and start to forget our past or worry less about the future. Such is the power of simple conditioning that it is indeed a rare gift from God. It is rare because it need not be used that often. The smoothness of simple conditioning lasts a long time.But in between application (of simple thinking, non-judgemental attitudes etc.) beware of the dangers of excessive, complicated thinking. Complex conditioning is a slow, subtle poison, often undetected, because its roots lie deep in the subconscious, which we have little control over. Hence, it is also difficult to forget. Therefore, be wary of negative environments i.e. what your senses are put through.
With practice, you'll be always conscious of what experiences you are allowing your mind and body to go through. Then, the way you naturally wouldn't touch an unknown shampoo brand with a mile long pole, it's going to start feeling the same way. Unknown brands require complicated thinking and a lot of stress. Head and Shoulders, on the other hand, as any marketer would tell you is an impulse decision, a simple, worry-free buy. So think simple.
Attached is an image of The Blue Lagoon in Iceland, a natural hot water spring. Chill out and stay warm at the same time.
How this Outpour came about: Several miles of walking
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
27th December 2005
Stop waiting for signs and signals from above or below. Tune into what's inside. Everyone's heart beats to a desire and an ambition so strong like a forest raging fire. Yet, because we are living on cold, clueless Pluto we cannot feel the heat! Try to orbit closer, and experience the warmth of an infinite expanse of possibilities...as vast as the Amazon forest! When you're done, to avoid jettisoning back into outer space, write down how you felt...Yes! It is as simple as that.
Be bold so that you can write down whatever you want to be, wherever you want to go. Be specific so that you can actually feel the event already occurring. Be a little vague so that those out of the blue surprises can slowly trickle through to tickle and amuse. Write more than one page, or if you are a one page summary kind of fussy Dilbert executive, write on a really large page. Avoid making a list of goals. This is NOT a to-do kind of list. This is NOT a list. This is a story of an adventure already lived.
If you're the shy type, keep this story to yourself. Yet, I assure you, if the story is really compelling, you would be dying to tell it. The confidence to do so will come with time. Like a movie trailer, reveal certain facets of this adventure. The highlights, part of the climax, the resilience through the downs, the pride through the ups, and the gratefulness through it all. Reveal through your actions, your speech, your thoughts. Immerse the today in your movie. 24-7, your being must market and promote this movie. Through the unfair criticisms, through the thumbs up reviews of totally blown away journalists, through what's actually happening at the box office...through it all, the world must watch your movie, because this is probably the last movie you'll ever make.
So much for being shy.
PS: Starting from today, I will endeavour to reveal the source of my inspiration for these very sporadic and random Outpours. Unless you have read the Da Vinci Code a million times, you'll probably never get the link. Nevertheless, if you REALLY did want to know, you could always ask. Have a Happy Crazy NEW YEAR!! :)
Stop waiting for signs and signals from above or below. Tune into what's inside. Everyone's heart beats to a desire and an ambition so strong like a forest raging fire. Yet, because we are living on cold, clueless Pluto we cannot feel the heat! Try to orbit closer, and experience the warmth of an infinite expanse of possibilities...as vast as the Amazon forest! When you're done, to avoid jettisoning back into outer space, write down how you felt...Yes! It is as simple as that.
Be bold so that you can write down whatever you want to be, wherever you want to go. Be specific so that you can actually feel the event already occurring. Be a little vague so that those out of the blue surprises can slowly trickle through to tickle and amuse. Write more than one page, or if you are a one page summary kind of fussy Dilbert executive, write on a really large page. Avoid making a list of goals. This is NOT a to-do kind of list. This is NOT a list. This is a story of an adventure already lived.
If you're the shy type, keep this story to yourself. Yet, I assure you, if the story is really compelling, you would be dying to tell it. The confidence to do so will come with time. Like a movie trailer, reveal certain facets of this adventure. The highlights, part of the climax, the resilience through the downs, the pride through the ups, and the gratefulness through it all. Reveal through your actions, your speech, your thoughts. Immerse the today in your movie. 24-7, your being must market and promote this movie. Through the unfair criticisms, through the thumbs up reviews of totally blown away journalists, through what's actually happening at the box office...through it all, the world must watch your movie, because this is probably the last movie you'll ever make.
So much for being shy.
PS: Starting from today, I will endeavour to reveal the source of my inspiration for these very sporadic and random Outpours. Unless you have read the Da Vinci Code a million times, you'll probably never get the link. Nevertheless, if you REALLY did want to know, you could always ask. Have a Happy Crazy NEW YEAR!! :)
Monday, November 21, 2005
21st November 2005
On the wall facing your bed, stick this message, in those cool neon glow-in-the dark colours, so that this is the last thing you read at night and the first thing you read in the morning:
Today I will aim for the mighty tiger and not a lame goat. My hunting ground is vast, so let me circumnavigate 45,000 kilometres, in search of the greatest need that warrants my attention, that urgently seeks to be hit by my ultimate weapon, that of selfless love and selfless service.
If today I have dreamt of ambitions and goals, worthy of a lion king's glory, and in any felt let down by circumstances out of my control, let me be content because I would rather aim for a tiger and lose than aim for a lame goat and win everytime.
Eventually every action of mine everyday will be driven and motivated by the highest goal Man is ever capable of achieving. If every day, I operate at such a level, how do you think I would be feeling?
If the wall facing your bed isn't that big, I'm sure the above can be summarised. Suggestions welcome! Please leave your brilliant one liners and share them right here!
Hunt Away!
On the wall facing your bed, stick this message, in those cool neon glow-in-the dark colours, so that this is the last thing you read at night and the first thing you read in the morning:
Today I will aim for the mighty tiger and not a lame goat. My hunting ground is vast, so let me circumnavigate 45,000 kilometres, in search of the greatest need that warrants my attention, that urgently seeks to be hit by my ultimate weapon, that of selfless love and selfless service.
If today I have dreamt of ambitions and goals, worthy of a lion king's glory, and in any felt let down by circumstances out of my control, let me be content because I would rather aim for a tiger and lose than aim for a lame goat and win everytime.
Eventually every action of mine everyday will be driven and motivated by the highest goal Man is ever capable of achieving. If every day, I operate at such a level, how do you think I would be feeling?
If the wall facing your bed isn't that big, I'm sure the above can be summarised. Suggestions welcome! Please leave your brilliant one liners and share them right here!
Hunt Away!
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