19th February 2007

This image, and the associated film evokes a lot of distinct, pleasant emotions. I have told some of you that I think this was the definitive film of my generation. Something you tell your great grandchildren when they ask you about romance. I can look at this image and smile all day. The same feeling you get when you enjoy something but don't understand why.

They say don't hold on to the past. But a film like DDLJ, you got to. Because you remain or are able to relive being young, innocent, fearless and of course very cheeky.

May the songs and spirit of DDLJ uplift you when you're down, give you comfort when you frown, give you the courage to, seek what lies beyond the ordinary and into the cool, inviting waters of romance, may you happily and willingly drown.

To the unaware, DDLJ is Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (The Romantics will Escape with the Bride)

A very Happy Belated Valentine's Day

12th January 2007

Friends with mysteries as deep and unidentifiable as the Universe. You miss them the most because they force you to return to the basics. What you know is never as important as what you say. What you say, and what you do. Will you hold their hands and comfort them? The process of uncovering the truth is selfless love. This process is the meaning of life, and not knowledge of the unknown. Soon enough, the mystery becomes irrelevant, and there is laughter all around. Because you have touched me, smiled at me and have held my hand.

28th November 2006

While chasing a dream, you could either fail or succeed. But you must chase aggressively and remain focused. Otherwise, there could be a third result: Not knowing what hit you or where you're going. Failing feels a lot better than this. You can hold your head up and say, 'I'm onto the next big thing. Want to know more?' In other words, you will have something to say, pun intended. Only if you fail or succeed. Not if you don't know what's hitting you.

2nd October 2006

I have had an intense week, and several ideas arrived around the same time. I thank you for your patience, as I present them all within a single Outpour: Love, Life's Questions, Ego Balloon and Works of Art.

My love is as natural as the air you breathe. Your birthright, all around you, inside you. Yes, you can take it for granted, because it seeks nothing in return. It has been around as long as Creation, yet fresh and specially for you, it appears out of nowhere, comforting you, your current needs, your problems, your dreams and aspirations. It is a part of you, your being. It is selfless, from the one Self, which we cannot understand, only experience.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not, nor would it be possesed. Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself. For love is sufficient unto itself. And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Kahlil Gibran in 'The Prophet'

Life's 3 questions: What am I capable of? What am I doing? What's going to happen? To pass, you need to answer two correctly. The first two. If you try to answer the third, your 1st and 2nd answer might be unsatisfactory or even dead wrong. Two out of 3 is enough. Because the first two provide the answer to the third over time, outside the examination hall, your complex mind. Out, in the real world.

Your ego is like any other balloon. If you blow too hard, and too long, it will eventually burst and make a lot of noise. Another way to keep your ego in check, without the pyrotechnics, is to consistently, over time, make holes in the balloon. These holes are the precautions you take with your character, your behaviour to ensure your speech, thoughts and action are pure and united. Subsequently, under any given situation, no matter how hard anyone else, including yourself is blowing the Ego Balloon, its never going to inflate and fizzle out very quickly and silently. Be careful not to make so many holes that your balloon completely disappears. Death of self respect is no different to Death, the real thing.

Viewing life as a movie, as a third person is a common technique for the spiritual aspirant to control the monkey mind. Life can also be a modern art musuem. Fascinating at times, dead boring at some places. Confusing most of the time, very erratic and wide ranging. Yet, every exhibit has a reason for being, with a message and a purpose. Every work of art is full of evidence of creative genius, a guiding hand, working through the artist, fuelling his/her imagination, so that you, the musuem visitor ends up having a great time and journey, albeit one full of mixed emotions and experiences.

22nd August 2006

Now that I have returned to Scotland, the next big question: Will I settle down here for life, and which city, and if not for life, how long for? Now, you know why the question is 'big', not because it is profound and thought provoking, but because it is actually 3 questions rolled into one.

You could add more complexity at your own peril. Thankfully, I found the perfect answer today. Though I knew it all along, I was not able to express it this simply. Vision is more important than planning. With a great vision and goal, your planning becomes intuitive and unassuming. There is always wind beneath your wings, so you stop noticing it. But it is nudging you in the right direction. If you are staying calm with a great vision under your belt, you're doing quite well, even if you aren't able to answer the 'big' questions.

What do you want to do with your life? I like this question better folks.

Source: Today's Outpour was inspired, as expected, because of a 'big' question from a friend. Thank you, friend.