Prayer of Gratitude

It is 4 a.m. I am wide awake. In 2 days 2009 will be 2010. I woke up the thought that stayed with me all night. A thought that sprung from the book I was reading. This book has been with me for many years. I forget when, but I do remember picking it up from a roadside book vendor one hot afternoon in Mumbai. It moved with me from house to house and cross country and back. I had always intended to read it. Now its time has come. I am ready to listen and understand what it has to say.

Among many wise thoughts that it has share, here is the one that I went to bed with-
'You will not have that for which you ask, nor can you have anything you want. This is because your very request is a statement of lack, and your saying you want a thing only works to produce that precise experience- wanting. The correct prayer is therefore never a prayer of supplication, but a prayer of gratitude. When you thank God or Universe in advance for that which you choose to experience in your reality, you in effect acknowledge that it is already there- in effect. Thankfulness is thus the most powerful statement to God/Universe; an affirmation that even before you ask, it has been answered'

These are very deep statements - gahan (in hindi). Sometime in 2008, I came across this thought and at some level I started practicing this thought. The change in my overall well-being since then has been documented in my writings. I have never been able to articulate these thoughts as beautifuly as it has been done in the book 'Conversations with God'.

This year has been a year of affirmation that I am blessed. I have so much more then I could ever ask for, I would not even know what to ask for. As this year ends here is my prayer of gratitude to that force (God, Universe, Nature- whatever you want to call it). I am grateful for the clarity that I have gained to enjoy every experience life has offered and continues to offer. I am grateful for love, for spacious surroundings, for limitless abundance, for overall well-being, for wonderful experiences, for limitless living, a constant awe and amazement at life and your constant presence in my life. Thank you.

Strange Dream

I recently had a strange dream. I was in an ancient haveli kind of structure, and there were many small temples inside that structure. Infact the whole place, not just the building, but the whole environment had holiness to it. I could hear the prayer bells and smell the incense in my dream. The morning rays of the sun were filtering in through huge ornate windows. I was wearing some sort of holy costume. Slowly I walked towards one of the window. Outside the window, a small calf was buried in the ground, with only her head, her eyes and her nose exposed above the ground. What was most striking about the whole picture, were her eyes. I have never in my life, in dream or in wakeful state seen such luminous black eyes. The eyes were gentle, wise and reflected light. I was mesmerized for a while by those eyes. Then I panicked and jumped out of the window. I started digging around the calf with my bare hands to free her from the ground. I kept on digging and digging for what seemed to be a while. During this the eyes kept on looking at me, and the more I dug, the larger the calf appeared then what I originally anticipated its size to be. It was as if growing in size right in front of my eyes. I kept on digging and then woke up.

I can’t interpret what the dream meant. However it was very vivid and real. I got up and felt I was there. Those luminous eyes have stayed with me since, a reminder of a world that may have been my past, or my future perhaps? Or another world? I often wonder about dreams… sometimes I see faces and places that I have never seen in this lifetime. I wonder about their relevance.

Picture in picture

“Hold it little close to you, just at the right distance, and all you need to do is look at your own reflection. Slowly the real picture will emerge and once you can see it you will never loose it. When you move your eyes away from the picture you may momentarily loose it but the moment you change the way you look at it, the real picture will emerge again. Once found you never loose it, even when you think you have.” As I was uttering these words it almost seemed like I was dispensing Self knowledge. Actually my love was squinting her eyes trying to see the pictures in the one of those autostereogram. It was very endearing to watch her efforts and persistence. And on seeing the real picture- her awe and her joy. She kept going back to the picture many times during the day and the following week. Reflecting back on my words I was amazed at the profoundness of them. ‘Once found you never really loose the real picture even when you think you have.’

A little shift (poem)

I wanted to write that
the sleep was hard to come by
with many moments spent awake
and yet when I slept
I slept so long, so deep and long
and while I slept
the pieces moved just little bit on the plane
maintaining the delicate balance
the whole is the same and
nothing has changed
yet everything has shifted in perfect dance
wanted to write to let you know
I am alive
more alive then ever before
cradled and nestled in life's palm
engulfed by peace in my core
the colors are vivid, the trees more alive
my saints in meditation
maintaining life
a little shift, a subtle pace
a gentle humming
accompanied by grace

- nee

Earth

I am not sure how people arrive to conclusions or how realizations dawn on them, but in my case, I am always surprised when an understanding 'suddenly' dawns on me.. let me clarify the quotes- I mull and dwell, then forget, then mull some more and then forget and after few such cycles, the realization suddenly dawns upon me... like a cool, fragrant mist. I have always been at greater peace in the nature. On my regular walks I am always enthralled by the trees, their shapes, their rich colors, the blue sky and all the lovely elements that form the landscape of my walk. On this particular walk, I was suddenly startled by the fact how alive our Earth is, I mean, I truly understood why they call Earth a live planet. Everything, the breeze is constantly moving, the sky is changing, the leaves, birds, the insects, the water, even the dirt. It is full of life. And then I started to think of the spaces that were completely void of life and I could not think of any. I have in my entire life never been to a place that is void of life. Even in a small patch of mud in a concrete jungle 'life finds a way' (Jurassic Park 2). And I was amazed how I never noticed this before. But this realization has changed the way I look at my life, and my role in this whole equation. I am constantly surrounded by change, by motion, by the circle of life. All these miracles have always been there but I had been so preoccupied with me, myself and ME that I never noticed it. I am now like a person back from the death, a person who wants to gather the beauty of every moment with both the hands and make up for all the lost time. I mean look at the rainbow- what is the purpose of the rainbow and the fireflies... I mean the fireflies did not have to be like the fireflies, but they could have been ordinary flies, and ordinary flies could have been completely drab and dull instead of possessing beautiful wings with sheen of black and cobalt and flecks of gold. The evolution of life could all have been very ordinary and guess what we all would have been OK with it because we would not have known any better. But the fact is IT IS NOT. Everything I see around is extraordinary. Everything in this nature is little better then it needs to be. Enchanting.

One knot undone

I debated whether I should write this or not, but since this is to be journal of ‘my journey', here I am- I finally resolved, gained an understanding of the ONENESS. There are still some dark corners, some entangled knots, but I now know ONENESS. And the strange thing is, this was so simple along. It is so easy to understand and grasp and live and yet all these years the barriers were my own. It is as if a curtain has lifted. As simple as that. Conceptually I knew this but did not understand and now I do. And I am like a pregnant woman, who carries this precious gift, but cannot explain, who feels the aches and pains and yet is blissful, who with the morning nausea experiences a complete and total serenity of being a part of this creation, who sometimes doubts her own ability to carry this truth within her and then laughs at herself for knowing that this experience is not in her control, that the precious gift is growing, stretching, turning and waiting, on its own, and all she can do is provide a nurturing environment. And even in its absence it will grow the way it is meant to. That is all I can write, and this is all I can explain.

Words again

You said my friend ‘But words is all we have’ and I agree. I totally agree. In absence of everything else, words are all we have. And please do not misunderstand me when I say they are inefficient. I am not belittling them. All I am saying is that are inefficient in conveying the exact and the total meaning of any emotion. You can only relatively explain with words what you feel. Not totally and completely. E.g. I can explain my loss to you with words and you will understand it and relate it to your idea of loss based on your experiences, your environment and your intellect, which may be similar or completely different then mine, in which case you will never understand the nuances of my experience. Therefore the saying, ‘put yourself in other’s shoes’, you really have to put yourself in another shoe, in his/her background, understanding and intellect. Your perception of the world will never be same as mine, it can be similar, but not the same and therefore, my passions cannot be yours, my reasons may not be yours. I think this is when Truth matters, for Truth is same for all. It withstands backgrounds and cultural barriers and upbringings. Truth is truth and complete. And this find amazing.

Words

Isn't it amazing that the words though beautiful are not very efficient? Words can communicate the thoughts and day to day bearings, but I think words fall short in doing the justice to the experiences. For example how does one explain the beautiful experience of being pregnant? You can use all the words that you want but unless the woman is pregnant she will never know what it s to be pregnant. Same thing for love, how can you explain love, or pain, or loss. How do you explain peace or yearning? Words can at the best communicate what it 'feels' like, but the feeling has to be experienced, to be understood, to be breathed and lived to be fully grasped. I think words fall short here. I think that is the difference between knowledge and wisdom. I can be knowledgeable by reading books or by conversing with people more knowledgeable then myself, but wisdom? A wise man is a person who has experienced the knowledge, breathed it, lived it, made his own. And then any words that person might want to use will just fall short of explaining the experience. I think that as why as people grow more wise they can more silent. Because they know that what they feel cannot be communicated with the words. Then the eyes speak, the smile speaks, the gait speaks. The entire being of that wise person speaks. I just find this fascinating.

Lake Mauch Chunk

It was very chilly in the night, more the reason for a campfire. In the morning, a transparent mist hung over the green waters of the lake while the morning rays of the sun gently warmed and cajoled the surrounding into waking up to another beautiful day.
Mauch Chunk Lake is a beautiful place. The lake is surrounded by a park which competes with the lake in its beauty. It truly is a picture postcard. I kept this memory close to my heart since then. This year, as the moon shone on the silent, deep lake, and the silver gentle waves reached my feet I saved another memory. The lake had so much to offer by just being there.

Ego

Admist my tears, through misty eyes
I met someone tonight
He looked like me and talked like me
He even walked like me
He looked very familiar

As I continued to cry and look around,
Trying to find someone to blame,
He laughed aloud, he mocked
‘Ha ha…., I got you again…’
With victory in his eyes, a smile on his face,
He spoke in engaging voice, he said
‘You will not get rid of me,
Not this easily, I am here to stay’

‘This was my win, there will be many more, my dear
Here hold on to your precious tears…for
I have known you all your life, better then you know yourself
Your strengths, your weakness
I am closer to you then breath itself
You have lived through me and I through you
We had fun, you know
Without me you cease to exists,
For I am your ego’

And with that, he turned his back
And disappeared as swiftly as he had come
I sat down defeated,

- Nee (2002)

As I begin a new decade, I am dedicating some part of this year to looking part and questioning – have I covered any distance? What are these mile markers saying? So shifting through some old pages I came across some poems(?) I had written and these poems talk about where I had pitched my tent for that moment. The next few posts will be that- looking back, looking back at the decade in which my very being turned upside-down, inside-out. And my loved ones who stood by me, loving me through it all, watching me breakdown, wandering if there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

There was a long time when I was struggling with emotions. Time when I did not know why the world was coming down, crashing every day. When I would question my existence and the existence of the world. Frustrated at not knowing, not understanding and not knowing where to turn, I would throw myself into the chaos and confusion. I was there for a long time. I am grateful, now I am found.

I have learnt that when you understand disillusion as disillusion and you accept it for what it is, when you see and understand that blue was always blue and will always be blue… when you finally accept that you are a part of this universe and that your purpose is to BE, to be completely here, that your ego is here for a purpose and that you cannot obliterate (strong word- but that is what I thought one had to do) it, but understand it, to know at all the time that its existence is to serve you and the greater purpose. During my struggles I was looking for a way to escape this ego of mine. Time has taught me to befriend it. This is not a relationship can be won by a war, rather it has to be won over by diplomacy. And diplomacy by its nature is a delicate balance. I remain alert and am vigilant. There are many miles to walk, but I am not in hurry. I stop when I see an enchanting scene, a river or a hill. With the turn of decade I think I have arrived where I was meant to be. Amen.

Joy (poem)

There are moments when I feel my heart has expanded to encompass the whole world. There are moments of completeness. I feel that my heart here accepts everything that this moment has offered and my eyes overflow. I offer my thanks. I am grateful for this joyous experience.

One foot in front of the other
Hands raised to the skies
The rain too is crazy
Moving, dancing by my side
Here we tango, here we salsa
Without touching the ground
Unable to contain ourselves
No shyness or sideway glance

Deep in the valleys
With laughter trailing behind
Runs the river with colors
Stealing the diamonds from the skies
Teasing the shiny sun
We run hand in hand
Unable to contain ourselves
On the fresh, dewy land

Our ears to the earth
Feet taping to distant music
The sound of bare feet dancing
Fingers drumming the humming air
Singing in unison
With the birds, streams and waterfalls
O full of love, we are flowing
Unable to contain ourselves

-Nee

Next Chapter

I got introduced to a monk. A Buddhist monk. I have always respected men and women clothed in the garb that indicated their inclination to the higher spirit. My head always bowed in reverence. It did not matter how far they were on that journey. It has always been enough that they are walking on the path, which to me, is many times hard, tedious, slow and lonely. For there are dark nights when there is no answer to the calls, and try as one may, there is no indication of any existence beyond what can be sensed by the five senses. How does one get through these nights of loneliness, of despair? On faith alone? And what if the faith fails too? The one you have loved, worshipped, given the reins of your soul to, fails you? Then what? That is what I am finding out.. the loss of faith, the loss of love and the loss of worship.

Here and now begins the next phase of my journey. As I make peace with the loss, I must still keep the faith on the larger and higher spirit and the purpose. And keep my heart open- open to the words, thoughts, and men and women of that inclination. For there is chance that I may still touch the omnipotent, the omnipresent, the eternity. As I disentangle myself from previous engagements, wary, I have begun again. To find that one glimpse of perfection.

My Window

Since last 9 monthe I have been waking up between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. And with that would begin my struggle to fall asleep. The first few months I just didn't get it. Then one month into it, I started being thankful for the peace and quiet. I started to meditate. The meditation itself lasted for about 20-25 mins after which I would fall asleep. Not a peaceful,deep sleep but a closed eyes, snoring sleep.

Since last one month meditation has not been working as well. One thing I am now tuned to is, whenever there is discomfort, it is time to change. To move from the position of discomfort. It means what I had been doing so far is no longer working. So, as I was lying in the bed counting my breath, and internalizing my mantra, wondering what next- I realised - all the years I wanted to write or wished I could write, I had complained about the lack of space and time that was my own. My own corner in the room, the tree in the garden, my own bubble. And here it was - life was handing it to me - my very own bubble- untouched and unseen from the world. This window when the night slipped away into dawn, the window when the wise woke up to invoke the divinity, when the universe was just getting ready to borne another beautiful day, this tender, sweet, fragile, fragrant window of possibilities was mine. My window to delve deep into my soul- to breath, the write, to be. So here I am, enclosed and engulfed and blessed to be awake.

Tango

Learning to Tango again.

You and Me

Sushi. Simon and Garfunkel. Yosemite. Vulnerability. Happiness. Joy. Adventure. Prithvi. Paris. Angels. You have introduced me to so many new and wonderful things in my life. I am a better person for it. There are so many things that we still have to discover, so venues to explore. Many wonderful dreams to fulfill. And as I walk with you, one step at a time, with love in my heart and dreams in my head, as I hold your hand I promise to be with you all the way. I promise to color your dreams more vividly, to sing the song to the same music. To watch your back and to love you for who you really are. I am grateful for you.

where is peace?

'What is peace and where can I find it?' I was asking myself at 2 am last night. As I was slicing and dicing through the maze in my head for an answer, I realized that my thoughts by themselves are nothing more then fluttering leaves. The fun begins when my emotions become the breeze that carry them around, swirl them and raise mini twisters in my mind. Thoughts by themselves are harmless except they create a constant cacophony in my mind. Which brings me to the next question 'Would absence of thoughts bring peace? Where do they originate from? Can I get to the moment of their birth and pick and choose which ones I really want to nurture?'

I usually become conscious of them when they are almost teenagers causing me a headache and heartache, at which point I have nowhere else to go but to look heavenwards and offer a prayer. Sometimes I get lucky and become aware of them when they are toddlers throwing tantrums, but I can still calm them down and bring the situation under control.

There are phases when my mind is perfectly tranquil and there then there are times when there is so much drama in my mind that I could entertain this continent and next. And it is as times like this I wake up at 2 am in the night and ask 'What is peace and where can I find it?'

My Alignment

I have realized that whenever I am out of alignment I am disturbed. So what is my alignment or core? My core is basically complete truth. Complete truth in mind and body. This translates to no hidden agenda from myself in all my thoughts and actions. The minute I waver from this I get disturbed. I reached this conclusion after my week long experiment. Knowing what I know, I was still disturbed.

Let me go even a step beyond and ask where does my alignment come from? Does it come from my belief in my concepts, that absolute purity is the required state for peace or is this alignment universally true? I mulled over this question last couple of days and am reaching a conclusion that if the alignment is true it will forward me on the path to my goal of ultimate peace, else it will take me away from it.

I spend many years analyzing and questioning the goal itself. Ultimate deep peace is what I find worth striving for in this life time. How do I know for sure, well that is where I am at complete peace with myself and the universe.

Lost

I have not been sleeping very well since many nights. I usually wake up with fear or pain, my throat dried and my heart racing. I have been trying to meditate but even those few moments of peace have been eluding me. The paradise is lost. I feel I have been slapped back to reality from the happiness zone I have living in since last few months. There is again that restlessness and an irrational irritation constantly tugging at my heeart. I have started praying again. And praying hard.

I am forgetting the way to my peace mountain. I am getting lost again.

"So here I am with all that I am, with some luggage in tow,
With a map that I don’t understand, a little lost, and a knowing that I don’t know" - 1/13/09

What am I doing wrong? What am I doing different since last 2 weeks to cause this imbalance? When I sit to meditate my mind races in all directions. I can no longer see myself in the clear, still pool of my mind.