Eternal Friendships

Friend - that one person who is always there for you rendering unconditional support, never ending fun, advise, laughter and love. But is it everlasting? Not all friendships are. Some are seasonal - just as the seasons come and go, so do these friends vary. They are like stars in the sky, innumerable and easy to find. While some have the vibrant colors of a rainbow, the sunny warm shine and smiles of sunflower, others blossom our hearts and sometimes, we even find solace in the stark, bleak, wintry person who inspite of the chill, calms down your passionate nature and makes you see sense.

Unbelieveable as their company is, exciting though the conversation is and heart breaking the split from these friends is, be it due to geography or any other flimsy reason, the drifting apart becomes permanent.

But some friends are always there for you no matter what. You may fail to notice anything special or exciting in this friendship but they are there, like the aerial roots supporting a banyan tree.  They are far and few, but finding one is a rare treasure indeed. To them the distance doesn't exist, you may be as different as a cactus from a rose or a calm spring from a roaring ocean in a stormy night.  But in their sturdy nature and strong hearts, you begin to see light and gain peace and contentment. 

Anger - How to overcome it??

There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.
                                                                                                                                       - Plato

This post is only for people who realize that they get very angry at times and are unable to control their actions. I came across these Buddhist ideas to overcome anger and enable us to lead peaceful lives. I am a long way from actually practising any of these ideas but thought it would be a nice reminder online.

Every action of man is triggered by some need. Most of the destruction in the world, be it from the wars that annihilate nations to a mild rebuke is because someone, somewhere feels insulted, willful, unhappy, disappointed. This makes them angry and in turn destructive. But in truth, a person who is angry suffers. He is unable to handle his suffering. His pain is so great that he wants the person who he believes, has caused his suffering to suffer in return.

Realising that "Suffering" is the root cause of  anger and it cannot be lessened by abusing others is the first step in overcoming anger. Every man is haunted by remorse sooner or later. "If your house is on fire, the most urgent thing to do is to go back and try to put out the fire, not to run after the person you believe to be the arsonist". 

• "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way". Unhappy childhood might be a cause for easy provocation. Realizing that we have no control over our past, but absolutely responsible for our actions in the present and future.

• "We are what we eat" - This is not the motto for just the physical well-being, but also emotional. The book recommends a vegetarian diet with less salt. Boiled vegetables, salad, greens, milk - a well balanced diet  is the best. Drink plenty of water and fruit juices. Eat less and chew your food very well.Be mindful of your chewing and appreciate the taste of the food. Avoid alcohol, meat and spicy addictive food.

• "Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret". Never do or say anything when you are angry.

• Do not "Vent" your anger:When you are angry, do not vent it out - by hitting something, boxing, slamming the door etc. The relief is transient  and only because you are tired. By these means, you are not calming or reducing your anger, but merely rehearsing it. 

• Practise Mindful breathing - Deep breaths that emphasize that you are alive and that there is a pleasant world around you to explore.  Exercise 30 minutes everyday and practise deep breathing whenever possible through out the day.

Everyone must have come across these ideas at one point or another, but remembering this at the time you are angry is crucial. For this to be a reflex, you must practise.

While few are capable of breezing through annoying situations, others fret and fume incapable of controlling their anger.

Learn to "Let GO and Be PRESENT". 

Bleak Thoughts

The dark hours are endless                                            

the dull gloomy days drone on

in spite of the tropical weather of the city

the entire year has the coldness of winter

although the unforgiving cold northerly winds

are far removed from my geography

i constantly feel them in my heart

i bend unconsciously against the terrible cold 

as if im walking on a hard terrain

the merciless winds cutting across me

biting my skin creeping into my clothes

making my very frame shiver.

I feel a chill even at midday 

when the harsh sun beats down 

on the bare heads of commuters

i dont open my umbrella

i decide to walk on in the burning sun

hoping it would numb my pain.

I welcome the pain

believing i would reach that point

when more pain means nothing

so heavy is the burden in my mind

the lead stone in place of my heart

that i cant help but cry 

out loud for some mercy from somewhere

that would put out my misery

and deliver me from Earth.

Navaratri - Golu 2011

Of all the nearly twelve festivals we celebrate every year, Navaratri is is my favorite and is very special to me. The reason being, it lasts longer than any of the others (nine days), extremely colorful, fun with delicious sundal and puttu prasadams in the evenings and ends with holidays - especially the Durga/Saraswati  pooja.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red and Gold Season

Autumn is my most favorite season of the year and the red and gold colors always weave magic. Here, the rainy season has started!! To me, even the words October and November always bring back memories of my childhood spent happily indoors eating pakoda and drinking tea wrapped up in warm woolen clothes while the rain pores outside, beating over the window panes, the whoosh of the wind and the trees in my garden swaying to the music of the stormy winds.Here are some fall pictures.

Pencil Drawings I

Darkened with Photoshop