Forbidden Tales

Just like the Heroes and Princesses

of distant eras

Were separate by a Berlin wall

What is better not spoken of

But only be felt and longed for.

Until the wind blows it faraway,

And faithful Time comes to your rescue. 

You cannot discover new oceans unless you are willing to lose sight of the shore. -Andre Gide

I will miss you.

Yesterday, I saw 5 people leaving in various parts of my life, far and near, directly and indirectly related to me. I remembered very well, those people who left me exactly a year ago, too. All in all, it was a weird day, emptiness as well as a sense for detachment. It also reminded me that one day I will be leaving this place. And I remembered, how I felt yesterday when I hugged the stranger I met 6 months ago, goodbye. I had heavily become dependent on his words and strength to see my life renewed and grounded. He is my teacher - a great one. Though afraid of him, he inspired me to open up my body, my heart and mind. As I thought of my goodbye, I will miss you, came from me automatically. I just didn't realize how attached I had become of this teacher. I felt a huge loss as if I will never be his student again. And then, I thought about how I hated seeing people leave since as long as I could remember, yet, it never ends. 

Downpour

You know what a downpour is. It rains so hard, you can't see anything.
That's what God wants to do in every one of your lives - pour out blessings
that you cannot contain.  

- Joel Osteen

Oh fireflies in my eye
You make me see a new light
Under the soothing dark embrace
of the night and upon the rest
that my heavy head seeks
You are forever sparkling -
Lighting my way unknowingly.

Foreign emotions

I see the sun and the shadows of it.

                                           

I will take a picture.

A picture can speak a thousand words. From this day on, as a tribute to one of my favorite grandpa, I will never underestimate the power of a photo. It marks the livelihood of one's destiny. It can represent the pride and love of relationships, that you want handed down to your future generations. Lastly, a picture can be the only legacy of a person who once lived a great benevolent life - As he had blessed us, "Sadhai haasi rahos timi (May you be smiling always)."
My only regret was not taking enough pictures as I grew old with him, million miles away.

Only in Me.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras says, “Yoga is nothing but anushashan, yoga is nothing but discipline”. This discipline is physical and mental, as well as spiritual. Now, we can understand physical discipline and mental discipline, but what is spiritual discipline? Discipline is not just an imposed routine. Many of us tend to believe that an imposed routine is the right form of discipline, but it is not so. Discipline means knowledge of the self. The word for discipline in Hindi is anushashan – anu + shashan. Shashan means 'to rule, to govern' and anu means 'the subtle aspect, the subtle nature'. When we are able to govern, to harmonize our subtle personality then that is the true concept of discipline.

-Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. Between the two my life flows. -Nisagardatta Maharaj

Spring

Wildflowers are thriving and victorious,
And they make people happy.
Be one.

"I Was Here"

Lady Antebellum

You will notice me
I'll be leaving my mark like initials carved in an old oak tree
You wait and see
Maybe I'll write like Twain wrote
Maybe I'll paint like Van Gogh
Cure the common cold
I don't know but I'm ready start cause I know in my heart

I wanna do something that matters
Say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better
With the time I've been given
And I wanna try
To touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less
Than something that says "I was here"

I will prove you wrong
If you think I'm all talk, you're in for a shock
Cause this dream's too strong
And before too long

Maybe I'll compose symphonies,
Maybe I'll fight for world peace
Cause I know it's my destiny
To leave more than a trace of myself in this place

I wanna do something that matters
Say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better
With the time I've been given
And I wanna try
To touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less
Than something that says "I was here"

And I know that I will do more than just pass through this life
I'll leave nothing less than something that says "I was here"

"I was here"
(I was here)
"I was here"
(wanna do something that matters)
(Something that says I was here)
"wanna do something that matters"
(Something that says I was here)
"I was here"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XZ12nrz47U

Tapas: The fire in your practice.

Tapas (Austerity) is one of the most powerful concepts in the Yoga Sutra. A better way to understand tapas is to think of it as consistency in striving toward your goals: getting on the yoga mat every day, sitting on the meditation cushion every day—or forgiving your mate or your child for the 10,000th time. If you think of tapas in this vein, it becomes a more subtle but more constant practice, a practice concerned with the quality of life and relationships rather than focused on whether you can grit your teeth through another few seconds in a difficult asana. - Yogajournal

A Yogi's Journey

"Few life changing journeys begin when you are truly contented with everything. The yearning to find something new and challenging takes you on a path you may never quite have chosen for yourself.


This is how my yoga journey began. With an accidental stumble up some darkly lit stairs, into a room filled with light, I found my way to happiness. " - K. Nadine

I have a sister.

I was walking somewhere from work and suddenly, this thought came to my mind. It was not linked to my work nor do I have much to do with it these days, or so I plan to keep it that way. It suddenly bothered or worried me. Not that this sister of mine has not made me or my whole family worry countless times. You see to be exact I have four other sisters but my youngest or my little sister has made a name for herself in my family or line of ancestors. She is different in her ways, thoughts and conversations. In my simple point of view, I think she is spoilt beyond repair. When little, I always adored and cared for her. But when you get to know her nature in adolescence, you wonder if she was ever that cute bubbly girl you were proud of. I told myself that she needs to realize how spoilt she is and that no one is going to help her if she doesn't help herself. My other sisters agree fully and none of us want to take the responsibility in helping in her future.
Today I received an email from her stating that she would rather go to Japan for her undergraduate studies. It was always her dream and now, she feels that she should really take the chance since it seems difficult to try for the more popular western education. When I first read it, I was disappointed that she would rather choose some place far than try to go where her sisters are. Then, telling myself that she was never close anyway, I snuffed it off my shoulder as to let-her-be. I then got busy with other things until that walk when I was alone. I realized that I could not let someone from my family be so far again. I wanted her to come to where my other sisters and I were. So that we could watch out for her. So that she would not be lost forever oceans apart. I realized blood is indeed thicker than anything. No matter how heartbroken we have been to know who she is, and how many things there are of her that I hate (truly hate), I cannot exclude the fact that I do care for her. I never knew I could feel this way. And when I say, I have a sister, it is because she is important to me. 

Listen:

Lettre D' Amour

By Christian Nadeau

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. - Edward Abbey

It is about the journey, not the destination.

I came across this short passage in Reader's Digest by Anna Quindlen - I thought I would share.

"I learned to live many years ago. Something really bad happened to me, something that changed my life in ways that, if I had had a choice, it would never have been changed at all. And what I learned from it is what, today, sometimes seems to be the hardest lesson of all.
I learned to love the journey, not the destination. I learned that this is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get.
I learned to look at all the good in the world and try to give some of it back, because I believed in it completely and utterly."

"The race isn't always to the swiftest, but to those who keep on running." - Unknown

Seeing the difference.

The other day I found myself blinking away tears because I was hurt. I could not see why I worry so much and care for something so much. I try and push myself so hard to make it good for the other person, only to find out that that person did not try on his/her end. That is when I break down un-wantedly. I then scold myself to tears because I was the foolish one or the only one worrying about things for no reason.

Sometimes I don't know why I can't just sit back and watch life roll by, just like everyone else. And when I feel like I am THE only one helping someone, I question myself if this is all worth it.. Am I  giving myself more stress for things that will not result in anything.. will I be forgotten or even be taken for granted? Then in all quietness and calmness that follows my thoughts, I hear the answers to my confused mind. I remember why I do what I do. What is all this unnecessary stress for? I realize that it is for the kindness of those who bestowed me when I was not expecting it. And when I am in the position of being ABLE to, I had told myself that I will do my part as a thank-you to those kind people who came my way when I needed it.

And then to reassure my heart, my eye drifts onto the magnet quote by John F. Kennedy:

                    "One person can make a difference, and everyone should try."

I realize that even if others can't understand or appreciate why I do the things I do, it doesn't matter, as long as I see THIS difference and I see it bright and clear in the smiles of those I help.