I Breathe :-)

He came towards me..

2009-04-28T15:16:00.003+05:30

He was dark. Scraggly. Dirty. Fearsome. And he came towards me. The road was empty save for the two of us. Little light coming from the lamp posts gone by. None of them above us. And he kept coming forward. I had a flimsy packet in hand. I did hit him in the chest with that with hopes that he'll vanish. But it was no good.
With those bared dirty teeth gleaming at me, I woke up with a sweat and fast shallow breaths. The horror of it all just would not go away.
I immediately fell back to sleep only wanting to push him away. To get him out of my system. As I knew only forceful pushing works in nightmares. But to no avail. As I lay thinking of who could I call to help me in the dream I couldn't come up with a single name. And suddenly Guruji came and stood a step behind me on the right. To protect. And lo and behold the whole scene happened all over again. This time only to have that man steer clear of my path as soon as he saw my Guru. My protector. :-)
And I breathed normally again.

P.S. I don't normally remember my dreams so vividly. And that too after so many days! Only one in a thousand, maybe. This also told me that you might forget Him, but He doesn't forget you. :-)

Jai Guru Dev!

Indian guru's healing touch

2009-03-21T23:16:00.001+05:30

The HT reports :) - Sri Lankan cricketers on friday wrapped up a post trauma course of deep breathing and yoga taught by an Indian spiritual guru to overcome the shock of the Lahore attack. Swami Sadyojathah, from the Bangalore based Art of Living Foundation, taught the squad special breathing techniques and meditation.

Kriya, the magique :)

2009-03-07T09:55:00.003+05:30

He asked - Do you feel good when you do the kriya?
I didn't know what to say. Do you feel good when you breathe??

He persisted - No tell me. Do you really like it after you do the kriya?
I barely managed to mumble some incoherent syllables. Yea. hmm.

Not to be easily put off, he re framed it - So are you glad that you attended the Utsav?
Finally, if only to end the questioning, I replied - It has been wonderful. And I can only be glad that I've been able to keep up with my commitment of doing the kriya regularly. The day seems incomplete without it! And I didn't know anything could have such an effect on me!

He simply concurred. And smiled. :)

Chaand sifarish

2009-01-29T09:54:00.004+05:30

Today morning while in the shower I suddenly remembered the song,

चाँद सिफारिश जो करता हमारी
देता वो तुमको बता..

From the movie 'Fanaa'.

I so wanted to listen to it cuz couldn't recall the rest of the lyrics. Thought of checking up in my office playlist (yup! thanks to the secluded corner my workstation in office is, I can play music. :)). But remembered that I didn't have this song on me!

Hoping that I just 'might' be able to listen it on my way in Manoj's car I forgot all about it.

About seven minutes away from the office, with some music playing on his system, I remembered again about the sifarish.. With about 5 minutes left, another song started to play. Which of course was not the one I was waiting for.
And suddenly, out of the blue, Manoj changed the song to... Chaand sifarish... :-) :-)

चाँद सिफारिश जो करता हमारी.. तो भी इच्छाएं इतनी जल्दी पूरी नही होती. :-)

Erm, is that a chuckle I hear?! ;P :D

The call

2009-01-23T13:25:00.003+05:30

Just the other day, Shivam got to know that I was thinking of him. Or maybe vice versa. :)

How it happened is immaterial. But what happened is not. I was waiting for someone and thought of catching up on a friend. The first name that came to me was his. But I did not have his number! Weird I know for he's amongst the very few friends from school I have managed to keep in touch with! Anyhow, I had Apeksha's number. She's his friend who I got to know too. I was tempted to call her to ask for his number but realised it might be very rude of me to do so, I didn't.
I called a few other people then. Just generally talking and updating lives. But my thoughts kept returning back to him. And I kept trying to recollect his number!! lol!
This happened between 6.45 and 7.40 pm.
Then the senior at office I was supposed to go home with finally came.
As I sat in the car, I put Shivam's thought aside, deciding to catch up with him online.
At 8.08 I get a call from none other than him! :)

So, is this a coincidence yet again?!

Past life

2009-01-19T10:00:00.003+05:30

Just the other day on Sunday my sister and I were talking about our fear of dogs. ( with both of us are scared to death :( ) And in the matter of conversation, I told her that a friend had told me once that maybe it is because of some traumatic past life experience that makes me so scared of them. So I just suggested maybe I should get a past life reading done as I've heard it helps.
The very same evening I get an email from astrology.com which,even though must be spam, totally spooked me out.
It was titled " Nimisha, Are You Haunted by a Past Life? ".

Coincidence? :-?

Hindi, anyone?

2009-01-18T00:05:00.003+05:30

Just the other day I was wondering that it is so difficult to write in hindi, now that I've not been really in touch with the Hindi side. i.e. since I've given my class tenth board exam. Have not actually written in Hindi. Neither have I been regular with reading hindi literature. *sigh* Not good for a person who 'took' pride in her Hindi skills.

Also, I feel now it has become very difficult for me to be able to write in pure hindi. Takes so much effort and raking of the dormant grey cells.

And, lo and behold, I came across a wonderful wonderful hindi blog. :) :)
Just what I wanted.
Thank you, Akanksha.

The Maggi, now.

2009-01-16T19:05:00.004+05:30

Sitting in the rajai, watching the favourite friends' season and being served a plate of maggi in bed by my mum?! :) Ah heaven!
Just the begining of my list, ehm! :)

The soup story

2009-01-15T00:22:00.004+05:30

I have a toothache. Terrible. Ok, it was a surgery.. Like the dental surgeon dug inside my mouth, made an incision an inch deep and ~~took out~~ broke the horizontally lying wisdom (ahem!) tooth out! :B

All this happened on saturday. And since then I've been eating only cold mashed food. like no rotis no parathas nothing actually that needs any chewing!! Also on top of that it was not supposed to be even warm!!

Not that I missed the hot food but today my maa started making soup. like SOUP! she makes lovely lovely tomato soup! :) The rich aroma wafted through the house. And did I not drool? Like I so wanted to have it but couldn't cuz of the no-hot-food rule! :(

But, miracles of miracles, my maa called up the doctor to ask about my swollen gum and she said that now that it was better, I could have warm food!!! :D :D

And so.. I had erm two bowls of that wonderful soup. :) :) :)

Conincidence? Miracle?!

Mongol

2009-01-07T18:32:00.003+05:30

The only time we (my parents my sister and I) get to talk,together and to each other, is when the three hard'ly' working creatures get home! :P

Just one of such talks, the day before evening, got us talking about the movie 'Jodhaa Akbar' which led to a discussion on the depiction of the story, the characters and on how Hritik played Akbar's role. I commented that he so doesn't look like a Mughal. Considering that the Mughals are the descendents of Genghis Khan who was a Mongolian. So, somewhere the Mongolian features would've reflected in the way he looked. Which led to a further discussion on Genghis Khan and the way he conquered half the world.
Which got me wishing for a book on him so that I could read more about those times and his life. And also simultaneously I realised the paucity of time on my hand to be able to enjoy such a treat.

AND just today morning while scouring a blog I discovered this review of a movie called 'Mongol' ! Like out of nowhere!!! :D
I didn't even know, not unlike the writer, that such a movie existed!!

Now all I have to do is to rent this out! Like no disappointments about the lack of time :) :) :)

Is this a co-incidence?!

Yoga of the Threefold Division of Qualities

2009-01-06T16:19:00.002+05:30

||Yoga of the Threefold Division of Qualities||

Said Arjuna, "Those who give up the scriptural injunctions, but continue to worship you with full faith, what is their devotion O Krishna? Is it sattvic, rajasic or tamasic ?
Replied Lord Supreme, "In three ways exists the faith of the embodied according to their own nature- sattva, rajas and also tamas. Now hear that from Me.
"Everywhere O Bharata, faith is in accordance with ones nature. A person's faith is according to his nature.
"The sattva people worship gods. The rajasic worship Yakshas and Rakshasas (celestial spirits and demons), and the remaining tamasic worship fallen spirits and ghosts.
"Against scriptural injunctions perform harmful penances those ascetic people, filled with conceit, egoism, desire, passion and strength.
"Subjecting the entire body to senseless torture and along with it all the elements there in, including Me also who is situated with in the body. Know them to be certainly demonic in nature.
"Food also is found to be tasty in three ways, as are sacrifices, austerity and charity. The difference amongst them now listen.
"Increasing longevity, purity, strength, health, happiness and taste, juicy, oily, durable in nature, is the food liked by sattvic people.
"Bitter, sour, salty, hot and spicy, burning, is the food liked by rajasic people, which gives them unhappiness, sorrow and disease.
"Stored and devoid of any juices, dried, foul smelling, decomposed, left over and indigestible food is dearer to the men of tamasic nature.
"The yagna which is performed without the desire for the fruit of the yagna, that yagna is certainly performed with the mind fixed in sattva nature.
"Desiring the fruit of action, for the purpose of display and show, the sacrifice that is performed, O Bharata, know it to be of rajasic nature.
"Without proper order, without the distribution of food, without mantras, without charity to the priests, devoid of faith, the yagna becomes recognized as tamasic in nature.
"Worship of gods, of the twice born, of the spiritual teacher and of the knowledgeable; celibacy and non cruelty, this is called austerity of the body.
"Dispassionate words that are truthful, pleasant and beneficial and also used in the recitation of the Vedic scriptures , this is said to be austerity of speech.
"Mental satisfaction, gentleness, silence, self-control, purification of thoughts, this is called the austerity of mind.
"When performed with exceptional faith, this austerity of three kinds, by men who have no desire for the fruit of their actions, is called sattvic.
"Austerity that is performed for gaining popularity and honor and also for display is regarded in this world as rajasic, which is also unstable and distracted (or without concentration).
"The austerity that is performed out of foolishness, struggle and by self torture, with an intention to harm others, this is referred as tamasic in nature.
"The charity that is worth giving, given without any expectation, according to the time and place and to the deserving person, is remembered as sattvic.
"The charity which is given for the sake of a reciprocal advantage or with the expectation of a result, or given in return (for some advantage or gain), or given grudgingly or with difficulty, that charity is to be remembered as rajasic.
"That charity which is given without consideration for the time and place, to undeserving persons, without due respects, without proper knowledge, is said to be tamasic in nature.
"' AUM TAT SAT'- thus was specified Brahman in three ways in the chanting of the Brahmins in the past, while studying the Vedas and performing Yagnas.
"Therefore the followers of Brahman always start their sacrifices, charities, austerities and actions with OM as specified in the scriptures.
"Uttering 'TAT' thus, without desiring the fruit of their actions, they perform sacrifices, austerities, charities and various other sacrifices who intend to achieve salvation.
"The word 'SAT' is used to denote the sense of Truth as well as the sense of the follower of Truth. O Partha, the word 'SAT' is also used to denote truthful actions.
"It is said that 'SAT' is situated in sacrifice, austerity and charity. Work performed for the sake of truth is also referred as 'SAT'
"Without faith whatever sacrifice that is offered, charity given, or austerity performed are said to be 'ASAT' (false), here and hereafter, O Partha.

Courtesy www.hinduwebsite.com

Coincidence

2009-01-06T10:11:00.004+05:30

There is nothing like a co-incidence. Or so someone keeps telling me.

He believes that the 'signs' tell him. That the signs forewarn him.
I believe in this too. But only to a certain extent.
Also, I feel, that we see whatever we want to see. We cannot take our mind off a certain issue. And hence whatever happens we see it in similar light.

If I don't trust a co-worker no matter what she does I'd always see some conspiracy against myself.

This also makes me believe that we see what we seek. Or maybe is it that our belief in something makes it come to life! Scary no?

But these 'co-incidences' or whatever they are, have been happening with me since as long as I can remember.
I think of an old long lost friend and within a day get a call or a message or the more fashionable scrap/ wall post! :) (Maybe I send out the remembering-you-vibes when thinking of someone)
In the afternoon I'd feel like eating something and my mom's already made it when I return home, without me telling her about my wants! :) :) (maybe my ma's receptive to my thoughts of cravings)
I'd get late to go to the college. Rush. Run. Scamper. Still reach late. But, guess what? The prof's not come in yet! :D (could just be plain bad luck 'cuz I generally was not in mood to attend classes all through out the five years! :P )

These things just keep happening! But funnily, people don't believe me most of the times when I say it out loud. So from now I'll post the before and the afters. Just experimental. To see if I am correct. :)

Smile and keep mum :P :D

2009-01-05T11:30:00.003+05:30

I got this really really cute SMS which of course I forwarded to everyone I knew :) and am posting here as well. :) Because we all need it. :) silence and smile :)

Silence and smile are two powerful tools.
Smile is the way to solve many problems

And

Silence is the way to avoid many of them.

:)

Let's celebrate silence. And keep smiling.

P.S. I tweaked it a bit here. sounded better this way. :)

Discovering awareness

2009-01-02T10:13:00.003+05:30

Awareness. Of self and surroundings. Awareness is what makes us feel complete.
To be aware is good but it shouldn't affect me and my life.

The Kriya

2009-01-02T09:57:00.002+05:30

I didn't do the kriya. For 3 days! Not good.
But one good repercurssion was that I missed not doing it :)
Like, it just kept nagging me in the back of my head that I've not done it. And I really felt something was missing from my day! :) And I like that. 'cuz it only means I'd not be lazy like I was on those days and just get up and do it! :)

The Car naama

2008-12-22T22:48:00.000+05:30

I've joined a car pool to my office. but one day I had to drive down in my parents' car. I was running late but I did do the Kriya (good girl as I am! :P) and just rushed. while getting into the car I noticed the driver's side tire looked a little flat. I stopped at the petrol pump to fuel up and also thought of getting the tire looked at. but the serpentine queue and the very fast moving hour hand on my watch made me skip it.

the weather was wonderful. I was enjoying the drive, as I usually do. but the combination of the magic of Kriya and the delhi winters made it even better! :)

Humming smiling suddenly Guruji's thought came to me and I said out loud 'jai guru dev'. as soon as it was out of my mouth, a mini bus driver ahead of me gesticulated to tell me that my car has a flat! Damn!

in the middle of nowhere with only fast moving traffic and construction workers around what would I do?! and more than that, I thought ke Guruji ka name lete hi the tyre got punctured. but almost suddenly I realized ke unka name lete hi I 'got' to know about it! :D then with renewed shraddha I moved to left next to a barricade and asked a site supervisor if anyone could change tyre. nodding vigorously he called out loud to a man just about to cross roads. and surprises of surprise this guy was a puncture fixer! :D within no time my car was fixed and good to run! :)

Such are the Guru's ways! :) You'd feel you're falling.. but someone would always be there to catch you. :)

Jai Guru Dev! :)

And so it begun

2008-12-20T10:31:00.000+05:30

After a year and a quarter of cajoles persuations threats commands(?!) and 'talks' I finally did my first Art of Living Course in November this year. :)

I attended the Utsav. Utsav means 'celebration'. To participate in the Utsav is to participate in a celebration.

The celebration of your self.