Serenity

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” 

― Lao Tzu

“Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.”

― Lao Tzu

I have mentioned else place that sunsets and sunrises  never tire me.  I  seek their calmness.  The serenity they provide me.  Whenever I witness one, I  cannot but feel that i am listening to symphony written in colors and  hope.  Here are a few quotes that might go with the following pictures, taken in three different countries.  

Or, you could just look at the pictures and notice, how they are similar and how they are different.  

Karlstad, Sweden, 2010

 “We are not going to change the whole world, but we can change ourselves and feel free as birds. We can be serene even in the midst of calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil. Serenity is contagious. If we smile at someone, he or she will smile back. And a smile costs nothing. We should plague everyone with joy. If we are to die in a minute, why not die happily, laughing? (136-137)” 

             ― Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras

Nadi, Fiji, 2007

Durban, South Africa, July 2012

“Nothing is so aggravating as calmness.” 

― Mahatma Gandhi

If you have the time to chatter

Read Books

If you have time to read,

Walk into mountain, desert and ocean.

If you have time to walk,

Sing songs and dance.

If you have time to dance,

Sit quietly, you happy, lucky idiot.”

― Nanao Sakak

Gilded Gullibility

Durban, South Africa.  July, 2012

I saw this note in Durban at the University of KwaZulu Natal!! And could not ignore it, as I smiled a knowing smile.  The note was written with a hope, a belief in humanity.  especially as you read the last hand written sentence---it says

'I know you know its real gold'

And I still believe that if you find it, you will return.

I hope the owner got the gold coin back.

It reminded me of the time when I lost a handmade tie-dye shawl that I lost in Clarion.  The shawl is beautiful, but not very expensive.  Although it was high on terms of emotion and sentimentality.  I had bought it with my first ever salary, as mathematics teacher for sixth grade.

A friend of mine had made a very colorful note of request that stated, "I AM COLD!!' Please help me find a shawl that kept me warm for a very long time. 

I did find it.  I knocked at several doors on the houses that I walked past on my to work.  The young woman was kind and returned it to me.

Note that when we try to locate things that we have lost, we do it with the faith that someone out there cares and will not claim fake ownership of our goods.

I often see gloves and scarves kept aside on piles of snow that have turned to ice.  Simply because people know that someone will come back for them.  The scarves and gloves stay on the snow for days, turn to ice themselves before the owners pick them up.  I have been on both sides of this situation.

So, I had to honor the simplicity of note by creating a post around it.

'I know you know its real gold' and I still believe that you will be kind enough to return it!!

I hope that the note writer's faith was turned into belief!!

Sunny Suraj (Sun)

Picture taken Feb 5, 2012, from my window!! 8 am!!

Picture taken March, 2012 from my kitchen window.  Time 8:00 am!!

March 1st, 2013.

Suraj, like Suraj Sharma the young boy who played 'Pi' in the movie Life of Pi--means 'sun' and is often used to name boys. 

For the last few weeks the sun has been coming up very early.  But in its eagerness to greet us, it is also quite bright.  As I prepare my breakfast I look out the window and cannot but smile.  The morning sun falls right on my window.  I look up, and smile...because I know that its trying to get my attention!!

Its bright and warm.

Today, as I was working in my office I had to pull the blinds up (yes these go up, not come down) so that I could see my computer screen.

As annoying as it can be when one is trying to work, we cannot ignore the lightness it brings to our actions!!  Its movement is just as quick now as it is slow in November.  So within less than an hour it rises up in the sky.  And this is before our day light saving.  As of now, our days are already more than 12 hrs long!!

Last night I was at a friend's house a bit outside of Karlstad.  I usually do not travel within the country much, so it was nice to see another side of town.  On my way back I took the bus, and my eyes followed the orange moon all through the ride.  It was calm, but seemed to have a spring glow around it!!

This blog post is nothing spectacular, but I just had to write because scandinavia is known world over for its darkness, and not many know about its bright side!!

Well, now you know!!