To The Readers

Doesn’t it look like a cherry preserved with sugar.  But it is just an old, dying inedible berry, covered in snow!!  

Dancers from Greece:  World Culture Festival: Art of Living, Berlin, 2011

This is a note to all my readers.  I have been writing this blog for over three years now.  The first year was not that productive.  I used images and many previously written articles.  But now, I have nearly 40 drafts on this blog, about a dozen half written articles on my hard drive, and about a thousand ideas about what I could write.  I have also started contributing to another website that features creative writing pieces.  But that one, unlike this blog, is not anonymous.  So, I have to be careful.  But I am partial to my readers on this blog.

In the last one year, traffic has picked up.  On the blog it says I have four followers.  All of who I bullied into joining.  They are my nieces and nephews.  But I have about four loyal readers in the US.  I  am not sure if these are friends or some people I do not know. 

But first, I would like to thank you for reading.  I cannot tell you the great feeling I get when I hit publish on this blog.

Often times these posts are written on the spur of the moment. I hardly get time to devote to this.  Sometimes they are written in lunch breaks.  Other times they remain half written for months or sleep in  the corner of my mind for weeks before anything comes out.

I apologize that often I have to back and edit the articles. But as I stated elsewhere, none of this is thought out.  It comes from within me, with the feelings and encounters.  I love being alive.  There are days when I get depressed but for all the uncertainties I have had, I am an amazingly positive person. 

My secret?  My friends. I have some great people in my life.  An excellent family and just much good will around me. 

And now, I have a few readers.  When I write, I have these anonymous people in my mind.  I do not know who you all are...but I am utterly grateful to you.

None of this writing takes me further in my career, but like meditation, it has become as important as breathing to me.  

I am sure many people come to this site only for the pictures.  I still remain grateful.  

However, I wanted to try something.  I wanted to place ads on my website.  Just to see if this is a viable way?  But also to understand the workings of this side of writing, especially online.  

And the reason I am writing here is because I would like to know if any of the readers have an issue with that.  Or they consider it would become commercial and so would not like any ads on the blog.  In case this is not acceptable to you, please leave a comment.  With my schedule, it might take me some time to organize all this, but I still wanted to inform and confirm...

Once again, thanks for visiting and thanks for reading.  I love to write.  So, please know that you add to my joy.  And give me this feeling that I might have something to say...ever so fleetingly!! 

Wise Ravens

I just had to try to upload this. Courtesy PBS. I got this from a friend. And have heard so much about Ravens. Finally in a land where you can see them often, many of the stories related to ravens make sense. One knows why ravens are such respected creatures in mythology, (including Native American mythology).

Made for Little Girls

About time we pull our pics from summer and fall to remind ourselves of gifts that nature bestows on us....Well, to be fair, even with the snow it is quite pretty right now!! I usually go for long walks.  In winter one has to be careful due to snow and ice.  In summer, both walks and bike rides are fun.

One thing I notice here in small town Sweden is that though the houses are usually not as large as they can be in the US, the yards are huge.  And often times they will have private swings.  Many a times, you will see tree houses, or playhouses made for children.  Alright, let us be fair, they are mostly made with little girls in mind. This one caught my eye.

It was complete with its own garden tools!!  Notice the spade hanging by the door.  And the house was placed right next to a bench and a table for entertaining guests.  

Here is a real tree house.  

And here are the tools that girls might use to spruce it up before they call it a home!!  With all these extra additions to the vicinity of the house, it must be easier for children to entertain their friends!! Or at least in the summer!

And this above picture was really intriguing for me.  It was taken the same day I took pictures of the moon.  When I looked back at this house, the pink light seemed to stand out.  As if some youngster was having an encounter with an alien!! How could I resist taking a snapshot!! All pink?  Probably a girl’s room too!!

To Those Who Lost Their Lives, and Their Families

I have been thinking about this for a while.  Ever since it happened nearly two weeks ago.  The school children who lost their lives---for no reason.

No amount of understanding of heaven or earth will ever make sense, to those who knew them, especially their parents.  While I hope the children who survived will not be scarred with fear and hopelessness towards humanity, I am sure the event will leave a much deeper mark than any media or psychologist can understand.  After looking at a few pictures of those innocents who were killed in the mindless shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, I broke down.  Turned off my radio, and stopped reading the news.

All I wanted to do was send warmth and love to all those affected.  In essence anyone who heard the story and has a heart.   Without making any grand gestures, or writing lofty posts about our oneness and connectedness or any claims about what happens to the souls after they leave us, or karma and its reasons....I just want to bow and say---we are sorry.  We fail children everyday, everyday in so many ways.

I hope and pray that our pain, and sorrow will become peace that will light the world!!

I leave here with a translation (from some user at Youtube) of a Bollywood song that deals with the confusion of those who are left behind:

Jane Chale Jaate Hain Kahan (Wonder where they go)

Those who leave this world, I wonder where do they go

How to find them, not even a footprint to follow

I wonder which is that town, from where there is no letter or news

Whenever one remembers them, to the lips comes a plea

The ones who leave never to return, wonder where they flee

My lost companion of life, a friend akin to the lamp and wick

You are lost to me as if, with the departure of monsoon

The flying black clouds, I wonder where do they go.

More Musings about the Moon

“I don't know if there are men on the moon, but if there are they must be using the earth as their lunatic asylum”

George Bernard Shaw quotes (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950)

“See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...we need silence to be able to touch souls.”

Mother Teresa of Calcutta quotes (Albanian born Indian Missionary and Founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity. Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979. 1910-1997)

“When a finger points to the moon, the imbecile looks at the finger”

Chinese Proverbs quotes

The Burglar

neglected to take

the window's moon

                                                                                       John Daido Loori, Zen of Creativity, p. 154

Sometimes, the moon is the most expensive thing a Burglar could take....but AH.... the most precious of things can never be stolen!!  They can only be enjoyed....like love!!  There is a whole tradition of stealing love, like Lord Krishna does, in hindu mythology.  But this stealing of love is still done by belonging.  By noticing, by caring, by giving of one’s attention.  Like Lord Krishna does for Radha.  But, in the final analysis, the richness of it all lies in experiencing the joy in your lover’s eyes.

Just like the moon, so rich and silvery, can never be had, but may be in its reflection, which is fleeting....

“I don't know if there are men on the moon, but if there are they must be using the earth as their lunatic asylum”

 George Bernard Shaw quotes (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950)

“See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...we need silence to be able to touch souls.”

 Mother Teresa of Calcutta quotes (Albanian born Indian Missionary and Founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity. Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979. 1910-1997)

“When a finger points to the moon, the imbecile looks at the finger”

 Chinese Proverbs quotes

Karlstad, Sweden, December 2010.  

We were headed towards town for a faculty dinner, just before Christmas break.  As we all stood freezing at the bus stop --yes Swedes included, none of us could ignore the bright moon. I was lucky, as always, to have my camera hanging on my knapsack.  

I have also to acknowledge the richness that I have been given in the midst of all confusion.  The four full moons between beginning of August 2012, and end of October 2012 (August 2012 had two full moons) were all spent in different countries on three different continents.

They all had their own flavors, the moonrise over the Drakensberg mountain, the shiny moon of early autumn in Sweden, the quiet silent one in Bhutan and finally the one in Singapore--waving a finger at busy singaporeans to slow down.....

Bhutan September 28, 2012

Bhutan September 28, 2012

Both the above the below pictures were taken in Bhutan.  The starkness is so apparent, the pictures look black and white.  If you click on the pictures and see them in their enlarged version, you will notice the grey clouds framing the moon.

However, if you notice the following two pictures, you will see the distant lights of Paro City.  I remember staring at it in the dark  Bhutan is quite safe, so I could simply breath in the fresh, slightly chilly Bhutan air and simply whisper a ‘thankyou!!'

Bhutan September 29, 2012

Bhutan September 29, 2012

The following two pictures are again from Karlstad, Sweden. Feb 2011.  Notice how bright is lady of night (In India the moon is a ‘man’. Affectionately referred to as Mama, mother’s brother!! 

Karlstad, Feb, 2011

Here are two quotes from different traditions, Buddha vs. Mark Twain.  Both of whom I have affection for....for different reasons. I leave you with these two quotes for you to ‘muse a bit about the moon!!’ and its place in our world, thoughts and cultures.

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”

Buddha quotes (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)

“Every one is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody”

Mark Twain quotes (American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer. 1835-1910) PS:  Here are links to all time favorite songs where lovers are talking to the ‘Chanda’ (the moon) or their love....through the moon! 1. Dam Bhar Jo Udhar Moon Phere (If only (dear Moon) you look away for a moment, I will show affection to my beloved) 2. Yeh raat yeh chandni phir kahan (Neither this evening nor this moonlight will return (in the same way), so come my beloved to meet me.

3.  Yeh raat bheegi bheegi:

This Rainy Night ...these stunning surroundings
And Rising gradually rising, that lovely moon
Why is the Moonlight silent after setting me on Fire 
and the beautiful evening signals me away from sleep

4. Aao Tumhen Chand Pe Le Jayen:  Let’s take you to the moon (where santa claus lives 
according to this  song...not the North Pole..Too far from India!! :)  
This song is a famous Bollywood Lullaby from the 1970s!! 

5. Chand Sifarish Jo Karta Hamari: If moon recommended me to you...it would 
have told you that I ‘like you’ (english subtitles)

6. CHANDA CHAMKE (the moon shines):  A tongue twister--to be sung with children!!

I TRULY HOPE THE READERS WILL NEVER SEE ‘THE MOON’ THE SAME AGAIN...

ENJOY!!