Sarve Santu Sukhinah: A Wish for the New Year

The following text taken from AumAmen

This prayer is one of the first we learn in schools and remains --till this date, one of my most favorite.  We memorize it by heart, and it awakens every time our heart beats in compassion. 

Om, Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ Sarve santu nirāmayāḥ Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu Mā kashchit duḥkha bhāgbhavet Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ
Meaning in English	May all be prosperous and happy May all be free from illness May all see what is spiritually uplifting May no one suffer Om peace, peace, peace

Chantal

September 2012, Thimphu, Bhutan

I cannot believe that it has been two years since I met her first.  We have exchanged a few emails since.  I met her on my first visit to Thimphu, Bhutan.  She was with a travel group.  We struck up a conversation right away.  She was warm and filled with joy.  Her english was so good and she had so many interesting things to share.

She asked me where I was from, and if I were a 'mixed' person.  Which always makes me say that most of us just look alike, we forget that.  There is not that much difference in the way people look between the extreme dark and light.  IN between many of us could pass for Italians, Mexicans, Brazilians, Columbians etc.  There has been enough mixing of people around.  And it will only continue.

She nodded.  She told me that she had been to India and that she was starting a bed and breakfast in her country--Italy.

I have not had the time to visit the country yet, and really want to go.

But the point of the post is that even though I met her only once and we talked for all of 20 minutes, I still remember her face, the warmth with which she took me.  And at the end of that short conversation extended an invitation to me---

You can come and be my guest!!  And I was a total stranger.

If I have learnt anything from my travel, that is that people are amazing, they have incredibly large hearts.  And media, instead of bringing us together does us a disservice by always focusing on the negative.

So, as we move into a new year, I wanted to put the picture of this lovely, warm woman on my blog to remind me how lucky I have been to meet grand hearts.  

And there is certainly many times more goodness in the world----than the opposite.

Thanks Chantal!!  

Vuxen Poång! Being an Adult!!

The Globalization Reader: Under the lamp on a student desk

The Globalization Reader: Under the lamp on a student desk

Every language has certain concepts that seem like toy concepts to others--but in a good sense--as in we wish we had them too.  And one such concept in Swedish is Vuxen (adult) poång (point)--put together it means Grown Up points. Nobody's counting but they add towards your status as a grown up.

So graduating, getting a job, moving into your own apartment, getting married, having children, all of them are Vuxen Poångs!!

We had to be in this auditorium for a meeting. I did not know that the meeting was in Swedish, and since I have never really taken classes, and have had so much pressure of work, I speak about 15% Swedish.  I do understand stuff here and there.  And when time allows I practice online, I love Swedish movies--but generally I cannot consider myself anywhere near fluent.

So, I was grateful that I had a book which I needed to prepare for my class that week.  It worked.  

Next to me sat this young boy, who had just finished his masters and had gotten a part time teaching position as an assistant.  Btw, Swedes are known for design.  And it is obvious in the classrooms and the way Universities are designed.  The classroom decor is great, many classrooms have artwork on the walls, and the chairs are ultra comfortable with padded seats, which in some halls even recline.  Almost every classroom of course has a projector and screen, a white board and many now have smart boards. Blackboards are completely out.  Transparency projectors lie there in the classroom being ignored and I feel so bad for them.

Back to the story.  So this young man sitting next to me showed me how to use the lamp on the folding table which accompanied my reclining seat.  Viola!!  there was light enough to read!!  

'The wonders you can find out when you sit in a student's chair' I said.

'Yes, and there are things to find out on the other end too'  he said.

¨Like?¨

¨Well, as an adjunct I found out that I actually have access to the lunch room, and coffee machine, I can get pens and special folders.  I don't really need them, but it made me feel like....wow, these are the perks of grown ups, special lunch room and coffee breaks'

'Yeah, in between you have much work though, lad' I tapped my pen on his shoulder and he laughed, 'Oh, I know'

I guess the young man was gushing at his new found adulthood.

'Vuxen Poång?¨  I looked at him.

Very much so, he chuckled a silly, enthusiastic laughter, which made me realise he had a while to go before he gave in to adult cynicism.

Good for him!!

The Opposite of Vatican: Christania, Copenhagen

The little community seems so far away from the rest of the city:  Christiania, 2013

Mural on they wall that surrounds the community: Christiania, 2013

Art Work on the Walls in Christiania: 2013, Copenhagen

Christiania, which sounds like a little utopian-ultra religious town is anything but---

Having read about it in Lonely Planet, and discussed the town for its 'rebellious properties'--I knew I had to see it for myself.

When I told friends that I was going to go there, they said in utter surprise, 'Really?"  

Yes, just as a tourist.

They smiled.

Also known as Freetown Christiania, the town is a is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood of about 850 residents, covering 34 hectares (84 acres) in the borough of Christianshavn, in the Danish Capital of Copenhagen (Wiki).

Although general public and civic authorities regard Christiania as a large commune, the area is unique in the sense that it is regulated by Christiania Law of 1989, which allows it to be directly under the state rather than the municipality of Copenhagen. (Wiki). 

The town/region/neighborhood has been the center of several controversies since its creation in 1971. Among many things, the town is known for its legalized and liberal use of marijuana—which is why its residents also call it the ‘Freetown’.

I personally do not understand the connection between any form of drug and freedom, but it is important to some that they loose consciousness in varying degrees.  I do know that facing reality and living through life without drugs (including pain killers that are legally sold by Pharmaceuticals) is hard, and numbing ourselves makes it easier.   So, we numb ourselves with several things (I use sugar, over dose of sweet things works in the same way), alcohol, caffeine, work, and sometimes even family.  But the town is known for living very differently from the rest of the clean-cut Copenhagen city.

You can easily read about the riots, the drug busts and other controversies on the net, especially wiki if you wish.  But I want to share how it felt when I was there.

It felt that I had left Denmark without leaving the country.  I was in a different mind set once I got off the bus.  And the moment I got off, I checked the time for next bus to be sure to get on it.

The town seemed like it was stuck somewhere in a smoke of being different.  And yet, it seemed like a community that was not only forgotten but had forgotten itself, except some amazing art work on the walls.   It was April and the Christmas tree was standing intact.  Maybe, they did not ever take it down.

There was a garage sale that did not seem like a weekend thing. It seemed like it was their daily market.  People looked like they were from a movie set in the 12^th century—unkempt hair, shabby appearance and stiff lips.  

I saw some young children riding bikes.  I wondered how many people there were tourists.  I assumed all those who looked like they had combed their hair that morning were visitors.

I am not putting the community down or stating only negative things.  I am just sharing what I felt. And ofcourse, I could be wrong.  Not much of a conformist myself (an idealist is not (always) a conformist), I can see some value is rebelling, or expressing itself, but I do not understand how we help the world when we are not in a position to be a functional human being.  That was always my problem with a drinking or drug culture.  It does not help us be better or change the world, only self-destruct.

But, I have heard that it was one of the (many) first communities to protest against copyright and supports copyright reforms.  –

Regardless, the best definition and explanation of the town came when I asked my Swedish Students to describe the town to Erasmus exchange and International Students.

Most of the smiled and then one Information and PR student came up with a very appropriate explanation---

“Well, you could say the town is The Opposite of the Vatican!!”

Consideration

Göteberg, Sweden 2014

Cultural considerations are apparent even in something as simple as designing public toilets. 

The above picture was taken at a cinema theatre.  How often have we seen mothers looking around to check whether they should leave the child outside or take the child with her into the toilet.  Here, I saw something that took care of it so well.  

These little thoughtful installations is how state shows its consideration of people's needs.  

Grace vs. Glitter: Elegance vs.Vulgar: Beauty vs. Bollywood

I picked up this pamphlet a few years ago when I first arrived in Sweden. I have kept it for years until a few days ago when I decided to scan it, so that I could get rid of the paper.  

I was mesmerized by the beautiful woman who has no make up on her face, is wearing truly traditional outfits of the nomadic people who  live in the desert of the Indian subcontinent.  Her brown eyes, her simple smile, tell the tale of an authentic life.  She is not trying to be anything but who she is.  Not trying to be feminine, not trying to use her body to attract anything and yet, she is both feminine and attractive. Even magnetic.  I remember talking about this to a student in Fiji, because we were talking of Bollywood and what it has done to the images of Indian women.  I told her that nomadic women wore this charm that they did not need to shed clothes to get attention.  They got attention just by being who they were.  Their carefree walk defied the weight of clothing and jewelry they carried on them, that could --if not carried with grace make them seem clumsy.  

However, following are a few pictures of the how these women, their outfits and bodies have been depicted in Bollywood.  Bollywood, as is the nature of media, reduces the dignity with which people carry themselves everyday.  But the main problem is that it is only a representation.  These women are very obviously trying to be something they are not, and something they do not understand.  The director certainly is not using this as any sense of Indianness, but an idea that he creates in his mind--for no other reason that increasing the length of time people watch these images.

That there has been a fracture in how closely images portray reality is obvious in the following pictures and the years these movies were released.

1990s

1990s

1990s

1960s-70s

1960s-70s

True beauty however does not require any sensationalisation, it is obvious in an inherent joy that person radiates.  As in the very first image on this post--taken from a UNIFEM pamphlet.  The woman does not appear needing any help, she is not destitute or backward --she just is---participating in the world--without calling attention to herself.  Just like a flower that exudes color, freshness and fragrance, and therefore is Graceful, elegant and beautiful!

Kindness

\

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. 

---Seneca

The World Catches Up: Step Into Halloween!!

In the last four years that I have been in Sweden, I have seen more and more signs of Americanisation.  Halloween, which barely was even talked about when I first came, is now becoming a bigger, if not big celebration.  Last year I even had a big conversation in the class, where one of the students said that after all ¨We borrow things from others, just like Santa Lucia, is Italian, but we have made it a Swedish Tradition.  What is so wrong with borrowing Halloween.¨

Well, nothing really. I really enjoyed the holiday when I was in the US, I loved the decorations in the window shops, and markets, bought my pumpkins and orange candles.  But really, what was it.  If it is a celebration of the season, great, I understand.  But the celebration of Halloween, which was children knocking at the doors asking for treats, was created because people in neighbourhood knew each other.  Children could dress up, and would walk the neighbourhood on their own without any fear, or parental concern.  That does not happen today.  Often times there is an adult who goes around with children.

But more than anything else, the holiday has become another partying excuse.  And therefore in many ways commercial.  In Sweden, during this time, I usually saw little pumpkins and decorative squashes on people's tables, some even started to bring out Christmas figures, or Santa Lucia Figurines.  But there were no parties, and there was no trick or treating.  Trick or treating is still not common, because Sweden does it during Easter, when children dressed as witches and old men knock at your door, gift you their art work and ask for candy in return.  So, something.....some creativity, some joy, some exchange.  The parties today have little creativity.  yes, people come up with their costumes etc. but most of them are rented and once the party begins, ......not much is remembered after that......

So, what is the fear here....or concern?  Well that that adoption is usually one way....and the trend is to turn every holiday into a party, a big fiesta instead of what they originally were for....a connection with nature, a reminder of community, a time to reflect. 

KLIV IN TILL HALLOWEEN: Step into halloween!! The entrance to the 'marked' area in a supermarket based on Walmart model--ICA.  

Here is a scary old man offering you berries.....

Sweden has a Alla helgons dag, or All Saint's day which is a day to honour those gone before us.  Here is what a website states: All Saints’ Day is a day of dignity and reflection. The custom of lighting candles on family graves is still widely practised, and anyone passing a cemetery in Sweden this weekend is met by some beautiful scenes. The countless points of light from the candles and lanterns placed on graves form beautiful patterns in the snow and lend a special feel to the landscape. People also lay flowers and wreaths on graves on All Saints’ Day. A jar of flowering heather stands up well to the cold. All Saint's day is celebrated the first saturday of November every year, so shortly after Halloween. 

A ghost attached to the entrance of ICA--the main Swedish grocery store, based on Walmart model.  

In India, around the same time (October-November, according to Indian calendar) we have Shraada, which wikipedia describes as is a Sanskrit word which literally means anything or any act that is performed with all sincerity and faith (Śraddhā). In the Hindureligion, it is the ritual that one performs to pay homage to one’s 'ancestors' (Sanskrit: Pitṛs), especially to one’s dead parents. Conceptually, it is a way for people to express heartfelt gratitude and thanks towards their parents and ancestors, for having helped them to be what they are and praying for their peace. It also can be thought of as a "day of remembrance." It is performed for both the father and mother separately, on the days they became deceased. It is performed on the death anniversary or collectively during the Pitru Paksha or Shraaddha paksha (Fortnight of ancestors), right before Sharad Navaratri in autumn.

Complete with special effects, there was smoke coming out from this well carved, pumpkin!!  Outside-ICA

Mexicans have the Day of the Dead, which again, courtesy wiki, is described as Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday observed throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico where the day is a bank holiday. The celebration takes place on October 31, November 1 and November 2, in connection with the triduum of Allhallowtide: All Hallows' Eve,Hallowmas, and All Souls' Day. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas, honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased.

All of these festivals fall around the same time, especially for countries in the northern hemisphere.  Which means that as autumn fell upon us, we thought --it was time of reflection before the death of winter.  Nothing wrong with celebration or parties, but if that becomes so big that the reflection part is forgotten, then it takes us away from us, and away from a connection with nature.  

And, media is a big part of it.  Yesterday I saw many youngsters dressed like monsters heading, obviously towards a party or a graveyard....(your guess is as good as mine....:).

I enjoy it and still love the spirit of the season and even the holiday, just wish it would as its ritual also include a bit of reflection rather than all commercialism, and empty fun with drunk youngsters.  In Sweden, Halloween is a young holiday, and is celebrated by youngsters. Now, if that changes in a generation, meaning the grown ups are also celebrating (nostalgia will play a big part) then it would become a cultural tradition,  However, so long as it remains restricted to the young, it will always be considered a 'childish' holiday.  Such is the story of cultural change. 

T-Shirts: Rule Number #1

T-shirts and their popularity fascinates me, especially since they have become increasing available and used in the last fifteen years. Which is a very American invention, as I learnt once from a documentary. The following two lines are taken directly from wiki's entry on T Shirt.

By the Great Depression, the T-Shirt was often the default garment to be worn when doing farm or ranch chores, as well as other times when modesty called for a torso covering but conditions called for lightweight fabrics. 

A V-neck T-Shirt has a V shaped neckline, as opposed to the round neckline of the more common crew neck shirt.  V necks were introduced so that the neckline of the shirt does not stand out when an outer shirt is worn over it, thus reducing or eliminating the visible cloth above the outer shirt of a crew neck shirt. 

But the more interesting and amusing aspect for me is the use of quotes and interesting images on T-Shirts.  T-shirts are like public art, and because they are on people, it is also mobile art--more often than not, the quotes are meant to be witty, funny, and occasionally condescending.  The latter part has become more common, as our culture has become proud of the irreverence that we exhibit, whether it is in smart-alecky humour from Chandler of Friends or razor sharp jokes of late night talk show hosts. 

Yet many a times I have read quotes that have made me smile. I never noticed them so much as I did in Fiji, and so I kept an account of various T-Shirt quotes.  T-shirts have become a trend, many of these end up in second hand shops, some defected material that visibly isn't so makes it there and people don them as an expression of their wit--or not.  Often times I think they are not even aware of what it means.  For example, a very nice straight Indian man was wearing this T-Shirt with a rainbow on it that proudly claimed, that 'It was in to be out¨.  But two of my favourites were, 1. I tried being good (on a child who was about four years of age).  2. 100% Instant human, just add coffee!!  

And how can I forget the only one I remember from Portugal, on an ageing but agile man, who was unkempt, looked like he had not bathed in a while, had a loose cigarette hanging from his cracked lips----which read--¨Believe me, I am a virgin.¨  I doubt he knew what that meant either.  But there it was a claim!!

So, the following few pictures reminded me of my fascination with T-Shirts with words.  We were going to my teacher's place (yes, I keep in touch with my teachers too, and try to visit her every year when I am home)--so we stopped for some fresh fruit to take as gift.  And there was this buff vegetable seller, who was so different from the vegetable sellers that I used to know. Scrawny, malnourished and hardly interested in anything, or so they looked.  This one, looked like he was a bollywood star, or getting ready to go there.

I kept moving my head and my camera to get a look at what his T Shirt said.  He must think that I was taking pictures of him. But I did like what his T Shirt said, even though, I am not sure if he could read it.

A slightly better view, but I still could not get the whole thing. 

And there it was--almost a message for me at the time...

Plain and simple truth--through a T-Shirt--Rule # 1 of Life, Do what makes YOU HAPPY.  Once again life is not as simple as that, sometimes we should think of other people's happiness over ours, but we will leave it at that....may be we need to first ask ourselves, what makes us happy.....(for you and I know, we loose that in the rigour of life...)

Fresh apples and bit of life philosophy, you can't beat that....

Two Hundred Years without a War!

This is a a statue in the town square-- Stora (big) Torget (center/square).  Its the first thing you notice.  A friend of mine had told me that this was considered the ugliest statue in the country (Sweden). What ever it may be, it symbolizes a treaty  between Norway and Sweden, when both countries call an end to the use of arms.  It has been nearly 200 hundred years since the countries have gone to war.  While there is criticism about Sweden being engaged in selling arms to countries in conflict, overall there is an underlying peace in the country that you can feel.  

LIke all countries, it may not be perfect, but it is the only country that I have lived in so far, where they had made 'people' a priority over a generalized way of living.  Commercialization is at its low, there is only one 24 hr McDondald's in the entire country.  Not to mention that McDonald is not that popular.  The first Starbucks was opened this May (2014) at the airport. 

Yes, like all developed countries Sweden was a colonizer too, you can ask the Czech, Norwegians, Finns, Estonians and even some small colonies in Africa.  Yet, it is a country that has took a stance against war and has stood by it (ok, there is a massive arms industry).  But, I must say this is the only country where women are not afraid of having children, because that does not mean a break in their work, instead it means paid leave, while they can spend time with their children and later several years of parental leave and government supported child care.   Also, their being pregnant is not an obstruction to looking for jobs.  I known an Indian woman, raised in the UK who came to Sweden to work and lost sensation in one of her arms in a skating accident.  The company she worked for allowed her to continue with her job, 'we hired you for your brains' they said.  There is a cushioning around people here, that lets them feel human.  Two hundred years without a war and a focus on controlled individuality and collectivity, has allowed people a simplicity and sweetness that I have not seen anywhere else.  

Or, may be, may be I just got lucky and met the best people in the country, so I am always gushing about it.....

Blue Eyes

First Published on April 9th, 2013.  I am republishing the story.  Simply because I myself had the urge to look at his image today......

His eyes were so captivating!!

The flash from my camera makes his wrist glow.  At first it seemed to me that that it made the light bulb around his neck light up!! Cadiz, Spain. 

It was a very small exhibition at the Contemporary Art Museum.  Literally one large room.  I walked in, just out of curiosity.

The sounds from the outside city calmed down.  The security guard told me it was free.  

After the first two photographs that I looked it, this one caught my eye.  So much so that a deep-sigh left me, as if it had been stuck in my chest for a while.  I looked at a couple in the room and nodded my head towards the photograph.  

They thought I was crazy.  

They continued to the other end of the exhibition.  

I stared at it for five to ten minutes.  From several angles.

Then I went up close to read about it.  It was done by an artist called 'something' Edwards.  I apologize, but when I took the picture I was not thinking of putting it on the blog. I just wanted to keep it as a Souvenir, so I did not memorize the name of the artist.

Guess what?  The picture was taken in India.

I wonder if the blue eyes were a reflection of the lights around, or due to the camera's flash.  But the eyes must have been very light to have reflected back with that color.  Or may be he was really blue eyed.  I have seen many children with hazel, amber, or even blue eyes in India.  Those with tanned skin color, as opposed to lighter skin color, look more attractive.  

When I showed the picture to my friend on my camera's viewer, he asked, 'is his ready for boxing?"

"Nope--he is a poor boy, and is wearing and oversized underwear.  If you look closely it has a tear on its left side.  He might be the light boy, boys who set up lights in a market or a wedding before the evening.'

I remember a line from E. M. Forester's 'A Passage to India', when he refers to a very attractive servant in a King's court--'that is how sometimes nature rebels to show human beings that it cares little for its categories and classes.'

This boy was so beautiful, and looked so real that I felt he had started to breathe under my gaze.  It got a bit scary to stare into his 'jheel si nili aakhen' (deep like a blue lake--eyes) and I walked away.  

But I returned.  And saw the couple I had nodded to earlier-- staring it with the same intent as I had done.  I nodded again behind their backs!! 

We didn't speak the same language but our hearts acknowledged the intensity of the picture. 

Art -- a great unifier.  

Silence of the Silent Treatment

It is another’s fault if he be ungrateful, but is mine if I do not give. To find one thankful man I will oblige a great many that are not so.  --Seneca

A few weeks earlier, a student of mine was sharing something that had affected her deeply.  As most people know, my students often become quite close to me.  That has happened ever since I started teaching, formally at the age of twenty--although I have been teaching as early as ten years of age.  

This student was upset at a sudden cutting off of all contact by a friend who was quite close to her.  She did not know what she had done.  And her friend was not responding to any of her emails or texts or phone calls.

And Image from Navua Village in Fiji, 2006.  Silence, takes us to the vast ocean inside and is an opportunity to connect with our own self. Silence from others hurts as well, but can serve the same purpose.  Cutting off from the outside and going within. 

I think all of us can relate to it. At some point or the other we have been through the same silence, silence as a form of violence.  Hopefully, we do not return that silence to others.  Because if we did, then it would mean that we are going through what our perpetrators are going through as well.

Pain.

People who inflict physical or emotional violence on others have to be in pain.  Those who are happy (not simply positive, that is a shallow word, without depth--joy and happiness has to show in every act of ours ) and joyful will not do that to others.

There are certain characteristics of joyful people.  They are happy, yes, but they actually glow.  Their presence uplifts others.  They do not take offence easily (a big one).  Are not short tempered.  Do not engage in gossip, have little need to put others down.

And most importantly recognise themselves in others.  And if there is a need for separation or breaking up friendships or bonds, then they will at least have an engaging talk---regardless of the result, explain ....

Cutting off communication is form of violence applied.  It is the oldest trick in the book, let no one in town speak to the one who is a sinner, or committed a crime and that cold shoulder treatment will teach them something.

While we can be in pain while it is going on, the wise thing...the wise thing, the wise thing to do is to obtain distance, if after your urging the person does not seem to respond.

Go within, find a way to connect with self.  Recognize the beauty of life! But more importantly to connect with the life giving aspects of nature, of a community, of our own soul.  From that space to step away, and yet be open if and when the person wants to talk.  But to know that we are taken care of.  There are seven billion people in this world and possibilities for connection are many.

While we hurt at the moment, we must know that the person is not in a happy place either.  Even if they think they do.  

All we can and should do is take care of ourselves.  Yes, it may be a lonely process at the time, but it does bring us to one of the most important things in life.  Remembering our own divinity.

We are such stuff that stars are made of.

If you or anyone you know is going through this, be kind enough to spend time and listen ....but don't forget to leave them with an empowering feeling.  

That all the love and affection and understanding that we seek is within ourselves.