The 3 Doors to Wisdom!

One of the stories that I like…I am unable to trace the source of this story… however, that should not be a reason for not sharing this with you…!

This is the thought that I want to leave you with, as this year passes by and green days of 2010 gently sways in with a captivating melody and fresh fragrance of positivity!

The 3 doors to Wisdom

A King had, as only son, a young Prince, brave, skillful and intelligent. To perfect his knowledge of Life, he sent him by the side of an Old Wise Man.

"Bring Light to my Path of Life", the Prince asked.

"My words will faint away like the prints of your steps in the sand", the Wise Man answered. However, I want to give you some indications. On your Path, you will find 3 doors. Read the rules written on each of them.

An irresistible need will urge you to follow them. Don't try and get away from them, because you would be
condemned to live again, ceaselessly, what you have avoided. I may tell you no more.
You have to feel all this deep in your heart and in your flesh. Go, now. Follow this path, right in front of you. "

The Old Wise Man disappeared and the Prince entered the Path of Life.

He was soon in front of a big door, on which one could read:

"CHANGE THE WORLD".

"It was my intention indeed", the Prince thought, "because if some things please me in this world, others greatly displease me."
And he began his first fight. His ideal, his ardour and his power urged him to confront himself to the world, to undertake, to conquer, to model reality according to his desires. He found there the pleasure and the dizziness of the conqueror, but no peace in his heart. He managed to change some things but many others resisted to him. Many years passed.

One day, he met the Old Wise Man who asked him: "What have you learnt on your path?"
"I have learnt," the Prince answered, “how to discern what is within my power and what is without, what depends on me and what does not depend on me".

"That's good!” the Old Man said. "Use your strength to act on what is within your power. Forget what's beyond your power." And he disappeared.

A bit later, the Prince was in front of a second door. He could read on it:
"CHANGE THE OTHERS".
"It was my intention indeed", he thought. "The others are a source of pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction, but also, of pain, bitterness and frustration."
And he rebelled against everything that could disturb him or displease him in his fellow men. He tried to bend their characters and to extirpate their defects.
It was there his second fight.
Many years passed.

One day, as he was meditating on the utility of the attempts to change the others, he met the Old Wise Man who asked him: "What have you learnt on your path?"
"I have learnt", the Prince answered, "that the others are not the cause or the source of my joys and my punishments, my satisfactions and my setbacks. They are only opportunities for all of them to be revealed.
It is in myself that all these things have their roots."
"You are right," the Wise Man said. "According to what they wake up in you, the others reveal you to yourself. Be grateful to those who make your enjoyment and pleasure vibrate. But be also grateful to those who create in you suffering or frustration; because, through them, life teaches you what is left in you to learn and the path that you still have to walk."
And the Old Man disappeared.
A bit further, the Prince arrived in front of a door, on which these words were written:
"CHANGE YOURSELF".

"If I am myself the cause of my problems, it is indeed what's left in me to work on", he said to himself.
And he began his 3rd fight. He tried to bend his character, to fight his imperfections, to abolish his defects, to change everything that did not please him in himself, everything that did not correspond to his ideal.
After many years of this fight, in which he met some success, but also, some failures and some resistances, the Prince met the Wise Man who asked him: "What have you learnt on your path?"
"I have learnt", the Prince answered, "that there are things that we can improve, others that resist to us and that we can't manage to break."
"That's good!" the Wise Man said.
"Yes", the Prince went on, "but I am beginning to be tired of fighting against everything, against everybody, against myself. Won't there be an end to it one day? When shall I find a rest? I want to stop fighting, to give up, and to abandon everything, I want to let go!"
"It is precisely your next lesson", the Old Wise Man said. "But before going any further, turn round and behold the path covered."
And he disappeared.

On looking back, the Prince saw in the distance the 3rd door, and noticed that it was carrying a text on its back, saying:
"ACCEPT YOURSELF."
The Prince was surprised not to have seen this writing when he went through the door, the other way.
"When one fights, one becomes blind", he said to himself. He also saw, lying on the ground, scattered around him, everything he had thrown away and fought against in him: his defects, his shadows, his fears, his limits, all his old worries. He had learnt then how to recognize them, to accept them, to love them. He had learnt how to love himself without comparing himself to the others any more, without judging himself, without reprimanding himself.
He met the Old Wise Man who asked him: "What have you learnt on your path?"
"I have learnt", the Prince answered," that hating or refusing a part of myself, it is to condemn myself never to be in agreement with myself. I learnt how to accept myself, totally, unconditionally."
"That's good!", the Old Man said, it is the first rule in Wisdom. Now you can go back through the 3rd door."
He had no sooner reached the other side, that the Prince perceived far away the back side of the second door, on which he could read:
"ACCEPT THE OTHERS".
All around him, he could recognize the persons he had been with all his life through; those he had loved as well as those he had hated. Those he had supported and those he had fought. But the biggest surprise of all for him was that now, he was absolutely unable to see their imperfections, their defects, what formerly had embarrassed him so much, and against which he had fought.

He met the Old Wise Man again.
"What have you learnt on your path?" he asked him.
"I have learnt", the Prince answered, "that by being in agreement with myself, I had no more anything to blame in the others, no more anything to be afraid of in them. I have learnt how to accept and to love the others, totally, unconditionally."
"That's good!", the Old Wise Man said. "It is the second rule in Wisdom. You can go back through the second door."
On reaching the other side of the second door, the Prince perceived in the distance the back side of the first door, on which he could read:
"ACCEPT THE WORLD".

"Strangely enough", he said to himself, "that I did not see these words on the first time". He looked all around him and recognized this world which he had tried to conquer, to transform, to change. He was struck by the brightness and the beauty of every thing. By their perfection.
Nevertheless, it was the same world as before. Was it the world which had changed or the glance he had on it?
He met the Old Wise Man who asked him: "What have you learnt on your path?"
"I have learnt", the Prince said, “that the world is a mirror for my soul. That my soul can’t see the world, it sees itself in the world. When my soul is cheerful, the world seems cheerful to it.
When it is overcome, the world seems sad to it. The world itself is neither sad nor cheerful. It IS there; it exists; it is everything. It was Not the world that disturbed me, but the idea that I had of it. I have learnt to accept it without judging it, to accept it totally, unconditionally. "

"It is 3rd rule of Wisdom", the Old Man said. "You are here now in agreement with yourself, with the others
and with the World."

A profound feeling of peace, serenity, plenitude, filled the Prince. Silence was in him.

"Now, you are ready to go past the last Threshold", the Old Wise Man said, "the one that goes from the silence of Plenitude to the Plenitude of Silence ".

And the Old Man disappeared.

Nominating for TBLA 2010

Submitting the business case plan for TBLA2010 was one of the most exciting things that I did in the last few days. Waiting and waiting to see what happens...

If not anything, I learnt!

My Day!

December 9th 2009...
It was such a wonderful day in my life… Everyone around me made it so beautiful and memorable… My b’day.

All my friends and relatives called from all the parts of the globe to convey their wishes…Not that I don’t get wished every year; I do; but not 250 people…
Things sound to have suddenly changed… for good!

Vikas got me a new tambura sruti box… such bliss to sing along that sruti early in the morning.
Art for art sake?
Nope.
Art for my sake!

I sink in the experience again.
Only feeling.
No words!

Awareness

It is a pretty good evening. After singing for unusually long, I thought I should keep quiet.
For a moment, it appeared to me that the entire world is sleeping.
Silent.
No.
I realized that I have become less sensitive to the sounds around.
Those which rarely capture your attention.
Those which you take most of the times for granted.
I listened…
My heart beat…
My breath…
My saliva flowing in…
I sensed the other movements inside me.
My legs growing numb…
The rush of blood to the left part of my brain…
My blinking…each time with varying frequency…
My lips relaxing, then tightening…
My body attempting to balance my posture…

The hustle of the leaves in gentle breeze…
I open my eyes… being aware of the present…
Being aware of self…?
Being aware of awareness…?
Am I…?
I…
What is ‘awareness’?

Rewind, Pause, Live

Every time, I feel like capturing a moment, I feel for sure that it was the most beautiful moment that I have ever lived.
I re-live it. And console myself that those moments are eternal, for I can always fly back, live in those moments and come back to present.
Another moment.
Another hour.
Another day.
Again.
Then again.
Stacking my eternalized experiences.
Rewind.

Today was another day of such moments.
In Niagara today.
Which moment can I afford to miss?
Which moment can I afford not to capture?
The holy mist
The heavenly spray
The swaying on the waves
The thundering roar of the falls
The hooting wind
The prickly cold after drenching

I close my eyes.
I fly towards those thick strong clouds.
I look down and I see a heavy shining silver jewellery on a rich green apparel.
I zoom in until the green leaves feel my arm and the silver mist kisses my cheeks.

I float.
There is no rewind.
Paused forever.

Going beyond

It is a long time since I wrote as I was running around to get my baby’s and my visa done to get to the United States of America. Yes, I’m finally here in the US; joined my hubby and celebrated our son’s 2nd b’ day together.
While writing this, I cannot but remember what made me sit here and tell you all these…. I just wished that I should be here before Aug 10th; but it was my brother in law who made my wish come true. Right from passport application to printing tickets, it was he who was more enthusiastic.
What amazed me the most was that when there was a time I gave up and thought that nothing worked; when the passports were not delivered when we assumed they will be, it was he who took two days’ leave, went to Chennai, waited there for almost two days to collect them personally. If we had chosen them to be delivered by courier, I am sure I would still be waiting for them back in Bangalore.

Certain actions may appear weird and freaky to some people; but to me what he did touched my heart. That was indeed going beyond.. Perhaps I may not be able to return anything at all.

But some people are made up of such stuff, which the ordinary mortals never end up even thinking…
For them, what matters the most are people around them… and they do everything possible and the so-imagined impossible too. Just unconditionally. That’s the sheer beauty of them!

July 24

Sometimes when there is so much to say and when many things are happening around you, you fail to write. You struggle to control your thoughts enough to record them! I am going through that ‘phenomenon’ now. I wanted to scribble a lot of things for quite some days that I ended up reading and thinking and failed to put my thoughts down.
I was going through many other blogs; I just love reading them.
Finally I thought I should write something… at least about my inability to write…

Feeling great early this morning because I gifted someone on his b’day. The day before yesterday, I gifted some one else; a couple of days before, I bought gifts for my baby for his b’day; a week before I gifted my brother-in-law….
This month, I have been giving gifts… a lot of people around whom I care for. It is nice.
The world around me is so beautiful…
I realize, I am unable to write.
I get back to thinking.

Matrix - Re-visited!

Sometimes it is very interesting to re-visit the places you have seen; to re-read the books you have read; to re-watch the movies you have watched….
For me, the entire mission turns out to be quite fruitful. I find new meaning, new twists and twirls, new philosophies…well, something new. It’s worth.

I was re-watching ‘The Matrix’ the other day and I was quite surprised at the dimensions that arose!

It made me think about the boundaries between fantasy and the real world and how boundaries can be permeable… (Instead of binding…)
The thought on boundaries made me think about the ‘false’, ‘unnecessary’, ‘binding’, ‘superficial’ and yet ‘powerful’ boundaries that we weave around us…(are we aware?)
The thought on boundaries make me think of ‘freedom’ and our false assumption of being bound all the time…

My favourite quote – Morpheus says, "You have to let it all go, Neo. Fear, doubt, and disbelief. Free your mind."
It makes me think how freeing your mind helps you attain…. (attain ‘what’ is irrelevant, because you can attain only one thing ultimately…)
Thinking about ‘Mind’ provokes further thoughts on how we can control our mind, if Matrix can control with several human minds…

Controlling mind reminds me of ‘Maya’ which Hindu scriptures talk about… the distinction between truth and fantasy… Matrix, the Maya… (Or Matrix, the Truth?)

Thoughts on ‘Truth’ lead to ‘meaning of one’s life’.
I ask, what do I exist for?
And, am I aware?
If not, how will I?

I am in deep thought… no more words…


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Thought Fragments

I remember the quotes about ‘Time’. Time – the Enigmatic. Time – a Riddle. Time – the Saviour. Time – the Omnipotent.

Past, the source of learning. The visual records stored in our brains. The flashback technique used in the movies.

Future, the opportunity to apply learning. Future – made of dreams and aspirations.

Present, the ‘here and now’. Present – beyond description.
Before I attempt to describe, they become a part of past. I fail to arrest my present moment. If I try to describe my future moment, I am no more in the present. I wonder, how to be in the present…! How to be in the ‘here and now’…this moment. This pursuit, this challenge, itself becomes my prime task.

Thought fragments hustle; I am not able to hold them with me. Before I think about my thought, they are gone.

Being a part of AB's EF

I am so thrilled to be a part of the EF. A kind of child-like pleasure! Wondering what on Earth is EF?
Well, then, I would say that you have not lived your life enough, if you are not a part of EF!
EF is the ‘Extended Family’ of Amitabh Bachchan. How did I become a part of it?
Just naturally. No efforts. You just need to read his posts and then, you have become a part of his EF!
The wonder is that everyone who reads the posts feels that AB speaks to him/her. And, you are here not to come up with literary masterpieces. You are here to get connected to people around you, by sharing your thoughts. And, AB has been highly successful in achieving that. Even if he has not been a Bollywood figure, I think, just with his ability to influence and inspire people with the way he shares his thoughts, he would have been able to get connected with his EF.
I just commented on one of his posts – just sharing with you…

Hi AB,

I realise, I don't know how to call you...! And, AB, to me is so unemotional - I know that I don't like to call you that way - I don't get any other option... :-(

It is the first time ever in my life that I am writing to a film actor. It is not about the profession, it is just that I have never felt an emotional connection with anyone in the film industry that has forced me to write to them.
But, YOU... what powerful use of language!

I am not sure if I have seen all your movies; I am not sure if I will be able to critically appreciate the characters that you played; I am also not sure if I admire all the characters that you have played so far...
Nonetheless, all that I know is that I just...LOVE you. For being so open. For all the warmth and love that you shower on your EF...

I thought I knew very little about you... But after reading your post, I think I know you... I know you well enough to connect to you instantly, to love you unconditionally...
Thanks for being YOU.

You don't know me. I don't know if we will ever meet... It is okay. There are no conditions... Just love you because you are such a beautiful human being!

Suma

Being a Singer

I can’t believe it myself!
It is almost 9 years since I stopped learning music and even singing. Forget about singing, I don't even hum a tune!
And now, after this pretty looooooong gap, I am learning music again! My parents, my husband, my in-laws, even my baby could not believe it!
Why? I can’t believe it myself!
Yes, now I sing, practise and listen to music.
I don’t know what stopped me from doing this for the past several years. Perhaps now is the time. As The Alchemist says, when you truly want to do something, and if you are passionate about it, the entire world conspires to make it happen for you…. Yes! I believe in the alchemist now!
My coach was mentioning something similar to me the other day – the difference among knowing, doing and being. As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, ‘being’ rings in my ears all the time! I guess, it is a part of the evolution – the evolution in me.
I know and I become contented with the knowledge that I gained. I may do it sometime. If I am passionate, I do it more number of times. When I consistently do is when I become and BE. It becomes a part of my being.
I am sure that many of you would have read and reviewed and talked and discussed and argued and known enough about ‘being’.
I still would like to write about it because I feel what ‘being’ is. Now, for me, it is beyond description, therefore, beyond words.
People around me warn – that I should be consistent about my singing. The history should not repeat – what I did a decade ago.
Yes, I realise – now I should ‘be’ a singer; not just sing songs….
But the question is if I ‘realise’, is it ‘knowledge’ or ‘being’? (Sigh, sigh…)
It is a very long road to ‘being’!

I have surprised myself again!

Yes, I have surprised myself again! I wish my Love, Vikas was physically with me, here and now, to celebrate each moment that I live. I am sure, being in the other side of this globe, he can truly visualize what I am going through.

Looking back, I cannot think of my life without any changes. It has never been stagnant. I don’t remember when this journey began, for I remember a few scenes where I realized that the journey had begun long back.
I love Charles Darwin, for his phrase – the survival of the fittest. What a plain, simple, yet hard truth! For me, the phrase is not just another one in one of his publications; if I have survived, it is because I explored its meaning fully.
And, to go back to my first line – I have surprised myself again! My journey took a 360° turn: to inward; to the hidden treasure; to MY SELF. Ever since there have only been surprises. What has been the difference? I never realised the changes; it used to happen on its own. Later, I waited for a few changes. A little later, I wanted a few other changes and wished for them. Sometime before, I believed that I can bring about changes. Now, I bring about changes!