"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them -- work, family, health, friends and spirit -- and you are keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of them, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life"
-- Brian Dyson ex-CEO, Coca Cola
Thursday, October 25, 2007
About life and juggling balls
Prayer and Meditation
In prayer, you talk to existence.
In meditation, you listen to existence.
In prayer, you listen to your own voice.
In meditation, you listen to the voice beyond.
Prayer is communication with existence.
Meditation is a communion with existence.
In meditation, you listen to existence.
In prayer, you listen to your own voice.
In meditation, you listen to the voice beyond.
Prayer is communication with existence.
Meditation is a communion with existence.
Torana Trek
As usual, we assembled at Naval's house to decide upon the location for the trek. Again, as usual, each bloke had a different location in mind. Finally, we zeroed in on Torana for no particular reason. We decided to catch the early morning bus at 7. And inspite of having to get up early, we slept late. Things were proceeding as they always do. The only thing left that would fit in this schedule was catching a late bus and starting the trek in the afternoon.
And then, we received our first shock. We ended up catching the bus at early morning 8 ! This had never happened in our history of trekking. We didnt know what to do and became quite nervous and fidgety. Ameya started blabbering about shaving off his moustache, Tushar started blabbering about growing one and Naval started mumbling about weird beards and I was wondering how gorillas would look if they had Veerappan-style moustaches. Things settled down after a while but we didnt know whom to blame.
Rain started pouring down as the bus journey to Velhe began. We were all men of faith on the bus that day. The bus driver had immense faith on his bus, the tyres and the road, and we on him. Some of the turns at breakneck speed were very frightening indeed. Faith carried us through to Velhe by 10. We had tea and bhajji and then started the climb.
Our very own Hitchhikers Guide to Trekking had described that a broad route leads to the top. But after some time, we began to doubt the seriousness of the author's statements. We crossed a stream holding on to each other's hands and then ended up on a narrow path. We started climbing in the general direction, which was up. We hit a patch where it was quite muddy and slippery and we somehow managed to climb up and locate the broad path. It was raining heavily all the time. The way along the broad path seemed nothing after our adventures on the slope earlier.
Walking amidst the mountains always makes me want to sing - I am forced to refrain from singing when im amidst people. The words "Zindagi bhar nahi bhulegi yeh barsaat ki raat ..." popped into my mind and I decided to give it a go. And I couldnt locate where in the entire scale of notes the correct note for the 'Zi' part of 'Zindagi' is located. I tried the low scale but sounded like a frog. Some frogs around me responded but it seemed like an angry response. So i decided to locate 'Zi' in the other scales.
I tried the medium scale but sounded like a donkey. I tried going high and sounded like a high-pitched whistle. Finally, I decided to skip 'Zi' and directly start with 'nda' part of 'Zindagi' but couldnt manage that either. And skipping and proceeding hence, I reached 'at' of 'raat' and I think I hit the right note this time. So the song was rendered by me thus - "(silence) (silence) (silence) at". I also managed to hit the right note for 'bhu' and then the song went "(silence) bhu (silence) at". I sounded like a dog that is barking and spitting at the same time. I gave up.
Soon, we were walking along the top of a ridge and then came the most thrilling part of the trek.
High winds were blowing across the ridge and the wind was so powerful that we had to lean against the wind to prevent ourselves from losing our balance. It was raining as well and hence the rain drops were hitting us so hard like it was being slapped repeatedly on the face. This would have been a problem for me, but school had toughened me up with all the slapping I had received then. If the wind had been stronger, it would have been really difficult to stay on the ridge. We would all have been flying then, like a gang of supermen, albeit without the underwear on the outside.
After that ridge, we were protected on the windward side by plants and smaller ridges and we finally reached the top, completely drenched. We were more wet than water itself.
We were wondering about who would be as crazy as us to attempt a trek in this weather but as we entered a temple there, we found 5 people having a quiet lunch. We knew two of the guys who had been our classmates during PG.
We devoured the bread along with the cheese slices without sitting down, since the floor was all wet and we didnt want to make it wetter by sitting on it. After lunch, we began the descent. In short, we had fought the entire way up the gad, all the while grumbling, mumbling and complaining, just to have a measly lunch of bread and cheese. This was more like us and finally we were very happy at having found ourselves.
Again, that ridge proved quite a challenge during the descent but we managed to cross it and experienced the thrill once more. We finally reached below at 3:30, hitched a jeep to nasrapur and then a PMT. We finally managed to reach Naval's place by 5:30. We quickly left for our homes and then I felt better after having a nice, hot-water bath.
I had had enough of getting wet and on that note, made the tough but unescapable and logically correct decision of not having a bath for the next 3-4 weeks.
And then, we received our first shock. We ended up catching the bus at early morning 8 ! This had never happened in our history of trekking. We didnt know what to do and became quite nervous and fidgety. Ameya started blabbering about shaving off his moustache, Tushar started blabbering about growing one and Naval started mumbling about weird beards and I was wondering how gorillas would look if they had Veerappan-style moustaches. Things settled down after a while but we didnt know whom to blame.
Rain started pouring down as the bus journey to Velhe began. We were all men of faith on the bus that day. The bus driver had immense faith on his bus, the tyres and the road, and we on him. Some of the turns at breakneck speed were very frightening indeed. Faith carried us through to Velhe by 10. We had tea and bhajji and then started the climb.
Our very own Hitchhikers Guide to Trekking had described that a broad route leads to the top. But after some time, we began to doubt the seriousness of the author's statements. We crossed a stream holding on to each other's hands and then ended up on a narrow path. We started climbing in the general direction, which was up. We hit a patch where it was quite muddy and slippery and we somehow managed to climb up and locate the broad path. It was raining heavily all the time. The way along the broad path seemed nothing after our adventures on the slope earlier.
Walking amidst the mountains always makes me want to sing - I am forced to refrain from singing when im amidst people. The words "Zindagi bhar nahi bhulegi yeh barsaat ki raat ..." popped into my mind and I decided to give it a go. And I couldnt locate where in the entire scale of notes the correct note for the 'Zi' part of 'Zindagi' is located. I tried the low scale but sounded like a frog. Some frogs around me responded but it seemed like an angry response. So i decided to locate 'Zi' in the other scales.
I tried the medium scale but sounded like a donkey. I tried going high and sounded like a high-pitched whistle. Finally, I decided to skip 'Zi' and directly start with 'nda' part of 'Zindagi' but couldnt manage that either. And skipping and proceeding hence, I reached 'at' of 'raat' and I think I hit the right note this time. So the song was rendered by me thus - "(silence) (silence) (silence) at". I also managed to hit the right note for 'bhu' and then the song went "(silence) bhu (silence) at". I sounded like a dog that is barking and spitting at the same time. I gave up.
Soon, we were walking along the top of a ridge and then came the most thrilling part of the trek.
High winds were blowing across the ridge and the wind was so powerful that we had to lean against the wind to prevent ourselves from losing our balance. It was raining as well and hence the rain drops were hitting us so hard like it was being slapped repeatedly on the face. This would have been a problem for me, but school had toughened me up with all the slapping I had received then. If the wind had been stronger, it would have been really difficult to stay on the ridge. We would all have been flying then, like a gang of supermen, albeit without the underwear on the outside.
After that ridge, we were protected on the windward side by plants and smaller ridges and we finally reached the top, completely drenched. We were more wet than water itself.
We were wondering about who would be as crazy as us to attempt a trek in this weather but as we entered a temple there, we found 5 people having a quiet lunch. We knew two of the guys who had been our classmates during PG.
We devoured the bread along with the cheese slices without sitting down, since the floor was all wet and we didnt want to make it wetter by sitting on it. After lunch, we began the descent. In short, we had fought the entire way up the gad, all the while grumbling, mumbling and complaining, just to have a measly lunch of bread and cheese. This was more like us and finally we were very happy at having found ourselves.
Again, that ridge proved quite a challenge during the descent but we managed to cross it and experienced the thrill once more. We finally reached below at 3:30, hitched a jeep to nasrapur and then a PMT. We finally managed to reach Naval's place by 5:30. We quickly left for our homes and then I felt better after having a nice, hot-water bath.
I had had enough of getting wet and on that note, made the tough but unescapable and logically correct decision of not having a bath for the next 3-4 weeks.
Rajgad Trek
I have always been an avid trekker with a whopping 3.6 treks under my belt so far. And with no trek in the last few months, you must have guessed how restless I was to go on one. So me, Ameya, Naval and Tushar decided to go to Rajgad on the weekend of 18th of this month.
We reached Margasani by bus and then walked the 8 kms to Gunjawane. Then we had pohe and tea there at the Suvela Hotel and placed our lunch order. The guys at the hotel bring your lunch up to you on the gad but charge an extra 100 rs for that.
In continuing with our groups tradition of deciding to start a trek at dawn, we managed to start the trek at 1pm in the afternoon. We were off target from the planned time by a paltry 5-6 hours. But I believe, trekking in the afternoon makes the entire experience more simple. You are so tired that you hardly notice the deep crevices, valleys and the difficult climbs that would otherwise have frightened you.
A trekking book had described the climb as "gentle to steep" but looking at the gentle part we had serious doubts about the steep part. We climbed for a while, then there was a sort of small plateau in the middle and from there we could see the steep last climb to the gad.
The weather was quite pleasant with friendly clouds obscuring the sun, greenery all around and birds singing sweet songs. We were climbing at a leisurely pace and hence werent so much tired. I was humming a tune as i was climbing up. Everything seemed to be perfect. And then I had a horrible realization which shocked me to the core ! I was humming a Himesh song !! I quickly looked back to see if the others had heard me doing that - they hadnt. I begged forgiveness from the clouds, the trees and the birds and started humming 'Wugundu Wagabuku', an imaginary African folk song - anything to forget the Himesh song !
We reached the top at 3:30 through the Chor darwaza, had a brief rest and then started the ascent of the Balekilla. This climb was quite interesting with one tough rock patch. However, there are railings present there which can be used for assistance while climbing. An expert climber like me didnt require the railings and I used them for only about 99.99% of that patch. I didnt use it for 0.01% since the railing wasnt present for that part. And it would be nearer the truth if I said that rather than 'using' the railings, I was clinging to them for dear life.
Me and Tushar rushed ahead and sat on the broken Buruj overlooking the Sanjivini Machi. We could see the river delta on the left and valleys and hills all around.
And then came the most thrilling moment of my life. A huge, white cloud started approaching us, accompanied with wind. We could see it floating towards us, obscuring the Machi along the length as it approached us. High winds had started blowing too. And we were sitting there, me and Tushar, on that broken Buruj right at the top. And then everything was blotted out from our view as we could see only white all around us and our hair was being blown around by a gusty wind. This was the moment which I will cherish forever.
Ameya and Naval also approached us and then after 5 minutes we left and descended the Balekilla. Then it was time for some bridge and then lunch/dinner which the guy brought up at around 7:15.
We hadnt planned on staying and had a most memorable stay in the Padmavati temple. We were shivering in between because of the cold and we were sleeping on the cold stone floor. There were other groups sleeping there as well. And as it always happens when N (N>1) people sleep together in a huge room, there was a snoring competition. One guy seemed be to bent on imitating the sounds made by a startled bear while another one seemed to be confused - he was trying to be a mixer, an aeroplane engine and a whistle at the same time. It was as if each group had its official representative for snoring and we had ours in Naval !
We (except Naval who somehow managed to sleep peacefully) had about 1-2 hours of sleep and got up at 5:30 am. We had run out of food and water and decided to only visit the Suvela Machi before descending. We began our descent at 7:30 after seeing the Machi. We only had a bottle of water with us and that water had been filled there from a tank which was clean except for some plastic bags, fish and their young, some weird-looking insects and frogs.
We completed our descent by 8:45 and then had a round of pohe and tea. Then hitched a rickshaw to Margasani, then by jeep to the highway and from there a PMT bus.
We should have reached Swargate by 11:45 (we actually reached at 12:30, and then home by 1:30) but got caught in a traffic jam at Katraj. We hadnt bathed since 1.5 days and were hungry. We were getting restless to get back home. And then, that part of you which wants to complain started to pry my mouth open so that it could get out. But I clamped my mouth firmly shut. Not today. Today, I wont complain about anything - not after that experience on the Buruj and the entire trek. Maybe some other time, but not today.
We reached Margasani by bus and then walked the 8 kms to Gunjawane. Then we had pohe and tea there at the Suvela Hotel and placed our lunch order. The guys at the hotel bring your lunch up to you on the gad but charge an extra 100 rs for that.
In continuing with our groups tradition of deciding to start a trek at dawn, we managed to start the trek at 1pm in the afternoon. We were off target from the planned time by a paltry 5-6 hours. But I believe, trekking in the afternoon makes the entire experience more simple. You are so tired that you hardly notice the deep crevices, valleys and the difficult climbs that would otherwise have frightened you.
A trekking book had described the climb as "gentle to steep" but looking at the gentle part we had serious doubts about the steep part. We climbed for a while, then there was a sort of small plateau in the middle and from there we could see the steep last climb to the gad.
The weather was quite pleasant with friendly clouds obscuring the sun, greenery all around and birds singing sweet songs. We were climbing at a leisurely pace and hence werent so much tired. I was humming a tune as i was climbing up. Everything seemed to be perfect. And then I had a horrible realization which shocked me to the core ! I was humming a Himesh song !! I quickly looked back to see if the others had heard me doing that - they hadnt. I begged forgiveness from the clouds, the trees and the birds and started humming 'Wugundu Wagabuku', an imaginary African folk song - anything to forget the Himesh song !
We reached the top at 3:30 through the Chor darwaza, had a brief rest and then started the ascent of the Balekilla. This climb was quite interesting with one tough rock patch. However, there are railings present there which can be used for assistance while climbing. An expert climber like me didnt require the railings and I used them for only about 99.99% of that patch. I didnt use it for 0.01% since the railing wasnt present for that part. And it would be nearer the truth if I said that rather than 'using' the railings, I was clinging to them for dear life.
Me and Tushar rushed ahead and sat on the broken Buruj overlooking the Sanjivini Machi. We could see the river delta on the left and valleys and hills all around.
And then came the most thrilling moment of my life. A huge, white cloud started approaching us, accompanied with wind. We could see it floating towards us, obscuring the Machi along the length as it approached us. High winds had started blowing too. And we were sitting there, me and Tushar, on that broken Buruj right at the top. And then everything was blotted out from our view as we could see only white all around us and our hair was being blown around by a gusty wind. This was the moment which I will cherish forever.
Ameya and Naval also approached us and then after 5 minutes we left and descended the Balekilla. Then it was time for some bridge and then lunch/dinner which the guy brought up at around 7:15.
We hadnt planned on staying and had a most memorable stay in the Padmavati temple. We were shivering in between because of the cold and we were sleeping on the cold stone floor. There were other groups sleeping there as well. And as it always happens when N (N>1) people sleep together in a huge room, there was a snoring competition. One guy seemed be to bent on imitating the sounds made by a startled bear while another one seemed to be confused - he was trying to be a mixer, an aeroplane engine and a whistle at the same time. It was as if each group had its official representative for snoring and we had ours in Naval !
We (except Naval who somehow managed to sleep peacefully) had about 1-2 hours of sleep and got up at 5:30 am. We had run out of food and water and decided to only visit the Suvela Machi before descending. We began our descent at 7:30 after seeing the Machi. We only had a bottle of water with us and that water had been filled there from a tank which was clean except for some plastic bags, fish and their young, some weird-looking insects and frogs.
We completed our descent by 8:45 and then had a round of pohe and tea. Then hitched a rickshaw to Margasani, then by jeep to the highway and from there a PMT bus.
We should have reached Swargate by 11:45 (we actually reached at 12:30, and then home by 1:30) but got caught in a traffic jam at Katraj. We hadnt bathed since 1.5 days and were hungry. We were getting restless to get back home. And then, that part of you which wants to complain started to pry my mouth open so that it could get out. But I clamped my mouth firmly shut. Not today. Today, I wont complain about anything - not after that experience on the Buruj and the entire trek. Maybe some other time, but not today.
Suryanamaskar
A detailed description of Suryanamaskar with pictures.
http://www.holistic-online.com/Yoga/hol_yoga_pos_sunsal.htm
http://www.holistic-online.com/Yoga/hol_yoga_pos_sunsal.htm
Hazaaron Khvaahishen aisii
hazaaron Khvaahishen aisii ki har Khvaaish pe dam nikale
bahut nikale mere armaaN lekin phir bhii kam nikale
nikalanaa Khuld se aadam kaa sunate aaye hain lekin
bahut beaabaruu hokar tere kuuche se ham nikale
muhabbat men nahiin hai farq jiine aur marane kaa
usii ko dekh kar jiite hain jis kaafir pe dam nikale
Khudaa ke vaaste pardaa na kaabe se uThaa zaalim
Kahiin aisaa na ho yaaN bhii vahii kaafir sanam nikale
KahaaN maiKhaane ka daravaazaa 'Ghalib' aur kahaaN vaaiz
par itanaa jaanate hain kal vo jaataa thaa ke ham nikale
-- Mirza Ghalib
bahut nikale mere armaaN lekin phir bhii kam nikale
nikalanaa Khuld se aadam kaa sunate aaye hain lekin
bahut beaabaruu hokar tere kuuche se ham nikale
muhabbat men nahiin hai farq jiine aur marane kaa
usii ko dekh kar jiite hain jis kaafir pe dam nikale
Khudaa ke vaaste pardaa na kaabe se uThaa zaalim
Kahiin aisaa na ho yaaN bhii vahii kaafir sanam nikale
KahaaN maiKhaane ka daravaazaa 'Ghalib' aur kahaaN vaaiz
par itanaa jaanate hain kal vo jaataa thaa ke ham nikale
-- Mirza Ghalib
Ranjish hi sahi
ranjish hi sahi , dil ko jalane ke liye aa
aa phir se mujhe chod kar jaane ke liye aa
maana ki aate hain tumhe na aane ke bahane
kabhi to na jaane ke liye aa
maana ki mohabbat ka chupaana hai mohabaat
chupke se kisi roz jatane ke liye aa
ab tak dil-e-khush_fahm ko hai tujh se umiden
ye Aakhiri sham'eN bhi bujhane ke liye Aa
-- Ahmed Faraz
aa phir se mujhe chod kar jaane ke liye aa
maana ki aate hain tumhe na aane ke bahane
kabhi to na jaane ke liye aa
maana ki mohabbat ka chupaana hai mohabaat
chupke se kisi roz jatane ke liye aa
ab tak dil-e-khush_fahm ko hai tujh se umiden
ye Aakhiri sham'eN bhi bujhane ke liye Aa
-- Ahmed Faraz
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The Wonder Years
“Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers; the next day you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul.”
"When you're a little kid you're a bit of everything; Scientist, Philosopher, Artist. Sometimes it seems like growing up is giving these things up one at a time."
"Teachers never die. They live in your memory forever. They were there when you arrived, they were there when you left. Like fixtures. Once in a while they taught you something. But not that often. And, you never really knew them, any more than they knew you. Still, for awhile, you believed in them. And, if you were lucky, maybe there was one who believed in you."
"The thing is, we didn't have to hate eachother for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves for growing up."
"You start out life with a clean slate. Then you begin to make your mark. You face decisions, make choices. You keep moving forward. But sooner or later there comes a time where you look back over where you have been... and wonder who you really are."
"When you're a little kid you're a bit of everything; Scientist, Philosopher, Artist. Sometimes it seems like growing up is giving these things up one at a time."
"Teachers never die. They live in your memory forever. They were there when you arrived, they were there when you left. Like fixtures. Once in a while they taught you something. But not that often. And, you never really knew them, any more than they knew you. Still, for awhile, you believed in them. And, if you were lucky, maybe there was one who believed in you."
"The thing is, we didn't have to hate eachother for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves for growing up."
"You start out life with a clean slate. Then you begin to make your mark. You face decisions, make choices. You keep moving forward. But sooner or later there comes a time where you look back over where you have been... and wonder who you really are."
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Looking back ...
And even though the moment passed me by,
I still cant turn away,
All the things you thought you'd never lose,
Tossed along the way ...
I still cant turn away,
All the things you thought you'd never lose,
Tossed along the way ...
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