Dissolve

about me
about myself

ahead of time

about past time

the mind races

the thoughts surface

the stories form

past and future

runs in circles

pulls you deeper

kills the moment

now and ever

dissolve diffuse 

past and future

dissolve diffuse

me and myself

dissolve diffuse

the dark clouds

dissolve diffuse 

the heavy mind

dissolve diffuse

the separate me

dissolve diffuse

all identity

Tall and Dark

Amongst tall buildings

And in these dark streets

I wander aimlessly

Lost in my own world

A world of pleasure

A world of pain

And the next day again

Different buildings so tall

And new streets so dark

I wander once again

A world of pleasure 

A world of pain

The sun eclipsed 

By these tall buildings

The dark streets

All lit by neon lights

A world of pleasure

A world of pain

I wander aimlessly

I search carelessly 

To find the sun

In this world of neon

A world of pleasure

A world of pain

And I fail again

To find the true light

Artificial neon

no substitute for real

A world of pleasure

A world of pain

Look beyond tall egos

To find the true light

Look for the real

Beyond the dark mind

A world of real

A world eternal

Last Stanza

A morning so bright

HE asked me to write

Lyrics come bursting forth

From deep within my heart

Words flowing through smooth

Ink blue on virgin paper white

Creativity in my morning cup

And inspiration, my daily bread

Exhilaration of the waking hours

Lucidity in my goodnight dreams

Words flow from nether land

Coffee stains on the paper white

And a few mornings go by

Since HE asked me to write

Now this world is in rapture

Some hearts it does capture

Words stutter amidst flash bulbs

Slow dance on the paper white

It has been quite a while

Since I began to write

The world marvels at MY song

I dance intoxicated to its tune

And then the words stop flowing

Blotted ink on ageing paper white

It’s time for the last stanza

And I can’t find the words

The world sniggers at my plight

And I cry out to HIM at night

Finally the words start forming

Shaky ink dries on paper no longer white

The winter morning so cold

And it’s time to write again

The lyrics form in the mind

And my poem almost over

Then HE snatched the pen

 Unfinished on this paper white

That barren winter morning

I said, Lord, my last poem…

And HE said it was never yours

The poem was always MINE

My last stanza too was HIS,

Clear ink on pure paper white

Truth

Her biggest confidante, her friend
I am now mocked in gatherings
Just 'cause I shared the truth
Truth of the matter so bitter

So quickly I am an outcast
A distant memory from the past
Just 'cause I shared the truth
A noble pact not honoured

She shut me out of her room
Felt she cast me out of her heart
Just 'cause I shared the truth
A sacred promise not kept

She drowned me in loud anger
My silence felt more silent
Just 'cause I shared the truth
A silent witness in disdain

Stared me down in cold blood
Cold shoulder to my advances
Just 'cause I shared the truth
Maybe 'twas too hot to handle

Dethroned and unseated
From the kingdom of the Mind
Just 'cause I shared the truth
I lost to her, the ego

I am the soul's whisper
She is the ego so dominant
Just 'cause I shared the truth
The soul silenced by the ego

Conversations with a self made man

And he said with obvious pride, "I am a self-made man". There was a glow in his eyes as he proclaimed his arrival, and spoke about how he had become successful. The important lessons from his life that future generations could look at and learn from. 

And I asked with humility, "So, how self-made are you really?". There was a twinkle in my eye as I stated the facts. Your origin is but the fusion of two cells. The unseen and unknown million sacrifices and choices of your parents, your family and your friends are but obvious. The unseen and unknown sacrifices of people you don't even know is not that obvious in your becoming what you are. Your physical growth is fuelled by the grains from the fields of a farmer. Your emotional growth is thanks to your family and friends and enemies. Your intellectual growth is kindled by your teachers, both formal and informal. Your being has been shaped by all these folks and the many thousands of encounters on your way. So, how much of what you are is self-made, how much of your life is really shaped by you?

And he said with a bitter smile, "It was my handwork, to overcome the circumstances that life placed in my path, that made me what I am". There was a twitch in his eyes as he defended himself, and provided his reasons for his success. 

And I said with a knowing smile, "So, who placed those circumstances in your path and why?". There was mischief in my eyes as I dished out my logic. Your circumstances made you stronger but who created those circumstances? Were those circumstances placed on your path so that you fail? Or were they on your path so that you could learn and become stronger? So, how much of your life was shaped by the circumstances and how much of your life was made by you?

"But it was me, I am a self-made man" he pleaded with downcast eyes. I asked, "But where is the self in all of this? Your parent's cells, a farmer's toil, a teacher's diligence, a family's support, a world's indifference, an unfavourable circumstance, an inglorious defeat, a famous victory, a worthy opponent, an able ally, a crooked accomplice, an honest teammate, a fortunate investment, a real estate boom, an undeserved pink slip, a well deserved bonus, and many more such life events. All of these shaped you, but which of these is self? Which of these is you? "

"So, what is self? If I am made of non-self elements and non-self moments, then what is self?" he looked at me with bewildered eyes. I said, "Just like a mountain becomes a mountain by the seismic changes in the earth, by the pull and push of the forces of nature. Just like a river becomes a river, by the million tributaries that join it, by the rain and clouds. Just like the earth, the sun and the stars come to be, so do you. You are one with everything else. Remember you take different forms, but you are a part of the whole. You become, but you already are. Drop the self, you already are."

Oh, this conversation between ME and myself......

Pigeons and Circumstances

One fine morning, my daughters were bustling with excitement. Two pigeons were busy building a nest in our balcony. We were going to share a corner of our home with a new couple and welcome new lives, new baby pigeons in a short while. Very soon, we saw two eggs and the girls were all excited about the happenings. Our house help swiftly came in one morning and decided that this was not the place for a nest and eggs. She was about to move it, when the shrill scream of my girls stopped her. No, please do not touch the eggs, if a human touches them then the mother pigeon destroys the eggs. It was our mission now to protect the eggs and help bring the baby pigeons to the world safely. We are in it together with the parent pigeons now.

Days go by, I am travelling on business and I get a video message from home. The eggs have hatched, the baby pigeons are out. I talk to the girls and hear the excitement in their voices, of seeing new life, of seeing God's miracle. Well, the baby pigeons are a bit ugly, nothing like they expected it to be. But,  mission accomplished, we were part of the guardian angel network that helped bring these pigeons into the world. Now, it is time to ensure they grow up into big healthy pigeons and fly away. I get daily updates of how the parents feed the young ones. We are disgusted by the amount of pooh these tiny pigeons excrete. The pigeons were not the role models for hygienic behaviour. But, we decide to ignore these small irritants as we were part of the mission to transform these babies into strong birds that are ready to take on the world. We are in it together with the parent pigeons, of course!

And then I come back one evening from work to a somber silent home, I wondered what died that day. And my wife breaks the news to me that one of the baby pigeons have died, that the girls are equally sad as they are bitter about it. My elder daughter shows her indignation when she cries "Murder!". The parent pigeons had killed the young one. Google research showed that some pigeons do that  when the young one is not healthy or when it creates too much of noise that threatens the nesting place. So that was likely, but it could also have been some other pigeon or predatory bird. The jury is still out on that. The next day however, the mystery deepens as the remaining young pigeon is also killed. It is a depressing sad day for us. We had taken on the role of saviour and guardian, now having failed miserably at it. We are not even sure if we were in it together with the parent pigeons, them being the number one suspects in this gruesome murder. Beyond the sadness and depression, this taught us one valuable lesson. Don't try to play God or guardian to anybody or anything. Your own life is not in your hands, you are but a tiny cosmic speck. Do the best you can in a detached manner. You are just a circumstance in other's lives and all we can try to be is a good circumstance. 

The old forgotten village square

I have been here for a long time. I have been around this peaceful village square now long forgotten. This small village square was often the meeting place for old souls. This village square was witness to the easy silence amidst slow conversation. This was where the breeze, the sunshine and the raindrops danced to the seasons and its changes. This was the playground for young children and their rattles. This was the battleground for the village elders and their squabbles. This village square echoed with the chimes of the village temple. This village square bustled with the festive happiness of crackers and sparkles. This village square had space for the divine and had time for his prayers. This village square that I stand beside was all that and more....

I have been here for a long time. I have been around this village square while it was being consumed by man's urbanisation. This village square was witness to the advancing frenzy of the city and its army of progress. This small village square was often the meeting place for big landowners and their business deals. This village square saw rough men in gentle suits in fast and heated conversation. This was the playground for the rich in their game of real-life monopoly. This was the battleground for some in their legal tangles over land and labour. The breeze, the gentle sunshine and the rain no longer danced in abandon. The chimes of the village temple rang hollow. The divine had to pay rent and time was costlier than money. This village square that I stand beside was once so much more......

I have been here for a long time. If I am honest, this is a village square that I recognise no more. Amidst the tall buildings and tonnes of concrete, this is no longer a village square. This is a place where people have no time for conversation, no patience for pleasantries, no space for divine. This is a place where the sun burns down my every fibre. This is a place where I crave for the rains to quench my thirst. This is a place where I feel rootless amidst the heavy winds. This village square I do not recognise any more. I am the last remains of a time gone by. It is time for me to go as well, it is time for me to fade away.......I am the last tree standing by the old forgotten village square.

New eyes

And I said, look at me with new eyes
Not the ones that can not see beyond
Not eyes that only seek the mirror
Not the ones that see just the glitter

And I said, look at me with new eyes
Only the ones that can see within
Only eyes that see us together
Only the ones that see the real

And I said, love me with a new heart
Not the one that wallows in pain
Not the heart that beats for itself
Not one that lives the selfish pleasure

And I said, love me with a new heart
Only the one that beats for yonder
Only the heart that beats together
Only one that lives the selfless bliss

And I said, look at me with new eyes
I found us together deep within
And I said, love me with a new heart
I saw the joy of oneness in me

Your Old Clock

Quiet mornings, still nights
No conversation, no dialogue
The only sound that remains
The ticking of your clock

Busy mornings, sleepless nights
Ringing phone, restless mind
The only solace that remains
The ticking of your clock

Travel mornings, hotel nights
Strange conversation, stranger bed
The only silence that remains
The ticking of your clock

Weekend mornings, late late nights
Groggy conversation, aching heart
The only presence that remains
The ticking of your clock

Or is that you I hear
in the ticking of your old clock
Or is that you I see
in the motions of my old life

The only presence that matters
The ticking of your clock
The only presence that remains
The ticking of your clock

An Ordinary Life

We hope for the extraordinary. Extraordinary talent, extraordinary luck, extraordinary life. The glossy lifestyles, the fancy neighborhoods and the fast cars that make up an extraordinary life. And we strive for that extraordinary life. We make sacrifices along the way to reach the extraordinary. And you have the glossy lifestyle, the fancy neighborhood and the fast car now, so what? The sacrifices have taken their toll on your loved ones. You miss the small simple precious moments of joy. The sacrifices take a toll on your health. You are no longer fit to enjoy anymore of the small simple joys. The sacrifices take a toll on your soul. You no longer recognize the man on the other side of the mirror. You  now lead an extraordinary life with boring ordinariness.

So, here is a prayer for an ordinary life. We don't need the glitz and gloss, we don't need the fancy neighborhoods nor the fast cars. The moments we cherish are the twinkle in her eyes and the happiness in his smile. The moments that matter are the anticipation of a re-union with friends and family. The laughter of friends, the chatter of small children. The moments that give you meaning, the moments you find peace in the serenity of nature. The wonderful stillness of the morning dawn, the chirping melody of the sparrows.  The moments you realize your insignificance, the moments you marvel at the creations of the master. The watercolors in the sky, the firefly lighting the twilight evening. These extraordinary scenes as you travel through time are never to come back, never to be missed. These are the extraordinary moments that decorate an ordinary life. So, here is a prayer for an ordinary life.....and for the ability to enjoy the extraordinary in it.

My Teenage Drama Queen?

Can you get to grips with it, my little one? You are now a teenager !! It is a life changing event, or so we are conditioned to believe. Stories of teenage angst fill our television screens. All the drama of the seven years in between twelve and twenty makes us believe that these are life changing times. Maybe, maybe, that is true. Maybe, it is your turn to be the teenage drama queen....

I remember the day in hospital when you were a new-born, our first born. The joy in our hearts, the buzz of visiting relatives and friends, the happiness of your grandparents, you should have seen that excitement. As your father, I was overwhelmed. I felt great joy but also big responsibility. A responsibility I did not fully understand. You were a day old when Holland was playing Italy in the Euro 2000 semi-final. I was in those days a big supporter of Oranje and I slipped away from the hospital to watch that match. I remember Holland lost the match, but what I recollect much more vividly is your mother's anger at my irresponsibility, abandoning both of you for a little bit of football. How irresponsible....But then you and I know, how much I love watching football. At a time when fathers gave up watching television because kids wanted to watch cartoons, the exact opposite was happening in our home. You gave up cartoons for me to watch my football and sometimes, my Formula 1.  How irresponsible.... but hey, I hope that is not changing just because it your turn for all the drama.

I remember how I was initially scared to carry you as a baby. I was worried I would hurt you. I remember I stopped myself from kissing you, worried I would pass on germs. I felt a thrill in my heart when I was with you unlike anything I had experienced, but I also carried the burden of expectations of a modern day parent. I understood it is important to raise your child well. But the pressures and expecation of training your child to handle the competitive world was irksome. I grappled with that as you grew up. The first thing was about getting an admission in the "right" school. It was then about being enrolled for the additional life skill activities, be it dance, abacus, drama, painting, taekwondo and so on. How can I be sure my little girl wants to do any of that? But, someone told me, if you don't enroll her for those classes, how will she or you ever know what she is good at? Really!! If she was going to spend all her time in those classes, what about her precious time with us I thought. What about the little moments of togetherness that are to be sacrificed in this mad rush for life skills? You will find your destiny, you will find the dream you want to chase. I don't need to find it for you, but I am there to help anytime you need me. And yes, that is not changing just because its your turn for all the drama.

And through these years, as I rushed along madly making my career, I have had to stay away from you,  because of late night deadlines and also because of short and long travels. I have missed you so much on these days. I have realized along the way that my life is not about my career, it is about the ones I love. And for every bad day and equally for the good ones at work, my only inspiration has been to come back home and see your face. Seeing you at the start of the day as I walked you to the school bus, gave me enough reason for the day ahead. Seeing you at the end of the day sleeping as I came back from work, gave me enough peace to forget the worries of the day gone by. You are the light of my life and you can be the same to many others. Remember that and persist through the ups and downs that happen in life. Yes, drama happens, but the role you play is your own choice.

As you have grown into this beautiful teenage girl, I have been learning to be a father. And I have enjoyed every bit of it. So, my teenage drama queen, bring it on!! Ready for the big adventure?  Yes, along the way be sure you don't forget to have fun. Along the way make sure you have the courage to find and chase your dream.  And most importantly, make the choices that will light up the lives of folks around you. In between all this, if there are times when you need someone to lean on, you know where to look. I will be waiting. God bless and Happy Birthday!!

The Unfinished Painting...

An upcoming Bollywood actress, an aspiring star took her own life last week. She considered her life to be a failure. She was just 25. Is this is a reflection of our society, of the times we live in, of the pressures on the new generation? The pressure of winning every time, the need to achieve quickly, the restlessness in the pursuit of glory.  Depression is a disease of our times. The inability to live life at its own pace and on its own terms is killing us. Judging our every day as success or failure, we build a life of worry and restlessness. Comparing ourselves with others and feeling inadequate and beaten, we turn this life into a race to milestones. And as we miss milestones and escalate our worries, we lose our sanity. What is this life about? Is it about becoming someone in the world or is it about just being you? 

Have you heard the story about the two caterpillars who were in a race to reach the top of the tree they lived in? About how they lived their life in the pursuit of that goal, forgetting that their true purpose was something else entirely. Forgetting that their life was about transforming into a beautiful butterfly that was free to fly anywhere. We sometimes lose perspective and live to fulfill our narrow goals. We run the only race we know, forgetting that our purpose is finally being our own true self. It is about finding our own true self in the many images we create for the world outside.

There are times when we are distressed by our current situation, when demons work overtime in our heads, when we wonder what is happening in our lives. Those are the times when we need to keep sane and work through maintaining our perspective. Those are the times to talk to friends , gurus or mentors. Those are the times to come out of hiding and not let the depression suck you into its whirlpool. Once disturbed and disillusioned by the progress I was making in my career,  I talked to a mentor about it. He said something that I remember very clearly. He said " You are a few steps down the road on a long career. You have stopped to look at it midway and feel it is meaningless. It is a bit like looking at a painting midway through the artist's progress. What looks like meaningless strokes, what looks like a mess of colors is actually the beginning of a masterpiece. When you stop and look at your life midway, you are judging an unfinished painting....Let the painting be completed by the forces at work, some of them beyond your control, because that is how it becomes a masterpiece ". Yes, when you feel low and depressed, remember that your life is an unfinished painting...and its too early to judge. 

3 Career Lessons from the Indian Premier League

A message I shared a couple of weeks back with a group of young professionals ! Read on...

Cricket is a big passion in India and like many of you, I have been following the Indian Premier League  or IPL as it is called with great interest over the years. Unfortunately, this year, we have seen a lot of controversy with spot-fixing and corruption allegations in the IPL. Sport is usually associated with fun, but there are important lessons in sport too. Here are 3 career lessons that I learnt from the IPL that can be a guide in our professional lives.

1) Nothing is more important than ethics

We have seen many celebrated cricketers under the scanner for spot-fixing and other allegations of corrupt practices during this IPL season. Some people have thrown away celebrated careers by doing things they should not, things that are not ethical. While nefarious elements thought they could get away with it, in the end the long hand of law dealt them a blow. This episode reinforces the need for ethics, not just in sport, but in our personal lives. Upholding the highest standards of ethics is the foremost quality one seeks of you.

2) It is about performance, not about superstars

Have you seen the emergence of unknown players this IPL season? Be it Sanju Samson in Rajasthan Royals or Hanuma Vihari in Sunrisers Hyderabad, individuals who perform get recognized. They are noticed and it helps their careers. At the sometime, so called superstars who don't perform have to warm the bench. Ricky Ponting who is such a celebrated cricketer sat himself out of the team after a few bad performances so that deserving players who work for the team get a chance. As in sport, it is in our profession too that we can't rest on past laurels. It is not about being a superstar, it is not about big egos. Performance matters and we need to prove ourselves every single day.

3) Diversity is a strength

The balanced teams in this IPL season have done very well. There are some teams that have the hard hitting batsmen but poor bowlers, some others that have the fast bowlers but no good spinners and so on. However, teams that have the right balance and a diverse talent pool is the one that wins. In our professional lives too, remember to celebrate diversity. We should be open to new ideas and diverse thoughts because that makes a difference.

Success comes from right effort. My favourite author, Paulo Coelho defines success in his latest book - he says " What is Success? It is being able to go to bed each night with peace in your soul". Folks, stay the course through its ups and downs, and remember that someone who is ethical, someone who packs in 100% everyday, someone who is open to new ideas......will eventually succeed!

Where are you now?

Think back on the lives of the many great leaders and their sacrifices. Contrast that to the self-serving satraps of today who have corrupted almost every sphere of society. Mindless consumerism has degenerated society into a museum of the living dead. Interest groups and lobbying for resources create far more divisions than visible or conceivable. Convenience has replaced values, closing an eye to the plundering of a nation. As a nation, we have forgotten the lessons handed down to us. Searching for true leadership in these times, we can not but call on the spirit of the Mahatma and his vision for a self-sufficient and equal nation.

Where are you now?
A stray bullet of insanity
The dark shadow of hate
It laid you to the long rest
No bullet can kill you
Neither can this hate
Messiah of peace
Are you smiling at us now?

Where are you now?
A thick fog of immorality
The land of infidels and corrupt
It overshadows your memory
Your lessons are long lasting
But you are most missed now
Moral leader so farsighted
Are you smiling at us now?

Where are you now?
A deep ridge of inequality
The games of power and cunning
It tears up your simple message
This world more enslaved now
Less free than it was then
True leader of the masses
Are you smiling at us now?

Where are you now?
Where are you now?
Your time has come again
To walk this divided land
Your time has come again
To heal and to rebuild
For all the forgotten people
To see you smiling again

Broken

Searching for the sun

No, not a ray of hope

A dull blanket of mist

As this sadness spreads 

Tears well up as clouds

And our heavy hearts heave

Peep out of this window

See a sad world so broken

Waiting for the breeze

No, not a flutter of hope

And the air so still

As this madness spreads

Anger clouds a clear sky

Our muddied minds sink

Peep out of this window

See a violent world so broken

Looking for the moon

No, not a sliver of hope

A music so haunting

As this darkness spreads

Hate scars the night 

As peaceful smiles disappear

Peep out of this window

See a dark world so broken

Why peep out of this window?

To see a world so broken

A world so much in pain

Nothing much to gain

Close your eyes to this world

So heartless, so hopeless

And peep into your own self

Heal a world so broken

House of Dreams

An old mansion, neglected by time and weathered by the elements...... Have you looked at it and wondered if there is a story behind that? Have you ever seen someone's sweat and toil in its image? Have you seen someone's dream in its facade? Have you ever seen someone's soul in its corridor?

Today, as these weathered old mansions are broken down, lets spare a thought for someone else's dreams. Let us reflect on an unknown love song....or is it a song for the divine?

The house of my dreams,
What would it be if not for you?
The air stands still,
But for the breeze of your movement.
The walls look plain,
Ah, the color of your imagination.
The windows are dull,
But for the sunlight from your heart.
And the garden empty,
If not for the wholeness of your love.

The house of my dreams,
What would it be if not for you?
The love in this house
From your compassionate heart
The life in this house
Your laughter and joy
The soul of this house
In your silent gaze
You are its center
You are its living deity

The house of my dreams,
what would it be if not for you?
Not an emptiness made of bricks
But filled by the fantasy of my dreams
Not a tower of spiraling staircases
But elevated by the flight of my dreams
And my dreams are always 
of you, my dear
So the house of my dreams, 
What would it be if not for you?

Remember this day, lil' champ !!!

My dear lil' champ,

Today is a day to remember. We have many life-altering days in our life but we forget them in the daily humdrum as time passes by. But, I don't want to forget this day and I don't want you to forget this day. It is a bright Sunday, the day you ran your first mile race. Your family has no running bone in them, so you surprised us with your desire to run this race. Your dad's obsession with the races is limited to viewing appearances, in the race course egging on his favorite horse, or on TV watching Fernando Alonso drive to pole. So, genuinely I was surprised that you insisted on running this race!

It was last week that you came back from school having signed up to run this mile long race on a Sunday morning at 5 am. I know we asked you to reconsider. I was not sure you or I would wake up so early to make it to the race track. I tried to explain that to you, but you were certain that you would wake up on time. I was concerned if your seven year old legs could run a mile on an unfamiliar road-track. I tried to explain to you what a mile is and how long that winding track was, but you were certain that you would run the course. I tried to tell you that there would be cars on the road and I was worried about you running on the road, but, you used logic to tell me there would be no traffic that early in the morning. You were persistent, my dear. To run that race was your dream and you let no one come in the way. You persevered, you ran your dream race this morning.

My sleepy groggy eyes woke up to your excitement this morning. You were passionate, my dear. I could see it in your eyes as we got ready to leave this morning for the race track. Your passion was contagious and my apprehensions about you being up to it were laid to rest. We reached the race track and it was heartening to see you warm-up and get ready for the big moment. And when the starters gun went off, everyone set off on the mile long race, except you. My heart stopped a minute when I saw you kneel down and look back. I thought your eyes were searching for me. I could see you through the crowd but could not get to you. We were not sure what happened to you. Then we figured out that your shoes had come off and by then, everyone else in the race was so far ahead. I thought you'd stop, but you fixed your shoe, got up and ran. You ran your race with heart. You did not give up this morning, you were determined, my dear. To see you run alone behind the pack was heart-breaking for me, so, I ran behind you that I can keep you company, that you don't feel alone. But, such was your spirit that I could not catch up with you, I saw you reach the leading pack and merge into it. I lost sight of you, but I knew you had fought back. You fought hard, you made your dream race count this morning.

It is not about winning or losing, but, I write this to remind you of your own passionate spirit. This letter is not for today, but it is for times ahead in your life. This letter is for those times when life throws a gauntlet at you, when there are ups and downs. This letter is for those times when you are feeling blue. This letter is for all those tests in your life ahead, when you need to remember this day and the spirit you showed today. 

I glimpsed the soul of a fighter today. I saw the spirit of a champion this morning. I felt the heartbeat of a hero in you this beautiful morning. So, remember this day, lil' champ ! You will see your true potential in this day. Persistence, perseverance and passion you showed today is for all times. You can always make your dream come alive.

All the best,
Your father.

The Gaze

If silence is the language of the Gods, then poetry must be the divine interruption. The words that fill a silent heart, the words that enter a quiet mind can only be one of harmony, peace and love. My tribute to the divine romance...

If your eyes are the window to your soul

then into your eyes; I gaze forever

And in your eyes; I see the world

a beautiful world in your eyes forever

In your eyes; I see the sparkle of the morning dew

and the laziness of the afternoon cloud

In your eyes; I see the hues of the setting sun

and the serene blue of the twilight hour

In your eyes; the moonshine of a pleasant night

and suddenly still; the blinding light of your beautiful soul

If your eyes are the window to your soul

then into your eyes; I gaze forever

Believe, you are worth it !

Said the rose plant "Oh, I am not as good as people think. Look at my thorns, I am so cruel. "

He replied "But when I look at you, I see a lovely red rose. When I look at you, I break into a smile. When I look at you, my face glows with joy. I can't take my eyes off you, and when you are touched by dewdrops glistening in the sun, I wonder what great sorrow is hidden in that tear. I look at your tears, and my heart aches. I want to take the thorns away that cause this sorrow. O rose plant, you are not as good as people think you are, you are worth much more! "

Believe in your self worth always. You are worth it, really!!

On the turning away

Under the shadow of a loss in the family, life has posed many a question at me this week. The ultimate futility, the ceramic frailty of everything we chase through a lifetime only to leave behind stares at us, while we continue to forget the fleeting nature of this life. We continue with our busy lives chasing the things that satisfy the 'I' in each of us. We build the walls and finery around us somehow hoping they insulate us from the dust and suffering of common human life. We wish away the pain by living in our golden illusion without acknowledging the hollowness in our hearts. We become what we are not, we become insensitive, we become indifferent, we become selfish. We refuse to acknowledge the pain of others, we refuse to acknowledge the pale and the downtrodden. We turn away....

On the turning away

From the pale and downtrodden

And words they say

Which we won't understand

Don't accept that what's happening

Is just a case of other's suffering

Or you will find that you're joining in

The turning away

The questions pour in. To what avail is this meaningless pursuit of selfish happiness? Are we joining in the turning away? While we despair at the indifferent state we are in, we find the encouraging signs that lead us to find some meaning. As we despair at our helplessness in changing the world, we find inspiration in the everyday. The inspiration I found this weekend was in a group of young men and women who are doing their bit to change the world. They are a group of young corporate executives who take the time out on their weekends to help the downtrodden. In today's times, when we don't have time for ourselves, finding time for others, for the service of others is refreshing. These folks help poor children with education in the rural areas. They support an old women's home with more than 100 women abandoned by their families. This started as a small idea when 5 people came together, 5 years back. I witnessed the birth of this idea from afar. Now, I see they have built a movement that is growing from strength to strength, that has many volunteers and many beneficiaries. I have had the privilege of seeing them come together and persevere over the years, single minded in their determination to serve, to make a difference to other's lives. In doing so, they provide meaning to life.

No more turning away 

From the weak and the weary

No more turning away

From the coldness inside

Just a world we all must share

It's not enough just to stand and stare

It is only a dream that there'll be

No more turning away

P.S : Follow this enthusiastic group on www.whyfoundation.org . March on forward, folks!! And thanks to Pink Floyd for their music, for the lyrics "On the Turning Away"