When nature winked

The calm and serene nature is a welcome relief to people who know only life within the four walls of their houses; when the trees and plants are bathed time and again, washing away all the pollute and dirt that human ingenuity has dumped on them, it is a joyful sight. It is like a mother bathing her child, washing her gently and carefully, wiping her out with a towel… what greater care can nature show on the flora and fauna that humanity never learned to respect and appreciate!

It is still drizzling and I know it is time for me to pack up my things and return home, to the four walled room, which has managed to hide the glories of nature from my eyes. When I wake up in the morning, I don’t see the sun, and when I lie down on bed at night, the moon does not sneak into my room. The singing of the birds do not reach my ears; all that I hear in the morning is the honking of the vehicles, which can throttle the sweet scented melodies of the birds. But what use grumbling about these, for I can do nothing, except get out of them to be in close proximity with nature.

What a lovely sensation would one get, when the gentle drops of rain fall on to our skin; even the most spectacular artificial fountains and water falls, cannot recreate this effect. But I would like to find who had discovered or invented the concept of an umbrella, to prevent the water drops falling on to me! What if I get drenched? Some are so very frightened of getting wet in the rain; and sometimes I long to get fully drenched in the rain, and when it is done, rush to wipe myself out, so that I don’t catch cold or get fever. But it is a wonderful experience to occasionally let the rain waters wash me.

As I walked gazing at the plants and trees, listening to the gentle fall of the drops of rain on to the already saturated earth, I wondered why the lightning and thunder? Then it suddenly occurred to me that lightning is just the winking of nature on the stern-looking humanity. When men and women on the earth are too serious and do not bother her, then she has to awaken us by thundering, just to give us a jolt, to say, wake up and look at me! But do we take note of her, when she is just in front of our eyes?

Nature has mechanisms which are magical for human mind and spirit, but very few really care to submit themselves into her hands, to be charged and changed. The earth scent after the rains is heavenly, and one may have to experience it, to get a feel of what it really means. I know it clears my chocked throat, clears my lungs and charges my heart and soul. Nature is the free charger of energy, which no Horlicks or Bornvita can ever give so freely. But sadly only the people who have the eyes of faith can find her charm and be enticed by her lovely make!

Art of Listening - Claims

There is strife and conflict all around, and at times one is afraid of venturing into public places for fear of any assault, not by aliens or enemies, but by those familiar men and women we thought were far too innocent to indulge in such ghastly acts of violence. Everyone on earth has a claim, and for every claim there is a counter-claim and it is a never ending vicious circle, which has no end. Caught between these claims and counter-claims are innocent men and women who are unaware of what is happening behind their backyards. We are too frightened to look through the windows, which we have to shut them and pull the curtains over. We create a world of our own and insulate ourselves from the outside world, because we feel safe and secure within the four walls.

Innocent though we are, we too have our claims – in whatever walk of life. As a parent I have certain claims over my children, as a neighbor I have claims over friends and neighbors and the wider society, the government and I have claims even from God. Similarly everyone I come in contact with has a counter claim over me. I should be lucky if my claims and my neighbors counter-claims match; woe to me and to the people I live with if my claims don’t match with their counter claims. In such a situation, it is quite normal and natural that I assert my own claim, irrespective of others’ counter claims. In arguments, two or more people talk simultaneously, and there is none to listen.

Emotionally charged words find the most loaded expression in such encounters.
If there are so much of problems in relationships, conflicts and strife among family members and friends, the main reason is not that each one is not genuine. We all of us are sincere people. Even the worst of culprits and hooligans are sincere about their intentions and motivations, and we need to appreciate it. But their intentions (call them claims) may not match with our notions and ideas (call them our counter-claims); the situation may become volatile, because there is no objective criteria to say that a claim is better than another. But there is an easy solution to this claim-counter claim riddle, and most often we may not even think that it is possible!

When we are emotionally charged, the doors of our hearts and minds get closed automatically, and then there is no way that the views and ideas of the other person can ever enter into our hearts. The words hit on the doors of the hearts and minds and bounce back. That is why there is greater noise when two emotionally charged persons argue. It is within our control to reverse the process and we will find that there is no major conflict between our claims, and our throats may be saved from yelling, so that we may sing some sweet melodies for our loved ones, our energy may be saved for more productive works, and our time may be utilized for growth oriented events in life. The magic mantra here is, Listen! Listen to my heart and mind (what comes from within), and listen to the other (what comes from without).

As a preparation for the graceful moments of listening, today I sit in a quiet place, where I can be sure that no one will disturb me for the next five to ten minutes, and close my eyes. As I close my eyes, I am able to hear a thousand voices deep within me, not the external sound and ambience, but the inner voices. It is possible that I am able to see many people, whom I have categorized as good and bad people; but during the next few minutes, my main preoccupation is to listen to them. But the process needs to start with the external sounds. If it is required, I may take enough time to identify the different sounds, and stay with them. I will gently move from one sound to another, without rushing through them. I will pay special attention to those faint sounds, those feeble voices, and let them enter into my senses. It will benefit me the most if I am able to enter into these sounds and become part of them; then I will know that I am unlocking the closed doors of my heart and mind!

Thank you Net!

When computers were slowly entering into the lanes and bylanes of our lives many years ago, many thought that it was an Alladin’s magic lamp, which could provide solutions to many of the problems which haunted humanity, and they were hopeful that the machine would soon compete with the human mind in providing solutions, not only mathematical and scientific, but also may take hold of the lives of ordinary mortals. On the other side of the spectrum were people who were very skeptical about the role and function of computers in our lives. They considered the computer as an agent of the devil, or the evil one to use a non-religious word! They were not only cautious, but also warned humanity of the great disaster that maybe brought about by the machine. Many years after the computer was born, the skeptics were face to face with a greater danger to their sanity and sanctity, the advent of the World Wide Web. The world was placed in front of us on a platter, and it is for us to take it or not, but it has sneaked into all that we can think of and is the spirit that pervades the earth.

It would be futile for me to speak for or against the computers and how they have shaped the world today, and information technology has brought the world within our fists, as one cellular phone company has its slogan as. The internet has opened a sea of information for us; there is a danger of being drowned in this sea, but one may also find rich treasures in it, and make use of them for one’s own growth. Often when confronted with problems, perhaps the best friend one may turn today is the www.google.com. And invariably there may be solutions that may make you smile, and very seldom does the internet turn you down. There is anything you want in the net, but I have seen that for a discerning mind, it has all the riches one may seek. It is a double edged sword; one may use it for self-defense, at the same time it could be used to kill one and others. The choice is ours.

In the modern world, people have become so busy that they have very little time for other persons. Time is the most expensive thing in the world today for some, and they may not be able to spare even a few moments to listen to others and give counsel. One has to try to find one’s own solutions to the problems that confront one today, and can no longer look to another for help and support. Over the years, the internet has come to fill the vacuum created by the modern times. A ready reckoner, friend in need, guide in trouble – that is what the internet today is. Let me illustrate this point with an illustration. Before I left the country for a month-long visit to the Europe, I had to reload the Windows in my laptop, and subsequently the program I frequently use, including the Microsoft Office. Since I did the loading just before I was to leave the city, I did not care to install some of the programs (in computer language drivers) required to run internet (LAN driver). When I reached Brussels, I realized I had not loaded this particular driver, meant for this particular brand of laptop. I had not taken the original CD given at the time of purchase of the laptop which contained the necessary driver. I knew where I had to look for help. I went to the internet and looked for the driver, and in an hour, I was running internet from my laptop.

I know it is not the time to shower encomium on the internet, but I have realized that many a time, it had solved many of the problems which might have cost me time as well as pinched my purse. If the internet has in a sense killed the markets and made many a technocrat unemployed, it is also true that it has opened the gates of opportunities to willing souls, at the least price. You might get anything you want without paying a penny, and you don’t even need to run around looking for that, it is given to you on a platter at your study or reading room, or anywhere you are with your laptop and an internet connection. Most of the well-known books are available online, not only for a price, but also free. There I can find every forbidden subject on earth freely available, there are also everything that is sacred. The beauty of the internet is that it has brought together into a matrimonial alliance sacred and profane, religious and secular, this worldly and other worldly, mundane and spiritual; whatever it be, you will get what you are looking for. Isn’t that a beautiful thing.

Today I would like to pause for a while to reflect on what the world has become thanks to the advancement of technology. It has opened the floodgates of grace to enter into every nook and cranny of our little world. I would like to thank the millions of men and women who have spent millions of hours to crunch the world to fit to our purses, tastes and fancies. I would like to remember the countless number of persons who have generously offered fruit of their labor, so that humanity may enjoy the benefits. I would like to think with gratitude all those who have foregone their earnings and payments in order to make available their sweat and toil for the less privileged. It is not that life would be meaningless without the internet and the email, but life has been ennobled because of them. I would like to call the internet as a channel of grace, which has the potentiality to turn the world into a home of peace and serenity; but as is wont, wherever grace resides, sinfulness to hides beneath her skin. But I will have a plea to make : let us not throw the baby together with the bath water! (Brussels)