Fastest way to happiness, have no desires

This article is inspired after hearing another excellent, intellectual, and spiritual, speech by Swami Sarvapriyanandaji (Youtube link) where he investigates happiness.

The biggest takeaway for me being: If we quell the wave of desires, the happiness-and actually even better-the bliss, that is you, shines forth. And there are two ways to this:

- The worldly untrained, instinctive way, by going after the desires, trying to fulfill them. Which you may or may not. And even if you do, it only quells these waves for some time, making us feel the bliss. Thereafter again, such transient happiness (pleasure in accurate terms) feels satiating and habit-forming (the example of the ice-cream as Swamiji aptly gives).

- Via discipline and sadhanas, realizing this true nature of desires. And thus voluntarily letting go of this rush after desires. And gradually progressing, observing, that the more you let go (in the mind), the happier you feel.

Next step, to make this learning intuitive to you. A speech everyone should hear!

A child is born..

A child is born, first in your own mind
It may then take, its birth as conception

A child next blooms, in its own parents hearts
It may then sprout, as a baby in this world

The child is reborn, when innocence is regained
It may then elevate, as a sage to liberate

And why these dresses..

It's considered taboo area, something anti-feminist. But shouldn't feminists question, give due introspect:

Why the dresses, these western clothes here, why not adapt the Indian salwar and sarees, we Indians.

And have the big confident worldview to spread this "fashion" around the world.

Isn't simply accepting it a sign of inferiority, over the world itself. 

Why a just questioning of it, is seen as chauvinistic? Why not realize, it's a responsibility, an honor from generations of mothers, starting the Divine Mothers, that women were given their dress code.

Even in the west, were the Jeans and tight yoga pants, really meant for women as a whole day wear?

Wasn't it the frock there? And weren't Yoga pants meant only for Yoga. I hear some western voices calling this obvious indecency out. But no way, it's taboo here in India!

Agreed that generations, maybe centuries of male dominism has caused it. The way the caste system has caused narrow, paranoid political causes, that the rich "low caste" or "OBC" person gets it all over the poor and meritorious "high caste".

Likewise, the social queens raise assertions that having separate bathrooms in their mansions is getting gender-equality, rather than solve actual problems on the ground. Why does the rapist get to marry the victim, than be castrated. Why widow remarriage is not encouraged, than something to be borned as Karmic fruit. And also, why is the homemaker looked down upon. Can the home grow its roots, when the nurturer, the divine mother is out?

My Mother is All

When she feeds, we all get healthy
It's her gift, her divine miracle
I saw it, with my wife and son

When she cares, we feel her touch
She not be here, still fills our hearts
Be times be good, or be they bad
Her concerns unsaid, gain all more expression

When she wills, you have to dread
She seldom loses calm, instead
Her firm voice, is one of assertion
Her confidence, not something to arrest

When she leads, you entrust Maya
Her Japa always, Sat-Chit-Ananda Rupaya
Not this world, not the mortal wares
Her trust, her faith, is for us to love all

Narasimham series Part 6: Why it all started

Part 5 | It is said that interventions you take to avoid your destiny, inevitably take you closer towards it. And that's what happened here.

This was where it started, the palace where I once belonged!

I was a blissful sadhu now, a corrupt official once. Ruthless to all, especially the meek, with the police within my command. All under directions from a tyrant of an emperor. However, that doesn't excuse my actions. Only penance can untie the knots. And that is why I'd left it all for. When cheap lamp-posts for public places - and public money misused in the bargain - all at the behest of my king himself, had cost me my own daughter walking underneath. And the trauma that took a toll at my equally-guilty wife.

There was nothing to stay back for..I didn't blame anyone but myself. And so for months I'd wandered, till my Guru made his appearance.. | Part 7

Poems for Shravan

(Modifications I'm sure, of heard-from nursery rhymes)

He's my good boy (tak - a tongue sound), he's my best boy (tak)
Beautiful Shravan is his name (tak tak)

Good Night, Sleep Tight
Shravan is a Very Good Body
Good Night, Sleep Tight
Sweets Dreams Shravan

I Love the Rains

I love the rains, that drench my shirt
So that I come home to, a change to cozy dress

I love the warmth, of a hot tea's sip
Especially when, the rains bathe nature

I know not where else, I can get this fragrance
Of earth and trees, that symbolize the rain

Wet and humid, not the ice or snow fall
The rains touch us in ways, only rainbows can match

True Story..Covered Up!

It was all well planned. A child had gone missing, and I'd blamed the dark forces. Civilized society couldn't be allowed to sink into chaos. So they needed a reason, a scapegoat to blame. And using means circumstantial as reasons, I was made the fall-guy.

But I knew this had happened, and I can repeat it to anyone they way I clearly remember it. Let anyone point out inconsistencies in my version. It's a nightmarish event I can't forget:
I and the child had got into the cave, We had seen the plaque markings in series, and had wondered earlier why. She was my only solace, this girl I'd adopted. All innocent of four, her parents lost to war. But perhaps that's what, was thought to be of her.
Her face angelic, I always thought she wasn't from here. I always dreaded when her true claimant would come, and that's exactly what happened.
We had a deep bond, she fully trusted me. She was now 7, and we would take our long walks, both loved the mountains for some reason unforseen. It is only I realize, we were being pulled by her destiny.
One late evening we saw, this open cave midway to the top. I could've sworn I'd not seen it before, but then again, wasn't a regular trekker. This cave welcome, with a faint light coming from within. A plaque numbered "1", just close within the entrance, was just the right invite to the adventurous. To know where's the next number, and why that light far within. But it was late evening, and getting dark, and I forbid it against her will, and we returned.
But the next time we went, I'd forgotten about it, but she'd very well planned it. It was only late afternoon we reached the cave, and she insisted. I let out a sigh, not knowing how to dally. So off we went within, she even had a torchlight. We saw a "2", and only when we reached the "3" did I realize that the sunlight was not behind, and yet the number illumined.  I told her let's get back, she knew I wouldn't have it any other way, and she started running further. I caught up to her, and this time sternly said we are done.
But just when we started walking back, her a faint sound far behind, taking her name! It startled me, and made me let go of her hand. Just the chance she needed to dart within, her curiosity piqued. And I regret doing that, to this day, and will do so till the end of my life.
I ran behind as fast as I could, following the faraway torchlight. But after one turn there was a T-junction. and both sides were illumined, as if by fire-torches. And to confirm my fears, both sides had 4. My love had an instinct, and I knew which way to go, I was in tears, my fear of losing her coming true..
And that's when I encountered, this smiling pot-bellied person. He was dressed in ancient, an Arabic sultan like costume. He commended my will, my truth and my love, for there was no other way, I could've taken the correct route. But he said my time with her, had to come to an end. She was special, and had to be returned, to the abode she belonged. I could not touch, then realized he was either a ghost or an illusion. He blessed me with one last view of her. A transparent wall, perhaps a screeen behind which I beheld her still running. But when I went there, I only crossed her. It was just a screen, with another one after it. I instinctively crossed, perhaps hoping to get away from him and maybe towards her. Only to see a small cage door shutting another exit from the mountain.
I looked behind, and there was only darkness. She was gone! I pushed open the cage door and crouched out. Now this below me is that hole I crouched out of. The cage door is gone, and as I too agree, inside this hole, within visible sight, is only a wall. And yes, this is at the other side of the mountain we found the cave in. And nobody has seen that cave since, not even me. It was there to call her, and take her it has.
But society wanted answers, and those I had none. My grief of losing her, had numbed my mind. So answers were woven. My live-in partner, equally grieving, said my story did sound concocted. An earlier roommate whose barking, red-eyed dog I'd always detested, said I was known to steal and hide things, which the dog had hated.
My workplace colleagues were made to say in unision I had issues. I was "not interested" in work, good enough comment to create a negative perception in public, but of course not legally holding them compliant. Smart move government, or public prosecutors!
All my social media pieced out, by government or "ethical" hackers. Of course the ethical hackers found nothing, and since they'd done a faster job, the government didn't get enough time to plant something.
Physical evidence couldn't be placed, for they feared if the girl is "dug out" (god forbid) from someplace else, they'd have a hard time explaining.
So well, the girl was last seen with me, and my only defence was this incredible fact. (Even my lawyer suggested I say she was kidnapped, and I hadn't seen the license plates, but I'd refused for that wasn't the truth).
I am in this prison, as the search and trial prolong. And I know this is where I'll be, and don't want to be outside anyways, till my time on Earth. that pot-bellied messenger, his ever peaceful face, hope it fulfills my last wish, that life after at least, be in the place he took her, in my child's abode!

A joy, a learning

A privilege and joy, is to see you grow
O cocoon do become, a butterfly and flow

There is logic, and also there is inspiration,
But you my son, go beyond any sensation

I may not have touched, your tiny feet in here
But you continue to teach me, the thing what life is dear

Consider what you buy: Buy local

Wherever in the world you are, try to buy local. By that I also mean, conceptualized, and created/grown/made in that locality/country based on the sophistication of need and from the local retail shop.

Our addiction to things online will burn down the communities built around us, through decades if not centuries. We even hardly spend time with neighbours. It will cause what is increasingly seen happening in US, warehouses of items actually shipping door-to-door, these warehouses situated in faraway places, with employees serving a person they don't know, or care to know.

Be it the want to promote the country's economy, or buying from the smaller retailer in an altruistic sense, or promoting diverse innovation around you, or health in walking around, whatever be your reasons, try not the mini-penny saving mindset divert you from the big picture.

And extend this big-picture thought to where the product is made from (country), and how it is made (organic, eco-friendly materials). There are countries with no democracy and who use their position of power with aims to bully others, and there are others who've colonized other countries cruelly, and there are countries and companies that blatantly exploit resources in poorer nations for self-interest.
Be aware, well-read, hold some ideals, and cast your vote, in this case, by not purchasing from there. And then, spread the word. There is no need for a greater power, this is within each of our reach.

We are All

A misty morning, a rainy day
Yet sunshine pouring, with smiling gaze

Be there no dreams, this river floweth
Just watch the currents, as life passeth

I am no flower, and neither thorn
I am the seed, from which all was born