Unattached

Of all the mud and dust that flies
There is not one that sticks

I am freedom, cannot bind me thus
This body I only desist

I am you, and you are me
There is nothing called duality

If you must, really realize
Then call me just my Self

There were gatherings, and fire blaze struck
There were chimes and dances too

But know that I am unattached
Though appear to enjoy too!

Ekantham movie Review

Plot Outline: Estranged brothers brought together by loneliness. (IMDB Link)

Plot Summary:

Elder brother (played by Thilakan), pained by loneliness, revisits his past. Goes back to meet his brother (played by Murali) who still lives at their ancestral home.

A terminal illness being suffered by Murali brings them closer.

The movie also goes a little into natural healing, and how inner psychology plays a bigger role in the status of a person's illness. 

Supporting cast of Bindu Panicker, Salim Kumar, Manoj K Jayan and Meera Vasudevan are ok.

I wouldn't call it a must-watch. But a nice one for slow / art movie lovers.

I rated it 7 (Good in my view).

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy movie review

This movie was most predictable and a let-down to the Detective Byomkesh Bakshy TV series that starred Rajat Gupta, KK Raina as Detective Bakshy and his assistant Ajit.

The movie also maintained a slow pace of things although attempting to show things moving quickly. The characters seemed to be moving fast, but the story didn't have much of a suspense beyond common sense.

The only saving grace was the climax scene saved by a superb / calculated  performance by Neeraj Kabi as Yang Guang. His last cry-out left us wanting more, and no wonder keeps the sequel wanting.

The movie poster also was to put it politely quite unimaginative. A dhoti-clad Sushant Singh Rajput showing dodging bullets, and that too a view from the shoe/dhoti up. Really silly. Left no attraction to move into the theater.

A cult following could be developed owing to the high IMDB rating of 7.7. But the credit must go to the ending again for that.

I hope they change the writer / director Dibakar Banerjee, ideally keep the writer / director of a movie like Kahaani (Sujay Ghosh).

I rated it 6 on IMDB (Average in my view). Could easily have been a 5 but for the ending.

Baby Dearest

Dear Baby fragile, and most beautiful
Been born you have, at a God graced moment
Nice and fulfilling, your birth has touched us
Giving the family, a sense of completion

Lovely Child, we felt anxious
As you arrived, earlier than expected
But you give the assurance, that it was in time
With your pleasant disposition, and health that picked up

O Jewel of our  home, we felt scared
To pick up in arms, your body so tiny
But you showed us, the comfort you felt
When cuddled and hugged, by all of us

Flower of our hearts, our baby dearest
May you bloom, as the season of Spring
May you soar, as birds in the sky
May you feel ever, peace of the calm

Yawn of a cold day

Have you felt that too
When the dew is lit up
When the mist is like a cloud
And your bed feels like
The warmest place around

It's like an afternoon
On a cold winter day

The body wants nothing more 

Than a cuddly blanket's care

A hot cup of chocolate 

Could well be a respite 

But nothing can be more joyful 

Than the yawn before my nap

Of Where Thy Want to Be

Of the likeness, the leaflets, the gongs of temple bells
With the waves of merriment, the joy of delight yells

I lived my life, in a daze as a witness
Seeking to know, what needn't be sought at

Just dive in, if you, want to win in this world then
Or step back further, to reach your true Self

The stone had the statue hidden, the sculptor only uncovered it

It is imperative in life to get rid of the claim of doership. As a Swamiji from Mata Amritananadamayi Matt put it so well recently: Even in our scriptures it is said that the potential for any outcome is within the raw material provided by nature itself. It's messaged thus that the stone has the statue hidden, the sculptor only uncovers it. In any other culture, it would not be so. The credit would go to the scultpor's creativity, skill and imagination. Or the credit would be "stolen" by the sponsor of the statue. But in the Vedantic thought, we all are just a medium. This understanding gives us an immense sense of freedom, and it takes us closer to Liberation / Moksha.

It is the sense of doership that fuels Ego and Competition. Once we take up the role of being a blessed medium in the Lord's hands, failure will not discourage us, nor would success go into our heads. One must hasten to add that this is not to encourage cessation of all activities. For it is clearly proven that there is no such thing. Even breathing is an activity. The attitude should be to incessantly serve, learn and get closer to the purpose for which is this human life i.e. to achieve Moksha.

A New Year

A New Day, brings in, freshness as morning
A New Year, bounds in, with joy of chill winter

Celebrations, with firecrackers
Joy sounds at 12am

There was no, comparing,
The one sleeping, has missed it

There is this flavour, an Indian life brings it
You have New Years at midnight
You have New Years in mornings

The beauty as ever, is hidden in the meaning
The joy as anything, is hidden in our self

Look for this essence
Capture in true sense

And live life that each day,
Brings new meaning to living

Reflect, upon it
With joyous unattachment

Where did we lose ourselves..

Who cares for the lonely soul
Walking in the scorching sun
Who cares whether he's eaten or not

Who thinks of his age and caste
When he has no money to show
Who wants him to be theirs to care

There was once a country who created Guest as God
There was once a people who would feed the passerby

Who was that crying baby
Who is this father lonely
Why is this mother crying so bitterly

Who wants your books and knowledge
What for your health and lustre
When not a poor soul you serve

This was once a spiritual abode for us all
This was once the richest place for our souls..

Realization

Of divine beauty, is eternal Bliss
Ever peaceful, serene and Complete
Unshaking, Irrespective, of storm around
Realizing, Forever, my life abounds

I never was, tied to this Power
I ever Fulfilled, silent watchful
Forgetting true nature, if say so I may
Searching, worried, for what already I am

The Farmer in the City

This is a story I tell my son. This is a story economists should tell their protégées. This is a story law-makers should contemplate upon: A story of self-sufficiency vs consumerism:

There was once a farmer, who lived in a small village. Happy, healthy, and provided, he had his home and his farm. He had clothes and simple meals to eat. He woke early, prayed and got to his farm. He felt the rush of happiness after a day's tiring work. He met people, they talked and sang God's name together. He meditated and slept well.

And then came his school-friend, who'd come to this native. And lure him, the friend did the farmer, to the merits that await in city. Uncourageous he taunted, had the farmer been all life. And so the farmer took this, his old friend's advice. And off he left for "high-lands", if only for a few weeks at first. The friend bade him farewell, as he stayed back on vacation.

Day 1 the farmer spent, watching all day TV. Never had he been, in such big hotel rooms.
But by end of day he felt, the eyes tired and burning, and yet the body lazy.
He slept not well, he realized for once, what sleeplessness meant.

Day 2 the farmer decided, he should spend out shopping. Never had he needed, as all his money did spend.
By end of day with guilt, he rushed back at the shock.
The cherished value for money, he had all but lost.

Day 3 the farmer made up, will be spent in watching. The beauty he had come for, the life that city promises.
And ate he all he could, and walked about in boredom.
For what beauty lies, buildings lined in space crunch.

Day 4 he learnt illness, what he'd hardly known in life
For no sweat was he breaking, and only junk been eating

Day 5 he set out, to buy his own vegetables
And realized that money's, not fair like barter exchange

I'm reminded of Khaleel Dhantejvi's Ab Main Ration ki Qataaron mein Nazar aata hoon (YouTube Link)

Day 6 he sat sulking, at the cost of city life
(A habit he had not known)
And what he gained, and what he lost
At arriving here on friend's advice

Not wait for Day 7 did he,
Rushed back to village he did
And found his friend recuperating
Detoxing addictions and diseases

Rediscover Life, through the eyes of a Child

The child's eyes, are an opener to ours
With innocence we've lost, they look out for us
And point out the beauty, in smallest of things
Enlighten with curiosity, what we'd taken for granted

The vision of children, and what they love most
Is what we should aspire, and drive forces toward
They don't want gadgets, but only our time
They take out our patience, to only fill it with joy

Questions and Clarifications on Advaita Vedanta - 1

Have been listening to a lot of wonderful Youtube videos on Advaita Vedanta by Swami Sarvapriyananda: Drig Dishya Viveka (YouTube Link) and Aparokshanubhuti (YouTube Link).

Some of these do lead to questions, which is both a natural and healthy process for any learning and growth. As I hear most of these videos when I'm in commute, I want to document questions I remember and clarifications I receive for those in individual Blog Posts.

So here goes:

• Q: We say that there is blankness in deep sleep. And the mind is turned off. How then, if there is stomach pain, do we wake up from sleep. When we say that mind controls the senses, and the mind itself is turned off. While the consciousness is not connected to the senses
• Q: We say the mind turns off during deep sleep. And so Brahman has nothing to reflect upon. Now how does the mind turn back on: does Brahman do it or does it happen by itself (either by the mind-matter or the Jivatman as proposed by VishishtAdvaita)
• Q: If Sukshma Shareera (Mind) transmigrates from birth to birth, why aren't memories from the previous birth retained.
• 
  

Any answers from readers welcome

Narasimham series Part 8: The visit to temples

Part 7 | When I came out of the meditation, did I realize. What seemed like eternity, was just a few moments passed. And such is the beauty of true meditation, the ability to grasp the Source. I stood up now quite sure. The dawn had just broken, and the crimson sun was on the rise. The Devi and Narasimham temples would just have opened. I performed my ablutions in a nearby stream. Quenched my thirst, my hunger long mastered. And briskly darted to the temples at visible distance. The Narasimham temple was first, to express my gratitude. Though for reasons unknown, it was he who protected, this mortal life at risk. As I sat in quietness, within the sanctified temple premises, I felt that bliss again, settle deep within. The temple pujari I knew, but he too knew I'd renounced. So there was a surprise in his look, but the priority were the morning Abhishekam. When the pujari stepped out of the sanctum, he suddenly startled looking at me. And down fell the thali, with the kumkum he was getting for me.. 

Life is Short, Keep it Simple

From the brushes off painting are countless insects destroyed

Not a step in life, where death we can avoid

Yet cling on to mortal, do we day and night

Yet greed and vice pervade us, next generations not in mind

Not every quarter needs growth, there is a life to fulfill

Let not the short gains blind side, the beauty that lies within

Not every thing of beauty, would be any much in sync

Realize the need and hope to, keep this life simple

The point in meditation when you transcend time

There is that time, when sat still in peace
Be it meditation, contemplation or prayer
Comes an event that transcends time

This does come, when engrossed in work
This does come, when blithe in play
But the experience that comes, when you meditate
Takes you the closest, to the source of power

It's like how, the alarm rings in morn
And one awakes amazed
Wasn't it a minute before I slept

Rested and refreshed
Is meditation greatest
When you connect with the truth
When you embrace bliss forever

Silence and Sound

As I walk in a moonlight night
With the scent of night-bloomed flowers
An eerie silence makes me restless
As one that looks at sound for peace

Silence deafening, silence maddening
Silence if this was before creation
Then this silence I do not cherish
This this silence I do not want

This life is opposites, it's wicked and wise
This life is balance, it's both act and rest
Look not for only, the strive to escape
Live well the life here, do serve to help

Lessons from the movie The Pursuit of Happyness

IMDB Link: Indeed, a most touching movie. A man who loves his son and aspires to set things right from the financial perspective. His struggles with homelessness, and the very fact that all this is based on a true story.

The tragedy of having to fail in a difficult marriage, of losing equipment that are his livelihood, of having to give away $5 to a boss, something which he cannot afford. Staying in shelter homes, even once in a public restroom..it was absolutely hearbreaking.

Vindicates from the many acts where what he lost kept coming back, and that he was still able to give his child joy, that if you hang it, you'll make it.

Was very pleased to read that the protagonist, entrepreneur and finance expert Chris Gardner based on whom this movie was, made it big in life and is still an influential figure (Wikipedia Link).

Spoiler: The movie has a happy ending

PS: His struggle is emotionally overwhelming, the mere thought of the scenes in the movie fills me up. Can't write all in a single sitting. Might have to keep coming back to edit this article

Lessons from the movie Thor on Bharat-Pak relations

I see the rhetoric of Bharat-Pak relations going the wrong way..a recent viewing of the movie Thor (IMDB Link) was a stark reminder that while war might objectively have a win/lose result on the face of it, if you go deeper the losses are more than what it's worth.

Defending one's nation is paramount. I'm not one to say to be submissive. But diplomacy should be the strategy than formal army-led "surgical strike" machismo.
There might be a lot of mileage being sought or not, but the move in itself was not good. Instead, RAW-led disturbances, or at the very least, not making global news of it should have been the restraint shown.

Indeed, was very happy with Pak acknowledging the global isolation that Indian diplomacy was aggressively moving to. It's a tragic story there, where the elected democrats are more puppets at the hands of the army and radical clerics. I wonder how and why minorities there survive there than migrating and seeking asylum in other countries. And to say that such a nation, even starts talking of J&K issues is something worth taunting and belittled at. But that's how the country stays relevant...

Bharat, on the other hand, has been progressively moving forward. Our entrepreneurs caught the software services way at just the correct time. We need to go from strength to strength. The last thing we need is a war. We do not want our soldiers hurt, leave aside lose their lives. Let's invest in technology (drones, robots, unmanned aircrafts). Invest in civil nuclear to take the country forward to achieve power self-sufficiency to the extent there are no power cuts, and not only that. To the extent that we have a surplus that can be directed to making sea-water potable.

Indeed, steps taken by our PM Narendra Modi, including the impromptu stopover once to meet their PM, sadly was not reciprocated by the Pak PM Nawaz Sharif. His rhetorics on J&K despite all these positive measures are what actually started this downward spiral.

Isolate Pak in every aspect (sports, artists - ignore the hypocrite Bollywood artistes who don't understand loss of land or life as long as their fortunes stay intact). It is these elites of Pak that should then influence their policies to improve relations with Bharat. Unless their pockets are burnt, they won't have a need to do this.

Isolation is costlier to Pak. Any attacks on them will only insinuate and vindicate their radical elements. Let's pursue an aggressive posture in these lines.

Blessed Gifts

O Son, as you lay on my lap these thoughts
Of benedictions that you have you poured

These bliss of experiences, as I step aside and watch
O the mirth you share, by just being yourself

Dear Gods, you've blessed me, with another gift too
The Shakti of Devi, the one to grace us

While mountains and rivers, is the glory of nature
The family, purushartas, the story of life