The Last Edition .......

Science says that every 7 or so years , every cell in your body changes and that is a sign of ever evolving inner pattern of life . Life can be measured in multiples of seven but in some case only the physical self is renewed. Science now says , not just physical self but the emotional self also  renews itself every seven years. The number 7 years is an approximation , while physical cell cycles are accurate , the emotional cell cycle renewals are an approximation. If the Human body lives to 70 years , it means he/she in fact lives 10 lives appx. Do we feel the renewal, do we feel that a new edition of our self actually surfaces ? I do . Looking back at 2015 and at turning 45 , I feel I have been renewed many times , physically and emotionally , at least 7 times . Every time I change, I am able to see new person in the mirror, a new edition of myself . Toady's Blog is about what changes and what doesn't. The last Edition .....

More or Less : Last weekend , I had my favourite meal at the Rajdhani restaurant, They have just one item on the Menu. It is a vegetarian Thali (Platter) served on table. It is a five course meal, with entree, main course, dinner , the works. The only noticeable thing in the Thali is they serve you one tablespoon of everything , there are at least 50 dishes to try and in that Little quantity you get the lasting , pleasing taste of that dish . This reminded me of an event in childhood . In 8th Standard, I got admitted in Govt Model Co-Ed Sr Sec School, In Civil Lines, Delhi. State Schools are a true representation of what a country is . In our school, there were many street vendors , who used to come . I distinctly remember a rasgulla Vendor, who used to come  on his bicycle . He also sold an option for 50 paisa which was a piece of sweet bread , dipped in sugar syrup . Me and My friend Yogesh , both had a sweet tooth, decided that , it was "the" luxury we badly needed. So 50 Paisa was the aim of the week, to save enough, at the end of recess we used run to the rasgulla vendor and wait for a big enough piece, worth dividing in two. That one moment of sweet was the highlight of the week , always . Infact in every 50 Paisa coin , I used to Imagine that sweet bread piece , soaked in sugar syrup. When I look back, I feel that life always tells you to relish the happiness in less however "More" necessarily doesn't always bring happiness. By Grace of God, there are many 50 Paisa coins now but all of them don't trigger the same bliss. More or Less is a concept Man created. The aim of life should not be "producing " more all the time. More isn't always bad but maximising what we derive out of the "less", should be a constant pursuit as well. Someone asked me a few days back, whats my favourite dessert. Sometimes when you answer such questions, you are able to put to words what hasn't been said , subconsciously. I answered , a table spoon of shakkar (crushed Jaggery) with one teaspoon of Ghee (Clarified Butter) . This dessert needs no cooking, no baking , is fading with advent of ice creams and artificial flavours but remains my ultimate "more" in "less" . 

Age and Maturity : I was asked two question in last three weeks, both questions deserve to be answered here . First question was , Why do Hindus and "educated" Hindus in particular pray to Idols. My answer, was in fact Praying to Sculpted Stone idols is very Logical . Where do you find God? The Almighty is in every move , every moment, in every bird, in every cloud, in every poetry , in every musical instrument and  in every drop of rain . The Most common and least valued commodity in stone age was stone. So stones were sculpted to give shape of deities to prove that you may choose to find your god anywhere you wish to choose . When loved and worshipped , even a piece of stone can reflect affection. Thus the logic of Stone Idols . Second question was on when do people become mature ? My first assumption is that Age has nothing to do with Maturity . There is a vast difference between age and maturity. People think that to age is to become mature , but ageing belongs only to the body . Everybody will become old but necessarily mature  , Ageing plus depth of consciousness, experiences coupled with uncluttered , defragmented thoughts is maturity . 

Immature people also create relationship chaos. As a person matures , he/she does not fall in love, he rises in love. The word ’fall’ is not right. Only immature people fall; they stumble and fall down in lust or illusions.  Somehow they were managing and standing. They cannot manage and they cannot stand – they find a woman and they are gone, they find a man and they are gone. They were always ready to fall on the ground and to creep. They don't have the backbone, the spine; they don't have that integrity to stand alone. A mature person has the depth and strength to be alone. And when a mature person gives love, he gives without any strings attached to it: he simply gives. And when a mature person gives love, he feels grateful that you have accepted his love, not vice versa. He does not expect you to be thankful for it – no, not at all, he does not even need your thanks.  And when two mature persons are in love, one of the greatest paradoxes of life happens, one of the most beautiful phenomena: they are together and yet tremendously alone; they are together so much so that they are almost one. But their oneness does not destroy their individuality, in fact, it enhances it: they become more individual. Two mature persons in love help each other to become more free. There is no politics involved, no diplomacy, no effort to dominate. How can you dominate the person you love? Just think over it. Domination is a sort of hatred, anger, enmity. How can you think of dominating a person you love? You would love to see the person totally free, independent; you will give him more individuality.  Their individualities are not effaced – they have become more enhanced. The other has enriched them as far as their freedom is concerned. Immature people falling in love destroy each others’ freedom, create a bondage, make it a prison. Mature persons in love help each other to be free; they help each other to destroy all sorts of bondages. And when love flows with freedom there is beauty. When love flows with dependence there is ugliness. I don't pray for dependence . I pray to give me strength, depth and Humility . I can pray to a dear sculpted stone , the universe and even to  a person . Incidently, The sanctum sanctorum in Vaishno Devi doesnt even have an idol, it has natural stone formations , considered to be representation of the Holy trinity. 

On a very heartfelt note , 2015 has been a year which continues to surprise me with each day passing . I started the year at the Chintpurni Temple on Dec 31st/Jan 1 , Vaishno Devi on foot in Feb end, Guruvayoor Temple in May and the year hasn't even ended  yet . One big lesson this year however is that one should never challenge divinity, . Truth be told, On September 1st last year, I was driving past a temple and I had a quiet monologue with myself " If people who are unfair, cruel, wrong in life, get the same in life by just going to the temple than I am better being an atheist , as I don't wish to associate myself with them". Divinity proves itself by the events of destiny. One should just watch carefully and accept the writ of almighty . 

My Favourite song ....No wonder he is called Baba Gurdaas Maan , Maan Sahab :)

sajna ve sajna tere shehar wali sanu ., kini sohni lagdi dupehar, kini changi lagdi dupehar
fer v pata ni kaadon, moh jeha aayi jande....bhaave sade sar gaye ne pair, bhaave sade bhuj gaye ne pair
sajnaa, ve sajna , ve sajna

This is a punjabi song, where a beloved is being addressed . The hot summer afternoon of your city also seems so soothing , although I have feet with blisters , I still wish to walk.

maa ne v rokeya, bapu ne v rokeya, naa jaayi mitran de shehar
par sadi bhukh sagon dooni chauni hoi jaave, haul painde rehan chato pair
sajnaa, ve sajna , ve sajna

Although my parents stopped me from chasing the mirage of  the beloved you are , my thirst only quadruples with time. Haul means panicked restlessness.

tere shehar kaadi aayi mitra ve meriya, bhule sab shikve te vair
chit kare kakke kakke reteya nu chum lava , lab kithon sajna de pair
sajnaa, ve sajna, ve sajna

I have come to your city, forgetting what happened in past . I feel like kissing the hot dirt and grime you walk on to find your footprints .

tere shehar vich sab apne hi vasde ne, sade pind vasde ne gair
jine mile sanu sab, mile dukhk den wale, ik ne na poochi saadi khair
sajnaa, ve sajna, ve sajna

In your city lives everyone I love, in my city, none of my love done live . 

Whoever I met gave me only pain, no one bothered about what i cared for . 

tere shehar vich asi mangteya barobar, bhaave gur paade, bhaave zehar
tere dar uto bhukh naina di mitaavni oye, eho sade phakra di khair
sajnaa, ve sajna, ve sajna

I am like a  beggar in your town, serve me jaggery or poison, I wish to quench the thirst of my eyes .

jag bhaave rus jaaye, rab bhaave rus jaaye , sanu sade mitran di lehar
maana marjaaneya ki shehar tera vekheya ooye, saatho bhuli jandi na dupehar
sajnaa, ve sajna, ve sajna, ve sajna, ve sajna

Even if the worls is against me , I wont forget the afternoons in your city (read afternoon of bliss)

On the Baisakhi day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, 10th Nanak, repeated Guru Nanak’s challenge to those aspiring to follow the Guru’s path:

Jau tau prem khelan ka chao. Sir dhar tali gali mori aao.

“If you wish to play the game of love, come my way, with your head on the palm of your hand.

So keep loving everything, nature , Job, weather, aroma of flowers and of course loved ones , the divinity will follow.