To be in a satsang..

"Singing helps to bring serenity. Singing is simply merging into the sound floating on its waves with a sense of contentment and meditativeness"--Sri Sri Ravi Shankar or simply 'Guruji' :)


How many times have you just surrendered yourself to the music? And by music I mean, strings and percussion that touch your soul and not what 'bawa' beautifully calls 'one-step-above-noise'!!

This is what it is to be in a satsang..being with the truth..when you just let go...you chant..you sing..you surrender..you dance..and when you sit down and enjoy the silence which is the afterglow of every song, you realise that silence can speak volumes..and to understand this..you need to be in a satsang..

Words fail me....and when you know that you're at a loss of words, the feeling is beyond any explanation..and thats what its like to be with the truth..

The simple truth, that you live the moment. You live the moment so full, that it enlivens your soul. And that is the truth, that you enjoy the moment.

After all, it is about living the moments..isn't it??.....

I'm Home

I remember when I was young..visiting dadi's (paternal granma)  place used to be a nightmare..godforsaken Bihar..no electricity, no television and the grumbling changed, with the advent of newer technology, to no music and no 24x7 internet facility..and then dadi was no more..

But things didn't change, it was still the same old city for me, equipped with net and the newest rage..cellphone. They say, things that don't change, ultimately die. But this isn't about death, its about life, about the eternal life that forever grows in the technologically stagnant village of mine

So here I was, the (now) mature me had finally arrived to her land, in a car of course and there they were..immature kids running with the car,trying to touch the shiny metal surface of the roaring machine, just to catch a glimpse of the daughter who was returning after 6 long years..its amazing..how kids always remain kids..how they express their astonishment so beautifully..with a smile so full that it makes you forget everything..and before I knew it, I was smiling...

Little did I know that the smile was going to last the entire trip. And then, enter the house..and there you have it..all possible relatives flock down when they know someone's coming from the city (just in case you're coming from 'videsh' (abroad), you'd find the entire village at your place..)..and that's the beauty of it all..you've just so many of them..waiting to embrace you and shower you with their blessings..and that is when you know that these many hearts can never think ill of you..that these many hearts will always pray for your good health and your success...and that is when your heart smiles.....

And then there's the good ol' food (which in due course of time will give you an upset stomach!!)..people feed you like crazy..you name the dish and its ready the next moment..but nothing beats dadi ma's pickle..and that's when i missed my granma for the first time ever since she had left us..and then I saw dadi's photo adorned by a garland around it and she was smiling..that wrinkled face is certainly the most beautiful..and suddenly she couldn't have been any older or any more beautiful..and I smiled yet again

And then the endless talking..but uh oh..I'm 21 this time..and its the "M" word i heard everywhere..hence i run into my room to save myself from all the trouble..and as i lift my book (Shantaram-brilliant book by the way!), I couldn't stop smiling at their innocence..strange..women can be very much innocent even at the age of 40 and above..for them..its never about career oriented women and always about the girl getting married the moment she turns 18 and oh good lord I'm over by 3 years!!

And then there's the field trip..and its summer time..and trust me..nothing beats the site of young mango trees laden with juicy mangoes..but but but..you have many others who are lurking just around the corner for you to get lost so they can steal your mangoes..but with vigilant cousins on the guard..that's not happening! And the first time in many years, i ran with full energy and enthusiasm..and kids ran with me..and this time..i was laughing...

Come evening, and as the village surrenders to the evening, lanterns are lit and kids finally sit to study..and suddenly you're more popular than you ever imagined..suddenly you're the mathematician, the historian and the language expert..and that's when you realise how lucky you've been to have had proper education..and that's when you're thankful..and that's also when you know how intelligent some of these kids are and how much the country is losing out cuz of the widespread corruption..and that's when i found myself praying for somebody else other than me..for the first time...

And the same routine went on for almost 15 days and suddenly its time to leave..and everyone you've known and loved is crying..hence you cry too..and just when i got into the car, a small kid came running and slipped a thankyou note in my hand..he had tried..."please came again, when next you will came? we need teachers like you 'didi' (elder sister)"..and with this, he had succeeded at the language.at the language of heart..

With this, the constantly changing tech-city I had known forever was suddenly so dead. It was suddenly so poor in front of my land. It was suddenly so short of warmth, love, smile, joy.....

And when the car started, it was a thousand feelings coming together...

With moist eyes, I was smiling..

Little did I knw that the smile was to last an entire lifetime.....

Dadi, I'm home...................