shubha-dinam starts with इन्द्रधनुः

आदिगुरु-शंकराचार्य-जयंती starts with a 🌞 rising sun rainbow 🌈

इन्द्रधनुः

just yesterday (in online book reading session) we looked at Page 19 (under Physics section) of the "Science in Sanskrit" book which mentions the following

सूर्यस्य विविधवर्णाः पवनेन विघट्टिताः कराः साभ्रे ।
 वियति धनुःसंस्थाना ये दृश्यन्ते तदिन्द्रधनुः ।। ३५.०१ ।।

- बृहत्संहिता (अध्यायः ३५)

9 in 10 (with GRACE)

remember the orchids? https://uniqideaz.blogspot.com/2025/02/nature-is-forgiving.html

9 out of 10 💐

10th 🥀

not sure who fooled or got fooled 😢 similar circumstances too can lead to different outcome (probably only ingredient missing was GRACE ?! 🤔) be always grateful 🙏

nature is forgiving!

we received the orchids on 23 Aug 2024 .. and it had flowers already which gave it a nice look for about a month or two ... the upkeep as prescribed was interesting - you put couple of ice cubes in the pot once every week .. since the frequency is not "daily" it was little tricky to remember - but the visible signs (of smiling flowers) helped us remind in some way .. and then one by one the flowers started to fall off .. and then it was only bare stems .. this is when we lost track .. we did try with hope that one day they will start blossoming again .. and tried to keep up with the routine of feeding the plant with few ice cubes every week

 

then the season of winter sets in - figuratively as well as literally .. and we felt it has nothing more left in it. without much difference to notice we felt our act of watering (with ice cubes) was of no use .. and somehow we had probably "written off" the plant in our thoughts .. we did not have the hopes but we did not have the courage to let go as well .. and once in a month either of us would still put the ice cubes .. and look at the current (status) picture -  we were happily surprised (after hibernation of some 4 months?) to see it spring back to life with more flowers (and buds) then it earlier had .. we realized - nature is so much forgiving? .. even if we miss our duty, it doesn't stop from nurturing us ... even more interesting - since it is still very cold and snow covered outside !

dreams, my friend, do come true ...

 ... this is a wish from me to you!

I don't know from where/when I remember this line :)

dreams, my friend, do come true .. this is a wish from me to you :)

But it has been with me for a long long time ..  don't know from where/when I remember this line :)

The old blog - which has entry since Jan 2007 had this as "tag line" .. https://uniqideas.wordpress.com/

And if you have read several posts on LoA or miracle or bliss/joy label (categories) you will notice I consider myself blessed to be surrounded by "abundance" in all aspects

Recently, I further experienced the support from the universe in a very worldly matter. We had "closing" of a real estate property coming up and usually there is need for some substantial cash to finalize the deal/paperwork. It was due on 4th Sep 2024 and I was trying to get the exact amount I need to be prepared with from our very busy lawyer :)

Our son is now grown up and does take active interest in household financial matters to make life easy for us - and he searched up the internet and from secondary sources, he suggested 10k spare (liquid) money should be good enough (in absence of accurate figure from the lawyer in timely manner). I was happily keeping such cash in checking a/c during the one week prior to the closing and hoping everything will go smooth. (And also casually talking to few friends/family members about upcoming deal closure)

Just the night before the closing, on 3rd Sep late in the day (11pm!) I saw WhatsApp message from the lawyer who mentioned we need some 40k (4 times my assumption) next day morning to finish the closing! It was so late in the day, all others in the household were almost asleep. I did not even "read" the message fully (kept it "unread") and went to bed without worrying too much. Only thing I did before getting a sound sleep was to pray (to ishta-devta) - prabhu, now your task starts while I go to bed .. I know i have several close friends whom I can bother to borrow .. but I do not know - who will have enough (big liquid cash on hand as well as willingness) to help me in short notice - so you figure out who has money, is willing to help and make them send message to me before I wake up - so i do not have to spend lot of unsuccessful cold calls ... (When later I shared the above prayer to my immediate family members - they were all shocked - isn't it too much to ask for?!)

And I woke up in the morning after a sound sleep (as usual) - and yes - the universe was friendly to my plans - A friend had sent me a message (at 3am early morning) - saying he has some cash on hand available if I had any need for my deal - it is nothing but a miracle!

Usually, my bank a/c has 3k transfer limit per day (24 hours) and he too might have that limitation - he was also on long road trip - but somehow he managed to transfer some 20k within few minutes of my waking up !!

If you are paying attention to details, you know I was still short by some 10k .. Not only did my friend message me in the middle of the night, there is another miracle (or mistake that turned out to be "blessing in disguise") done by my bank guy. The lawyer called on morning of 4th Sep (day or closure) to inform me that the Bank mortgage guys had made a typo and pushed the date by 2 days. I was first upset and then soon realized that the universe wanted to give me two more days! (The date as fed by Bank in the system was 6th Sep - instead of actual 4th)

So, another family member called on 4th Sep saying he has money if I needed - and again he too (despite of usual daily transfer limits) was able to support with 10k more (which means I had required cash in my a/c well before the new/revised date of need)

and since I could keep faith in the divine process of the universe, I did not loose any sleep in going through extra-ordinary roller coaster ride of material world's matters.

Universe is friendly to our plans - especially if can "Surrender Completely And Unconditionally" - is what I want to remind myself :-) https://uniqideas.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/surrender-completely-and-unconditionally/

guess

 where is this?

wow

canada day

 

at Hindu Sabha mandir (Brampton)

↱ (right) affirmation

"right" image from Adobe Stock (free)

First, I thought of "I am always at right place on right time with right people to do the right things"

and then I remembered ... as per श्वेताश्वर उपनिषद ... वयम् अमृतस्य पुत्राः .. so, I can even expand it to "we have right to be always at right place on right time with right people and resources to do the right things"

I am sure if we repeat this "right" positive affirmation so that it gets imprinted on our subconscious mind everything will go "right" :-)

nature is so refreshing ..

 .. and it helps with healing too :-)

iceberg यथा पिण्डे तथा ब्रह्मण्डे

it was a trip being planned for a long time .. wanted to again visit dark-sky reserve (some few hours from our place) during the recent neowise comet's appearance .. but it did not happen

finally - my son got a new phone - and he wanted to try out some night sky photography with it - and yes, he also wanted to drive for long (making good use of his recent learning license) - so, we both thought of going on a weekday 18th sep (though it was a weekday; since it was closer to new moon - for darker sky & better observation) .. 

it was indeed a good view - away from the light polluted night sky of a city .. but it was little chilly .. despite of the cold and the pandemic situation .. it was quite crowded (the ride through the rural roads made us feel we might be just 2 of us - but as soon as we reached the actual dark-sky reserve location - our assumptions were proved wrong .. we had to wait for getting a parking spot) ... we hardly spent half-an-hour out in the dark/cold night .. his excitement did not last long - his new phone settings that he wanted to try did not turn out exactly as he wanted .. but all in all it was good experience .. we even got a glimpse of a black baby bear on the way back (very close to our car/road)

we live in a high-rise building - and our parking spot is on the 3rd basement (that is 3 floors under the ground) .. the access to the lot is secured - and we have key/fob that we show at the door to open the locked gate .. our fob is attached with the car key - and we have to switch off the engine to take it out - roll down the window glass and show it to the sensor .. i think power of positive intention (or LoA - Law Of Attraction) helps me a lot .. almost always someone is coming out from the other side - so that I get the garage door open for me to smoothly get in without need to turn on/turn off ignition .. [sometimes i wait for few seconds - and off late i have noticed people have helped me from not only other side - but also from behind .. they have remote 'fob' and they come to my rescue :-) ]

while coming back from the dark-sky reserve trip - it was about 3am .. and coming close to the door - i made a passing comment to my son - "it is so late .. that my logical brain is not able to digest the thought that some car would be coming out from the other side so that we don't have to stop" .. and we used the key/fob - after putting off the engine for a while .. and when the door pulled up - i was happily shocked to notice - a guy was walking out on foot from the other side .. i was right! had i convinced my logical brain to wait for few seconds - the door would have been opened up for me even at 3am on a dark/cold night - and if not by an outcoming car - then by a man walking out on foot - very unlikely and unbelievable - but if you do allow - the universe has extraordinary power to re-arrange itself in a such a manner that it works out in your favor - because you want and believe - and it is win-win - where all involved are happy :-)

from - http://stock.adobe.com/free

our brain/mind - whatever we say is like an iceberg! the logical/conscious  'component' is very small/visible part - and it does the 'reasoning' (necessary for routine functions like 'driving') ... it also acts like a 'door keeper' and allows only logically convincing (or 'reasonable') thoughts or desires/day-dreams to enter the much bigger 'sub-conscious' mind - but if somehow we let those ideas (at times after 'fooling' the sentry) pass on to the super-powerful component - it invariably makes it happen - and it does it in its own unique effortless manner in most harmonious way - since it is in alignment/connection with the all knowing universe (that we often term as "God") .. that omnipotent is what is inside each one of us - and hence we bow to all with "namaste"  reminding i bow to divinity within you .. what is inside is what is out there यथा पिण्डे तथा ब्रह्मण्डे yathaa piNDe tathaa brahmaNDe

PS: while I share this with humility & gratefulness - I am also reminded of the guidance of the author of "The Science of Getting Rich" - where he says "Do not brag .." but instead "Take an honest pride .." :-) --> here

what a day?!

with sun-rise starts one cycle of nature - and it was great to witness a rainbow

Yes! morning rainbow that too without rain was unusual treat i am grateful for :-)

and then in the night - i could witness the full-moon too :-)

Thank you GOD for the beautiful nature around all of us!

wave of GRACE

sharing one of the creation during the recent road-trip below -

All we need is a gentle wave of GRACE to see all our negativity effortlessly erased :-) 

universe is amazing!

have you slept on a WalMart parking lot?

it is not as bad as you might think ... telling from recent experience :-) ... yes, we have! in fact, it was a 'dream' for few years that finally came true ..

i checked my inbox - and it seems i had signed up for CanaDream's promotional offers way back in 2017 .. after 3 long years - finally, it happened - we rented an RV on a deal and had great time for the past weekend (some 3-4 days one way journey in a 'home' on wheels for 800 kms culminated with a train ride back home) .. apart from many experiences and learning - one of them was 'sleeping' in the 'luxurious' home parked on a WalMart lot .. for 2 nights in a row (not the same lot though - few 100 kms apart)

and yes - it was not just concrete jungle that we got to explore - there is more to share - but let's see one of the sunsets we got to experience at the Sandbanks Provincial Park below (where we could even do 'om mitraaya namaH' to the suryadeva

(to be continued .. ?)

potatoes OR karma?

this is no ordinary bag of potatoes .. it is really special - it is one i bought from a big grocery store on Friday (29th May) evening .. but after paying for it - along with few other items - i left the checkout counter little absent minded maybe .. i forgot to pick it up (and i wasn't even aware)

i had checked it off from my list of things to buy - and came home with almost all things from that list .. and then i got a call (after an hour or so) from a friend - whom i did interact with at the store .. no hand-shake of course - just 'namaste' :-) from safe distance

he asked - did i forget a bag of potatoes at the store .. it so happened - that he was there with his dad - and they too bought a similar bag .. and they were just behind me at the counter - and out of confusion - they carried my forgotten bag of potatoes along with their rightfully purchased one .. only when they reached home and unloaded stuff from the vehicle - they realized they both carried one bag each of potatoes (assuming it was their own; the one they paid for) - and the friend mentioned it is extra one they carried - so was thinking to return it back to the store - when his father reminded him about me - and mentioned he did see me carry/pay for a bag of potatoes too ...

when he called and asked and explained the above situation - it is then i realized - i had not been aware that i was missing the bag of potatoes i was supposed to bring home along with other grocery items .. he then said he will drop at our place - soon - which actually happened on Mon (1st June)

i was very happy to know - that even in a big box store - where many do shopping - there was a friend sent by the almighty looking after my special bag of potatoes :-) .. really grateful to the universe for all the blessings

it reminded me of a subhashitam (#187 here)

यथा धेनुसहस्त्रेषु वत्सो विन्दति मातरम् |

तथा पूर्वकॄतं कर्म कर्तारमनुगच्छति ||

- महाभारत

yathaa dhenusahastreShu vatso vindati maataram |

tathaa puurvakRRItaM karma kartaaramanugachChati ||

- mahaabhaarata

which means "Calf recognizes its mother among the herd of thousands of cows; the same way, karma of previous birth (good and bad deeds) goes with the doer."

it also reminded me of somewhat similar incident i had experienced some 2 decades ago .. i was studying for one of my Master degree's interim exam at friends place overnight ... woke up in the morning and rushed for the exam venue - and while getting on to my two wheeler (a scooter) dropped my prized wrist watch (hmt brand) - and when i reached the venue - couldn't find it ... and then my friend (where i was studying overnight) came after me (on his own two wheeler) and asked me if i was missing my watch .. it so happened he noticed it and picked up .. and all fell in place for me by grace of Almighty .. :-)

i am grateful for the GRACE!

visualize

The Secret resurfaces :-)

 I came across this article .. Visualizing Your Future Can Hack Your Brain and Change Your Life - and it makes me grateful again - the central thought is reminded once again ..

happy OR very happy

if my memory serves right (after all, it was more than a decade ago - mid 2009?), it was a great 'roller-coaster' ride in my real life

our family was all packed up for our new phase of life - for work, i was supposed to move out of country for an extended period - it involved lot of planning - we had to end our lease agreement with the landlord - there was furniture and household stuff to be packed/moved with selling or other related arrangement - our kids' education was also to be considered - though he was young, school leaving certificate and all such things were big part of the 'logistics' - many laps of this marathon were falling in place - there was excitement and other emotions/anxiety involved - but with grace of almighty GOD it was all moving ahead well ... (like 'layers of onion' - NOTE to SELF - another blog post?)

and THEN on last day (or 2 days) before the actual travel i received phone call from my employer (HR team) - i think it was on my way back home AFTER I collected my son's school leaving certificate (that too worked out nicely with so much helpful - out of way - support from his school and teacher) .. not so unusual in IT industry - but very 'uncomfortable' at that moment for us - information conveyed on that phone call was short and straightforward - it was Saturday or Sunday - and the message was travel that was supposed to happen on Monday has been INDEFINITELY POSTPONED!!

I was alone in the car - and I had two choices - to be HAPPY ... OR to be VERY HAPPY ... yes, if someone had watched me react then - they would be confused - have I gone MAD?

In normal situation it would be something to be very SAD and worried ... what about all the arrangements that has been going on for not days or weeks BUT months ? it was so close - just 1 or 2% of the marathon course was supposed to be covered ... I guess i too might have been 'bombarded' with negative emotions - feeling of helplessness or setback - but it was probably momentary - it was overshadowed with over joy! Yes, I was VERY HAPPY (or maybe that is how I forced my mind to counter the otherwise devastating situation) - I used my 'creative' logic to think - if all was going smooth and well as per plan and expectation - and if I was grateful to almighty GOD for his GRACE till now - there is NO reason to DOUBT - in fact, this was possible ONLY because of HIS intervention - I could feel blessed that he is PRESENT then and there looking AFTER us - so that we are saved from some future unseen troubles OR bigger setbacks - and when ALMIGHTY can craft such a miraculous unexpected turn of events - should I not CELEBRATE and REJOICE with GRATEFULNESS? it would be sheer disrespect of HIS blessings if I allow even slightest of sadness to dampen my spirits.

I put on very energetic positive upbeat song from the movie Rock On! in the car on loud volume and started to dance/sing along with it (while paying careful attention on the road as well) - and I am sure if someone who knew the details would have recommended direct trip to psychiatrist - but I instead went home VERY HAPPY - and somehow broke the news to the family .. our son was very young - but he still remembers the incident by saying - 'oh, you mean the time - when we did not have spoon in the home to eat our food' (we had to scramble for plastic cutlery for our meals) .. there were many compromises from so many for sometime

[all is well that ends well - the move eventually happened :-) ]

I am trying to 'train my brain' to be HAPPY when I get something I wanted and tried for and to be VERY HAPPY when i DON'T get it despite of trying hard (which is clear indication GOD has something better in place) - i TRUST that HE can certainly SEE much more than i can COMPREHEND

it might be easier if what is said in Bhagavad Geeta can be understood and practiced (we all might have failed umpteen times and hence felt sad) - do your 'karma' but don't get attached to the 'fruit' - whatever HE gives is after all 'prasad' - take it with blissful disposition and you will be in joy forever

nature is forgiving :)

recently, we were fortunate to participate in a tree planting activity ... while volunteering, it occurred to me that 'nature is forgiving' (just like mothers) - even if you make a small mistake here and there, the plants will still do well - how comforting, isn't it?

so, don't worry too much about few wrong turns you might have taken in the past - just enjoy the journey and you will have fun :)

the journey of 26.2 ... and 1000+ miles

Well, it had been more than 2 long years - that i had not experienced the GRACE during a long tiring marathon run (last time was at Boston on 17 April 2010) ... but it brought out the same humbling feeling on the FINISH line of Chicago Marathon on 7 Oct 2012

GRACE was even stronger - i would say - that not only did i get to participate (after few ups & downs during this 'roller-coaster' ride) and complete but i also improved my time by 29 minutes! AND I could meet & greet the winners from all three categories [thanks to the sponsors - TCS :)]

Below is my result table (if you are interested) followed by few pics :)

Split	Time Of Day	Time	Diff	min/mile	miles/h
05K	08:08:33AM	00:31:26	31:26	10:07	5.93
10K	08:45:41AM	01:08:34	37:08	11:58	5.02
15K	09:17:13AM	01:40:05	31:31	10:09	5.91
20K	09:54:57AM	02:17:49	37:44	12:09	4.94
HALF	10:03:13AM	02:26:05	08:16	12:08	4.95
25K	10:31:05AM	02:53:58	27:53	11:30	5.22
30K	11:12:43AM	03:35:35	41:37	13:24	4.48
35K	11:59:36AM	04:22:28	46:53	15:06	3.98
40K	12:46:44AM	05:09:37	47:09	15:11	3.95
Finish	01:02:29PM	05:25:22	15:45	11:33	5.20

I am really grateful for having finished 2 out of the 5 https://worldmarathonmajors.com

Thanks to everyone (those donated for the cause at http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?px=7751857&fr_id=7090&pg=personal - as well as supported/motivated/helped in so many others ways) - it is all those 'small' steps that made up the 26.2 miles :)

GOD
Realizes
All
Creative (even Crazy)
Expectations

PS: Yes, I drove from L5B (Canada) to 60605 (USA) and back (which makes up for the 1000+ miles i mentioned in the title) ... i remember, when i was a kid, i used to ridicule people who would drive to a nearby park for their morning jog :)