vasundhara वसुंधरा

earlier (long back) i had written about 'बहु-रत्ना-वसुंधरा' ... recent news/blog on Google Earth View has reminded me about that ... not only there are so many 'jewels' on this wonderful planet earth - the world (वसुंधरा) itself is gem in itself - we often forget to appreciate the wonderful beauty since we get caught up with details around our life but loose track/awareness of the 'big picture' - the Google Earth View now has not 10s or 100s but 2500 such big pictures :)

one from https://g.co/ev/13823 is show below

there is inspiration all around us ..

i had long back written about how 'old' marathon runner - Fauja Singh - had started running only in his 60s - recently got reminded about him ... and similar (or even more impressive?) personality - https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/08/28/753479752/whatever-happened-to-the-101-year-old-champion-runner-from-india

age IS just a number :) :D found this nice image/quote on the internet

it works for me!

I deeply and completely love, accept and forgive myself. I deeply and completely love, accept and forgive everyone and everything!

the above statement (affirmation) is very helpful to me - not only during meditation but even otherwise - before writing this i looked up to clearly remember how/where I got it - and it seems it is from the EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping) .. seems some people feel better in certain situation if they tweak it a little like - "I (want to) deeply ..." :-)

what is meditation? 1

well, i think - who am i to say anything about topic like meditation? am i 'qualified' enough ..

but then - i am not planning a 'thesis' on the subject - i can share at least what it means to me? what do i feel ... :-)

so, just my personal views on what is it?

i think it is simple act of spending time with oneself - we all (especially in this busy city lifestyle) get caught up in so many things - work, family and what not is ever demanding - we seldom have time to 'think' - to 'see' our self - to talk with and listen to our own inner voice.

but seemingly 'simple' act also gets complex - since it is not 'urgent' - we tend to easily postpone it .. it is not always 'attractive' enough - we are so used to 'satisfy' our (external facing) five senses almost all the while - if any of the sense is not 'pampered' we don't like to 'waste' our time ..

so, this simple act needs strong resolve and discipline :-)

in fact, sometimes it can get 'scary' or 'ugly' - we all have 'unknown unknown' quadrants in our mind/brain - and while spending time with ourselves we might end up wandering in that 'dark' space - we didn't even know existed - hence, we are 'faced' to see our image which we do not want or like

so, only a 'brave' person can continue such 'soul searching'

now - when you explain it to someone like that - only a brave, committed person can do such a 'boring' task which does not appeal to any of the senses - who in their sanity going to even attempt doing it - that too 'regularly' :-) ? ... well, it is not something to be tried out in ideal situation -- i think if one keeps attempting (despite of several lapses) one gets 'braver' or 'more disciplined' ... and one enjoys long lasting benefits - of 'clearer' inner vision ... it can even turn your 'heart' attacks into 'heal' attacks.

there is no 'perfect' or 'ideal' meditation ... it is always 'work in progress' for me .. it helps if it is done in presence of positive 'symbols' and objects to get power to fight the 'internal demons'

wish all of us can get on with our 'samudra manthan' where we might face the dreaded poison on the way - but our motivation is always the blissful nectar that will eventually certainly show up - because there is only 'happy endings' for meditation - if it is not happy it means you have to still go on ! :-)

kacho papad (Gujarati tongue twister)

i attempt to record me saying "કાચો પાપડ પાકો પાપડ" [Gujarati tongue twister] ..

i wanted to get as many as i can in a minute .. i guess at 3rd attempt i did about 50 - but it was more than a minute (about 1 minute and 8 seconds) ...




[to save you from boring whole 3+ minute episode, i tried uploading the 'core' 69 seconds! but i couldn't somehow do it - maybe you can jump directly to 2min - last part has the successful attempt]

balloon story ...

I do not recall where/when I heard the story - I think more people should know and put it in practice in whatever ways they can in their given situation :-)

A group of kids were put together in a room with as many balloons - each kid's name was put up on one balloon - they were asked to find their "own" balloon - while they frantically tried to be "the first" they realized it was not easy - in fact, some balloons popped (blew off) - and hardly one or two might have found their own 'named' balloon after several minutes.

The same 'experiment' was repeated - but this time with little different set of 'instructions' - they were asked to pair up the balloon with the child whose name was on it (it was not competition anymore - rather collaboration) - the group soon realized it was much more calm environment (less anxiety) and many rightful owners found their 'own' balloon in comparatively less time.

i guess in life too - running blindly after my own happiness is more stressful and less effective/rewarding than even making a humble attempt to pair up someone with their joy

[I found one version here - https://www.slideshare.net/RishibhaKurichh/balloons-in-a-room]

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 ..