Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Happy Holidays

I'm going out of town for the holidays. I will be back to ring in 2009. So I'll rest my fingers for a bit and set aside the keyboard.

But before that, here's wishing you a wonderful holiday. May the Xmas spirit light up the skies and bring peace to you and to the world.


I'll leave you to ponder over Guruji's words on the spirit of Christmas, taken from Guruvaani:

"You are the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree is pointing upwards and its branches grow on all sides. It is orderly. At the time of year when no tree bears anything, it has many gifts to offer. And it is green throughout the year. A Christmas tree bears the gifts and the lights not for itself. All the gifts you are carrying in your life are for others. Anyone who comes to you, you offer them your gifts.
...Your life is a gift. And you have come to unwrap the gift. In the process of unwrapping, you also save the wrappers. Your whole environment, situations, circumstances and body are the wrapping papers. When we unwrap, we destroy the wrapping paper. We are in such a hurry at times that we even destroy the gifts. With patience and endurance, open your gifts and save the wrapping papers."

Happy Holidays.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Folk music for the soul

It is said that music is food for the soul and elevates the consciousness.

This evening, seated on a coir mat in Bimba Art Hut, I was soaring quite high as Dr John Napier played breathtakingly beautiful notes on his Cello.

Dr. John Napier is an ethnomusicologist and a performing classical musician. He is currently in Bangalore on sabbatical from University of New South Wales, Australia, where he is Head of School of Muisc and Music education. He has spent over fifteen years studying and performing North Indian Music. He also has traditionally learnt to play the cello, and is a unique combination of being an academician and performer to hilt.


Deepak, founder, Bimba Art Hut, introduces Dr John Napier

Recently, Dr Napier studied the Jogis of Rajasthan and the ritualistic music of the Kodavas of Karnataka.


The Jogi's song


Between his beautiful cello renditions, John Napier transported the audiences to the sand dunes of Rajasthan, where the Jogis sang about Lord Shiva in tune with the dulcet sounds of the Sarangi instrument. The Jogis were householders who were often said to be cattle healers. They had a unique style of their own and through their singing, a unique fable would unfold. Into this folksy traditional setting, they would introduce a little bit of modern muse, picking up anything from current events, gossip and interactive interludes.




Cut to the vibrant sylvan hills of Coorg where the Kodavas beat to the 'dudi' (drum), singing in praise of their ancestors. John Napier explained that the Kodava singers would often sing in pairs, and had to be quite accurate with their historical facts, else they would be corrected by the opposite pair. Apparently the Kodava music score often shadowed the singing, and one had to listen with a keen ear to catch the lyrics in the background.

Dr John Napier's program was arranged under the auspices of the Bimba Art Foundation, which is a registered charitable trust. The beautiful art events and creative exhibitions of this Foundation are open to all. The founder Deepak and his wife Deepika (herself a classical Bhartanatyam dancer) are dedicated to bringing individual artists, and artisans from various urban and rural backdrops, to public notice. While the founders are using their own means to keep Bimba Art Hut alive and active, voluntary donations (eligible for 80G exemption) are also accepted.


Under a muted backdrop of textured fabric and golden light of brass lamp, Dr John has the audience spellbound


Bimba studio premises is situated at 42 Ratna Vilas Road, behind Netkalappa House, Basavangudi. The Bimba Art Hut is situated in 4th Block, Jayanagar. The Foundation holds events every Sunday at 5.00 PM. Please do visit this wonderful place and soak in some lovely ethnic decor. It's certainly a reflection of the simple, yet sophisitcated nature of the founders. Write in to bimba@vsnl.com or contact Deepak at 41489354

Here are a few more pictures taken at the event:

John Napier is being interviewed by Dr Shanti Raman, herself an avid connoisseur of arts


The beautiful exhibition of dolls at the Bimba Art Hut


A tree, a bamboo mat and a painted bell lend a rustic touch to the Hut


Monday, December 15, 2008

The significance of a Sadguru

I got back from the conference at Pune yesterday afternoon. Not wasting time, I dropped my bags at home and made a beeline to the ashram. Guruji was going to leave for Germany, and I wanted to see him before he left.

I got to the ashram a bit late but still was in time to hear Guruji speak before he handed over the mike to Rajita and Ajay Bagga. Rajita and Ajay were at the Taj hotel when the terrorists struck Mumbai. I could well imagine the trauma that the victims and their families had undergone that fateful 26/11, but as Rajita narrated her experience first hand, I could not believe my ears.

Stuck in a tiny room with several others, this brave couple came out of the jaws of Death, and were so grateful to Gurudev for that. Speaking about the hotel employee who was shot in the stomach, Rajita described how they helped a doctor push back the victim's intestines before suturing the abdomen. The terrified elders huddled up in the room were taught Pranayama to calm their frayed nerves even as many of them were losing bladder control.

A while later, Guruji called them and reassured them that they would be safe. Rajita spoke about a strange Force engulfing them after that.

When Rajita still trembled, Ajay consoled her saying that if Guruji was here in this world with them, He was sure to receive them if they had to 'cross over'.

An hour after Guruji's phone call, the NSG personnel entered their room and began to escort them out. On their escape route, they had to witness several people around them fall to the bullets. And yet, they managed to escape the hotel and the terrorists.

I returned home from the ashram witn a strange comforting feeling, partly because, like always, Gurudev had accepted my garland of roses with a gentle smile. Partly because Pitaji (Gurudev's father) had cradled my head in his loving hands for the first time, and blessed me. But mostly because, like Rajita said, a Guru such as ours will surely be there to receive us when we reach the Unknown Post...

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

On Faith and Securities

I've been busy the past week preparing for a conference that I'd soon be attending at Pune. So while I kept writing in my mind, I just couldn't quite put it down on paper.
Nevertheless, I wanted to share with you these beautiful words that Sri Sri has spoken. This passage was sent over by a friend of mine. I loved the meaning...

"False securities do not allow your faith to grow. When you drop your securities, your faith will grow. When you buffer your life with securities, you keep faith away. It is faith that brings perfection in you. Faith is the greatest security.

If you have material securities and do not have faith, you will still reel in fear. You must let go of all possessions in the mind. False security is keeping things where they do not belong. Having a job, a house, friends these are all illusions of security. Keep the house where it belongs, not in the mind. Keep the money in the bank or in the pocket, not in the mind. Keep friends and family where they belong, not in the mind. The Divine is the only security. Faith is realizing that you always get what you need. Faith is giving the Divine a chance to act. Your body belongs to the world. Your spirit belongs to the Divine."

Time and again we are jolted awake by an Unknown Force. We think we have everything going for us when something out of the blue strikes us, stripping away our false sense of security. And then Faith keeps us going, like the dying embers of a fire need but one strip of wood, to strike a warm glow once again...

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Gurudev Sri Sri reaches out to Mumbai victims


Sri Sri will conduct a special prayer, pranayama and meditation session for all Mumbaikars at Priyadarshini Park & Sports Complex, Nepean Sea Road on Dec. 6 at 6:30 pm.

For more details on other counselling sessions planned in Mumbai, please click on this link.