A miraculous escape

This morning began just like any other for my husband. Morning walk, grab that bowl of cereal. Run to bathe. Run the shower. Run to office.

But life did a somersault even before the last 'run'.

He got into the bathroom to have his shower when the pipe connecting the water source and the geyser, burst. Frankly speaking, he was saved by his Guardian Angel. Else he'd have been scalded by the hot water; I shudder to even think of what else could have happened.

The problem was probably with the thermostat- if not controlled properly, the water gets overheated. We had an electrician replace the old thermostat a few days ago and I believe that he hadn't set the regulator properly.

This had me thinking.

A 'Made in China' Solar heater

With summer in sight, it is a good time to think of installing a solar heater. Just imagine, if every home in Bangalore had a solar heater, how much energy would we be saving?

But in the meantime, here are a few tips for safe bathing, if you still have an electric geyser:

1. Switch on the geyser for 10 minutes and get used to bathing in tepid water. It is said that bathing in cold water increases your energy level, or Prana.
2. Always switch off the geyser before you enter the bathroom.
3. It is better to open the tap so as to run a modest stream of water. Sometimes, water tends to vaporise and can scald you badly if it gushes out full stream.
4. Run the cold water tap first and then follow it with hot water.

Good luck!

The Secret

If you want to know how to be happy, contented, joyful, blissful, then just watch 'The Secret'. It takes you on an amazing journey and you simply watch, spellbound.

Scientists, doctors, psychologists and priests play their bit to tell you how to get the best out of life- if you know the secret, then health, wealth and happiness are all yours to keep. They say, that all great men and women who succeeded throughout the ages, knew about the Secret.

A must watch film.

The Cosmic mother

All of last week I was a troubled mom. When a fledgling grows wings and is all set to fly, it is hard for a mother. I was in the same situation and sympathized with the mother birds.

I watched my daughter prepare for her trip to Europe, for pursuing higher studies. She was so excited. All she seemed to do was pack, weigh her bag and repack. She fretted over the number of warm clothes I had stealthily squeezed into her bag. I smiled as she gave me a reproachful look.

On Saturday, and we had thrown a small party at home for her friends and their families. Only then did I get that all-familiar lump in my throat. I had been cleverly avoiding this feeling by getting busy with this and that.

As parents, we always want the best for our kids. We want to see a smile on their faces. We want to protect them from the bad elements in the world. We want them constantly around us to do that.

But after a point, they seem to want to learn from life by themselves, with only a little help. We often wonder whether we are being good parents by letting go, or whether we are being negligent? But then, I guess we need to trust in the Cosmic Mother and do whatever is best for the child.

So deeply entrenched in these feelings I wished I could do 'Chakra meditation'. In all my advanced courses in the Art of Living, we had guided Chakra meditation which was powerful and soothing at the same time.

I would have clearly loved to go to the ashram and do another advanced course. But I had a lot of office work to deal with.

I wondered, how could I get to do this wonderful meditation?

This morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn to start my Yoga practice. I switched on WorldSpace.

I heard Guruji's gentle voice:
Let us sit comfortably to do Chakra meditation...

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's Valentine's Day and although it's not a typical Indian festival, the cards on display have done their bit to usher in the mood in a pretty big way.

To celebrate V day, my husband bought tickets for 'The American Gangster'. Typical male choice? I think so too. I guess I'll have to hide behind my extra large popcorn packet all through.

To celebrate V day, the office decided to have a book exhibition. Nice, huh? If you love books, that is.

Yep, love is in the air. And folks seem to be enjoying it for different reasons.

There is of course the typical boy-meets-girl and the love that ensues. Celebrated with much pomp and splendor every V day. Chocolates and roses or simply riding a rickshaw. It's love that makes the wheels go round and round.

Love in a rickshaw- Hyderabad Blues

I took the WFH (work from home) option for the week and am loving every minute of it.

Love to work from home!

Guruji Sri Sri Ravishankar puts love in perspective by saying:

"To love someone whom you like is insignificant
To love someone because they love you is of no consequence
To love someone whom you do not like means you have learned a lesson in life
To love someone who blames you for no reason shows that you have learned the art of living..."

Happy Valentine's day!

The Guru strikes a love-able pose

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi passes away

"Expansion of happiness is the purpose of creation and we are all here to enjoy and radiate happiness everywhere."

-Maharishi

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the renowned Guru of TM (transcendental meditation), passed away on Tuesday, in his Netherlands home.

I never met the Maharishi, but for some odd reason, the news of his death brought a lump in my throat. I almost felt that a graceful Age had passed on. The age of Transcendental Meditation. The age of inner silence.

I browsed the newspapers, hungry for more news about the Maharishi. But the media seemed only allude to his association with the Beatles. One UK newspaper even went to the extent of writing that the Maharishi got 'lucky' because of the interest the Beatles took in his teachings.

It seems so easy for people to speculate, and they spend so much time just doing this! So that is how, any contribution of a great person, however simple, humble, great or significant, is put to the back-burner, while this odd sensationalism takes over.

Maharishi brought alive the technique of transcendental meditation, through which millions of people got some peace in their turbulent lives. A few moments of meditation brought a stillness into their mind, allowing them to function in this gross world with more focus and clarity.

Along the ages, every great guru had something so precious and unique to offer to those who are ready to accept it.

Many people are attracted to the Guru and Guru-concept because they want to rise above this mortal world and make some sense to their own existence. Yet, many Gurus are labeled with scandals and motives. Truth be told, the fact of the matter is that the mortal man tends to cling to nonsense, and forget the Truth.

A Sadguru (true Guru) is never really bothered by such talk. Through spiritual practice and devotion, the Sadguru becomes very centered. It is said that a Sadguru is connected directly to God and the Self.

In Guruji Sri Sri Ravishankar's own words: 'Maharishi laid the foundation for a new world based on the knowledge of Vedas and spirituality. There was none like him and none shall ever be again. He remains unparalleled.'

Work of such great gurus must never be reduced to mere sensational newspaper headlines. Nor can they ever be understood or fathomed through one's mind and intellect. It takes something much, much deeper to understand them...