My Zen moment of the day-2
The sky was overcast and the sun did not rise at all! A lazy morning in bed- awake and yet not so. The day was truly independence from all time bindings.
Wonderful weather and beautiful moments fused into the promise the day held.
Suddenly Neeraj called," Wanna go for a long drive?"
"The weather is wonderful and we'll waste it sitting inside at home", we thought. "What the heck! Cancel the music class. Get ready and GO!"
And we did. The day lived up to the promise. Cool breeze. And great company. A drive along a great highway and soulful music. It could not be better!!!
But all this was not what I would call my ZEN moment of the day! Great as it was- it was nothing equal to the surprise we experienced late in the evening!
My Zen moment of the day was seeing Vinny in my drawing room! Arguably one of my BEST friends- back from the US as a surprise and what a surprise!
He knocked the breath out of me. I could only look and feel his presence and try to pinch myself to believe he could actually be sitting on my sofa and talking to me! And his parents (That is the argument! Who is a better friend- his parents or him!?) sitting alongside gleefully grinning in the astonishment written all over me... That was The Zen moment of my day today. Hugging Vinny- believing the impossible and experiencing the limit of the possibilities in the small universe we call home.
Friends rock. And they are what makes the rock music such a fantastic discharge and recharge- preparing us to be able to face the world again!
So... Thanks to Neeraj, we did something TOTALLY outlandish and unplanned today- and immensely enjoyed it. And we also tasted the icing on the cake seeing Vinny back home- today.
Wonderful weather and beautiful moments fused into the promise the day held.
Suddenly Neeraj called," Wanna go for a long drive?"
"The weather is wonderful and we'll waste it sitting inside at home", we thought. "What the heck! Cancel the music class. Get ready and GO!"
And we did. The day lived up to the promise. Cool breeze. And great company. A drive along a great highway and soulful music. It could not be better!!!
But all this was not what I would call my ZEN moment of the day! Great as it was- it was nothing equal to the surprise we experienced late in the evening!
My Zen moment of the day was seeing Vinny in my drawing room! Arguably one of my BEST friends- back from the US as a surprise and what a surprise!
He knocked the breath out of me. I could only look and feel his presence and try to pinch myself to believe he could actually be sitting on my sofa and talking to me! And his parents (That is the argument! Who is a better friend- his parents or him!?) sitting alongside gleefully grinning in the astonishment written all over me... That was The Zen moment of my day today. Hugging Vinny- believing the impossible and experiencing the limit of the possibilities in the small universe we call home.
Friends rock. And they are what makes the rock music such a fantastic discharge and recharge- preparing us to be able to face the world again!
So... Thanks to Neeraj, we did something TOTALLY outlandish and unplanned today- and immensely enjoyed it. And we also tasted the icing on the cake seeing Vinny back home- today.
The Zen moment
Walking out of a class that did not happen, with a head full of thoughts that could not be caught and headed for a corner that would not be defined- I had to figure things out for myself.
Not a very great place to be- some would say.
I say- It is a place of new beginnings. It is a place that allows me to leave behind whatever is not working for me- including myself!
What is it that I want from myself today? This s a question that has confused me enough and troubled me enough to make me want to rethink EVERYTHING in my life.
Why do I work? Why do I do the work I do? What makes me happy- truly happy? What would be my deepest regret were I to die today? Would there be anything powerful enough to hold me back to the life I live today?
What am I looking for? What do I want? WHY?
What is love? What is happiness? What is it that everyone is running for and after?
My mind is full of thoughts that are running at break neck speed- and are so hard to catch. It is a wonder that I have simply descended a flight of stairs and so much has already gone through my head!
I come back to the world. To Now.
I notice the black grill that fences the edge of the stairs in a school. Among the lines and breaking the linearity are tiny bead-like globes- two on each bar.
It sets me pondering..."Why did I not notice these earlier?"
And then, I realise why I notice them today is also not because they catch my eye in their own right but the man who is focussing all his attention on them!
He is young, but not too young. He may be in his mid forties. He has a white head band tied in a single knot across his forehead, quite like the Zen masters in folklore. The whiteness sharply contrasts with the dirty workclothes he is wearing. The workclothes are stained with grease and grime- and pigment, some black and some red. Aah! The colours of teh fence!!
He is wearing a pair of black plastic rimmed glasses that impart a definite aura of a great scientist at work. The work he is doing and the clothes he is wearing somehow are so incongruous with the assumed mundane nature of the job of painting a grill.
He holds a fine brush in his right hand and is focussing on one single globe. The brush is held lightly between the fingers and the thumb that expertly move the paint to coat the bead in precise and well marked out outstanding red colour.
The concentration is worthy and reminiscent of a Zen master or of the scientist. The job is that of a painter. He is defining a line that limits and defines the red from the black. The black bar was broken and punctuated by the red dot.
His attention was unwaveringly on teh red dot. It was as if the line from his eye to his shoulder through his arm and the brush fused the grill with the painter. And in a sense they were ONE.
He was a deeper than a Zen master in the moment- and the bandana emphasised the picture, heightened it.
How long has this Zen master been painting fences?! Is each fence a work of art? Does he even realise the power he wields in his hand?
How many of us feel the same feeling during a work day?
WHat are we willing to do to feel that way on an ongoing basis in our life?
Are we willing to come from that place of utter love and sheer force that makes everything else non-existent?
Are we even capable of that single ZEN moment each day- ONE moment that touches eternity and renders everything else unimportant?
I am going to give this a try- for the next thirty daysI am going to look for and try to find ONE Zen moment in my day- and I am going to write about my Zen moment EACH day.
It could be anything and last for a fleeting moment or for an hour- more or less- but I am looking for a moment of bliss and bless. A moment of fulfilment. One moment each day for the next thirty days.
My 30 day challenge.
I know I failed my last thirty day challenge. And I also know that Past is not equal to Future because there is a very important link of the present in between...
Even the longestlife lived on this planet by the turtles who live to a hundred and fifty years or more is but a figment , a fleeting moment or even less in the life of the Universe. What fills our experience and our heads is the feeling that WE define our Universe- which ofcourse, we do, but it is our Universe that transcends infinity and mystery.
I made my SFGTD box!
A few days ago, I received a mail from a friend. It reminded me that much as we believe our life moves because we make some decisions and that we decide to do or think or feel in a certain way- God above could have other ideas.
This mail was a reminder that God will take care of anything that troubles any of His children- but He will do it only in his own good time. This would mean that He would need to know that His child had left something to Him.
The mail further went on to ask everybdy to have a Something For God To Do Box and put those trouble in it that are seemingly insurmountable. And forget them.
That is what I did.
I made a box. Called it my SFGTD box, put my troubles in it and forgot about it! Now I have faith. He will do what is best. He seems to be having His fun right now and hopefully feeling proud of how much His children can bear. He may be conducting a test of nerves and of patience. He knows He will only give as much trouble as we can bear. It will only make us stronger and better.And then, He will send the solution, too.
Hopefully it will be a solution that will make the world a better place. It will be a reminder of how the apple falls right where it is supposed to!
You see, long long ago, when God was giving apples to all of His children, people queued up to receive them. A tiny child heard that God was giving away apples. He also got into the queue. The people moved ever so slowly, took their allotted apple and went their way. There were so many of them that the young child got really exhausted just waiting for the apple to fall in his outstretched hands.
The sun travelled all the way across the skies- and the day was done. The child was very close to giving up but reminded himself that the apple would change everything. That the apple would be the reward of waiting this long.
God was observing. He was looking forward to brushing hands with this boy. He noticed, however, that there was only one apple left for the day... He threw this apple right at the boy. Utterly exhausted, the boy could not catch it- and it fell to the ground. And when it fell, the boy noticed that the apple was overripe and discoloured from the side.
The boy was very surprised... But asked God- What can I do with this apple, O Lord!?
God's reply was simple, " Come back for another one tomorrow, my son!"
So the boy came back the next day. The God gave him another apple. This one also fell out of his hands. And God told him to come again. This went on for a few days.
God kept throwing the apple away, and the boy kept coming back each day- till finally God came across a bright, shiny, red and juicy apple. God picked up the apple, looked it over with a critical eye, and delicately placed the apple on the child's palm.
The boy was overjoyed. But he stopped... And asked... "Why?"
God answered," My son, you were so patient and so good, that you HAD to have the best possible apple. Each time you came along, the apple in m hand had some defect- either it was not ripe enough, or it was over-ripe. Some apples were just not big enough and some were not sweet enough. You deserved something more than even I had at that time.
So... I waited for the right apple to match you. This is THE apple.
So... when you are thinking why God is waiting and not letting you have the apple that HE seems to have given almost everyone else- remember- He is waiting for the BEST to drop into your hands.
He ALWAYS has you in mind. ALWAYS.
This mail was a reminder that God will take care of anything that troubles any of His children- but He will do it only in his own good time. This would mean that He would need to know that His child had left something to Him.
The mail further went on to ask everybdy to have a Something For God To Do Box and put those trouble in it that are seemingly insurmountable. And forget them.
That is what I did.
I made a box. Called it my SFGTD box, put my troubles in it and forgot about it! Now I have faith. He will do what is best. He seems to be having His fun right now and hopefully feeling proud of how much His children can bear. He may be conducting a test of nerves and of patience. He knows He will only give as much trouble as we can bear. It will only make us stronger and better.And then, He will send the solution, too.
Hopefully it will be a solution that will make the world a better place. It will be a reminder of how the apple falls right where it is supposed to!
You see, long long ago, when God was giving apples to all of His children, people queued up to receive them. A tiny child heard that God was giving away apples. He also got into the queue. The people moved ever so slowly, took their allotted apple and went their way. There were so many of them that the young child got really exhausted just waiting for the apple to fall in his outstretched hands.
The sun travelled all the way across the skies- and the day was done. The child was very close to giving up but reminded himself that the apple would change everything. That the apple would be the reward of waiting this long.
God was observing. He was looking forward to brushing hands with this boy. He noticed, however, that there was only one apple left for the day... He threw this apple right at the boy. Utterly exhausted, the boy could not catch it- and it fell to the ground. And when it fell, the boy noticed that the apple was overripe and discoloured from the side.
The boy was very surprised... But asked God- What can I do with this apple, O Lord!?
God's reply was simple, " Come back for another one tomorrow, my son!"
So the boy came back the next day. The God gave him another apple. This one also fell out of his hands. And God told him to come again. This went on for a few days.
God kept throwing the apple away, and the boy kept coming back each day- till finally God came across a bright, shiny, red and juicy apple. God picked up the apple, looked it over with a critical eye, and delicately placed the apple on the child's palm.
The boy was overjoyed. But he stopped... And asked... "Why?"
God answered," My son, you were so patient and so good, that you HAD to have the best possible apple. Each time you came along, the apple in m hand had some defect- either it was not ripe enough, or it was over-ripe. Some apples were just not big enough and some were not sweet enough. You deserved something more than even I had at that time.
So... I waited for the right apple to match you. This is THE apple.
So... when you are thinking why God is waiting and not letting you have the apple that HE seems to have given almost everyone else- remember- He is waiting for the BEST to drop into your hands.
He ALWAYS has you in mind. ALWAYS.
the long and lonely road
I am on a path.
I have not seen where it leads. I know not even where I stand when I stand today. I have to take a leap of faith and keep walking.
I have not seen where it leads. I know not even where I stand when I stand today. I have to take a leap of faith and keep walking.
Yet I know I am living in allignment with my true north. I love doing what I do today- and love being who I am today. There are, admittedly, areas where I want to BE more- but not very many where I want to HAVE more.
Were I to die in my sleep tonight, I would have only one regret- that I would not see my children grow to adulthood that I would not have contributed to shaping their world view and their self view. And THAT would be a deep, deep regret.
Sometimes it is lonely.
Sometimes I feel tired, too.
And all I can do is hold on- and hold up. And I can hope to find just one person - just one more person who is walking on the same road.
Someone who will make it possible for me to realise that I am not alone. That there are others who feel like I do- who think like I do and live like I do.
And once in a while- a kindred spirit does come along and holds your hand and holds you up- and lets you know that they understand.
They tell you exactly- "I know and I understand!"
And what's more- you can see it in their eyes!
And that makes all the difference...
Sometimes it is lonely.
Sometimes I feel tired, too.
And all I can do is hold on- and hold up. And I can hope to find just one person - just one more person who is walking on the same road.
Someone who will make it possible for me to realise that I am not alone. That there are others who feel like I do- who think like I do and live like I do.
And once in a while- a kindred spirit does come along and holds your hand and holds you up- and lets you know that they understand.
They tell you exactly- "I know and I understand!"
And what's more- you can see it in their eyes!
And that makes all the difference...
When FLOW takes over
Flow... the feeling of losing yourself in whatever you are doing... It is a feeling when the result becomes irrelevant, only the activity captures our full attention. It is the feeling that ONLY this matters. Of course, the results are disproportionately high.
Flow is when you experience the joy of simply watching the child take the first few tottering steps. It is also the feeling you experience when you climb the highest mountain you have conquered. Flow is the psychology of the optimal experience. It is pure and present experience of total immersion.
A teacher experiences the feeling when the class is at the verge of a breakthrough and do not even hear the bell ring. A surgeon experiences it when he is in the OR and everything disappears from consciousness except his hands and the patient.
A mother feels the same feeling in the touch of a small hand, fingers curled tight around her own. The father feels the same feeling when the son dons the cap at graduation. Flow is the unique feeling we can create at any time and in any activity.
Thinking back to today's OT, each case was different, unique and an experience of total immersion. I was in flow. I knew nothing else than what was happening under my hands.
It was a great day. And a blessed one. I am grateful... grateful for all the blessings. Grateful for all the opportunity to fell the mojo. Grateful for the blessing life really is.
Thank you God for the life we live. And the joy you give. Thank you God for the food we eat and the love we have. Thank you God for everything.
Spending a few moments in deep gratitude can transform our inner environment. And change our perception of the outer, too.
Flow is when you experience the joy of simply watching the child take the first few tottering steps. It is also the feeling you experience when you climb the highest mountain you have conquered. Flow is the psychology of the optimal experience. It is pure and present experience of total immersion.
A teacher experiences the feeling when the class is at the verge of a breakthrough and do not even hear the bell ring. A surgeon experiences it when he is in the OR and everything disappears from consciousness except his hands and the patient.
A mother feels the same feeling in the touch of a small hand, fingers curled tight around her own. The father feels the same feeling when the son dons the cap at graduation. Flow is the unique feeling we can create at any time and in any activity.
Thinking back to today's OT, each case was different, unique and an experience of total immersion. I was in flow. I knew nothing else than what was happening under my hands.
It was a great day. And a blessed one. I am grateful... grateful for all the blessings. Grateful for all the opportunity to fell the mojo. Grateful for the blessing life really is.
Thank you God for the life we live. And the joy you give. Thank you God for the food we eat and the love we have. Thank you God for everything.
Spending a few moments in deep gratitude can transform our inner environment. And change our perception of the outer, too.
My world.
Life is great... the sun is hiding behind the clouds and the green of the plants is shining through as if they are lit from within. And may be they are. All the trees are full of young leaves that look golden green. This somehow lights up the tree. And if that tree happens to be an Amaltaas- WOW!!! Delhi is full of these wonderful trees with few leaves and loads of dangling flowers that take over the mind scape and the landscape.
The scene is surreal. The birds are also flying low- covering all the trees that the eye can see, sitting on the electricity poles when they can. So many birds! And then you are brought back to the reality of the moment by that insolent driver behind you who blows his horn so hard that you get assaulted out of your reverie despite windows that are rolled up. Why? The light is still red. There are a couple of cars and a bus in front of me. If they do not move, can I? Will blowing the horn get the first car to move BEFORE the light signal permits it to?
Why is there so much noise in our world? Why are the people so taken over by the need to be loud and to be heard? And is there a way we can find our internal compass and silence in the noise? Is there a place where we can find that light that seems to be coming from within the trees start to come from within us?
Where can we see our light?
Where will we hear our silence?
When?
How?
NOW?
The scene is surreal. The birds are also flying low- covering all the trees that the eye can see, sitting on the electricity poles when they can. So many birds! And then you are brought back to the reality of the moment by that insolent driver behind you who blows his horn so hard that you get assaulted out of your reverie despite windows that are rolled up. Why? The light is still red. There are a couple of cars and a bus in front of me. If they do not move, can I? Will blowing the horn get the first car to move BEFORE the light signal permits it to?
Why is there so much noise in our world? Why are the people so taken over by the need to be loud and to be heard? And is there a way we can find our internal compass and silence in the noise? Is there a place where we can find that light that seems to be coming from within the trees start to come from within us?
Where can we see our light?
Where will we hear our silence?
When?
How?
NOW?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
The reeds that float… Nidhi Dhawan May 10, 2020 · 1 min read The reeds that float on the waves and get carried away are part of the flow tha...
-
I had a patient today- a young girl. She was pretty, and quite jovial. She jokingly remarked that her parents would not mind spending on her...
-
The reeds that float… Nidhi Dhawan May 10, 2020 · 1 min read The reeds that float on the waves and get carried away are part of the flow tha...
-
Most of us want to do 'something' in life. 'Something'. Meaningful. We all want to survive after our own death. This mamy ta...
For today there are several moments that could make the day momentous. ;-) I will try and stick with two.
The coffee came with a breath-taking aroma. I was sitting facing a transparent glass face obliquely. The background was full of noises about Anna and the outrage of his being put away, somewhat secretly- taken to an unknown location.
The view outside the cafe was also breath-taking- the rain had washed all the dirt and grime from the trees and the roads. Delhi was looking like a clean clean place to be- the politics notwithstanding.
The book I was reading also was enough of a handful and mindful to actually make me force myself to look up and out rather than simply enjoy the wonderful day.
Then I saw the cup- The smile.The smiling heart. I saw this as the sign. Things are about to change. Incidentally the book I am reading is also on Change. Anna is also fighting for a change. The usually grimy and hot Delhi was also changed today.
Lots of change around- and lots to divert attention from the moment... but the cup held me. Transfixed. It was too joyful to let the moment pass.
Sometimes one has to just stop.
And become a spectator rather than the player.
Watch the drama unfold. In wonder and awe at the possibilities, the alternative universes that can open up each fleeting moment.
And sit back and let the flow of NOW take over.
I not only loved the smell of the coffee, I also loved the look of the coffee, and the taste and the warmth of the hot fluid warming my cold vessels. The feel of the cup in my hand reminded me that even the cold can be and will be overcome.
The coffee pleased all my senses.