Yeh naa thi humari qismat, ke visaal-e-yaar hota...

The sheer poetic genius of Mirza Ghalb...

The hauntingly beautiful voice of Farida Khanum...
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Yeh naa thi humari qismat, ke visaal-e-yaar hota...
Agar aur jeete rehte, yahi intezaar hota...

Tere vaade par jiye hum, toh yeh jaan jhooth jaana...
Ke khushii se marr na jaate, agar aitbaar hota...

Kahun kis se main ke kya hai, shab-e-gham buri balaa hai...
Yeh khalish kahaan se hoti, joh jigar ke paar hota...

Hue hum joh marr ke rusavaa, hue kyun na gharq-e-dariyaa...
Na kahin janaazaa uthataa, na kahin mazaar hota...

Kahun kis se main ke kiyaa hai, shab-e-gham buri balaa hai...
Mujhe kya buraa tha marna, agar ek baar hota...

Ye masaail-e-tasavvuf, yeh tera bayaan Ghalib...
Tujhe ham vaalii samajhate, jo na baada-khwaar hota...

विद्या लक्ष्मी

एक नौजवान हार्वर्ड युनिवेर्सिटी की मार्केटिंग डिग्री लेकर हिंदुस्तान
लौटा और उसने एक बड़ा सा स्टोर खोला…

कम दाम - ज्यादा सामान…

परन्तु उसका स्टोर चला नहीं...

उसके स्टोर के सामने एक छोटी किराने की दूकान थी जो ऐसे चलती थी जैसे
लाला सामान मुफ्त में बाँट रहा हो…

6 महीने बाद तंग आ कर नौजवान ने अपना स्टोर बेचने के लिए बाहर बोर्ड लगा दिया…

सामने की दूकान का लाला आया, और नगद पैसे दे कर उसकी जगह खरीद ली…

नौजवान हैरान हुआ और उसने लाला से उसके व्यापार के बारे में पुछा…

लाला बोला, "भईया, बेचते तो हम भी वो ही सामान है जो तुम बेचते हो,
परन्तु हम कम मुनाफे पर काम करते हैं… सीधी बात है, सिर्फ 1% मुनाफे पर
काम करो, माल ज्यादा बिकेगा और तभी काम चलेगा…"

नौजवान हैरान हुआ, "सिर्फ 1%?"

लाला ने जवाब दिया, "हाँ, जैसे की कोई चीज़ 1 रुपये की आई तो मैं उस को 2
रूपये में बेच देता हूँ, यानी की सिर्फ 1% मुनाफा…"

नौजवान को लाला के गणित पर तरस आया और बोला, "लाला जी, अगर आप 1 रूपये की
चीज़ 2 रूपये में बेचते हो तो यह 1% नहीं, 100% मुनाफा हुआ…"

लाला बोला, "हिसाब तो मुझे आता नहीं भईया, अपनी अपनी किस्मत की बात है …
तुम्हारे पास विद्या है, मेरे पास लक्ष्मी है…"

यह कह के लाला ने स्टोर को ताला लगाया और अपनी दूकान की तरफ लौट गया जहाँ
सामान खरीदने के लिए व्याकुल भीड़ उसका इंतज़ार कर रही थी …

6 महीने और बीते…

हार्वर्ड से लौटा हुआ वह नौजवान रेस कोर्स में घोड़ो पर दांव पे दांव
लगाये जा रहा था और अपने सारे पैसे हारे जा रहा था… सुबह से शाम होने को
आई परन्तु उसके लगाये हुए एक भी घोड़े के हिस्से में जीत नहीं आई…

हताश हो कर वह लौटने लगा की तभी उसने देखा की किराने की दूकान वाला लाला
रेस कोर्स में आया और आते ही 21 नंबर के घोड़े पर पैसा लगाया…

रेस चालू हुई और 21 नंबर का घोडा जीत गया…

नौजवान हैरान परेशान...

लाला के पास गया और बोला, लाला जी मुझे पहचाना, 6 महीने पहले आपने मेरा
स्टोर खरीदा था… एक बात पूछनी थी… क्या आपको पहले से ही मालुम था की आज
21 नंबर का घोडा जीतेगा और इसी जानकारी के चलते आपने अंदर आते ही उस घोड़े
पे दांव खेला…

लाला बोला, "नहीं भईया, मैं यहाँ से जा रहा था की मैंने सोचा चलो, आज 7वे
महीने का 4था रविवार है, और 7x4=21, बस यह ही सोच कर मैंने 21 नंबर पर
दांव लगा दिया.. …

नौजवान को लाला के गणित पर तरस आया और बोला, "लाला जी, आपका हिसाब गलत
है, 7 को अगर 4 से गुणा करो तो नतीजा 21 नहीं 28 होता है…"

लाला बोला, "हिसाब तो मुझे आता नहीं भईया, अपनी अपनी किस्मत की बात है …
तुम्हारे पास विद्या है, मेरे पास लक्ष्मी है …"

खिचड़ी...

बचपन में एक कहानी पढ़ी थी... कहानी याद है, लेकिन यह भूल गया की कहाँ पढ़ी थी... शायद नंदन या पराग में प्रकाशित हुई थी...

रामू गाँव से शहर जाने लगा तो उसकी माँ बोली, "अगर कभी पेट ख़राब हो जाए तो खिचड़ी खा लेना"... 

यह सोच की कहीं नाम भूल न जाये, रामू "खिचड़ी... खिचड़ी..." जपने लगा...

रास्ते में पत्थर से ठोकर लगी तो "खिचड़ी" की जगह उसके मुहं से "खा चिड़ि" निकलना शुरू हो गया... 

"खा चिड़ि" बोलते हुए एक खेत से निकला तो वहां के किसानो ने उसकी जम के पिटाई करी... बोले की चिड़ि कहीं फसल न खा जाए, इस लिए हम सारे यहाँ चिड़ि को उड़ा रहे है की और तू उन्हें बुला के कह रहा है की "खा चिड़ि" ... अब से तू सिर्फ बोलेगा "उड़ चिड़ि"...

मार खा के रामू अब "उड़ चिड़ि" जपने लगा... तभी एक बहिलये ने उसको पकड़ लिया और करी उसकी खूब धुनाई... बोला की मैं यहाँ पक्षियों को फांसने के लिए जाल बिछा के छुपा हुआ हूँ और तू गा रहा है "उड़ चिड़ि"... अब से तू सिर्फ बोलेगा "आते जाओ फसते जाओ"... 

रामू ने "आते जाओ फसते जाओ" जपना शुरू किया... तभी वहां से निकल रही एक डाकुओं की टोली ने उसे पकड़ लिया और उस की खूब पिटाई करी... पिटाई करने के बाद जब डाकू जाने लगे तो उनके सरदार ने रामू को ख़बरदार किया, "आइन्दा कभी "आते जाओ फसते जाओ" बोला तो मार-मार के उसकी खिचड़ी बना देंगे... 

रामू यह सुन के ख़ुशी से चिलाने लगा, "खिचड़ी... खिचड़ी... यह ही तो कहा था माँ ने... "

Aval alah nūr upā▫i▫ā kuḏraṯ ke sabẖ banḏe...

First, Allah created the Light;
then, by His Creative Power, He made all mortal beings.
From the One Light, the entire universe welled up.
So who is good, and who is bad? ||1||
O people, O Siblings of Destiny, do not wander deluded by doubt.
The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places. ||1||Pause||
The clay is the same, but the Fashioner has fashioned it in various ways.
There is nothing wrong with the pot of clay - there is nothing wrong with the Potter. ||2||
The One True Lord abides in all; by His making, everything is made.
Whoever realizes the Hukam of His Command, knows the One Lord. He alone is said to be the Lord's slave. ||3||
The Lord Allah is Unseen; He cannot be seen. The Guru has blessed me with this sweet molasses.
Says Kabeer, my anxiety and fear have been taken away; I see the Immaculate Lord pervading everywhere. ||4||3||

अवलि अलह नूरु उपाइआ कुदरति के सभ बंदे ॥
एक नूर ते सभु जगु उपजिआ कउन भले को मंदे ॥१॥
लोगा भरमि न भूलहु भाई ॥
खालिकु खलक खलक महि खालिकु पूरि रहिओ स्रब ठांई ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
माटी एक अनेक भांति करि साजी साजनहारै ॥
ना कछु पोच माटी के भांडे ना कछु पोच कु्मभारै ॥२॥
सभ महि सचा एको सोई तिस का कीआ सभु कछु होई ॥
हुकमु पछानै सु एको जानै बंदा कहीऐ सोई ॥३॥
अलहु अलखु न जाई लखिआ गुरि गुड़ु दीना मीठा ॥
कहि कबीर मेरी संका नासी सरब निरंजनु डीठा ॥४॥३॥

Aval alah nūr upā▫i▫ā kuḏraṯ ke sabẖ banḏe.
Ėk nūr ṯe sabẖ jag upji▫ā ka▫un bẖale ko manḏe. ||1||
Logā bẖaram na bẖūlahu bẖā▫ī.
Kẖālik kẖalak kẖalak mėh kẖālik pūr rahi▫o sarab ṯẖāʼn▫ī. ||1|| rahā▫o.
Mātī ek anek bẖāʼnṯ kar sājī sājanhārai.
Nā kacẖẖ pocẖ mātī ke bẖāʼnde nā kacẖẖ pocẖ kumbẖārai. ||2||
Sabẖ mėh sacẖā eko so▫ī ṯis kā kī▫ā sabẖ kacẖẖ ho▫ī.
Hukam pacẖẖānai so eko jānai banḏā kahī▫ai so▫ī. ||3||
Alhu alakẖ na jā▫ī lakẖi▫ā gur guṛ ḏīnā mīṯẖā.
Kahi Kabīr merī sankā nāsī sarab niranjan dīṯẖā. ||4||3||

ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥
ਏਕ ਨੂਰ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਕਉਨ ਭਲੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਦੇ ॥੧॥
ਲੋਗਾ ਭਰਮਿ ਨ ਭੂਲਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥
ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਖਲਕ ਖਲਕ ਮਹਿ ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਸ੍ਰਬ ਠਾਂਈ ॥੧॥
ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਮਾਟੀ ਏਕ ਅਨੇਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਸਾਜੀ ਸਾਜਨਹਾਰੈ ॥
ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਪੋਚ ਮਾਟੀ ਕੇ ਭਾਂਡੇ ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਪੋਚ ਕੁੰਭਾਰੈ ॥੨॥
ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਸਚਾ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਈ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਕਛੁ ਹੋਈ ॥
ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਨੈ ਸੁ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ਬੰਦਾ ਕਹੀਐ ਸੋਈ ॥੩॥
ਅਲਹੁ ਅਲਖੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਲਖਿਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਗੁੜੁ ਦੀਨਾ ਮੀਠਾ ॥
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਮੇਰੀ ਸੰਕਾ ਨਾਸੀ ਸਰਬ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਡੀਠਾ ॥੪॥੩॥

~This Shabad is composed by Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Prabhaatee and it is on Page 1349 - 1350 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji~

At the end of the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box.~Italian Proverb~

Umar bhar Ghalib yeh hi bhool karta raha…
Dhool chehre pe thi, aur aaina saaf karta raha...

I understand that every individual, with whom I have ever interacted, every life situation that I witnessed, is a part of the bigger picture, unknown and unseen as yet by me, but a part of God’s immaculate planning. Be it friends or foes, everyone has been a teacher and has played their part to perfection in bringing me closer to God. Both affection and affliction play an equally important role in life’s journey, like the two sides of the same coin.

To all those who abhor me, maybe I have given you a reason, and for which I hereby apologise, or if you aren’t sure of the reasons even then I extend my apology, because in either scenario by voluntarily or involuntarily enticing the feeling of animosity within you, your soul is collecting negative karma because of me. Let go. Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.

My gratitude to those who have bequeathed their blessings and love upon me, I pray that God always and forever bless you all with much love, luck and happiness. My apologies for the times when I may have caused anguish, with either my impatience or by my unpredictability, but understand that is how the Creator has created me.

Only that colour which YOU impart, Lord, exists;
O Nanak, what can the poor wretched being do? ||8||3||

Jaisā rang ḏėh so hovai ki▫ā Nānak janṯ vicẖāre. ||8||3||

ਜੈਸਾ ਰੰਗੁ ਦੇਹਿ ਸੋ ਹੋਵੈ ਕਿਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੰਤ ਵਿਚਾਰੇ ॥੮॥੩॥

जैसा रंगु देहि सो होवै किआ नानक जंत विचारे ॥८॥३॥

Alike a river I flow, making gushing sounds on encountering obstacles, and running serenely in the plains.

Only God decides the course for the river until it merges in the ocean.

Moksha...

A elephant named Gajendra, was the king of a herd of elephants, including many queen elephants with whom he used to bathe and play in a lake. Gajendra was proud to be the king elephant. One hot day while he was arrogantly bathing in the lake with its herd, suddenly a crocodile from below caught him by the foot, tried to pull the elephant to the bottom of the lake, and would not let go of it.

Gajendra fought hard to free himself from the crocodile. But it was unable get rid of the crocodile. When other members of its herd (friends, queen elephants, the family members, and relatives) saw Gajendra fighting futilely to release himself from the jaws of death, fled. In other words, realizing that death was coming close, they all ran away and left Gajendra alone.

At that stage of utter helplessness, realizing the futility of its efforts, Gajendra called out to the Lord. Gajendra was instantly released from the grip of the crocodile.

________________________________________

This story is a part of the Shrimad Bhagavad Purana, an ancient Holy Hindu Scripture, and also finds mention several times in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji... 

On page number 632 http://goo.gl/znAXN

As soon as the elephant took to the protective Sanctuary of the Lord, the ocean of mercy, he escaped from the crocodile.
How much can I describe the Glorious Praises of the Naam? Whoever chants the Lord's Name, his bonds are broken. ||2||

Jab hī saran gahī kirpā niḏẖ gaj garāh ṯe cẖẖūtā. 
Mahmā nām kahā la▫o barna▫o rām kahaṯ banḏẖan ṯih ṯūtā. ||2|| 

जब ही सरनि गही किरपा निधि गज गराह ते छूटा ॥ 
महमा नाम कहा लउ बरनउ राम कहत बंधन तिह तूटा ॥२॥ 

ਜਬ ਹੀ ਸਰਨਿ ਗਹੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਨਿਧਿ ਗਜ ਗਰਾਹ ਤੇ ਛੂਟਾ ॥ 
ਮਹਮਾ ਨਾਮ ਕਹਾ ਲਉ ਬਰਨਉ ਰਾਮ ਕਹਤ ਬੰਧਨ ਤਿਹ ਤੂਟਾ ॥੨॥ 

On page number 830 http://goo.gl/VF1zl

The elephant's fear was taken away in an instant, as soon as he chanted the Lord's Name.

Gaj kī ṯarās mitī cẖẖinhū mėh jab hī rām bakẖāno. 

गज की त्रास मिटी छिनहू महि जब ही रामु बखानो ॥ 

ਗਜ ਕੀ ਤ੍ਰਾਸ ਮਿਟੀ ਛਿਨਹੂ ਮਹਿ ਜਬ ਹੀ ਰਾਮੁ ਬਖਾਨੋ ॥ 

On page number 976 http://goo.gl/O6F7L 

The mortals are bound by the many bonds of Maya's noose. Meditating on the Lord, the knot is untied, like the elephant, which was caught in the water by the crocodile; it remembered the Lord, and chanted the Lord's Name, and was released. ||3||

Mā▫i▫ā fās banḏẖ baho banḏẖe har japi▫o kẖul kẖulne. 
Ji▫o jal kuncẖar ṯaḏū▫ai bāʼnḏẖi▫o har cẖeṯi▫o mokẖ mukẖne. ||3|| 

माइआ फास बंध बहु बंधे हरि जपिओ खुल खुलने ॥ 
जिउ जल कुंचरु तदूऐ बांधिओ हरि चेतिओ मोख मुखने ॥३॥ 

ਮਾਇਆ ਫਾਸ ਬੰਧ ਬਹੁ ਬੰਧੇ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿਓ ਖੁਲ ਖੁਲਨੇ ॥ 
ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਕੁੰਚਰੁ ਤਦੂਐ ਬਾਂਧਿਓ ਹਰਿ ਚੇਤਿਓ ਮੋਖ ਮੁਖਨੇ ॥੩॥ 

On page number 982 http://goo.gl/9LukV 

In the Sanctuary of the Guru, the Lord God saves and protects us,
as He protected the elephant, when the crocodile seized it and pulled it into the water; He lifted him up and pulled him out. ||1||Pause||

Rām gur saran parabẖū rakẖvāre. 
Ji▫o kuncẖar ṯaḏū▫ai pakar cẖalā▫i▫o kar ūpar kadẖ nisṯāre. ||1|| rahā▫o. 

राम गुर सरनि प्रभू रखवारे ॥ 
जिउ कुंचरु तदूऐ पकरि चलाइओ करि ऊपरु कढि निसतारे ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥ 

ਰਾਮ ਗੁਰ ਸਰਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਰਖਵਾਰੇ ॥ 
ਜਿਉ ਕੁੰਚਰੁ ਤਦੂਐ ਪਕਰਿ ਚਲਾਇਓ ਕਰਿ ਊਪਰੁ ਕਢਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰੇ ॥੧॥ 
ਰਹਾਉ ॥ 

________________________________________

The symbolism of this story is that an egoistic mind of an individual is alike Gajendra, an elephant. The crocodile represents the fear of death, difficulties and sufferings that constantly hover over our life.

We falter by thinking that another individual, be it friend, family, lover or spouse, can be our savior. In lure of Maya, we become egoistic. Truth is that when it is the time to die, or the moment we run into difficulty, everyone except for God will forsake us.

In the clutches of death, no one can protect us - friends disappear, relatives flee, and even our own body fails us. And alike the elephant unable to free itself from the jaws of the crocodile, a man cannot become free until the onus of releasing is put on the God. Like the elephant in the story, in the moment of utter surrender, God rushes to our aid, and liberates us. 

Mukti or Moksha is attainable only by the Grace of Eternal God.

The last loneliness standing…

Eons ago I had written a poem - Main Akela Hoon - for our school magazine Vidya.

Neither do I remember the year it was published nor do I recall the exact verses of the poem, but since the title is self-explanatory, and given the fact that as an only child living with a Dad who wasn’t keeping good health, and a Mom who was busy attending to him, I can say it with a fair bit of certainty that thepenning was about being lonely.

Much water flowed under the bridge since then. Over the past three decades, I made thousands of acquaintances, few hundred enemies and a handful of friends.

Yet that feeling of loneliness somehow lingered on all along these years,

On. And on.

Over the years, as the volume of loneliness went up and down, sometimes the crack shrank, sometimes the crater went greater, yet it remained, just like my insanity.

I was running away from myself. Or more aptly, I was running away from God. (God is within, remember!)

And the more I ran, the more I got caught.

Once in sheer anguish I penned…

Hoon hujoom mein akela, jaise mayyat pe laga ho koi jamghat
Shor-gul hai tanhaai, laash pe deemak ne lagaya hai majma

Like a termite infested corpse, am shouting a deafening silent cry
Final futile try to escape the loneliness inside the coffin of a sly

Alas! The cries found no escape. Nah sire, Zilch! But the blame lies only on me and no-one else since I myself was unwilling to hear my own screams.

Yeh Duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai
Yeh duniya agar lutt bhi jaaye to kya hai

सहस सिआणपा लख होहि त इक न चलै नालि ॥
Sahas siāṇpā lakẖ hohi ṯa ik na cẖalai nāl
Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end.

Be it friends, family, or foes, no-one will die with me when it is time for me to die, yet "all" must have their say in the way I must live… Without even realizing the futility of this demand when even they all know that the moment I die, no-one is going to keep the dead body of a forty year old/young for an extra forty hours...

I found out that although if I were to die now, “sympathetic” people would say I died a young death, and yet the same worldly wise voices will vilify me if I wanted to live and not merely exist.

In numbness, I was turning indifferent to my own plight. The disenchantment was almost complete.

And then the threshold collapsed and I snapped.

Or maybe the threshold snapped and I collapsed.

Whatever!

It is then that I sought refuge in an eternally dependable and forever unchangeable support system.

I turned to God.

किउ छूटउ कैसे तरउ भवजल निधि भारी ॥
राखु राखु मेरे बीठुला जनु सरनि तुम्हारी ॥
Kio cẖẖūtao kaise ṯarao bẖavjal niḏẖ bẖārī.
Rākẖ rākẖ mere bīṯẖulā jan saran ṯumĥārī.
How can anyone be saved? How can anyone cross over the terrifying world-ocean?
Save me, save me, O my Lord! Your humble servant seeks Your Sanctuary.

And I found my senses.

All six of them. Including the common sense.

I realized that I had to listen to the inner voice rather than aimlessly attempting to forever gratify the insatiable worldly voices.

I realized that my captivity was an illusion, the cage was inexistent. I realized that the moment you believe you are free, you become free.

I realized that I wasn't duty bound to respond to every instance of negativity hurled towards me, neither with further negativity to even it out, nor with positivity in a futile hope to change others.

I realized that all I had to do was change me instead of trying to change the world.

I realized that there was no need for me to play the victim when I wasn’t even remotely interested in victimizing anyone else.

I realized that it is always better to trust an unknown future to An All Knowing God than to allow another human to judge me and decide my fate.

I realized that one always runs an inherent risk of being sold in the slave market the moment he/she calls another human being as lord, and thus only God Almighty, The Sovereign Lord of The Universe, must be my only lord.

धनवंता अरु निरधन मनई ता की कछू न कानी रे
राजा परजा सम करि मारै ऐसो कालु बडानी रे
Ḏẖanvanṯā ar nirḏẖan man▫ī ṯā kī kacẖẖū na kānī re.
Rājā parjā sam kar mārai aiso kāl badānī re.
It gives no special consideration to either the rich or the poor.
The king and his subjects are equally killed; such is the power of Death.

I realized that be it a king or a pauper, rich or poor; everyone will die, but the responsibility that when death comes, it finds me alive rests solely on me and not on any other human. I realized that I might as well as live my life in happiness since no-one is actually bothered if I am miserable. I realized that no matter what games people play, I must not play any games with them or myself.

I realized that neither may I ever try to be a messiah for anyone else (That’s God’s job, not mine), nor look outwards for a messiah to resuscitate me because the only viable messiah available for me is me.

As I undertook the most important journey of my life, the journey within, I realized that the transition from “Main Akela Hoon” to “Main Azaad Hoon” always had to be within and never without.

I realized that when loneliness became solitude, it became a blessing,

I realized that when Divine fills the vacuum, nothing remains amiss.

I realized that awakening in itself is nirvana, courage in itself is resuscitation, and faith in itself is salvation.

I learned few simple but effective lessons.

I don’t have to control thoughts. I only have to stop the thoughts from controlling me.

I don’t have to control people. I only have to stop people from controlling me.

Yes, admittedly it is just the start, it still is a long journey and it will end only when the river will merge into the ocean.

Am I the Pied Piper of Hamelin playing pipe? Will the wise doomsayers be proved right that I’d fall off the cliff listening to my own music?

Who knows?

I believe in myself and I believe in my God.

I’d just do my bit and then whatever will be, will be. Que Sera, Sera.

So please help me God. Amen.

Excerpt from "~Osho: Freedom from the Past~"

Love brings freedom.

Loyalty brings slavery.

~Osho~

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["Osho... To me, the concept of loyalty has overtones of duty and honor and belief – all of which represent static, unquestioning attitudes that are rooted in outmoded sentimentality. I love and trust you as my master, and I cannot imagine the rest of my life having any significance except that it be in the service of that love and trust. But that is not my being loyal: it’s something I consciously affirm in my life, moment to moment. Would you please talk on loyalty?"]

Maneesha, one very fundamental thing has always to be remembered: man is very clever in creating pseudo-values. The real values demand your totality, demand your whole being; the pseudo-values are very cheap. They look like the real, but they don’t demand you in your totality – just a superficial formality.

For example, in place of love, trust, we have created a false value: loyalty – the loyal person is only superficially concerned with love. He goes through all the gestures of love, but he means nothing by them; his heart stays out of his formal gestures.

A slave is loyal, but do you think anybody who is a slave, who has been reduced in his humanity, whose whole pride and dignity has been taken away, can love the person who has harmed him so deeply? He hates him, and if the chance arises, he can kill him. But on the surface, he will remain loyal – he has to. It is not out of his joy, it is out of fear; it is not out of love, it is out of a conditioned mind which says that you have to be loyal to your master. It is the loyalty of the dog to his master.

Love needs a more total response; it comes not out of duty, but out of your own heartbeats, out of your own experience of joy, out of the desire to share it.

Loyalty is something ugly, but for thousands of years it has been a very respectable value because society has enslaved people in different ways. The wife is supposed to be loyal to the husband, to the point that, in this country, millions of women have died with their husband’s death, jumping in the funeral pyre alive, and burning themselves to death. It was so respectable that any woman who could not do it had to live a very condemned life. She became almost an outcast; she was treated only as a servant in her own family. It was concluded that because she could not die with her husband, she was not loyal to him.

In fact, just think of it the other way around: not a single man has jumped into the funeral pyre of his wife.

Nobody has raised the question, “Does it mean that no husband has ever been loyal to his wife?” But it is a society of double standards: one standard is for the master, the owner, the possessor, and the other standard is for the slave.

Love is a dangerous experience, because you are possessed by something which is bigger than you, and it is not controllable – you cannot produce it on order. Once it is gone, there is no way to bring it back; all that you can do is to pretend, be a hypocrite.

Loyalty is a totally different matter; it is manufactured by your own mind, it is not something beyond you. It is a training in a particular culture – just like any other training. You start acting; and by and by, you start believing your own acting. Loyalty demands that you should be always, in life or in death, devoted to the person – whether your heart is willing for it or not. It is a psychological way of enslavement.

Love brings freedom.

Loyalty brings slavery.

On the surface, they both look alike; deep down, they are just the very opposite – diametrically opposite. Loyalty is acting, you have been educated for it. Love is wild, its whole beauty is in its wildness. It comes like a breeze with great fragrance, fills your heart, and suddenly where there was a desert there is a garden full of flowers. But you don’t know from where it comes, and you don’t know that there is no way to bring it; it comes on its own and remains as long as existence wills it. And just as it had come one day as a stranger, as a guest, suddenly one day it is gone. There is no way to cling to it, no way to hold it.

Society cannot depend on such unpredictable, unreliable experiences. It wants guarantees, securities; hence, it has removed love from life completely – it has placed marriage in its place. Marriage knows loyalty, loyalty to the husband, and because it is formal, it is within your hands…but it is nothing compared to love, it is not even a dew drop of the ocean that love is.

But society is very happy with it because it is reliable. The husband can trust you, can trust that tomorrow also you will be as loyal as you are today. Love cannot be trusted. And the strangest phenomenon is that love is the greatest trust – but it cannot be trusted. In the moment, it is total; but the next moment remains open. It may grow within you, it may evaporate from you. The husband wants a wife who is a slave for her whole life. He cannot depend on love; he has to create something looking like love, but manufactured by man’s mind.

It is not only in the relationship of love, but in other fields of life, also. Loyalty has been given great respect because it destroys intelligence: the soldier has to be loyal to the nation…. The man who dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – you cannot call him responsible for it, he was simply fulfilling his duty. He was ordered, and he was loyal to his superiors; that is the whole training of armies.

For years they train you, so that you become almost incapable of revolt. Even if you see that what is being asked from you is absolutely wrong, still your training has gone so deep to say, “Yes, sir,” that you will do it. I cannot conceive that the man who dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a machine. He also had a heart just like you, he also had his wife and children, his old mother and father…he was as much a human being as you are – with a difference. He was trained to follow orders without questioning, and when the order was given, he simply followed it.

I have thought again and again about his mind. Is it conceivable that he did not think that this bomb is going to destroy almost two hundred thousand people? Can’t he say, “No”? Is it not better to be shot by the general for not following the order, than to kill two hundred thousand people? Perhaps the idea never occurred to him.

The army works in such a way as to create loyalty – it starts with small things. One wonders why every soldier for years has to go for parades and follow stupid orders – left turn, right turn, go backwards, go forwards – for hours, for no purpose at all. There is a hidden purpose in it. His intelligence is being destroyed. He is being turned into an automaton, into a robot. So when the order comes, “Left turn,” the mind does not ask, “Why?” If somebody else says to you, “Left turn,” you are going to ask, “What nonsense is this? Why should I left turn? I’m going right!” But the soldier is not supposed to doubt, to inquire; he has simply to follow. This is his basic conditioning for loyalty.

It is good for the kings and for the generals that armies should be loyal to the point that they function like machines, not like men. It is comfortable for parents that their children are loyal, because a child who is a rebel is a problem. The parents may be wrong, and the child may be right, but he has to be obedient to the parents – that is part of the training of the old man that has existed up to now.

I teach you the new man in whom loyalty has no place, but instead intelligence, inquiry, a capacity to say “No.” To me, unless you are capable of saying “No” your “Yes;” is meaningless – your “Yes” is just recorded on a gramophone record. You cannot do anything; you have to say, “Yes” the “No” simply does not arise in you.

Life and civilization would have been totally different if we had trained people to have more intelligence. So many wars would not have happened because people would have asked, “What is the reason? Why should we kill people – people who are innocent?” But they are loyal to one country and you are loyal to another country, and both the countries’ politicians are fighting and sacrificing their people. If the politicians love to fight so much they can have a wrestling match, and people can enjoy it just like any football match.

But the kings and the politicians, the presidents and the prime ministers don’t go to war. The simple people, who have nothing to do with killing others, go to war to kill and to be killed. They are rewarded for their loyalty; they are given the Victoria Cross or other kinds of awards – for being inhuman, for being unintelligent, for being mechanical.

Maneesha, you asked me, “To me, the concept of loyalty has overtones of duty, and honor, and belief.”

It has not only overtones. It is nothing but the combination of all these diseases – belief, duty, respectability. They all are nourishment for your ego. They are all against your spiritual growth, but they are in favor of the vested interests.

The priests don’t want you to ask any question about their belief system because they know that they have no answers to give. All belief systems are so false that if questioned they will fall down. Unquestioned, they create great religions with millions of people in their folds.

Now the Catholic pope has fifty million people under him, and out of these fifty million people, not a single one inquires, “How can a virgin girl give birth to a child?” That would be sacrilegious! Out of fifty million people, not a single one asks, “What is the evidence that Jesus is the only begotten son of God?” – anybody can claim it. “What is the evidence that Jesus has saved people from misery?” – he could not save himself. But questions like this are embarrassing, and they are simply not raised. Even God is nothing but a hypothesis which religious people have been trying to prove for thousands of years, all kinds of proofs – but all bogus, with no substance, no support from existence. But nobody asks the question.

From the very first day of life, people are being trained to be loyal to the belief system in which they were born. It is convenient for the priests to exploit you, it is convenient for the politicians to exploit you, it is convenient for husbands to exploit wives, for parents to exploit children, for teachers to exploit students.

For every vested interest, loyalty is simply a necessity. But it reduces the whole of humanity into retardedness.

It does not allow questioning, it does not allow doubt, it does not allow people to be intelligent. And a man who is not capable of doubting, of questioning, of saying, “No,” when he feels that the thing is wrong, has fallen below humanity – he has become a subhuman animal... all of which represent static, unquestioning attitudes that are rooted in outmoded sentimentality.

["I love and trust You as my Master, and I cannot imagine the rest of my life having any significance except that it be in the service of that love and trust."]

If love is asked, then it becomes loyalty. If love is given without being asked, if it is your free gift. Then it raises your consciousness.

If trust is asked you are being enslaved but if a trust arises in you, something superhuman is growing within your heart.

The difference is very small, but of tremendous importance. Asked or ordered, love and trust both become false. When they arise on their own, they have immense intrinsic value. They do not make you a slave, they make you a master of yourself, because it is your love, it is your trust. You are following your own heart. You are not following somebody else, you are not being forced to follow. Out of your freedom is your love, out of your dignity is your trust, and they are both going to make you richer human beings.
That is my idea of the new man. He will love, but he will not allow love to be ordered. He will trust, but he will trust according to himself – not according to any scriptures, not according to any social structure, not according to any priest, not according to any politician.

To live your life according to your own heart, following its beat, going into the unknown just like an eagle flying across the sun in utter freedom, knowing no limits…it is not ordered. It is its own joy. It is the exercise of one’s own spirituality.

[“But that is not my being loyal.”]

Certainly. I would not like anybody to be loyal to me, because I cannot destroy you, and I cannot take away your dignity. I am here to crown you with dignity, to help you achieve your potential to its fullest, to make you a master of your own destiny. I cannot ask loyalty from you, I cannot ask anything – neither love, nor trust, nor loyalty. But if love arises in you, trust grows in you, that is a totally different phenomenon. The whole credit goes to you; it has nothing…. As far as I am concerned you cannot disappoint me, for the simple reason that I am not asking any loyalty. If you fail in your love, if you fail in your trust, you are not disappointing me, you are disappointing yourself; you are not betraying me, you are betraying your own higher values.

This is a totally different approach, but this is the way of the new man. And the new man is the only hope for the future.

~Osho: Freedom from the Past~

Dreams... Nightmares...

ABC: I had a wonderful dream last night. You and I were at the race course and I betted all my money on horse number 10 and it won.

XYZ: I had an awful nightmare last night. You and I were at the race course and I too betted all my money on horse number 10.

ABC: Eh! So how was it a nightmare?

XYZ: Because in my dream, horse number 01 was the winner.

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The anecdote mentioned above is faker than me, yet it is truly probable even if not probably true.

One man’s dream can be another man’s nightmare. What makes one person happy may make someone else sad. One man’s food is another man’s poison.

Do you get the drift…?

It is important to follow dreams but the sole condition to it is that the dreams must be your own.

As I walk towards my 40th birthday, having lived my share of life with its fair bit of joys and sorrows, been with and interacted with people of different religions and diverse upbringing, I understand that even changes in the circumstances don't necessarily change the basic personality traits of any individual. You are unique, just like everybody else. You, me or anyone else, we all are born with a defined set of that will in all probability stay with us for as long as we are alive. Of course we all change when an awakening, a change happens from within, but even then our basic personality traits stay consistent; that doesn't change. Thus do not try to fit into someone else's vision of who you are supposed to be. That can easily lead to disaster. Look within to discover your innermost thoughts. Nudge, poke, prod and search your inner self.

Surely you may find opposition to those beliefs, don’t even for a moment expect an easy road to your ideas, and your way of approaching life, but the soonest you realize that it is your own path and not someone else, you won’t be bothered. When someone says “You can’t”, they actually mean “I can’t”. Realize that a critic is a man who may or may not know the path but is surely unwilling to go that path and that is the only reason for discouragement. The frog in the well does not know the ocean. Someone living inside the box and not knowing the outside is never the one who will advise you to think as if there is no box.

And eventually when you come to terms with who you are and realize what you want, then only two questions remain to be answered…

1. Can You Afford to Follow Your Dreams?

2. Can You Afford NOT to?

Try and fail, but don't fail to try.

Good luck and God bless…

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Disclaimer: My dreams are my dreams. And my nightmares are my nightmares. Please neither be influenced by my dreams nor be scared by my nightmares. I sing my song because I have an urge to sing. And just because you may identify with some of the sound notes, please DO NOT assume/believe/think that it is some song that you too have to sing along. You have your song within you, find it, sing it aloud, and dance to your own and not to someone else’s music.

I know where I'm going and why I'm going. I'm already focused on that special place where I find my peace and solitude. But that is my journey, my path. Do not follow me as I follow my bliss, please find and follow your own paradise. I have an altogether different outlook on life which may not resemble even an iota of your perspective, and how you approach life. Just as coffee isn’t my cup of tea, similarly my objective can be at complete loggerheads with what you want in life. And like any other individual only you can decide best for yourself. Pursuing dreams is something I believe in, even when it means taking a hit. For me the journey itself is the reward, the journey itself is the thrill, winning and losing is just incidental.

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There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win.

~ Elie Wiesel~
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Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

~Steve Jobs~

Raste Ka Patthar Aur Jimmedari

Probably I was in 6th or 7th standard when I enacted in this school play, “Raaste Ka Pathar Aur Jimmedari”, translated as “The Obstacles in path and our responsibility.”





Once upon a time there was this wise king who wanted to find out if the subjects of his kingdom were aware of their responsibilities. One early morning he cleverly disguised himself and went to a nearby village, where he puts a huge stone right in the middle of the path.

Underneath the stone, The King puts a gold coin along with a note, “A reward for being a responsible citizen”.

Doing so, The King goes into hiding behind a tree and waits patiently for someone to remove the stone from the path, and as a result claim the gold coin.

As it turns out, one by one several people come on that path, first a Tangewala (someone who drives a horse-carriage… this role was played by me), then few people riding a Bullock Cart, then comes a minister from King’s own court, and lastly a group of women. All of them complain aloud about the obstacle in their path, cursing aloud to whosoever may have put it there, yet no-one removes the stone.

The King, pretty much dismayed at such sheer callousness by all, now himself removes the stone from the path and comes to the conclusion that his subjects were unaware that all rights come with responsibilities and therefore as a King, he must take tough measures so as the people of his kingdom become responsible.

Moral of the story: Talk doesn't cook rice…

As I recalled this story from Panchatantra, I realized that although in life we all find obstacles in our paths, yet most of the time all we do is cry out aloud, become helpless and miserable, blame circumstances, go into numbness, all along failing to do something about it, maybe in a hope that one day someone else will appear on the horizon as a Messiah and help us out.

That’s out rightly silly. Don’t wait for someone to help you. Help yourself. Only you can walk your own path, and remove the obstacles you find, no-one else can or will. Neither can you walk someone else’s path, Nope sire! Every individual must make their own journey.

To quote Buddha, “No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”

No man can use his brain to think for another. The primary act—the process of reason—must be performed by each man alone. We can divide a meal among many men. We cannot digest it in a collective stomach.

Don’t be a sheep, be an individual. Regard every man, every woman, every child, every individual as an independent, sovereign, responsible for their life and possessing an inalienable right to their own life, a right derived from The Almighty God, The Universe. Be compassionate towards all but understand that your compassion is incomplete if it doesn’t includes you. When you say “yes” to others, make sure you are not saying “no” to yourself.

Come to terms with your own strengths and weaknesses, your own language and your own song. Fly high. Sing aloud. Respect your own freewill and respect freewill of all others.

Good luck and God bless…

Lakh Khushian Patshahian

~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Page 44 http://goo.gl/p9oSU )~


Siree Raag, Fifth Mehl:

All things are received if the One is obtained.
The precious gift of this human life becomes fruitful when one chants the True Word of the Shabad.
One who has such destiny written on his forehead enters the Mansion of the Lord's Presence, through the Guru. ||1||
O my mind, focus your consciousness on the One.
Without the One, all entanglements are worthless; emotional attachment to Maya is totally false. ||1||Pause||
Hundreds of thousands of princely pleasures are enjoyed, if the True Guru bestows His Glance of Grace.
If He bestows the Name of the Lord, for even a moment, my mind and body are cooled and soothed.
Those who have such pre-ordained destiny hold tight to the Feet of the True Guru. ||2||
Fruitful is that moment, and fruitful is that time, when one is in love with the True Lord.
Suffering and sorrow do not touch those who have the Support of the Name of the Lord.
Grasping him by the arm, the Guru lifts them up and out, and carries them across to the other side. ||3||
Embellished and immaculate is that place where the Saints gather together.
He alone finds shelter, who has met the Perfect Guru.
Nanak builds his house upon that site where there is no death, no birth, and no old age. ||4||6||76||


Sirīrāg mėhlā 5.

Sabẖe thok parāpaṯe je āvai ik hath.
Janam paḏārath safal hai je sacẖā sabaḏ kath.
Gur ṯe mahal parāpaṯe jis likẖi▫ā hovai math. ||1||
Mere man ekas si▫o cẖiṯ lā▫e.
Ėkas bin sabẖ ḏẖanḏẖ hai sabẖ mithi▫ā moh mā▫e. ||1|| rahā▫o.
Lakẖ kẖusī▫ā pāṯisāhī▫ā je saṯgur naḏar kare▫i.
Nimakẖ ek har nām ḏe▫e merā man ṯan sīṯal ho▫e.
Jis ka▫o pūrab likẖi▫ā ṯin saṯgur cẖaran gahe. ||2||
Safal mūraṯ saflā gẖaṛī jiṯ sacẖe nāl pi▫ār.
Ḏūkẖ sanṯāp na lag▫ī jis har kā nām aḏẖār.
Bāh pakaṛ gur kādẖi▫ā so▫ī uṯri▫ā pār. ||3||
Thān suhāvā paviṯ hai jithai sanṯ sabẖā.
Dẖo▫ī ṯis hī no milai jin pūrā gurū labẖā.
Nānak baḏẖā gẖar ṯahāʼn jithai miraṯ na janam jarā. ||4||6||76||


सिरीरागु महला ५ ॥

सभे थोक परापते जे आवै इकु हथि ॥
जनमु पदारथु सफलु है जे सचा सबदु कथि ॥
गुर ते महलु परापते जिसु लिखिआ होवै मथि ॥१॥
एकस बिनु सभ धंधु है सभ मिथिआ मोहु माइ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
लख खुसीआ पातिसाहीआ जे सतिगुरु नदरि करेइ ॥
निमख एक हरि नामु देइ मेरा मनु तनु सीतलु होइ ॥
जिस कउ पूरबि लिखिआ तिनि सतिगुर चरन गहे ॥२॥
सफल मूरतु सफला घड़ी जितु सचे नालि पिआरु ॥
दूखु संतापु न लगई जिसु हरि का नामु अधारु ॥
बाह पकड़ि गुरि काढिआ सोई उतरिआ पारि ॥३॥
थानु सुहावा पवितु है जिथै संत सभा ॥
ढोई तिस ही नो मिलै जिनि पूरा गुरू लभा ॥
नानक बधा घरु तहां जिथै मिरतु न जनमु जरा ॥४॥६॥७६॥


ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

ਸਭੇ ਥੋਕ ਪਰਾਪਤੇ ਜੇ ਆਵੈ ਇਕੁ ਹਥਿ ॥
ਜਨਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਸਫਲੁ ਹੈ ਜੇ ਸਚਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਥਿ ॥
ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਮਹਲੁ ਪਰਾਪਤੇ ਜਿਸੁ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਹੋਵੈ ਮਥਿ ॥੧॥
ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਏਕਸ ਸਿਉ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ ॥ मेरे मन एकस सिउ चितु लाइ ॥
ਏਕਸ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਭ ਧੰਧੁ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਮਾਇ ॥੧॥
ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਲਖ ਖੁਸੀਆ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੀਆ ਜੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
ਨਿਮਖ ਏਕ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੇਇ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਸੀਤਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਜਿਸ ਕਉ ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਚਰਨ ਗਹੇ ॥੨॥
ਸਫਲ ਮੂਰਤੁ ਸਫਲਾ ਘੜੀ ਜਿਤੁ ਸਚੇ ਨਾਲਿ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥
ਦੂਖੁ ਸੰਤਾਪੁ ਨ ਲਗਈ ਜਿਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੁ ॥
ਬਾਹ ਪਕੜਿ ਗੁਰਿ ਕਾਢਿਆ ਸੋਈ ਉਤਰਿਆ ਪਾਰਿ ॥੩॥
ਥਾਨੁ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ਪਵਿਤੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਥੈ ਸੰਤ ਸਭਾ ॥
ਢੋਈ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਨੋ ਮਿਲੈ ਜਿਨਿ ਪੂਰਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਲਭਾ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਬਧਾ ਘਰੁ ਤਹਾਂ ਜਿਥੈ ਮਿਰਤੁ ਨ ਜਨਮੁ ਜਰਾ ॥੪॥੬॥੭੬॥

Jis Ke Sir Upar Tu Swami

Soohee, Fifth Mehl:

When You stand over our heads, O Lord and Master, how can we suffer in pain?
The mortal being does not know how to chant Your Name - he is intoxicated with the wine of Maya, and the thought of death does not even enter his mind. ||1||
O my Sovereign Lord, You belong to the Saints, and the Saints belong to You.
Your servant is not afraid of anything; the Messenger of Death cannot even approach him. ||1||Pause||
Those who are attuned to Your Love, O my Lord and Master, are released from the pains of birth and death.
No one can erase Your Blessings; the True Guru has given me this assurance. ||2||
Those who meditate on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, obtain the fruits of peace. Twenty-four hours a day, they worship and adore You.
In Your Sanctuary, with Your Support, they subdue the five villains. ||3||
I know nothing about wisdom, meditation and good deeds; I know nothing about Your excellence.
Guru Nanak is the greatest of all; He saved my honor in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga. ||4||10||57||


Sūhī mėhlā 5.

Jis ke sir ūpar ṯūʼn su▫āmī so ḏukẖ kaisā pāvai.
Bol na jāṇai mā▫i▫ā maḏ māṯā marṇā cẖīṯ na āvai. ||1||
Mere rām rā▫e ṯūʼn sanṯā kā sanṯ ṯere.
Ŧere sevak ka▫o bẖa▫o kicẖẖ nāhī jam nahī āvai nere. ||1|| rahā▫o.
Jo ṯerai rang rāṯe su▫āmī ṯinĥ kā janam maraṇ ḏukẖ nāsā.
Ŧerī bakẖas na metai ko▫ī saṯgur kā ḏilāsā. ||2||
Nām ḏẖi▫ā▫in sukẖ fal pā▫in āṯẖ pahar ārāḏẖėh.
Ŧerī saraṇ ṯerai bẖarvāsai pancẖ ḏusat lai sāḏẖėh. ||3||
Gi▫ān ḏẖi▫ān kicẖẖ karam na jāṇā sār na jāṇā ṯerī.
Sabẖ ṯe vadā saṯgur Nānak jin kal rākẖī merī. ||4||10||57||


सूही महला ५ ॥

जिस के सिर ऊपरि तूं सुआमी सो दुखु कैसा पावै ॥
बोलि न जाणै माइआ मदि माता मरणा चीति न आवै ॥१॥
मेरे राम राइ तूं संता का संत तेरे ॥
तेरे सेवक कउ भउ किछु नाही जमु नही आवै नेरे ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
जो तेरै रंगि राते सुआमी तिन्ह का जनम मरण दुखु नासा ॥
तेरी बखस न मेटै कोई सतिगुर का दिलासा ॥२॥
नामु धिआइनि सुख फल पाइनि आठ पहर आराधहि ॥
तेरी सरणि तेरै भरवासै पंच दुसट लै साधहि ॥३॥
गिआनु धिआनु किछु करमु न जाणा सार न जाणा तेरी ॥
सभ ते वडा सतिगुरु नानकु जिनि कल राखी मेरी ॥४॥१०॥५७॥


ਸੂਹੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

ਜਿਸ ਕੇ ਸਿਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਤੂੰ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸੋ ਦੁਖੁ ਕੈਸਾ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
ਬੋਲਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਦਿ ਮਾਤਾ ਮਰਣਾ ਚੀਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥੧॥
ਮੇਰੇ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਇ ਤੂੰ ਸੰਤਾ ਕਾ ਸੰਤ ਤੇਰੇ ॥
ਤੇਰੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਕਉ ਭਉ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਆਵੈ ਨੇਰੇ ॥੧॥
ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਜੋ ਤੇਰੈ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਾਤੇ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕਾ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਦੁਖੁ ਨਾਸਾ ॥
ਤੇਰੀ ਬਖਸ ਨ ਮੇਟੈ ਕੋਈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਦਿਲਾਸਾ ॥੨॥
ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਨਿ ਸੁਖ ਫਲ ਪਾਇਨਿ ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਆਰਾਧਹਿ ॥
ਤੇਰੀ ਸਰਣਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਭਰਵਾਸੈ ਪੰਚ ਦੁਸਟ ਲੈ ਸਾਧਹਿ ॥੩॥
ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ਤੇਰੀ ॥
ਸਭ ਤੇ ਵਡਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਕਲ ਰਾਖੀ ਮੇਰੀ ॥੪॥੧੦॥੫੭॥


~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Page 749 http://goo.gl/nzq2W - 750 http://goo.gl/H7Wi1 ~

WaheGuru...♥ 60 non stop minutes of absolute bliss...

Maya...

The living creatures and their ways are in God's power. Whatever He says, they do. When the Sovereign Lord of the Universe is pleased, there is nothing at all to fear.
Jīa jugaṯ vas parabẖū kai jo kahai so karnā.
Bẖae parsann gopāl rāe bẖao kicẖẖ nahī karnā.
जीअ जुगति वसि प्रभू कै जो कहै सु करना ॥
भए प्रसंन गोपाल राइ भउ किछु नही करना ॥
ਜੀਅ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਵਸਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਕੈ ਜੋ ਕਹੈ ਸੁ ਕਰਨਾ ॥
ਭਏ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਗੋਪਾਲ ਰਾਇ ਭਉ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਹੀ ਕਰਨਾ ॥
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji~

____________________________________________________________

Date / Time:  Another day in paradise. The precise moment when the first rays of Sun segregate dusk from dawn.

Before the day ends, Lokesh has an important journey to complete and thus he hails an approaching cab.

Lokesh: Please take me to the Narayan Film Studio, Antriksh Marg.

Cabby: That’s too far off. Instead, let me take you to the Maya Photo Studio, Lobh Nagar.

Lokesh: Huh! No.

Cabby: Why?

Lokesh: See, I have been called to audition for the movie, “Nirvana”, and the screen test is in the Narayan Film Studio. Please help; this may be my big break after several years of mindless struggle.

Cabby: No, I say you should go to the Maya Photo Studio, it is nearer.

Lokesh: I have been there in the past, instead of developing a positive, all they hand you is the negative and later when you are gone, a picture hangs on their wall. And that road is behind me, not where I am headed, so why would you suggest something so absurd?

Cabby: Forget the big break, let me take you to the Maya Photo Studio or else…

Lokesh: Or else? What? Don’t bother, I know how to walk and can make that journey on my own. Although I fail to understand what is with this tag line “We Take You Where You Want” on your cab when that is the least of your interest?

Cabby: That is a typo. It was meant to be “We Take You Where We Want”, but since honesty tends to scare off people, have never bothered to correct it. As long as the traveller is traveling my way, I take him there, or else I don’t. Maybe I should start a chain of “My Way or Highway” cabs.

Lokesh: Yeah, you should. Good luck with your enterprise, may God bless it always and forever. In any case, I prefer to take the highway, have found out it is the fastest route to happiness. I will walk for now, thanks so much anyhow.
____________________________________________________________

Auditions are on at the Narayan Film Studio. The one and only Absolute Being, or AB as HE’s popularly known by HIS infinite followers, is taking the screen test for the upcoming “Nirvana”. In the history of mankind, no soul has ever bettered HIS scriptwriting; HE is The Supreme Crafter, always full of heartfelt passions and mind blowing twists. Truly, HE is the biggest writer, producer, director of the celestial, the true King of the Kings.

Lokesh: Boss, I am here for the screen test.

AB: Hmmm… Been a while since you received the call, so what took you so long?

Lokesh: Actually I was deliberating how to reach here, and eventually I walked. Sorry for the delay.

AB: No worries. And as long as you have learnt that it is always best to walk your own path in order to reach where it counts, there is no real delay as such. Besides walking is good, it keeps your heart and body fit, it keeps your mind and soul aware. Keep walking.

Lokesh: Yes Boss. Always will.

AB: BTW, just in case you are still in daze, that cabby was me.

Lokesh: Huh!

AB: See, I knew you aren’t fully aware as yet. Enlightenment must come little by little, otherwise it will overwhelm you, and you my child have always been overwhelmed by all that the world has shown you.

Lokesh: But how? Why? And if you were here in the studio, how could you have been there?

AB: I am everywhere. Omnipresent. In every living being. In every soul. In every cabby who helps or doesn’t help you in the journey, it is me, I decide, I direct who will get to play what part. Look, a cabby or a “saarthi” as Lord Krishna was to Arjun, will not only take you from one point to another but will bring wisdom. Always look at the bigger picture if you want to learn. If cabby knows the route, I will direct him to help you. If the cabby doesn’t know the way, I will direct him to refuse you, so that you can find your own way. Unless he refuses you, you will go on and on in circles with him without ever trusting yourself that you can reach to me on your own. I knew that walking will do you good, will give you more time to prepare for the audition.

Lokesh: But what if I would have decided to go along with the cabby?

AB: Always your Freewill. You can choose whatever your common sense tells you, it is all about priorities. If the screen test is an important break you wanted, you will come. If it isn’t, you won’t. That is always your choice. I can only offer you something when you decide to come, not before that.

Lokesh: I am glad I decided to walk. Now it makes all the more sense.

AB: Hmmm… Any experience of acting?

Lokesh: Boss, I have been acting all my life. I mean, there have been times when there was an audience, but for most of the time I was busy acting for myself, to myself, trying to do all by myself, alike Sunil Dutt in Yaadein. Does that counts?

AB: Ha Ha Ha… You are mad. Anyhow, we will now do the screen test. Go and pick a dialogue sheet of any random character, let me see if you have it within you to deliver a sterling performance, so this must be an honest attempt by you.

Lokesh: Yes Boss. Thanks, I will always attempt to the best of my ability, after that Que Sera, Sera… I am carrying a sheet on which I wrote something earlier, I’d read it out…

jisse samjha tha ibaadat; woh shayad mere dimaag ka khalaa tha
haatheli pe ghaav banna ke apni lakeerein badalne chala tha
muqaddar ke sitam ko samajh ke muqaddas, yeh majnoon dhadkane
ek khandar pe pehra deti ab bhi muqarrar, jaise dastuur ho koi…

AB: Are you insane? Neither is this couplet a patch on Ghalib nor is this movie about him… The name of the movie is “Nirvana”, do you even understand what it means… It means Mukti… Moksha… Liberation… oh BTW, we are making it a bilingual; the version for the international market will be titled “Salvation”…

Lokesh: Sorry… My bad… Since the title is “Nirvana”, may I try speaking the dialogues of Mother Teresa, she has been a role model and I have always looked up to her…

AB: Ha Ha Ha… Are you mad? I can’t possibly ever take you for the role of Mother Teresa; I mean even if I ignore the gender difference and the obvious contrast in appearance, you have a rude voice which is absolutely unsuited for such a soft gentle role.

Lokesh: Is it imperfect voice?

AB: Ha Ha Ha. Unsuited is more like it. Besides, what is your motto in life, understand that the true production value is in being real at all times, so will you be comfortable speaking the lines of the great Mother Teresa since all the dubbing must be done by you and not someone else.

Lokesh: Yes Boss, as always you are right. I am imperfect to be alike the great Mother Teresa. I still live my life by the immortal lines by Saint Aurelius Augustinus, “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet."

AB: I knew it. Thank ME you are not completely mad.

Lokesh: Thank God. Thank God indeed. So, how about I speak the lines of Kurt Gobain, from the grunge band “Nirvana.” First of all, the name of the band matches the title and second of all, I am absolutely at ease mouthing his famous lines, “Nobody dies a virgin... Life fucks us all.", and also “I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.”

AB: Don’t be silly. Kurt Gobain was a lead singer and like I said, you have an absolutely horrendous voice imperfect even for the bathroom singing. Get real as I said, Get real. GET REAL.

Lokesh: Sorry Boss. I agree, I am imperfect as Kurt Gobain too. Acha, I have always been a huge fan of Bhagavad Gita, so how about if I try and go mythological and do some reading from it for this screen test.

AB: Uh oh! We don’t have a separate Bhagavad Gita on the sets but for now the epic Mahabharata is available to you. Be aware that the teachings of Bhagavad Gita are a part of it. Go get that from the top shelf, open any random page and enact the first name that appears, it will be a good test to find out if you have any improvisation skills within you.

Lokesh: Yes Boss. Here I go and here I come. OK, so the first name I find on the page is Gandhari, the wife of Dhritarashtra.

AB: Ha Ha Ha… Ah, the famous luck of Oye Loki, Lucky Oye is back. How on earth will you enact as Gandhari? Again there is the gender difference, and moreover Gandhari after meeting her husband Dhritarashtra for the first time and realizing that her husband was born blind, decided to protest silently by blindfolding herself. So is this constant silliness your way of protest? Are you willing to be blindfolded for the remaining of your life?

Lokesh: Err… No. Sorry, my bad. And the famous luck of Lucky Loki says sorry, my bad too. Can I wear Ray Ban’s instead of being blindfolded permanently? I can take those off and put them back on at my convenience.

AB: Shut up. Get real. Get real for MY sake. Get real for your sake. GET REAL.

Lokesh: Boss, you are Absolute and you are absolutely right, I agree that I am imperfect to be Gandhari. Having always believed that life is meant to be lived to its maxim, I can’t let anyone or anything change that ever. I mean, how can I possibly forego to make the most of this beautiful life when the whole eternity, Kaynaat, is majestically mesmerising, I can’t possibly cherish and nurture it to my best by needlessly remaining blindfolded for the rest of my life.

AB: Phew! Change… Change the page…

Lokesh: Haha…

AB: What?

Lokesh: Ah! The famous luck of Loki is back... The next name is Dhritarashtra…

AB: Hahaha… Abe duffer, when you are imperfect to play Gandhari, how on earth will you play Dhritarashtra… Change… Change the page… Change the page before your time is up…

Lokesh: Wokay… Here I change… so the name that appears first on this page is of Bheem… Yayyyy… I’d love to play Bheem… I love the dialogue from Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, “Thair paapi ... main teri zubaan kheench ke loonga ...” and “Dharamraj, iski jubaan kheench loon ke?”

AB: Abe Nautanki… First have an honest look at your lean body, I will need to magnify more than x 100 for you to look alike Bheem… Do you live to eat or do you eat to live… All along I am telling you to become real… I want you to become a story within a story, and yet you are merely engaged in acting within acting…. Are you interested in this screen test or not?

Lokesh: Sorry boss, who kya hai apni na ki apni bad luck hi kharaab hai… Galti se mistake ho gayi…

AB: Time khoti matt kar babu… Hurry up… Change the page…

Lokesh: Yes Boss… the next name is Karna… Yayyy… this is where my luck changes… I’d love to play Karna…

AB: Think it over… Karna was a great warrior yet history hasn’t been kind to him…

Lokesh: I am not going to live forever that I worry about how I am going to be perceived, thus I don’t care if the history will or won’t be nice to me, all I care is to play the part to the best of my ability. My job is to hope and pray for your kindness, that’s all I am interested in.

AB: Karna learnt all on his own after being refused by Dronacharya, how about you? Are you willing to learn on your own?

Lokesh: Boss, I too believe every moment in itself brings a new lesson, and if I am willing to learn, I am willing to grow… I honestly intend to keep learning as long as I am alive… Yet unlike Karna, I cannot claim that I have learnt everything on my own, all the friends and foes have been my teachers… Life has been the greatest teacher…

AB: Hmm. But Karna had been cursed by a Brahmin whose cow he accidently killed. He also carried the curse of Parashurama: that he would forget all the mantras required to wield the divine weapon Brahmastra, the most destructive weapon in archery, at the moment of his greatest need. Do you understand that although Karna was an extremely competent warrior, more skilful than Arjuna, yet the curses on him brought his doom in crucial moments of his battle with Arjuna?

Lokesh: Curse or no curse, I am not going to let the fear get the better of me in any battle…

AB: Hmmm… Karna, the son of Surya, was as radiant and powerful as him… Will you be able to do justice to Karna?

Lokesh: Sire, I find the light within, and I rely solely on my courage and your direction, will it be suffice?

AB: (Smiling) Yeah… Totally… But Karna fought against his own kin Pandavas for his friend Duryodhana, can you do that…

Lokesh: Yup… Absolutely… A friend is the family I choose for myself… I can fight any battle for my friend…

AB: Even if the friend would ask you to fight an unjust battle…?

Lokesh: Err… No… Not really… To go by the wise words of Aristotle, “Piety requires us to honour truth above our friends”, I’d stick with the truth if it came between choosing between a friend and the truth…

AB: Ha… But what is truth… Your truth can be different from anyone else’s truth… Your truth maybe Monday morning on India time yet it may still be Sunday evening for someone who is living in another part of globe... Do you understand that time can blur the truth…

Lokesh: Yes, I understand… Everyone has their own path, and everyone has their own truth… Everyone must live their own truth… My truth is only binding on me…

AB:  Hmm… Flip some more pages…

Lokesh: Ji Boss… Wokay, so this page starts with the mention of Abhimanyu… Yayyy… I love Abhimanyu… The protagonist in the TV serial Fauji played by Shahrukh Khan too went by the name of Abhimanyu…

AB: What do you know about Abhimanyu?

Lokesh: I know that as Karna was the son of Sun, Abhimanyu was the son of Moon… He too was a great warrior… In the absence of Arjuna, Abhimanyu was the only one who knew entering the deadly and virtually impenetrable Chakravyuha… But…

AB: Buttttt? What?

Lokesh: (Gulp) He only knew how to enter and not how to exit… He died…

AB: You do comprehend that Abhimanyu couldn’t have been killed; he perished only because he was attacked by multiple enemies…

Lokesh: More than that, all I comprehend is that Abhimanyu attained Moksha after dying a hero… and that in itself is the greatest reason for me to want to emulate him.

AB: Are you afraid of dying?

Lokesh: Nope… I am not afraid of dying; my only fear is living an unlived life… And when the death comes, I want it to find me alive…

AB: So be it… May you be alive and feel alive as long as you live… May the fear of not knowing how to exit never stop you from fighting the battles of your life… I bless you...  I grant you this role…

____________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction and the characters and events in it exist only in its pages and in the author’s imagination.

No wait a minute…

Modified Disclaimer:

In fact all the characters and events are real in this work of fiction… God, The Absolute Being, AB is real. All the names that appear in it are real as illustrated in the Glossary… Lokesh is in the process of becoming real… So that leaves only the cab story as a work of fiction… Believe you me, now it exists only in author’s imagination...

Glossary (in order of appearance):

1.            Mirza Ghalib http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirza_Ghalib
2.            Sunil Dutt (Yaadein) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaadein_(1964_film)
3.            Mother Teresa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa
4.            Saint Augustine http://library.thinkquest.org/18775/augustine/bioau.htm
5.            Kurt Gobain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain
6.            Bhagavad Gita http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita
7.            Mahabharata http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata
8.            Gandhari http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhari_(character)
9.            Dhritarashtra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhritarashtra
10.          Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSj7DuaX0lk
11.          Karna http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karna
12.          Aristotle http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Aristotle
13.          Shahrukh Khan in Fauji http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauji
14.          Abhimanyu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhimanyu

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OM, O Shiva, the God with three eyes, we worship and adore you, you are the fragrance of life, who nourishes us, restores our health, and causes every being in this world to thrive, we hail to thee, we meditate on you, just as in due time, the stem of the cucumber weakens, and the gourd is freed from the vine, so free us from attachment and death, and do not withhold immortality, please open our eyes to the wider dimension so that we renounce mortality to be in peace forever.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकम् यजामहे सुगन्धिम् पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माम्रतात् ।।

Om tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭi-vardhanam
urvārukam iva bandhanān mṛtyormukṣīya māmṛtāt

~Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, Yajur Veda (3-60); Also called Tryambakam Mantra is because it worships Shiva, The Three Eyed God. And because this mantra observes Shiva in the fiery aspect of Rudra, it is also called Rudra Mantra~
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Enlightenment is a full, permanent recognition of what one truly is, free of all false positions, speculations and other mental encumbrances. At the end of a hard day trading, it is enlightenment that is the only thing worth taking home from the spiritual marketplace.

~Oshana Dave~
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Once there lived a devotee called Ismail. His prime concern in life was to remember his spiritual master and be one with his love. For survival of body and to provide for necessities of life, he sold vegetables. With love for his master in his heart and mind, and a basketful of vegetables, every day he visited the market.

Knowing his simple nature, people used to cheat him. Every day, some people would give him counterfeit coins for his vegetables. Some would even come the next day to exchange the counterfeit coins they had, saying, “Yesterday, you gave us this coin; please exchange it with a real one.” Ismail would quietly accept the counterfeit coins.

Time passed thus. His body became old and the end of physical life approached.

Ismail sat for his final prayer. ”Dear Beloved, throughout my life I have accepted counterfeit and bogus coins from one and all, never once rejecting or refusing them. Oh Beloved! Time has come that this counterfeit coin reaches your divine presence. You too, likewise, do not reject the useless coin. Kindly accept it and give it shelter at your feet.”

Needless to say, the Lord accepted him with a showering of love.
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Dear God, Dear Universe, I too have been a counterfeit coin.

Please accept me and give me shelter at your feet.

Please...