Tuesday, March 2
A bit of banter
The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.
As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".
In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.
There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.
In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.
Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.
Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.
By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensi bl riten styl.
Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.
Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas.
Friday, February 26
My next satsang, Happy Holi!
Dear One,
We are happy to invite you and your friends for a Grand Holi Satsang with Vikramji in Mumbai
The venue is a beautiful Shiva temple with an open space under the sky. Please be there and experience the divine moments.
Date: Coming Monday, March 1st
Time: 6.30 pm onwards
Venue: Dhakleshwar Mahadev Temple;
Mahalaxmi Temple Compound.
Directions:
Get to Tirupati Apartments near Haji Ali where there is a line of stores such as Gabbana, Nallis, also HDFC and IDBI banks.
Cross the road and enter the lane opposite these stores which goes towards the Mahalaxmi Temple.
Just a few meters before the temple steps, take a left from shop no 15.
Thursday, February 25
Tina's new play
Theatre is a genre that Tina has been interested in for quite a while
but never had either the time or the opportunity to explore. Recently
she began rehearsing for her first ever play, Saath Rahega Always, co-
starring Padmini Kolhapure and Mahesh Thakur. With barely a few weeks
to go for their first show, she found herself grappling with a
completely new idiom, one whose vocabulary and movement differed
greatly from her erstwhile forte, the small screen.
I was really keen to see an entire performance of hers, having never
watched more than 3-4 episodes of any of her teleserials to date (yup,
I plead guilty!) Also, since I often used to go to her sets to drive
her home, I had seen many of her rehearsals and shoots instead of the
finished products! Hence I decided not to watch any of the play
rehearsals, and Tina kept the suspense by not telling me the
storyline, especially of the second half.
So there I sat at the very first show a few days ago, and I guess I
should have been a bit nervous but wasn't, at all! :) And I have to
tell you, Tina's performance just blew me away! The play itself is
really good, as it very sensitively explores the nuances of family
relationships without any melodrama. In fact, the first half is full
of hilarious situations, and the chemistry between the lead actors is
really good. It has been a pleasure getting to know Mahesh and
Padminiji who, besides being stalwart performers, are also deeply
involved in their respective spiritual paths as well -- hence there's
a lot of positive energy on stage!
Right now won't tell you more, so that those of you who are in Bbay
can catch the upcoming shows (28th Feb 7:45 pm at Rang Sharda, Bandra
and 14th March 7:45pm at Manik Sabhagruha, Bandra) Please check the
ads in the papers or just get onto www.bookmyshow.com
And do write in and tell me how it was! Meanwhile, my wife has a new
fan -- me!!
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, February 24
Wednesday, February 10
Present moment, pleasant moment
Actually, exhilarating would be a better word. During satsangs, during
meditations, even while running or playing tennis -- one hits "the
zone where one can do no wrong" -- a transcendent realm of perfection.
No past, no future -- just a vast, free space coupled with a clarity
of awareness without the slightest hint of planning, regret, guilt or
even active memory.
These days leading up to Shivratri have been full of spacious pauses
where only this "zone" existed. I was excited; I was ready -- I kept
giving people pep talks about how they should gear up for a never-
before anubhooti in Guruji's presence. What would happen to me? Would
I be able to sing, or would I pass out onstage -- something inside me
wants to jump up and down and dance every now and then -- every hint
of last week's fatigue (the result of travelling to a different town/
city each day for nearly three weeks) has disappeared!
I was practically floating up the steps to the aircraft that was to
bring me back to Kolkata, when my dear friend Ramesh Raman (who heads
Art of Living's corporate wing, APEX) called to inform me that Guruji
had specifically asked for me to go and conduct a training program in
Delhi -- tomorrow!
Zowie!!! Gadzooks!!!
Okay, here I go then -- for a second the opening scene from 3 Idiots
flashed into my mind -- should I just jump off the plane right now?
And then, just as though it had been there all along (hasn't this
happened a million times before?) the whole scenario fell into place
-- by tonight i shall hand over the templates for the entire script of
tomorrow's program to Jaba and Atika, who will be our wonderful MCs;
the brilliantly talented Amol can coordinate the music, featuring all
the AOL stars Bhanudidi, Chitradidi, Gayatri and Shalini-Srinivas. My manager-
tabla player Ajay and guitarist-arranger Mizo can take care of
soundchecking and monitor placement etc.
I'm still getting the urge to dance though I'm sitting at the
emergency exit of my plane, the "zone" is still there -- stronger than
ever, if you really want to know -- listening to thumping remixes and
typing this post :)
Each moment with the Guru is abundant with exhilaration, I wish I
could share this joy with everyone (well, I do try) -- but more on
that later!
Sent from my iPhone
Tuesday, February 9
Sadyojathaha
An interesting word. It appears around midway through the Rudra
Adhyaya (or Rudrapooja as we know it), during the Namakam part.
Sadyojathaha literally means "born in this moment" and of course it is
another apt name for Shiva.
The Divine principle is ever fresh, ever new. Creation is spontaneous,
whimsical, secretive, meticulous and infinitely subtle. A mystery, I
reiterate, not to be unravelled but rather to revel in as we find
ourselves, floating, motionless, dissolving in an oceanic flux of pure
energy.
This is really what Shivratri is about. A cosmic conjunction when that
principle is close enough to be palpable to any person who meditates
on it with a clear conscience :)
For us sadhaks it is a day (night) of comfort, of stillness, of
dissolution and a reaffirmation of that deep, deep sense of
contentment and tranquility that has seeped inexorably into our lives
since we first experienced the Sudarshan Kriya.
And for the first time, Guruji will celebrate Shivratri in Kolkata,
the abode of Shakti, the complement of Shiva. To me this symbolizes
the union of cosmic energy with universal consciousness, and we are
truly blessed to be witness to such pathbreaking events in spiritualism.
All roads lead to Kolkata's Rabindra Sarobar stadium at 6pm onwards on
12th Feb. Sanskar TV does have a live telecast from 7:30 onwards,
and for the webcast please go to http://vvmvp.org/National/ShivaratriWebCast.aspx
Om Namah Shivaya!
Jai Gurudev
Sent from my iPhone
Adhyaya (or Rudrapooja as we know it), during the Namakam part.
Sadyojathaha literally means "born in this moment" and of course it is
another apt name for Shiva.
The Divine principle is ever fresh, ever new. Creation is spontaneous,
whimsical, secretive, meticulous and infinitely subtle. A mystery, I
reiterate, not to be unravelled but rather to revel in as we find
ourselves, floating, motionless, dissolving in an oceanic flux of pure
energy.
This is really what Shivratri is about. A cosmic conjunction when that
principle is close enough to be palpable to any person who meditates
on it with a clear conscience :)
For us sadhaks it is a day (night) of comfort, of stillness, of
dissolution and a reaffirmation of that deep, deep sense of
contentment and tranquility that has seeped inexorably into our lives
since we first experienced the Sudarshan Kriya.
And for the first time, Guruji will celebrate Shivratri in Kolkata,
the abode of Shakti, the complement of Shiva. To me this symbolizes
the union of cosmic energy with universal consciousness, and we are
truly blessed to be witness to such pathbreaking events in spiritualism.
All roads lead to Kolkata's Rabindra Sarobar stadium at 6pm onwards on
12th Feb. Sanskar TV does have a live telecast from 7:30 onwards,
and for the webcast please go to http://vvmvp.org/National/ShivaratriWebCast.aspx
Om Namah Shivaya!
Jai Gurudev
Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, February 7
Media misdeeds
"The Thackeray family strictly needs Art of Living lessons" -- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. This quote had a prominent place on the front page of the Telegraph in Kolkata a couple of days ago. A bit surprising, since the language and tone is most unlike Guruji's -- so I decided to verify it from an eyewitness (earwitness?)
The scene was the launch of Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna, a unique citizens' initiative to clean the Yamuna river, with the blessings and guidance of Guruji.
Some journos were more intent on playing the Thackeray-Rahul Gandhi card, and repeatedly asked Guruji whether or not He felt that the Thackerays should do the Art of Living course. Finally, on being repeatedly pressed, He casually replied in the affirmative. And the above (mis)quote was what the papers reported, while completely ignoring the actual issue of cleaning the Yamuna!
Such a stupid and cheap way to garner readership -- I have refrained from commenting on the Indian media so far, though I feel it is at its lowest point ever -- but this was just too silly. It would be sillier if the Thackerays were to read this and start bashing up AOL teachers in Bombay/Mumbai :)
And the newspapers would have a field day either way -- even if we printed an angry riposte they would still benefit from the ensuing war of words. Its the Indian media that needs Art of Living lessons. Strictly.
The scene was the launch of Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna, a unique citizens' initiative to clean the Yamuna river, with the blessings and guidance of Guruji.
Some journos were more intent on playing the Thackeray-Rahul Gandhi card, and repeatedly asked Guruji whether or not He felt that the Thackerays should do the Art of Living course. Finally, on being repeatedly pressed, He casually replied in the affirmative. And the above (mis)quote was what the papers reported, while completely ignoring the actual issue of cleaning the Yamuna!
Such a stupid and cheap way to garner readership -- I have refrained from commenting on the Indian media so far, though I feel it is at its lowest point ever -- but this was just too silly. It would be sillier if the Thackerays were to read this and start bashing up AOL teachers in Bombay/Mumbai :)
And the newspapers would have a field day either way -- even if we printed an angry riposte they would still benefit from the ensuing war of words. Its the Indian media that needs Art of Living lessons. Strictly.
Sunday, January 31
Coming unbinged: The story of my experiments with truth, food n samadhi
Sorry it's not at all controversial, nor does it contain any spicy material or even spicy food for that matter; it's just that the title was too good to pass up. That said, read on...
It began with a glass of coke (or pepsi or whatever, it didn't matter to me then, though I can now tell them apart -- and have grown to like thums up the best!)That was three years ago, on my honeymoon; and it was practically the first bottle of cola that I had drunk in my life.
I have been a healthy eater throughout my life, not by choice, but by design -- I have a somewhat rare congenital condition that many refer to as "geographic tongue". This means that I do not have a fully formed top layer on my tongue; it is deeply furrowed as though I spent my infancy chewing razor blades. The taste buds thereby are fairly exposed (or so I imagine) rendering me almost excruciatingly hypersensitive to all tastes -- and particularly to spices. Even the slightest hint of extra pepper or ginger is enough to ensure that I leave my plate untouched at best, or at worst gasp for water with involuntary tears and hiccups galore.
The benefit this had was that it never allowed me to indulge in most of the sinful snacks which make life in India such a treat. Coupled with a steady exercise regimen, it ensured that I never put on excess weight throughout my life.
"Your first coke? Like ever?!!!" my hapless wife was incredulous. As if it wasn't freaky enough for her to have married someone who, when not crisscrossing the globe with a small suitcase, lived in an ashram, preferred chopsticks to spoons, loved his guitars more than his parents, and routinely spent two hours in silence each day!
(to be continued)
Sent from my iPhone
It began with a glass of coke (or pepsi or whatever, it didn't matter to me then, though I can now tell them apart -- and have grown to like thums up the best!)That was three years ago, on my honeymoon; and it was practically the first bottle of cola that I had drunk in my life.
I have been a healthy eater throughout my life, not by choice, but by design -- I have a somewhat rare congenital condition that many refer to as "geographic tongue". This means that I do not have a fully formed top layer on my tongue; it is deeply furrowed as though I spent my infancy chewing razor blades. The taste buds thereby are fairly exposed (or so I imagine) rendering me almost excruciatingly hypersensitive to all tastes -- and particularly to spices. Even the slightest hint of extra pepper or ginger is enough to ensure that I leave my plate untouched at best, or at worst gasp for water with involuntary tears and hiccups galore.
The benefit this had was that it never allowed me to indulge in most of the sinful snacks which make life in India such a treat. Coupled with a steady exercise regimen, it ensured that I never put on excess weight throughout my life.
(to be continued)
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, January 20
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