We have often been blessed with the feeling of total ecstasy, hundred percent enjoyment or complete happiness. It may be borne of some worldly pleasure or a spiritual experience. Irrespective of that, it touches us deep inside, making us feel whole and finally as those tears of joy flow draining us completely; in that moment of total relaxation, it is a sense of gratitude that remains. In essence, this is what I have attempted at in this poem.

Today is Guru Poornima, the day when the heart overwhelms with gratitude towards our masters.

Grateful Celebration

Amidst fireworks, light, colors and gaeity
Moonlight, stars, peace and beauty
When in the ecstasy of fantasy, the mind reels
Do you know how it feels ?

With dewdrops, greenery, mountains and lakes
Waterfalls, waves, snow and flakes
When to love life, love is all it takes
Do you know how it feels ?

In dance, moves, steps and swirls
Togetherness, music, charms and curls
When in the heart of the beloved, your heart twirls
Do you know how it feels ?

In laughter, tears, smiles and sighs
Wedding, rings, vows and ties
When all at once, you are reckless and wise
Do you know how it feels ?

It feels complete, with a radiant glow
The heart feels grateful, words fail to flow
And in wordless praise, you humbly bow
To a higher self that can bless and bestow.

Why am I not a fan of Science Fiction movies ??

We watched 'War of the Worlds' on Friday. I liked the movie. I found myself appreciating the emotional portrayal of the stars in the movie rather than the technology involved or the alien fabric stuff. Guess am not much of a geek nor am I techno-savvy. Sci-Fi movies don't turn me on the way melodrama or comedy does.

I like fantasy. I enjoy the kinds of Lewis Caroll and JK Rowling and I love reading Crichton and Cook. I love pure fantasy. I enjoy magic. I appreciate impossibilities. I like surrealism. I even believe in spirits. But I don't like any factualism in fantasy. Yeah. Thats my math -> Fantasy + Logic = Sci-Fi. Thats why I can never be a trekkie or a Star Wars fan. That is simply not my cup of tea.

Now, now. I can see the brickbats being flinged at me :-). Am running for cover.

Am I the only one who dreams so much ? No, this is definitely not about day-dreaming. Of late, I have been whelmed by so many dreams when I am deep asleep. I even tried sleeping in the living room instead of the bedroom; and as expected, there was a difference. The dream count went down!

I was wondering if I can get the meaning of this through, but then I have dreams within dreams. Does that sound crazy ? But still, thats what it is. I am sleeping in my dream and am actually visualising the dream of the 'sleeping dream me' ! I don't usually remember all my dreams when I wake up, especially if they are just an extension of the day's happenings or a projection of my thoughts. But some dreams remain so vividly in my mind long after I am awake, giving me this eerie feeling that it did actually happen in some plane.

In theology, the theory is that it is the consciousness that actually creates and sustains the entire creation. And so we are all part of some dream. And thats what makes me feel that the dreams that I have are part of some other world too. And many times I am glad that they are not part of this world.

I have dreams on death. Not mine though. And I wake up in the morning with a clear impression of the dream. And then I would share the dream with my mother to find some inner meaning to it. By the way, my mom and grandmom are ace dream interpreters, though I am their only patron. And they are of the opinion that dreams of death are actually harbingers of some happy event in the near future. Death in dream means good in reality ? Doesn't really make sense to me though.

Any thoughts or similar experiences, any of you there ?

Once the Master's love enters our life, life starts brimming with love from all directions. Love engulfs us in every relationship. Every relationship attains a beautiful meaning. In every relationship, the love of God becomes visible. Simple things become so meaningful. The realisation dawns that everything on life's way has a purpose and does not happen without a reason. Its Love that makes the world go round.

"Life is Enthusiasm. Life is Joy. Life is Love" -- Sri Sri Ravishankar

God's love is so wonderful,
So wonderful love.
So high, you can't get above it.
So low, you can't get below it.
So wide, you can't get around it.
So wonderful love.

We were at the Grand Canyon for the Memorial Day weekend. And I am sure this will be the most memorable Memorial Day weekend of my life.

Grand Canyon is one of those extremely humbling experiences of my life. Gaping at the grand glory, I realised how 'Grand' aptly prefixes the canyon. We never will cease to marvel at nature's stoic manner of asserting its permanent presence against the passing human life. The Grand Canyon towered like an enigma - raising several questions in the mind, some of which were answered and many just left to time.

Our trip started with the beautiful five hour drive to the canyon with the snow-capped north rim greeting us on the way. After a restless wait at a winding line at the gate, we were there, at the Grand Canyon village. My first breathtaking view of the magnificent canyon was from the Yavapai point and then from the Mather point. We registered at the Yavapai Lodge within the Canyon Village. After a quick pizza snack, we set out for Hopi point to witness the sun set behind the canyon. It was spectacular. We got to take some great photographs of the view, some of which now adorn our living room. We had a decent dinner at the Yavapai cafe. All the while, I had no clue on how glorious the next dawn of my life was going to be. We had to wake up really early. But it was worth every wink of sleep that I lost.


The sun rising on the grand canyon and lighting up cliff after cliff is probably one of the most surreal experiences that I have ever had. I was so much in awe watching nature in all her ravishing beauty, spreading her golden radiance on the rocky canyon cliffs. The cliffs were in no hurry either. It was as though they were patiently awaiting their turn to be illuminated. There I was stuck by the spectacle in front of me, with the feeling that it was all being staged for me. The sun, the grand canyon and the morning mist were all trying to make me happy, they were all there just for me to savour, to drown me in peace and happiness. Nature's irresistible charm had just worked on me. I wanted to stay on, be another alluring cliff in the canyon and wait for the sun to light me up. Okay, I know that sounds a bit funny - anyways!

We had breakfast and spiritedly embarked on a short hike down the Bright Angel trail. Boy! what fun that was. We hiked down as we watched people with large hiking packs return from their trip. They had a sense of accomplishment largely writ on their faces - a feeling of having conquered the canyon.

After lunch at the cafe, we left for the Eastern rim. The best view of the canyon, in my opinion, is from the East Rim. While all the time I was not able to take the entire splendour in my eyes (the limitation of our senses, here), it was at the East Rim that I drank in, a relatively larger view of the grandeur. And that is where the Colorado river is seen in its winding beauty. More photographs, and we were on our way out of the Grand Canyon village. We were at the IMax that screens the Grand Canyon movie. That movie was the icing on my grand-canyon-trip cake. Do I appreciate nature's grandeur ? Or man's ability to present it in a scintillatingly realistic manner ? Oh! I was one with the canyon all through the movie. And I was so obsessed and lost in it that I left my handbag behind when we left the theater (we retrieved it later, dont worry!). Soon, we were homeward bound after the awesome weekend.

The last time that I felt my ego absolutely shattered by nature's overwhelming grandeur was at the Niagara Falls. It is water there, it is rocks here. There was a difference in my experience, though. I felt so excited at the Niagara Falls, while I felt so peaceful at the Grand Canyon. Maybe its the solemn elegance of the beckoning canyon versus the swift effervescence of the Niagara. Or maybe, its just time.

Music inspires, music invigorates, and music heals. But the deepest spiritual experience is the blissful silence that the self feels amidst those harmonious waves. And in that silence, the soul rejoices, dances and celebrates.

Silent Music & Celebrative Dance

pure, divine,
rhythmic notes,
toucheth the chord
of inner meaning…

cymbals, accordions,
even windy chimes,
bestir in it
a celebrative being…

O God! I revel in
all that You make,
Yet, it is in the harmony
of music,
that my soul doth wake!