The bloodless revolution in my life

Today I complete 365 days of being a vegetarian. A very happy anniversary for me because it has been a life-altering decision in my case and good things have happened to me over the last one year. My health is much better and I no longer need to take vitamin pills. There is greater peace of mind and a better sense of acceptance in me. Other blessings have come along the way, too.

I have been laughed at for my choice but I have held on to living my life based on my convictions.

If we can live without shedding blood, why kill animals? How about living healthy and letting the helpless animals live? I personally think that killing and tearing are meant for wild animals, and not for human beings.

The journey and the call

Down the road she walked

Talking to herself all along;

She spoke of what she was seeing

And learning on her walk.

There was much noise around her

For each passer-by was in a hurry

And shouting in his own way.

The girl was disturbed, yet,

Continued with her journey

For she knew only that.

Amidst all the din

She heard it clear, without a doubt,

A voice calling her; she was so sure.

The girl quietened down her chatter,

Hearing again, this time, clearer, the call.

The unknown voice seemed so dear to her

And pulled her like the greatest bond.

Her hidden chains broke away from her;

She was free, free at last,

As she chose to follow the call.

Wisely, O Gentle Heart

From the day the infant opens his eyes to the world

He starts to know what life is;

As the infant becomes a child, a man

Sometimes he is overwhelmed by what he sees.

Much of pain and some joy, and

Too much of confusion and doubts

He has to live through, fighting a lonely battle

Surrounded by many a smiling, jeering faces.

His gentle heart becomes timid

And, afraid to love again

He goes into a shell....

Wisely, O Gentle Heart,

Choose what you wish to keep,

For all are not the same;

The ones that hurt you are best forgotten.

Wisely, O Gentle Heart,

Try to love again.

The Question

The life-partner gets the name, the children;

She seems so full of all the bounties of life;

Yet, what happens if there is no love in the union?

How much of a marriage does it stay?

Sometime, somewhere, the soul-mate comes

Quietly, with an eternity's love for him.

Her eyes are full of light.

Who should win: the one who has so much to show,

Or the one who has surrendered her all

Asking for nothing in return?

(A poem on a man's experience of a fake, hollow marriage and his encounter with his one true love. In no way does the poem advocate marital infidelity)

The cleansing: an act of surrender

Looking out the window I see the downpour

Washing clean the trees and the grass;

Even the dogs are elated to feel water

After the scorching heat of days.

The soothing white sheet unfolds

As the clouds are free of their burden.

Life all around me is joyous

Because of the chance to rejuvenate,

I decide to let go of all that holds me down..

And surrender to the cleansing rain.

Cleaning my body and mind

I turn inwards to touch myself

And find the temple has already been cleansed

By the living God,

Who resides in me, Who resides in you,

And Who is there

In the burning sun and in the drops of rain.

"Tvamaeva sarvam, ma ma daeva daeva"

The little things of life

The little things of life all add up

To give the full experience

And we learn to build or to break,

Based on what we choose to have.

Small acts are not small at all

For they hurt us or they heal wounds.

A small word is often an act of love

Or a stab of pain.

A soft smile on the parting lips

Or a hand reaching out

To hold,

When many just go by without a glance,

Often make us know life,

And, we dare live again.

The balancing act and beyond..

A dear friend of mine tells me that he does not like my writing on sad themes. He insists that I should write only on the brighter side of life. Not one to dwell always on the murky or hopeless side of life, I find his criticism unfair because life is not an only-happy experience for anyone.

If we are continually running away from the pain that life keeps on throwing at us, it depicts an unrealistic, escapist's attitude. The sorrow that we face needs to be acknowledged as much as joy needs to be accepted with gratitude. Each person, in order to stay 'emotionally sane', needs to do the balancing act between his reactions to grief and pleasure; otherwise, overcome by pain, he might lose all faith in himself, in humanity and in God. Or, expecting life to be always wonderful, he might become depressed to the extent of having suicidal thoughts.

Once the balance is reached, one tastes what I would call true joy. This happiness is not tied to the circumstances of life which we have to deal with. The true joy comes when we see beyond the mundane pleasures and gains on one hand and unfair hurts hurled at us. This peace come only when we learn to trust the grand universal plan unfolding every moment.

Doing the balancing act is easier said than done, I admit. However, should we at least not try to discover the 'kingdom of heaven' within us?