Monday, January 12, 2009

SO WHY VAISHNO DEVI ?....An Excerpt

So why Vaishno Devi…!! As I said earlier I am not an atheist, but logic does play some role in my approach to life. That holds good as I contemplate about this place. Geologically, what is Vaishno Devi? A geologist walking into this cave would claim that this was a fine example of rock formations, may be stalactites and stalagmites, situated at the top of the mountain. In another country, this place might have been perceived in a very different manner, may be as a tourist spot referred by Nat Geo. But then, this is India! Years ago a sage of repute would have made a journey to this location to detach from the world and meditate. Unlike the geologist, he would have perceived this place as the marvel of Mata Vaishno Devi. He saw the three goddesses in the rock formations here. And so it must have come to be known far and wide.

Perceptions may vary, but perceptions are not what make this place exceptional. There exists a much stronger power, a power above religion, above spirituality and a power above divinity…For here exists the power of FAITH. A force that can make ordinary humans do extraordinary deeds, a force that strengthens the basic human character to such a level that surpasses the need of any other ability in any form. It is not physical fitness or stamina that matters any more, otherwise how does one explain my mother’s achievement in making it to the top and back…on foot. And she was not the only one. In fact I witnessed a vast number of older ones making this trip. These were the average typical Indians, but there was nothing typical about them here. For here they all, young and old, out grew themselves. They were here to rekindle their faith. They were here to because they wanted to believe that they believed in that Almighty God. This gave them the strength to face the tough times in their lives with an invigorated conviction.

It was not a miracle that many went back and overcame their tribulations. I assume that it was the change in approach towards them that made them easier to overcome. And this came with the faith that Mata was up there watching them. If they could make this climb, they could climb over their difficulties and Mata Vaishno Devi would ensure that in their lives. Thus in a way, making this journey acted on the person’s self confidence and esteem, may be at a subconscious level. But it did have an impact.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

I HAVE LIVED NOW!!!

I have lived now, i have taken it all,
It all belongs to me
I have tasted the wine and the meat and never regretted at all.
You can call me evil, you can call me weak,
You will still fear me,
Earth shall not go to the meek.

I live for tomorrow,
Its all his grace
I share the pain and sorrow,
Of holiness I speak.
I care for one and all,
and fight my demons alone.
I have seen it all and won.

We are the saint and sinner, all wrapped in me.
They make me complete.
A little of this to be a good man,
a little of that to live in this world.
No black or white would ever stay
Grey it is all, shades of grey.

A CIGARETTE IS A LOVE STORY

You pick it up and you like it...the complete thing...it belongs to you, you know!! You want it all for yourself. And as you light it up, you light up that flame. The warmth kind of beckons you to a stimulating yonder you have been to before. It’s a great feeling I swear, Oh yes it is!! You feel that newness in it when you put it to your lips and take it in like you drank from her sweet lips the first time. The warmth flows inside you as it did when you held her close. You smell it in every breath just like her intoxicating perfume that had driven you wild. The flame smolders in your hand and the heat reminds you of her in your arms.

But somewhere deep inside a thought, a doubt engulfs you. Is it right? Do you really want it that way? No...You dont care...it doesn’t matter! And you shun those deliberations aside and try to focus on the present, only on that stub of smoke kissing your lips like your beloved and you it in like you had taken her...like you have always done. It is a great feeling; you live for this moment… oh yes!! Like you had been waiting for it to happen and it did. It fills up your senses and lightens you up just like her thoughts. Something snaps in you and tells you of that profound sense of belonging to each other…just the way it was when she was near you.

But as the cigarette burns, you realize its not going to last. It will end…burn out…extinguish, just like love always does. And there won’t be much that you will be able to do except throw that stub away like you tried to do with her memories. You will try to avoid it, keep away from it like you tried keeping away from her…or any thing that reminded you of her.

Come on, you know you are not capable of that …are you? How long would you resist my friend! Before long you will open up that pack again like you tried to start a new chapter in your life after her. And as you look at it, hold it in your hand; you are reminded of the time when you had sworn that you would not light up another. But still you do! It is like getting involved, falling in love all over again.

But somewhere deep inside, that first cigarette still burns, just like your first love. You can’t get rid of that …ever! It seethes slowly...hurts. Or is it that you really never want to get it out of your system. You like the memory of the time when it all started.

But it’s a new cigarette now, a new love again. Oh yes a cigarette is like a love story.

Or is it that a love story is like a cigarette!!