THE BIRD SHALL RETURN

“O! God, please give me
True grace and solace
Every turmoil so that
I can then face.”

Lugubrious tidings,
Catastrophes outside,
Inner misgivings
Still I hide.

That which could have
Set me free
As you said once
Has left my lips
Like a barbaric bird
Wild and carefree

I bow down to you
My quivery hands
Reach out to you
May truth be each word!
When I open my heart to you

And then shall
Your grace
Set me free truly
And peace will light
The darkness clearly

The bird shall
Then return
With wings of Faith
And alight softly
Upon my lips
And through all clutter
My heart will feel
It’s peaceful flutter.


---Shilpi, 28 Dec, 2009

The Taper and the Spiritual illumination

In this article, I would like to talk about the two opposite interpretations(as I perceive it)of a burning candle eventually melting away in thin air.

The first interpretation is that of the candle sacrificing itself to light up the surroundings.(true altruism and feeling of compassion for other beings makes them sacrifice themselves only to let the light burning, to let the show going on...laying out their own lives, eschewing their desires and material prosperity, and doing greater service to world by lighting up the darkness of the world, the darkness of abject poverty, scarcity, darkness of unwise minds, to name a few..)So in a way, when they have the right true intentions to give away the light, they chose to sacrifice and burn willingly and happily(and it is their fears, doubts and miseries which burn away thus cleansing them) and emanating the lasting light, the steady light, the true light, light of the Lord.
The light of sacrifice and love.


The second view is that of a lesser light/glow on candle's outside but inside melts away with each moment. The wax inside burns away and is symbolic of pain (like many people in today's world, glowing up on outside, shining their riches, proud of their bounties assimilated over time in this material world, but inside, hollowing out, burning, and dissolving away due to lack of the spiritual substance). So, here the light is just a reflection and does not has its provenance in candle in deeper sense.That light is just an impermanent light, a light whose glory wont persist long, or give away the true light to the world..
The light of selfishness and pride.

It is to the taper that burneth, sacrificeth, that the Lord shines its light through, making it as His Light.
While, those who hanker after the glow of material pleasures, cause its pseudo-light to enshroud His light. They ultimately burn away, without getting the "Spiritual illumination from the Lord", as they chose to serve themselves rather than the humanity and the Lord.

Does the wax in your taper have the spiritual substance in it?




Act now, chose to illuminate your soul with Him, because He is the Light. And then you shall find your darkest fears, sorrows, doubts, disbeliefs, burn away....



He is the oil which will keep your lamp burning; He is the wax for your taper to shine brilliant lights.




So, what do you choose to be...?
The taper which burns beautifully by free will, hoping for a healed, brighter world....
OR
The taper which, on the inside hollows out, reflecting the glow of its material riches..?.

Jiske aane se....

A song, whose rhythms reverberate in corners of my heart...Since last few days, I seemed to hear the echoes more and realized the song I was trying to remember...a song...romantic.... aromatic...of love....and amazingly refreshing with its music...from an old movie Diljale....listen to it folks...

Jiske aane se - soch raha hoon kis se poochu - Diljale

Lambi hai gam ki shaam, magar shaam hi to hai..........

A song to lift me from dumps and energize my spirits....do listen it...

Due to copyright issues, I cannot post video here, but the URL is this: Yeh Safar song Full Song 1942 A Love Story
Don't know but really need dosage of such energizing songs from time to time in the "Safar" of life....love the lines and inspiration behind the music...
Listen to my heart.....

Interestingly, the poetry lines (see below) in this song are by the legendary poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz

"dil nā-umīd to nahīñ nākām hī to hai

lambī hai ġham kī shaam magar shaam hī to hai "-- Faiz Ahmad Faiz

Bastille Stormed, State Becalmed..!!

It’s the French National Day tomorrow. July 14, called also as the Bastille Day because it was the day the Bastille was stormed and French revolutions’ beginning was marked. A nation’s independence day was ushered after the attack.
Well, frankly speaking, I really cherish this time, cos it fondly brings back memories of our festival, Diwali, in India. Infact today as evening sets, one can hear cries and loud noises of fireworks lighting up the sky dead-brightly. Its a breathtaking view to watch. Had I been in Paris, I could have personally viewed the amazing celebrations taking place near the Eiffel with a parade in the Arc de Triomphe. But anyways, after a bit of googling, I found out that Carcassone, a city not very far from my place, Montpellier, boasts of one of the grand spectacles of Bastille day, with the grand fireworks starting in the evening near the banks of River Aude near the Cite.
I really wish I could goto Carcassone, but again, it depends a lot on whether I am able to complete a long procrastinated task of plotting some boring graphs(who I wonder will gonna help me in long run in what way..!;))by early morning and then again, if i am really willing to shell my Euros, and simultaneously find any good soul to accompany me....Even If this wish does not materialize, I shall try going to Place de la Comedie nearby, in the evening to view some bit of celebrations there..Now, have I talked to you about the majestic Place de la Comedie folks? ;)
More to come .keep on reading.
Hoping and waiting for the best. Till then will keep you posted of tomorrow
Bonne Nuit
Happy French National Day..;)

Feeling in FRANCE..!!

Hi all,
First of all its strange to me also, that after having launched myself on the blogger’s pad, and being in the picturesque city of France for a stage, (which is sadly nearing to an end in few weeks), I have not yet posted any of my travel experiences or shared the innumerable pictures I have clicked from my old Sony dig cam. Okay, truth being told, I forfeited the chance to travel very extensively in and out of France, partly because of my parsimonious traits, partly due to the load(read pressure) of my project’s schedule and partly due to my incapability to find a noble soul(read Indian) to hang out with till long. And I feel travelling alone needs double courage, as does it halves the pleasure of the trip. Plus, for someone like me, who is very fond of getting her pictures clicked in the ambience (i guess many are ..!! ;)) I get a bit out of sorts, asking others to click my picture and trying to explain my statement to the French guy/gal only adds to the icing of inconveniences....!!
Let me tell you one thing...You should really know some level of French, if you are to strike a warm conversation with people here...Every time I say:”Parlez vous Anglais?” (which is one French statement i really know..;) and which translates to: Do you speak English?), I feel the attention of people shifting, fleeting, it’s as if they wanna say, “How dare you come to my country without knowing my Language?”, ;) but for sure, the pride is ostensible. But of course, there are other people, who will acknowledge your plight (read sad) and help you out.
But luck may not be favourable every time here..!!I mean I can vividly remember times when I first landed in Paris on June 3 , and stayed there for a night in a hotel. Now, I was pretty hungry that time and after garnering some bit of courage, strayed out and began hunting for cheap-yet-edible-vegetable-based-snack nearby. I must say, it took me quite a time to explain to the man in the store about my necessity at the moment. Anyhow, with a heavy heart, I parted with my 3 Euros, and grabbed a Nature Lays packet and a Fanta can, as it seemed the last resort to a hungry stomach. Paris is expensive man..!, I realized. When to buy a simple chips and a cold drink can cost me so much, what about living in this city beautiful with its charms and charisma...But Thank God, morning came in quickly and it was time for me to pack my bags and head to Gare de Lyon, the railway station nearby Daumesnil Hotel, where I had stayed for the night, to catch my train to Montpellier, my final destination..Which was to house a solitary soul like me for next two months and two days in its heart..;)

The True "Thriller"

As I write this blog, which happens to be my maiden blog, I feel heaviness in my heart; a looming gloom hanging all over. The King of Pop, Michael Jackson (MJ) is dead. The whole world seems to be paying tribute to the legendary star and mourning his sudden demise at a young age (50).

I have never met Jackson, but being in India, I have consistently seen how much impact he had on Indians who were crazy about the Jacko’s unique magical dancing style.

I remember watching the very popular dance show –boogie woogie and dancers participating in it imitating Michael’s characteristic style in dancing. The hat with a curl of hair dangling near the face, that unmistakable crotch–grabbing style, almost electrifying body movements and all...that was MJ..!!

I think I was somewhere in seventh grade in school, when I heard of MJ’s visit to India. I remember having watched some videos on television picturing the hotel where MJ had stayed and his scribbling on the hotel’s mirror, with the words:”Indian experience overwhelmed me”. Well, that was something which I further knew about the pop star’s persona.

He truly united all races. The songs which he composed seem to exude a hidden meaning for generations to come.

I'd Rather Hear Both Sides

Of The Tale

See, It's Not About Races

Just Places

Faces

Where Your Blood

Comes From

Is Where Your Space Is

I've Seen The Bright

Get Duller

I'm Not Going To Spend

My Life Being A Color

---------taken from song “black or white” by MJ

He was actively involved in charity and in helping the Blacks also.

Its rather strange that as the color of his skin transformed from black (his native color) to white, mostly due to several surgical operations after he got singed in a Pepsi commercial in 1984, his music career, turned from white to black; his reputation being tarnished by several allegations and accusations of child molestations.

His song ‘we are the world” and “heal the world” are simply sublime. A true artist and a true human being can compose such great songs for the world.

In fact, I thought that Jackson was purely a pop star with all impossible looking dance movements and the typical pop ting. His some very initial songs had a great mix of beats in it. But when I heard two of his songs “You are not alone” and “I just can't stop loving you” when I started to experience first pangs of love in my life, I realized his delicate and consummate skills at looking at the thing called Love. The lyrics are very soothing, calm as if coming directly from his soul. His versatility in music is clearly ostensible. At one time Michael is very charged and violent in his music and dance, and at other time he is very calm and subtle with his music.

Though Shelter come and rescue me out of this storm
And out of this cold
I need someone
Oh why oh why why, why
If you see her
tell her this from me
All I need is
One more chance at love
One more chance at love

---------taken from song “one more chance” by MJ

I think his art, talent, dexterity, altruism all surpasses any negative traits which were alleged on him. I do not know the truth behind them, but I think MJ was acquitted of all the accusations in 2005. And after that he was planning a comeback for his fans. Such was his capability to keep the show going on...!!

But the years of trials and all left him gutted at the core and he had taken to drinking and drugs overdose. Perhaps, speculations are that his demise was brought by narcotic abuse. Whatever be the truth, but one thing was certain, MJ wanted to have peace within himself, just as he desired it for the world (which is clearly expressed in his songs)

Tell me what has become of my life
I have a wife and two children who love me

I am the victim of police brutality, now
I am tired of being the
of hate, you’re rapin
me of my pride

Oh for God’s sake
i look to heaven to fulfil its prophecy...
Set me free

---------taken from song “They don’t care about us” by MJ

His music and the words of wisdom carried in it will inspire for eons. At the end, I wish MJ finds true freedom and peace in the other world and would say that

Though you’re far apart, you’re always in my heart...

You are not alone; I am here with you......

---------taken from song “you are not alone” by MJ