Self-religion

"Mirror mirror on the wall, which is the righteous religion of all?!?"

Righteous religion? Does it mean what a person/a group thinks is right? But again its all relative. A truth/right for a person might not be the truth/right for another but as far as we have a self religion, collectively we shall continue making this world a humane place.

Self religion could be put as 'the goodness within each one of us'. Something we often experience when put in a situation to choose right from wrong, from moral to immoral.
It allows us to keep ourselves motivated and directed by verification and knowledge. Not by beliefs.
Self religion is infact the oldest and most eternal religion we have; a religion of individual freedom. It is a willingness and an ability to observe oneself and to correct one's own faults.

So how about a date with oneself once in a while!
:)

Mindfulness

If this elephant of mind is bound on all sides by the cord of mindfulness,
All fear disappears and complete happiness comes.

All enemies: all the tigers, lions, elephants, bears, serpents [of our emotions];
And all the keepers of hell; the demons and the horrors,
All of these are bound by the mastery of your mind,
And by the taming of that one mind, all are subdued,
Because from the mind are derived all fears and immeasurable sorrows.

-8th century Buddhist master Shantideva .

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Animating Kingsize!

.... So I came across some awesome works while on Vimeo.com and feel more than delighted to be sharing BLU with my readers here as a token of gratitude for being around and doing such awesome work! You have to see it to believe it. In my words as an animation film maker this is what I call "Animating Kingsize!"

See the video to believe! >


MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

In their words...
"The new short film by Blu
an ambiguous animation painted on public walls.
Made in Buenos Aires and in Baden (fantoche)
music by Andrea Martignoni
produced by Mercurio Film
assistant: Sibe"

More BLU >> www.blublu.org

Relish!

:)

Sacred Cow

I saw a cow yesterday. Tied to a pillar under our building. He was pretty young (months older than a calf I guess) with big dark mascara eyes, dusk-rust skin and a bit underweight for some reason.
Looking at him roused an instant affection in my mind. :) The kind we used to feel while feeding cows or looking at them lazing in the middle of roads back home in India. They have religious significance just like every-living-born from nature or nature herself in the society where I come from. Showing gratitude-towards or praying cows as a part of tradition. They are considered to be sacred.

May be my affection for him was more so being in country where you don't see animals except in a zoo or a sanctuary. We do get to see some street cats, the survivors of the extreme climate (and extreme traffic) in the Dubai and Sharjah. Anyways, getting back to my topic... So while I stood next to my cow, I almost had an instant non-verbal dialogue with him out of delight of seeing one after almost a year, as if saying "oh! how are you!" But the very next second my joy vanished with a realization too sad to pronounce here. The cow was not a part of a nostalgic fairy tale to give me greetings from my country but was brought here for a reason.

It's Ramadan month here and the cow was tied outside the tent where the religious groups gather for the occasion. When I came back later that evening, the cow was gone and the group had just finished eating and was heading for their daily prayers.

x x x

" Most religions isolate, formalize and shrink our relationship to the world rather than to expand and immortalize it"

" Our assumption that micro-organisms, plants and animals exist without the capacity for contemplation of the divine is to assert that our concept of divinity is the only one there is. We do some harm to plants and animals when we kill and eat them; yet, our assumption that they are not intelligent enough to contemplate, is a greater injury."

- The mechanics of God


" No sacrifice can be performed without the aid of curds and ghee (clarified butter). The very character of sacrifice which sacrifices have, depends upon ghee. Hence ghee (or, the cow from which it is produced) is regarded as the very root of sacrifice. Cows have been said to be the limbs of sacrifice. They represent sacrifice itself. Without them, there can be no sacrifice. With their milk and the Havi produced therefrom, they uphold all creatures by diverse acts. Cows are guileless in their behavior. From them flow sacrifices and Havya ( fire) and Kavya ( Hymn ), and milk and curds and ghee. hence cows are sacred."
- Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics from ancient India,

x x x

Image, courtesy wikipedia

More on sacred cow in Hinduism> cattle in religion
Some facts on cow meat here >

x x x

much love, respect & peace
R

Yogi & Bhogi

Dawn reveals and another day shines,
And she rises to reach, evoke and energize every life and every thing she can,
She loves to create, she is the Sun-the yogi.

Charmed by her, he echoes,
He takes it all and listens to her dreams with a smile and promises her the stars,
He loves to reflect on her intuitive strokes,
He is the Moon - the bhogi.

- -

SADA by Narsi Mehta

Here's a beautiful poetry by Narsi Mehta ( 1440-80), known as father of Gujarati poetry. He sadas' (devotional songs for Hindu deity Lord Krishna) from 17th century and those by others during the same time become part of the devotional movement in Hinduism liberating it from the obstinate priesthood in dominance then.

'Vaishanav Janato', is one of the many a sadas or Gujarati poetry written and composed by Narsi Mehta which went and become one of the favorite devotional & spiritually enlightening songs. This song has inspired many including Mahatma Gandhi.
( Listen to the song here > vaishanav janato...
Read more on Narsi Mehta here > nationmaster


'Vaishanav Janato' / lyrics below:
Vishnav janto tene reh kahiye jeh
Peed paraayi jaane reh
Par-dukheh upkaar kareh toyeh
Maan abhimaan na aaneh reh
Vishnav .....

Sakal lok mai sahuneh vandeh
Nindaah nah kareh tenni reh
Vaach kaach maan nischal raakheh
Dhan dhan jannani tenni reh
Vishnav .....

( To read the complete poetry with translation, please click here> wikipedia)

English translation of the above lines...

He is a God's man ( of woman of course!)

Who understands the pain of others,

Who does good to others, esp. to those once who are in misery,

And doing so does not let pride enter his mind.

In the entire world respects everyone/sees good in everyone,

Who does not have ill feelings/words for any one,

Keeps his/her speech genuine and pure,

The all the goodness/happiness/richness comes to him/her.

. . . .

This song still touches me whenever I hum or hear it anywhere. It reminds me of the humanity and purity I pray to embrace everyday.

Auroville:: I could hear the place breathe :)

No words can describe the feel of this place. Here are some images I got back with me after my visit to the place in May.

.... tender petals, soft colors coming to be while rays from sun makes it's way from and through, orange dust that settles on cheeks looking better than any cosmetic make-up (!), smiling eyes, cycling calves and cooling sweat, different shade of skins, strangers connecting, air that is fresh and moist, smell, smiles and the rest seen-unseen; all coming together so beautifully to let the place 'be'. Undisturbed, giving and in one of Her purest moods, here I met with Nature once again!

In simple words, Auroville adopts the spirituality from the east and community-living from west to build a society that has best of both, to benefit/enrich all who relate to this place. To know more about this universal city, please check www.auroville.org

The above picture is of one the many huts in Sadhana forest. The forest is part of Auroville. Here we met bunch of volunteers of different ethnicity, coming together and helping in forest conservation. It runs on 100% solar energy. An ongoing project since 3 years now, these eco-enthusiast have managed to save 70 acres of forest and are still going on with more!

Everyone is warmly welcomed here, to contribute their time, learn about forest conservation by doing it practically. Next time I aim to be more than a visitor and volunteer for the cause.
If you are interested, you can write to unity@auroville.org.in, share your interest and they will help you with necessary information to make it happen.

Above is close-up shot of accommodation for the volunteers at Sadhana Forest.

Being close to Pondicherry which has French and other nationalities residing since many years, foreigners will find the place and people very accommodating.
Don't get surprised if you happen taste some awesome recipes coming from a mix of the two cultures, French and South India. Crazy but true, this blend is nothing but delicious!

So those of you who feel like listening to this place breathe and wanting to experience the mix of multiple cultures, just go for it!
I can assure you a smooth and peaceful ride, both spiritually and physically.

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