Aes ishk ne bade bade thag lae
You the difference between love and fire
Ishk da sek vadheraa
I say Love's heat is greater
Ag te saade katke kaane
Fire burns dried pieces of wood
Ishk saade tan meraa
This love has burned my body
Ag da daru mee te paani
Fire's medicine is rain and water
Ishk da daaru keda?
What is medicine for love?
Yaar farid uthe Kakh naa rehnda
Says Farid, nothing remains there
Kithe ishk me layaa deraa
where love has put its tent
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan singing this poem (in the beginning):
"Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life; therefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits." - Saint Philip of Neri
When things go wrong, that’s the time to be more cheerful. When things go right, of course we are cheerful. When nerves are getting frayed, that’s the time to smile.
The practice of spiritual disciplines has a very useful purpose: they can make us so secure, so firmly rooted in our deepest Self that not only can we go and live in the midst of people who are difficult with cheerfulness and equanimity, we can even learn to change them for the better.
Even if you have a bad day in the office, or a very busy day on the campus, that’s no cause for your courtesy to fail, for your consideration to fail.
I knew a little girl of three or four who was usually very nice to me. Then suddenly one afternoon she was looking at me like a storm cloud. I asked, “What’s the matter?” and she replied, “You better watch out: I haven’t had my nap.”
Now imagine grown-up people coming home in the evening and telling everyone, “Don’t bother me. I haven’t had my nap.”
It is one of the hallmarks of the spiritually aware man or woman that they will always be cheerful, not because they don’t feel deeply, but because they do feel deeply.
Katrina Mayer
At eight or nine years of age, Katrina Mayer overheard someone say that it was important to write down all the goals you wish to accomplish in your life. Even at that young age she realized that this was something she wanted to do. So, on the last page of her diary, in the top left-hand corner, she printed in pencil the following list:
- Go to Europe - Live in a house in the woods - Write books - Speak on a big stage to lots of people - Be happy
When she was done, she closed the diary, locked it with a miniature key, and placed it in her secret hiding place. Occasionally she looked at the list, but after a while the list and the diary were forgotten as life moved on and she became more interested in the latest teen idol, getting pierced ears, and wearing the right brand of jeans.
At the age of seventeen, Katrina visited Europe with her family, and for a brief moment she remembered her list and was excited that she had accomplished one of her goals. But the rest of the list seemed harder to accomplish and once again was soon forgotten.
It wasn’t until 1996 that Katrina thought about her life goals again. That was the year when she almost died due to an ectopic pregnancy and her perspective shifted completely. Suddenly, what had seemed important no longer did. She decided that making a difference in the world was what touched her heart the deepest. So, she started reading every book, listening to every tape, and watching every video she could find on how to live a happier, healthier, and more abundant life. Throughout this process, she kept journals recording her journey from feeling lost and defeated to gradually finding her voice and making strides forward.
Many of those journal passages were woven together to create her first book, The Mustard Seed Way, which was published in 2000. This book has provided comfort and support to so many people over the years, and recently it was ranked in the top 20 success and motivation books on Amazon.com.
After the publication of her first book, Katrina continued on her spiritual quest. She became an ordained interfaith minister through the New Seminary in New York City, earned a Ph.D. in Metaphysics from the American Institute of Holistic Theology, and became certified in raw food nutrition at the Ann Wigmore Institute in Puerto Rico. All the while, she worked at a major bank in NY and climbed the corporate ladder to eventually become a First Vice President.
Then, in 2011, she decided to commit herself full-time to the pursuit of her dreams. She left her beautiful office and her corporate title, moved out of New York to a house deep in the woods of the Smoky Mountains, married a wonderful man, and published her second book, entitled Wholarian Vision: How to Remember Your Connection to Everything. Katrina now gets to speak to large audiences across the country, and through her Facebook page and website, shares her vision and insights with people around the world. Thousands of people are inspired to lead happier, healthier, and more abundant lives every day because Katrina chose to set her goals, pursue her dreams, and live with passion. And just wait to see what else she’s added to her goal list! More exciting things are on the way!
The more you know who you are & what you want, the less you allow anything to upset you ~ Stephanie Perkins
Yesterday I was talking to someone about how all inclusive miracles are for the singers of life. And what better a singer to sing this than Walt Whitman:
MIRACLES
1WHAT shall I give? and which are my miracles?
2Realism is mine—my miracles—Take freely,
Take without end—I offer them to you wherever your feet can carry you, or your eyes reach.
3Why! who makes much of a miracle?
As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach, just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love—or sleep in the bed at night with any one I love,
Or sit at the table at dinner with my mother,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive, of a sum- mer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds—or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sun-down—or of stars shining so quiet and bright,
Or the exquisite, delicate, thin curve of the new-moon in spring;
Or whether I go among those I like best, and that like me best—mechanics, boatmen, farmers,
Or among the savans—or to the soiree—or to the opera,
Or stand a long while looking at the movements of machinery,
Or behold children at their sports,
Or the admirable sight of the perfect old man, or the perfect old woman,
Or the sick in hospitals, or the dead carried to burial,
Or my own eyes and figure in the glass;
These, with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring—yet each distinct and in its place.
4To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,
Every cubic foot of the interior swarms with the same;
Every spear of grass—the frames, limbs, organs, of men and women, and all that concerns them,
All these to me are unspeakably perfect miracles.
5To me the sea is a continual miracle;
The fishes that swim—the rocks—the motion of the waves—the ships, with men in them,
What stranger miracles are there?
Nanak Gupas Maal: Nanak weaves a Garland
Springtime, the season of rejuvenation and exuberance, brings life back to the land after the long slumber of winter. With its gentle winds, blooming flowers, and warmer days, spring awakens the natural world from its dormant state, inviting everyone to join in nature's grand celebration. Through the words of renowned writers and poets, we can witness the joy and excitement that spring brings to people's hearts and minds. This essay delves into the essence of spring, exploring its transformative power, the symphony it orchestrates in the garden, its influence on human emotions, and the inspiration it offers to embrace life's uncertainties.
The Awakening of the Land
As Lewis Grizzard beautifully said, "Springtime is the land awakening." After months of cold and darkness, nature stirs with life as the first rays of the sun kiss the earth. The buds on trees begin to unfurl, and vibrant flowers start to bloom, painting the world in a riot of colors. Robin Williams aptly described spring as nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" Indeed, it is a festive occasion where life throws off its wintry cloak and rejoices in the promise of warmer days and new beginnings.
The Symphony of Spring
In spring, the gardener becomes a mere instrument in the grand symphony conducted by nature, as Geoffrey B. Charlesworth astutely observed. The gardener's efforts may contribute to the beauty of the garden, but the real composer behind this masterpiece is the season itself. Spring orchestrates the blooming flowers, the buzzing bees, the singing birds, and the rustling leaves, all blending harmoniously in a delightful composition.
Spring Fever: Embracing the Unseen
Mark Twain described the enchantment of spring fever, a name for the ineffable longing that overcomes us during this season. Spring casts a spell upon our hearts, making us yearn for something intangible and undefined. It's an intense desire for a change, for new experiences, and for a taste of life's wonders. Rainer Maria Rilke's words capture the fervor of spring, where the blooming colors seem like voices, unleashing an overwhelming shrieking into the heart of the night.
April's Green Traffic Light
In April, the world dons a green traffic light, and as Christopher Morley put it, the world thinks, "Go." Spring is the time for action and progress, much like the green signal urging us forward. Just as the world wakes up to the call of spring, humans also feel inspired to pursue their dreams, set new goals, and embark on new adventures.
The Contrast of Springtime
Charles Dickens eloquently depicted the paradox of a March day, where the sun's warmth clashes with the lingering winter chill. This contrast symbolizes the transitional nature of spring, mirroring life's own contrasts. Spring serves as a reminder that change is inevitable, and every season, like every phase in life, has its unique blend of light and shade.
Embracing the Uncertainty
George Herbert's quote reflects the fleeting nature of spring, reminding us not to take it for granted. Similarly, Charles Dudley Warner advises us to seize the opportunities presented by spring and embrace life's uncertainties. Just as spring may bring unexpected weather patterns, life may take unpredictable turns, but that should not deter us from savoring the beauty of the present moment and hoping for the best.
Nature's Grand Celebration
Spring is nature's grand celebration, awakening the land and filling it with colors and life. It conducts a symphony where every living being plays its part, harmonizing with the enchanting rhythm of the season. Spring fever ignites a desire for change and new experiences, pushing us forward like a green traffic light. However, spring also teaches us to appreciate life's contrasts and uncertainties, reminding us to enjoy the best anticipations and embrace whatever comes our way.
As we immerse ourselves in the delights of spring, let us not forget the profound lessons it imparts. Spring is not just a season; it's an experience that stirs our souls, invigorates our spirits, and encourages us to dance to nature's joyful tune. So, let's heed the call of spring and join in the celebration of life's endless possibilities.
Quotes and Poetry
Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. ~Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You
Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams
Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. ~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth
April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks Go. ~Christopher Morley, John Mistletoe
Hee that is in a towne in May loseth his spring. ~George Herbert
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night. ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke
It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain
Hoe while it is spring, and enjoy the best anticipations. It is not much matter if things do not turn out well. ~Charles Dudley Warner
Awake, thou wintry earth - Fling off thy sadness! Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth Your ancient gladness! ~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"
I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout
No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~Proverb
Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush. ~Doug Larson
Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. ~W. Earl Hall
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~Anne Bradstreet
The year's at the spring And day's at the morn; Morning's at seven; The hillside's dew-pearled; The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn; God's in His heaven - All's right with the world! ~Robert Browning
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. ~Hal Borland
Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world. ~Virgil A. Kraft
April is a promise that May is bound to keep. ~Hal Borland
Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing. ~Albert Laighton
That God once loved a garden we learn in Holy writ. And seeing gardens in the Spring I well can credit it. ~Winifred Mary Letts
In June as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them. ~Aldo Leopold
In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood
Indoors or out, no one relaxes in March, that month of wind and taxes, the wind will presently disappear, the taxes last us all the year. ~Ogden Nash
And Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest. ~Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant"
Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment. ~Ellis Peters
Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men. ~Chinese Proverb
The naked earth is warm with Spring, And with green grass and bursting trees Leans to the sun's kiss glorying, And quivers in the sunny breeze. ~Julian Grenfell
In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain
Our spring has come at last with the soft laughter of April suns and shadow of April showers. ~Byron Caldwell Smith, letter to Kate Stephens
Every April, God rewrites the Book of Genesis. ~Author Unknown
Under the giving snow blossoms a daring spring. ~Terri Guillemets
O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind? ~Percy Bysshe Shelley
You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming. ~Pablo Neruda
[W]ell-apparell'd April on the heel Of limping winter treads... ~William Shakespeare
I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth? ~Edward Giobbi
Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke
The sun was warm but the wind was chill. You know how it is with an April day. ~Robert Frost
To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. ~George Santayana
The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke
Spring is not the best of seasons. Cold and flu are two good reasons; wind and rain and other sorrow, warm today and cold tomorrow. ~Author Unknown
The sun has come out... and the air is vivid with spring light. ~Byron Caldwell Smith, letter to Kate Stephens
I want to do to you what spring does with the cherry trees. ~Pablo Neruda
April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. ~William Shakespeare
Out with the cold, in with the woo. ~E. Marshall, "Spring Thought"
A little madness in the Spring Is wholesome even for the King. ~Emily Dickinson
The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. ~Bern Williams
Yesterday the twig was brown and bare; To-day the glint of green is there; Tomorrow will be leaflets spare; I know no thing so wondrous fair, No miracle so strangely rare. I wonder what will next be there! ~L.H. Bailey
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. ~Nadine Stair
Poor, dear, silly Spring, preparing her annual surprise! ~Wallace Stevens
Hark! the hours are softly calling Bidding Spring arise To listen to the rain-drops falling From the cloudy skies To listen to Earth's weary voices Louder every day Bidding her no longer linger On her charm'd way But hasten to her task of beauty Scarcely yet begun. ~Adelaide Anne Procter
The front door to springtime is a photographer's best friend. ~Terri Guillemets
The first day of spring was once the time for taking the young virgins into the fields, there in dalliance to set an example in fertility for nature to follow. Now we just set the clocks an hour ahead and change the oil in the crankcase. ~E.B. White, "Hot Weather," One Man's Meat, 1944
Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire. ~Virgil
First a howling blizzard woke us, Then the rain came down to soak us, And now before the eye can focus — Crocus. ~Lilja Rogers
If spring betrays summer, would autumn never arrive? ~Terri Guillemets
May is a pious fraud of the almanac. ~James R. Lowell
You can't see Canada across lake Erie, but you know it's there. It's the same with spring. You have to have faith, especially in Cleveland. ~Paul Fleischman
It's spring! Farewell To chills and colds! The blushing, girlish World unfolds Each flower, leaf And blade of sod— Small letters sent To her from God. ~John Updike, "April," A Child’s Calendar, 1965
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby
The seasons are what a symphony ought to be: four perfect movements in harmony with each other. ~Arthur Rubenstein
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
- Albert Einstein
May the shine all day long
Everything go right
And nothing go wrong
May those you love
Bring love back to you
And may all the wishes
You wish come true
In the following essay Khuswant Singh talks on how to live and die, and be happy. I often come back to read this.
The late Khushwant Singh, a prolific Indian author and journalist, delves into the profound topic of death in this essay. He begins by acknowledging the universal nature of death and its inevitability, quoting poets and philosophers to underscore this reality. At the age of 95, Singh reflects on his own mortality but maintains a pragmatic and unafraid perspective (reminds me of Guru Nanak's Mool Mantra, and the concept of Nirbhau).
He contrasts his readiness for death with his fear of a protracted period of incapacitation in old age, expressing a desire for a swift and painless departure. Despite his contemplation of death, Singh continues to embrace life and its myriad possibilities, echoing the sentiments of poets like Iqbal and Tennyson who emphasize the importance of living fully until the very end. Singh's perspective on death is shaped by his agnostic beliefs, and he asserts the need for individuals to make peace with the idea of a final end, free from religious constraints. I find it interesting that this agnostic thinking actually fits very well with Sikhism.
I used to hear from my father how well Khushwant Singh would write. I understand this better having read this essay. He imparts valuable life lessons in this essay. He shares a set of principles for achieving happiness, emphasizing the significance of good health, financial stability, a comfortable home, meaningful relationships, and personal fulfillment through hobbies and introspection. He encourages readers to avoid envy, control their temper, and detach from meaningless gossip. Throughout, he advocates for a life lived with purpose, contentment, and a sense of closure. His wisdom, grounded in his own experiences and beliefs, serves as a guiding light for those seeking a balanced and fulfilling existence, even as they confront the profound reality of mortality. A mortality without the burden of religion.
It is interesting that he doesn't have many professional pictures on the internet. He did not really care about appearances, did he? I guess I am not the only crazy one. And I guess we all inherited this veparvaah attitude from oneness.
He didn't quote Guru Nanak here. I guess he hadn't read Guru Nanak much. There are some beautiful lines he has written on Death. I did an album on that subject and this is one of the shabads in that album:
Maran Likhaye Aye
Khushwant Singh on life, death and happiness
Death is rarely spoken about in our homes. I wonder why. Especially when each one of us knows that death has to come, has to strike. It’s inevitable. This line from Yas Yagana Changezi says it best: Khuda mein shak ho to ho, maut mein nahin koi shak (You may or may not doubt the existence of God, you can’t doubt the certainty of death). And one must prepare oneself to face it.
At 95, I do think of death. I think of death very often but I don’t lose sleep over it. I think of those gone; keep wondering where they are. Where have they gone? Where will they be? I don’t know the answers: where you go, what happens next. To quote Omar Khayyam,
Into this Universe, and Why not knowing
Nor Whence, like Water willy-nilly flowing...
and,
“There was a Door to which I found no Key There was a Veil through which I could not see Some little Talk awhile of Me and Thee There seemed—and then no more of Thee and Me.”
I once asked the Dalai Lama how one should face death and he had advised meditation. I’m not scared of death; I do not fear it. Death is inevitable. While I have thought about it a lot, I don’t brood about it. I’m prepared for it. As Asadullah Khan Ghalib has so aptly put it,
Rau mein hai raksh-e-umar kahaan dekhiye thhamey Nai haath baag par hai na pa hai rakaab mein (Age travels at galloping pace; who knows where it will stop We do not have the reins in our hands nor our feet in the stirrups).”
All my contemporaries—whether here or in England or in Pakistan—they’re all gone. I don’t know where I’ll be in a year or two. I don’t fear death. What I dread is the day I go blind or am incapacitated because of old age—that’s what I fear—I’d rather die than live in that condition. I’m a burden enough on my daughter Mala and don’t want to be an extra burden on her.
All that I hope for is that when death comes to me, it comes swiftly, without much pain, like fading away in sound slumber. Till then I’ll keep working and living each day as it comes. There’s so much left to do. I have to content myself by saying these lines of Iqbal:
“Baagh-e-bahisht se mujhe hukm-e-safar diya tha kyon? Kaar-e-Jahaan daraaz hai, ab mera intezaar kar
(Why did you order me out of the garden of paradise?
I have a lot left to do; now you wait for me).”
So I often tell Bade Mian, as I refer to him, from time to time, that he’s got to wait for me as I still have work to complete.
I believe in these lines of Tennyson:
“Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea... Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness or farewell, When I embark.”
I believe in the Jain philosophy that death ought to be celebrated. Earlier, whenever I was upset or low, I used to go to the cremation grounds. It has a cleansing effect, and worked like a therapy for me. In fact, I’d written my own epitaph years ago:
“Here lies one who spared neither man nor God Waste not your tears on him, he was a sod Writing nasty things he regarded as great fun Thank the Lord he is dead, this son of a gun.”
‘We regret to announce the sudden death of Sardar Khushwant Singh at 6 pm last evening. He leaves behind a young widow, two infant children and a large number of friends and admirers. Amongst those who called at the late sardar’s residence were the PA to the chief justice, several ministers, and judges of the high court.’I had even written my own obit in 1943 when I was still in my twenties. It later appeared in a collection of short stories, titled ‘Posthumous’. In the piece, I had imagined The Tribune announcing the news of my death on its front page with a small photograph. The headline would read: ‘Sardar Khushwant Singh Dead’. And then, in somewhat smaller print:
I had to cope with death when I lost my wife. Being an agnostic, I could not find solace in religious rituals. Being essentially a loner, I discouraged friends and relatives from coming to condole with me. I spent the first night alone sitting in my chair in the dark. At times, I broke down, but soon recovered my composure. A couple of days later, I resumed my usual routine, working from dawn to dusk. That took my mind off the stark reality of having to live alone in an empty home for the rest of my days. When friends persisted in calling and upsetting my equilibrium, I packed myself off to Goa to be by myself.
I used to be keen on a burial because with a burial you give back to the earth what you have taken. Now, it will be the electric crematorium. I had requested the management of the Bahai faith if I could be buried. Initially, they had agreed, but then they came up with all sorts of conditions and rules. I had wanted to be buried in one corner with just a peepal tree next to my grave. After okaying this, the management later said that that wouldn’t be possible and that my grave would be in the middle of a row and not in a corner. I wasn’t okay with that—even though I know that once you are dead it makes no difference. But I was keen to be buried in one corner. They also told me later that they would chant some prayers, which again I couldn’t agree with, because I don’t believe in religion or in religious rituals of any kind.
Though I’m quite fit, I know I don’t have much time left. I’m coming to terms with death, preparing myself. And since I have no faith in God, nor in the day of judgement, nor in the theory of reincarnation, I have to come to terms with the complete full stop. I have been criticised for not sparing even the dead, but then death does not sanctify a person, and if I find the person had been corrupt, I write about it even when he’s gone.
I don’t believe in rebirth or in reincarnation, in the day of judgement or in heaven or hell. I accept the finality of death. We do not know what happens to us after we die but one should help a person go in peace—at peace with himself and with the world.
I’ve lived a reasonably contented life. I’ve often thought about what it is that makes people happy—what one has to do in order to achieve happiness.
First and foremost is good health. If you do not enjoy good health, you can never be happy. Any ailment, however trivial, will deduct something from your happiness.
Second, a healthy bank balance. It need not run into crores, but it should be enough to provide for comforts, and there should be something to spare for recreation—eating out, going to the movies, travel and holidays in the hills or by the sea. Shortage of money can be demoralising. Living on credit or borrowing is demeaning and lowers one in one’s own eyes.
Third, your own home. Rented places can never give you the comfort or security of a home that is yours for keeps. If it has garden space, all the better. Plant your own trees and flowers, see them grow and blossom, and cultivate a sense of kinship with them.
Fourth, an understanding companion, be it your spouse or a friend. If you have too many misunderstandings, it robs you of your peace of mind. It is better to be divorced than to be quarrelling all the time.
Fifth, stop envying those who have done better than you in life—risen higher, made more money, or earned more fame. Envy can be corroding; avoid comparing yourself with others.
Sixth, do not allow people to descend on you for gup-shup. By the time you get rid of them, you will feel exhausted and poisoned by their gossip-mongering.
Seventh, cultivate a hobby or two that will fulfil you—gardening, reading, writing, painting, playing or listening to music. Going to clubs or parties to get free drinks, or to meet celebrities, is a criminal waste of time. It’s important to concentrate on something that keeps you occupied meaningfully. I have family members and friends who spend their entire day caring for stray dogs, giving them food and medicines. There are others who run mobile clinics, treating sick people and animals free of charge.
Eighth, every morning and evening devote 15 minutes to introspection. In the mornings, 10 minutes should be spent in keeping the mind absolutely still, and five listing the things you have to do that day. In the evenings, five minutes should be set aside to keep the mind still and 10 to go over the tasks you had intended to do.
Ninth, don’t lose your temper. Try not to be short-tempered, or vengeful. Even when a friend has been rude, just move on.
Above all, when the time comes to go, one should go like a man without any regret or grievance against anyone. Iqbal said it beautifully in a couplet in Persian: “You ask me about the signs of a man of faith? When death comes to him, he has a smile on his lips.”
Jo Mange is a poem of gratitude, faith and complete acceptance by Guru Arjan Dev. He says, "Whatever I ask of my Master, he grants me." I have sung it many times; two versions have been released for distribution and can be found below (sarangi version and band version).
The key message of Jo Mange is to remove our vices: Avgun Sab Mete. This is what the singer asks for. O oneness, come and hug me and remove my vices.
Jo Mange - Sarangi Version
Jo Mange - Band Version
David Baynes, a multi-instrumentalist and Composer from Ontario, Canada, did the arrangement and played all instruments in "Jo Mange." I am eternally grateful for his seva.
My Reflection
The one whose power extends in all four directions, places His hand upon my head.
He gazes upon me with His vision of mercy and dispels within me all of my pain.
That merciful, forgiving master erases all my vices. He embraces me. He takes care of me.
I obtain, says slave Nanak, Whatever I ask of my Master. And Whatever I say proves true, here and hereafter.
Lyrics/Transliteration/Translation
ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
धनासरी महला ५ ॥
Ḏẖanāsrī mėhlā 5.
Dhanaasaree, Fifth Mehl:
ਚਤੁਰ ਦਿਸਾ ਕੀਨੋ ਬਲੁ ਅਪਨਾ ਸਿਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਕਰੁ ਧਾਰਿਓ ॥
चतुर दिसा कीनो बलु अपना सिर ऊपरि करु धारिओ ॥
Cẖaṯur ḏisā kīno bal apnā sir ūpar kar ḏẖāri▫o.
He has extended His power in all four directions, and placed His hand upon my head.
We're not just people, we come from stardust. It might sound poetic, but it's backed by real science: almost every bit of stuff on Earth was cooked up in a star's core.
And there's more to it. Young stars, like our Sun, turn hydrogen into helium, just like the universe's first stars did. As these stars run low on hydrogen, they start churning out helium, beryllium, and carbon. And carbon is the backbone of life. We're not just stardust; we're the incredible outcome of stars' relentless grind across countless ages.
We just need to realize how awesome we are. Like gurbani says, "Aapna mool pachhaan" - realize your true essence.
Meditation on Satnam, our true essence
Excerpt from Don Miguel Ruiz's 'The Four Agreements'
THREE THOUSAND YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A HUMAN just like you and me who lived near a city surrounded by mountains. … One day … he dreamed that he saw his own body sleeping. He came out of the cave on the night of a new moon. The sky was clear, and he could see millions of stars. Then something happened inside of him that transformed his life forever. He looked at his hands, he felt his body, and he heard his own voice say, “I am made of light; I am made of stars.”
He looked at the stars again, and he realized that it’s not the stars that create light, but rather light that creates the stars. “Everything is made of light,” he said, “and the space in-between isn’t empty.” And he knew that everything that exists is one living being, and that light is the messenger of life, because it is alive and contains all information.
Then he realized that although he was made of stars, he was not those stars. “I am in-between the stars,” he thought. So he called the stars the tonal and the light between the stars the nagual, and he knew that what created the harmony and space between the two is Life or Intent. Without Life, the tonal and the nagual could not exist. Life is the force of the absolute, the supreme, the Creator who creates everything.
This is what he discovered: Everything in existence is a manifestation of the one living being we call God. Everything is God. And he came to the conclusion that human perception is merely light perceiving light. He also saw that matter is a mirror — everything is a mirror that reflects light and creates images of that light — and the world of illusion, the Dream, is just like smoke which doesn’t allow us to see what we really are. “The real us is pure love, pure light,” he said.
This realization changed his life. Once he knew what he really was, he looked around at other humans and the rest of nature, and he was amazed at what he saw. He saw himself in everything — in every human, in every animal, in every tree, in the water, in the rain, in the clouds, in the earth. And he saw that Life mixed the tonal and the nagual in different ways to create billions of manifestations of Life.
In those few moments he comprehended everything. He was very excited, and his heart was filled with peace. … He could understand everyone very well, but no one could understand him. … He had discovered that he was a mirror for the rest of the people, a mirror in which he could see himself. “Everyone is a mirror,” he said. He saw himself in everyone, but nobody saw him as themselves.
And he realized that everyone was dreaming, but without awareness, without knowing what they really are. They couldn’t see him as themselves because there was a wall of fog or smoke between the mirrors. And that wall of fog was made by the interpretation of images of light — the Dream of humans.
Then he knew that he would soon forget all that he had learned. He wanted to remember all the visions he had had, so he decided to call himself the Smokey Mirror so that he would always know that matter is a mirror and the smoke in-between is what keeps us from knowing what we are. He said, “I am the Smokey Mirror, because I am looking at myself in all of you, but we don’t recognize each other because of the smoke in-between us. That smoke is the Dream, and the mirror is you, the dreamer.”
~ Excerpt from The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz
This morning I am reading a poem on archeologists:
"They hunt all summer long the long interred, "
- Ernest Hilbert
And I thought what's the point of doing what we do? What's the purpose of our toiling. I was reminded of this and also an old Hindi phrase that I learned growing up -- "gade murde kyon ukhad rahe ho?" -- "why are you excavating buried bones." I was also reminded of Aeosop's famous fable of "The ant and the grasshopper."
But in a way the archeologists are different from the grasshopper who was just lazy. The archeologists are milling about at a conference in Ernest's poem. They seem very busy doing about their job. They are trying to build their careers by excavating remains of famous people. But what will happen in the end, the poet ponders. In the end the best of these archeologists will end up in graves that will then be excavated for things like "smashed shields" and "pry seals" that will have very little to do with them.
The archeologists aren't lazy. They just don't seem to have a purpose. They are going around in circles. This reminds me of a point in my life when all I was doing was trying to get ahead in life by working hard, day and night. Life was trapped between going to work and coming home. Chained by greed, I was the victim of a similar ingratitude.
I was reminded by the poem that freedom comes from an activity that you love and those surrounding you love as well. An act of oneness. The singing of oneness. Freedom starts with the realization that the purpose of life is to sing.
The poem:
The poem itself seems somewhat egotistic -- having a high opinion of poets (the poets own profession) and a very lowly opinion of archeologists (which I found out was the poets wife's opinion). But I think the poet is trying to show exactly that -- how pompous and ungrateful we remain as long as we are living in the past, excavating bones. Here is the poem:
At the Archaeological Institute of America's Annual Meeting
O, ungrateful hordes! Archaeologists
Mill through the hotel lobby, like jammed cars,
Clogging doorways, aiming all ways, vaguely
Swerving clots of unflappable classicists.
While elsewhere, their counterparts, undertakers,
Are busy burying, they burrow to see
What's still down there. To think, such an awkward
Set of characters would meddle with tombs
Of emperors, queens, and epic poets!
They hunt all summer long the long interred,
Gather smashed shields, pry seals from anterooms,
Blow dust from sherds, dive to black ships.
Veering, talk to talk, they discuss ancient glory,
Building careers, then joining their quarry.
ERNEST HILBERT
All of You on the Good Earth
I am no emperor
I can't leave you palaces
But I will do better dear stranger
I will leave you marble melodies
assured that buried shallow
in these love ruins
our hearts will be found, shiv,
greeting those who visit,
in unison, beating.
Singing makes a difference because it is far away from the influence of needs. Singing frees you from the slavery of needs. Yours and the worlds. And true singing takes to closest to your most intimate desires. And it inspires every atom, every molecule, every person and thing around you, to sing. Find your song and sing.
Singing oneness!
