My Guru and me

 Swamiji

On the occasion of Guru Purnima

July 5 2020

My Guru and Me

Swamiji - To have you in my life, I feel indeed blessed. 

With you in my thoughts, I have been soothingly caressed.. 

To be in your midst is such an immense joy.. 

For us wandering souls, you are indeed our buoy

Just to see you, If life could rewind, I would pay any price.. 

To be able to sit silently before you, I don't even ask to be wise.. 

Your Bhajans, sathsangs and speeches, I long to hear again -

Looking at your divine face, I will offer my mind in bargain. 

When I dream of you in my sleep, my joy knows no bounds. . 

I feel as if it is enlightenment I have found. 

When I have cooked a nice meal, I silently look at you.. 

Asking in my mind..Swamiji- will you join us? -please do. 

When I act in haste or anger, with shame and guilt I am wrought.. 

Because..swamiji..I have enshrined you in my heart.

You taught us much Swamiji,  you made great changes in our lives.. 

If not for you, it must have been one terrible strife. 

I know you are always taking care of me and so I feel very light.. 

I feel I have disposed off my baggage and boarded my flight.. 

You will Grace me in my journey too, I definitely have no doubt. 

For that is what this Guru- disciple relationship is all about. 

Few minutes in slow motion

 Few minutes in slow motion

Perhaps the best thing about Corona is that many of us seem to be opening our eyes more to the nature around us.  Of late, I have a new routine.  Around 6 pm, I rush off to my terrace for my day's exercise which is a brisk half an hour's walk.. But what pushes me more is the beauty around me, which I watch while I am also saying my prayers for the day. 

I am not only amazed by the sheer number of bird species I spot daily, but also filled with an immense euphoria at the myriad moods of the sky at dusk, which seems to change with every passing minute at that hour. 

A pond heron perched high on a coconut tree all appear black with the setting sun in the background giving an golden orange tinge to the sky... Still earlier, I had seen a flock of white egrets perched on different fronds of the same coconut tree.. An odd Kingfisher high up on a leafless branch enjoying it's wind-induced swinging.. A couple of the sweetly whistling ducks as they fly over my head.. Some grey hued gulls flying in a V-formation all leave me breathless and wanting more.. 

Sometimes the sky is fully grey and filled with darker huge rain-bearing clouds in all shapes.. Sometimes it is very blue and slowly becomes yellow, orange, pink and mauve and then grey with every passing minute as the sun sets.. I forget my prayer and my exercise and immerse myself in the beauty of nature.  On some days, I just lie on the ground keeping my eyes open towards the sky.. The beauty and feel especially on a pleasant day is something hard to explain in words. 

Soon, I hear the muezzin's call to prayer and sky is dark all too quickly and I realise my favorite time has come to a close for the day.  Thanking God for the glimpse of his divine artwork on his Sky canvas, I retreat downstairs into the rest of my day.