"Opposite values are complementary, accept them both gracefully" - we are all aware of this wisdom. But still, accepting the opposites and smiling through them is such a big challenge in reality. I often hear people say - 'all this knowledge is good in theory, but not possible to implement in real life'. But yet, when you observe the Master, all this knowledge starts coming to life effortlessly. There is so much of noise around the Guru (people seeking blessings, sharing their problems, expressing their emotions), but the Guru epitomizes Silence like the infinite space. There is so much chaos around the Guru, but the Guru remains calm and centered like a still river. There are so many demands from the Guru, but the Guru himself remains dispassionate like a Sufi fakir. And there is no dearth of ignorance around the Guru, but every word of the Guru is dipped in the nectar of wisdom....A Guru, therefore, does not just accept opposites, rather opposites flourish around him, and then dissolve into him, just how a wave rises from the ocean and then goes back into the ocean. A Guru does not have to 'give' knowledge, Knowledge simply springs forth around Him. Whether he speaks, or remains silent, everything about him is soaked in wisdom. A quiet glance from him can carry infinite love. A simple act of his can give a profound message. And a silent moment in his presence, can heal years of pain. I am in fact reminded of what Gurudev once said - "Satya hai, to keval Guru ka maun" - The Master's silence is the only truth.....and how true is that!! 😊❤️
Jai Gurudev!

What it means to be in the presence of a Master

Have you ever observed your mind when you gaze at a vast ocean, or a huge mountain, or the infinite blue sky? The chattering mind, scattered and wrecked by thoughts, suddenly becomes quiet. A deep silence fills the being, and everything else in the world loses its relevance. It's the same way you feel when you meet a Master. You might go to Him with 100s of questions in your mind, but the moment you stumble into His presence, all questions drop, desires vanish, and the mind dissolves, as if it has merged into Infinity. And in case He happens to gaze into your eyes, even if for the minutest fraction of a second, something beyond the ordinary happens. You experience a bliss that is beyond measure, a joy that cannot be explained in words, and supreme love, that they say even angels long for. 

This couplet by Amjad Islam Amjad so aptly describes what it means to be in the presence of a Master:

"Meri umra se na simat sake, mere dil me itne sawaaal the,
Tere paas jitne jawaab the, teri ek nigaah me aa gaye!"

Which translated into English means:
In my lifetime I could not gather all the questions that I had. But all the answers that you had, in just your one glance got revealed. (you may read the whole poem here)

So if you ever get a chance to be in the presence of a Master, don't think about what you will ask Him, or what will He say to you. Just know that when that moment comes, your silence will speak louder than your words....and so will His. 

A beautiful composition which suits my Master

By Amjad Islam Amjad

Jo Utar ke zeena-e-shaam se
Tere chashm-e-khush me samaa gaye..
Wohi Jalte Bujhte Se Mehar-O-Maah
Mere Baam-O-Dar Ko Sajaa Gaye


After descending from the staircase of dusk, In your parched eyes they were parked in
Those blazing snuffed-out sun and moon, Embellished my roof and door

Ye Ajeeb Khel Hai Ishq Ka
Main Ne Aap Dekhaa Ye Mojza
Wo Jo Lafz Mere Gumaan Mein The
Wo Teri Zubaan Par Aa Gaye

This is a strange play of love, I myself have witnessed this miracle
Those words that were in my thoughts, They came out of your tongue

Wo Ajeeb Phool Se Lafz The
Tere Honth Jin Se Mehak Uthe
Mere Dasht-E-Khwab Mein Door Tak
Koi Baagh Jaise Lagaa Gaye

Those were strange flower like words, The ones that perfumed your lips
In the wilderness of my dreams far beyond, Some garden as if bloomed away,

Meri Umr Se Na Simat Sake
Mere Dil Mein Itne Sawal The
Tere Paas Jitne Jawaab The
Teri Ek Nigaah Mein Aa Gaye

By my lifetime I could not gather, In my heart there were so many questions
But all the answers that you had, In your one gaze were revealed

Death - thou art life

People usually think of death as something terrible, something dark. But just knowing all of us are going to die one day gives so much relief. Thinking all our enemies will die takes away the bitterness and animosity, and thinking all our friends will also die takes away attachment from relationships. And once we are free from these emotions, we can truly enjoy life like a game (which is the whole purpose of why we are here I guess). Knowledge of death, thus, makes us more even more alive 😊 #LiveLife100%

Glory of the Guru

Even the Gods have to follow the word of the Master. All the devas (gods) receive Knowledge only from a Master, after supreme patience and service to the Master. Even the Lords of the Universe - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, pray to the Guru Tattva and seek His Grace to carry out their functions of Creation, Maintenance and Destruction. Thus, the Guru, is indeed, the highest power in this creation, and beyond. He is all-Knowing , and the bestower of the Ultimate truth. Having a Guru in human form is a matter of utmost fortune for any being. Feel blessed if you have one.!!

What's the importance of keeping company of the enlightened!

"One who enjoys the company of enlightened men does not suffer in this world, even as one who holds a candle in his hand does not see darkness anywhere."
~ Yoga Vasistha (one of the best spiritual scriptures you can read to remove all doubts about the reality of existence)

My experiences in Dubai...the city of gold.....and concrete :)

I was leading a happy, rather very happy life in Bangalore. Bangalore - as most of you who know the place will agree, is a geographically blessed city. The weather there is nothing like anywhere in the country, and specially for a guy who had hitherto spent all his life in Kolkata and Orissa, Bangalore was "straight out of a dream" stuff. It is overnight from Kerala, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Coorgh, Kodaikanal, Ooty, Goa. Name a place where you would wish to spend a weekend, and it will all be within the reach of a road trip from B'lore.

What added to the charm of the city was the cosmopolitan population, most of which is probably in the 25-35 age bracket. Mumbai is the city of dreams, but somehow in reality, people in Bangalore looked happier. The usual din and bustle of city life is inevitable anywhere, but what matters more is how you feel within and without that "noise" around. How many of us truly love the city we live in - probably very few. But Bangalore was an exception. And I fell in love with the city too.

But human nature is fickle. Like the moon, our mind wanes and waxes. Despite a busy, decent-paying job, in a blue-chip Software MNC, I had a desire that I want to work abroad -  not very far from India, but somewhere where I get the feel of an exotic location without being worried about the time it would take to travel back to India if I have to. I shortlisted Dubai and Singapore. The 'Powers to be' did a lucky draw, and poof-----up came the name ----- Dubai :)

To say that the offer letter from a renowned company from Dubai really got me excited, would probably not be entirely incorrect. I was excited about going abroad no doubt, but doubts about the company, the pay package, the city, and long heard rumours about 'D' company did unsettle my mind a bit.

But after a lot of rumination, and convincing by my friends, I decided to give Dubai a shot. My mother's confidence in my decision made things easier. Also, the excitement others expressed on hearing about my new job and place made me feel that I am now obligated to move out of India. I could not dampen their expectations and excitement.

So I finally landed in this city - DUBAI on a hot afternoon of July 2012.

The airport itself gave me a sound indication of what lay ahead. Flashing pillars, spic and span floors, high ceilings, numerous elevators and travelators, and people pouring in from all sides - Dubai had announced itself grandly. It was too perfect for an Indian to digest. For someone who was used to unruly crowds, people breaking queues from everywhere, rude officials and airports that look like war zones, Dubai looked like a Utopian land. And it's not that this perfect order was only there at the airport. It extended into the city as well. From the highways to the malls to the most busy markets - Dubai was an example in orderliness.

Its been about 6 years for me in this City now, and it never ceases to amaze me. A new bridge, a new tower, a new tourist attraction pops out of nowhere every 3rd day here. Life moves like clockwork from weekend to weekend. And amid all the hullabaloo of a typical city life, Dubai still manages to maintain its orderliness.  I often wonder - more than 40% of Dubai's population is Indian, then how come we maintain such perfect discipline here? The funnier part is that the moment we reach India, our behaviour changes totally. It's very evident from the scene you witness on the flight the moment it touches the India soil. Everyone is in a rush to leave the aircraft first. Jostling and elbowing starts from the time the plane lands at the Indian airport and even before the pilot can make the customary announcements about the local time and weather. Its a funny scene to witness. These same people had entered the aircraft in Dubai in a perfect column. But a different person emerges out of them in India. As if there is a reset button in us which restores the Indian DNA in us the moment we are in our country.  I am not judging whether it is good or bad. I am no one to comment. But it's interesting to observe nonetheless. And I am not aloof from the crowd. I share the same DNA. Its probably a reflex action - 'survival of the fittest' instinct  😃

Dubai needs Indians and Indians need Dubai. Being in Dubai is a matter of pride, and I have experienced this pride in the way my parents feel and in the way a lot of my relatives and friends treat me now. Despite so many Indians being here, it's a good thing that we have retained the good part of India here, and kept out the not so good part. We have not turned Dubai into another India. But the bigger question is, when will we turn our India into Dubai - or even better? I hope soon 😊

Whether Happy or Sad, I am!

"If you are happy, it's a blessing. If you are sad, it's your karma which you have to go through and finish."

- Beautiful knowledge from Master to lift my spirits :)

I am not the doer!

About a week ago, just after I had finished conducting a Sudarshan Kriya and Meditation follow up, a lady came up to me and bowed down to touch my feet. I was taken aback by her sudden gesture, and moved my feet back slightly. It was an awkward moment for me since she was quite senior in age, but at the same time, I felt my ego feel very proud and happy that someone had come to touch my feet. But before this feeling of pride could seep in deeper, a voice from deep within me arose and said - "You fool, she is not touching YOUR feet..through you she is touching the feet of the Master, whose knowledge has helped her experience this deep sense of relief. Her gratitude is meant for Him, you are just the instrument through whom the Master has reached out to her". I immediately realised my folly. This honour and respect she was offering to me was actually meant for our Master. I was just a messenger, a postman who was meant to deliver this to Him. Just as this moment of realisation happened, I closed my eyes and blessed her. As I was blessing her (using the Blessing technique we learn in the Art of Living), I passed on all her offering of gratitude to Gurudev, and prayed to Him to take care of her. That moment, I felt a deep sense of freedom from within. When I opened my eyes, my eyes met hers, and both of us smiled. Her parcel had been delivered safely. :)

It's all your fault

Whenever something goes wrong with me or my work, my first instinct is to look for someone on whom I can put the blame, instead of probing deeper into why it happened and what was my role in it. It takes a great deal of training for the mind to accept that I, and only I, am responsible for all my experiences! That's what 'walking the path' is all about, I guess!

Just do it

I know what I SHOULD do. The only problem is ACTUALLY DOING it. If I start doing what I should be doing that moment, without postponing it for future, I wonder how much more fulfilling this life will be!

It's a Wonder

I was wondering a few days back - If one compiles all the Knowledge that Gurudev has given in the last so many years - audio cds, videos, books, satsang talks, courses - it will take a lifetime to just go through that Knowledge, forget about grasping it and internalising it. And I am not even counting the innumerable unrecorded talks that He has given. I wondered - from where has all this Knowledge come to Him? It can't be from memory since it is impossible for a human mind to memorise so much knowledge. It's not that He prepares Himself beforehand, because there is no time in between His sessions, and He is surrounded by people all the time. Further, much of His knowledge is in the form of question answers, which can't be prepared beforehand. So where does all this Knowledge come to Him from? Which is this invisible source that He taps into and comes out with these pearls of wisdom? Where did Buddha, Adi Shankaracharya, Jesus, and all the Masters of the past get their knowledge from? It may be hidden, but I have experienced this unseen source in my own little way as well. When I am taking an Art of Living course, or conducting a chanting or meditation session, I sometimes end up saying things that I can never come up with normally. In that energy, such simple examples and profound wisdom come up so spontaneously. Later, when I think about it, I wonder how it happened, and how could I, of all the people, give such knowledge. This Universe is a wonder, this life is a wonder, and how I came on to this path is a wonder. Will I ever get to know how and why? I wonder! :)

A Ghazal for my Master..

Don't know how, but it just flowed through me today..

Bahut kareeb se ho kar ke laut aaya hun..
Main keh ke alvida duniya ko laut aaya hun..

Wo aaye the mujhe sacchai batane teri,
Main unhe aaina dikha kar ke laut aaya hun..

Bhatak raha tha khwahishon me na jane kab se,
Tere rehmat ki karam pake laut aaya hun..

Ab apne god ke saaye me basa le mujhko,
Tera banda hun, tere pas laut aaya hun... 

A common question beautifully answered

Sri Ramakrishna on Lust

A young man sadly asked Sri Ramakrishna: "Sir, how can I get rid of lust? I strive so hard, still I suffer from restlessness due to passion and bad thoughts.”

Sri Ramakrishna: "... Do you think I am free from it? At one time I believed that I had conquered lust. Then one day when I was seated in the Panchavati, I suddenly had such an onrush of lust that it was hard for me to maintain control! Immediately I began crying, rubbing my face in the dust, and saying to the Divine Mother: “I have made a big mistake, Mother. I shall never again think that I have conquered lust.' Only then did it subside. Do you know, you boys are now passing through a flood tide of adolescence? You can't stop it. Can an embankment or a breakwater stop a tidal wave? The overflowing water breaks through and rushes forward, and then the water stands as high as a bamboo over the paddy fields. There is a saying, 'Mental sin is not considered to be a sin in this Kaliyuga.' If a bad thought happens to arise once or twice in the mind, why should you go on brooding about it? Sometimes those feelings come and go. They are natural to the body; consider them to be physical functions like the call of nature. Do people worry when they have an urge for the call of nature? Similarly, consider those feelings to be insignificant, trifling, and worthless, and don't think of them anymore. Pray to God intensely, chant His name, and meditate on Him. Don't pay any heed to whether those feelings come or go. Gradually, they will come under control." ...

My Obituary...how I would like to be remembered :)

A good man, who was useful to others.
A wise man, who gave wisdom and knowledge, and himself lived it every moment.
A devotee, whose devotion inspired others on the path.
A pious soul who wished everyone well.
An ideal man everyone would look upto.
A loving man, whose eyes exuded love and compassion.
A successful man - rich yet humble, powerful yet serving.
One who walked like a king and served like a perfect servant.
A man who knew no fear - a free soul, free from vasanas & vrittis, free from bondage, free from fear and inhibitions.
A man who fulfilled all his relations 100%, and yet, remained above all relations.

In short, a man who lived just liked his GURU.

Waves in the Ocean..

Just as ripples in water, we emerge from the Ocean of Life...

The waves remain on the surface for sometime, 

then go back into the Ocean,

only to re-emerge again, and again, and again...

The Ocean is quiet, calm, peaceful..

It lovingly watches the waves play,

Waiting for them to come home,

Where eternal Bliss awaits them....

Call from the Master...

The Master has His own way of calling you,

He won't look at you, 
but tempt you to come to Him again and again,

till your small mind is assured He is looking at you, over you, every moment..

He won't talk to you, 
still leave you speechless, 

making you think what you would say to Him the next time you meet,

He won't say He loves you, 
still fill you with so much love,
that your Heart, unable to contain this vast Ocean, would start flowing towards the source..

He won't say your name, 
but inspire you, so you can make a name of your own,

He won't come to you, 
but pull you towards Himself with a force so immense,
that you will have no choice but to come to Him, surrender to Him,

The Master, has His own way of calling you...

Bengali - Sweetest of the sweet language

Those who have stayed in Bengal, AND, also learnt Bengali in its pure form, would completely agree with me when I say that Bengali is the sweetest language. It is not a disrespect to other languages. All languages have their own charm - else how would have we relished the writings of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Mirza Ghalib, Munshi Premchand, William Sakespeare and so many others who have created magic with their own languages. But read Rabindranath Tagore, listen to Hemant Kumar or Manna Dey, watch Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen, and you would know why I consider Bengali as the sweetest language. I am lucky, that despite belonging to a hard-core North Indian family, I grew up in a small town in Bengal, where I had the priviledge to witness Bengal and Bengali in their unadulterated form. I used to hang around with Bengali friends, enjoy watching Bengali movies, relish the writing of Tagore, Nazrul Islam, Michael Madhusudan, and above all, loved talking in Bengali. I was as Bengali at heart as the Benaglis. What distinguishes Bengali from other languages, is that it contains the grace and poetic effulgence of Urdu, yet it also has the earthiness of classical Hindi. It is flowery, but one can still connect to it as his own.

There is a beautiful bhajan in Bengali which I was looking for a long time. Luckily, found it today. The lyrics are very simple,  but written with a  graceful rustic flavour (which is famous as Baul sangeet). The song encapsulates how Lord Krishna was called by different names by different devotees - Balaram called him Krishna, the cow-herds called him Rakhal, Yashoda maa called him Yadulal, Vashista called him Manohar and so on. This way, the Lord, who is One for all, got 108 different names, depending on how the devotee treated Him - a friend, a son, a Beloved, or a Guru. The mellifluous voice in this bhajan is of Sandhya Mukhhopadhaya, and the combination of the words and the singer weaves magic. I had tears in my eyes when I heard it.I am sure you would love it too. I am also posting the lyrics for you to read and understand better.

Hare krishna naam dilo priyo bolaram
Rakhal raja naam rakhe bhokto Shri dhaam,
Joshoda jononi bole jadu bacha dhor..
Aosto taro shotto naam pelo narayon..||

Deb jadugor naame dake Judhistir
Dorpohari naam rakhe Arjun shubir
Brojo banshi bole tume brojer jibon
Aosto taro shotto naam pelo narayon..||

Nonder nondololon raakhilo shri Nondo
Brinda duti Dilo naam Brinda bono Chondro
Doyanidhi naam raakhe Aotur shujoon
Aosto taro shotto naam pelo narayon..||

Moni monohor naame Boshishto je daake
Shongshaarero Shaar naam Bishamitro raakhe
Nonichora naam rakhe Gopobalagar
Aosto taro shotto naam pelo narayon...||

Immortal Ghalib

Aashiqi sabr-e-talab, aur tamanna betaab,
Dil ka kya rang karun khoon-e-jigar hone tak...

Awesomely amazing bhajan

There are some bhajans, which you hear and forget..then there are those you like to hum along, sing along, clap along. And then there are those divine melodies, those nuggets, which the moment you hear, all you want to do is close your eyes and slip into a state of pure ecstacy and unbounded Gratitude. One such rare melody is this beautiful, Grace-filled bhajan by Chitra Roy - "Om Jyotirmaya, Karunamaya, Antarjyoti Guru". If you haven't heard it yet, dont worry, hear it now. Make sure there is not much noise around. And in case there is noise inside you, the song will take care of it :) Its from the album Geethanjali. Thanks to Rishi Vidhyadhar ji (Sr Faculty from the Art of Living) who introduced me to this bhajan. I will try to put up an official link to the song here soon The lyrics are below:

Om Jyotirmaya, Karunamaya,
SatGurave Namah Om


Om Gyanmaya, Om Premamaya,
Antarjyoti Guru, Mamayatmasangaat Guru

Om Pranamaya, Paramanandmaya,
Shantimaya, Sukhamaya,
Satgurave Namah Om, 


Om Tejomaya, Kripamaya, 
Parabramhamaya, Sachidanandmaya
Antarjyoti Guru
Om Trigunateet Guru...