The Gift of Love

Proud of you my India..Vande Mataram!

Long ago, thousands of years before the Western World woke up to enforcing environment-friendly measures, Indian Rishis and our sacred texts took many measures for the protection of the universe. They were so close to nature; they knew, loved and worshipped Mother Nature. Today, our world is perceived to be headed for an imminent environmental disaster or destruction simply because the knowledge in our Vedas, Puranas and many, such priceless treasures have been buried under layers of ignorance, waiting to be discovered.

Today Ancient Indian texts have become a matter of ridicule to many “modernized” people, who are unaware of the relevance and significance behind them. Hindus worship cows, plants, trees, water, rains, mountains, the wind, the Sun and everything in Nature; Nature itself. Why? Because, our ancestors knew that if something is delegated to the status of God, it will never be disrespected or left uncared for. Hence they taught their descendants to worship and respect every single aspect of their life that affects them in some way or the other. One simply has to understand the medicinal properties of the tulsi herb, for example, to understand why Hindus love and worship Tulsi Mata and nurture her in their homes. Similarly, if someone tries to understand the relevance of our ancient Indian books and rituals, they will realize the deep knowledge hidden in them.

Our Vedas, Puranas, and Stotras are very relevant even in today’s times. For example, the Dashavatara or the ten Avataras of Vishnu, mentioned in our Puranas, can be equated to the concept of Evolution! Lord Vishnu’s avatars of Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parshurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki, can also be said to be the stages in which humans evolved. The first life forms were said to be aquatic (only living in water - Matsya), then amphibian (both water and land- Kurma), then land species – (Varaha.), then half-animal, half-human (Narasimha). The earliest Humans were short in build (Vamana), then evolving to stronger warrior-agriculturists (Parshurama). The avatars of Rama(idealist) and Krishna( strategist) signify mind development. We then came to an era of spiritual awakening (Buddha) and the avatar of Kalki in the Kali Yuga, the age we live in. Now doesn’t all this put more light on what Dashavatara symbolizes?

Ancient India's contribution to knowledge of Astronomy is also immense. Did you know that our Vedas and Indian Astronomical texts had proclaimed that the Earth is round? Or that Indians calculated with precision the occurrence of eclipses, Circumference and Diameter of Earth and the Speed of light? The Ancient Indians were highly advanced in the fields of Science, Alchemy, Philosophy, Spirituality and many more. They had mastered the art of Meditation and Mind Control too. Amazing!

Our epics and texts have within them, immense wisdom, we only have to discover them! Each one of us, EVERY INDIAN has to bring back to India the glory of the olden days! Proud of you my India! Vande Mataram!

-Rajalakshmi Kameshwar Joshi

(published as an introduction to the series called "National Treasures: An Amazing Journey to Ancient India" in August 2010 in the monthly newsletter SETU.)

TRY TRY TRY AGAIN TILL YOU FLY HIGH!

I was watching my little nephew's videos, when he was a lovely10 month old baby. It was such a pleasure to watch him take his FIRST steps.There are at least 10 videos of him taking a few steps forward.Initially he could go just a couple of steps ahead, but in a few days, he was able to walk a few metres, before he fell down.But did he cry? Did he give up? No! In fact, he was thrilled to have taken whatever few steps he could and got up and tried to walk again.

Every child has done the same in the process of learning to walk. We all fall, then rise, then fall again, and one fine day, are able to walk! We don’t even remember those struggles and they are just a part of our growing up. That is a part of nature. All animals, even birds have to struggle before they take their first flight.

Where and how, do we, as adults, forget this process of "Try, try again till you learn to walk/fly" and brand every faltering step as a "failure”? Why do we forget our own NATURE and get disheartened? As kids, we put our full trust and faith in our parents and loved ones, who lovingly guided us by the fingers to help us learn to walk. But they did let go of their grasp in order to let the child walk ahead. The kids too, do not blame or get negative feelings or feel cheated by anyone when they fall.They simply rise again, maybe shed a tear or two, if they are hurt, and carry on again. Why do we forget this attitude? Why can't people stop blaming others for their circumstances and why can't we sometimes let go, to allow a loved one to GROW? What causes this change in ATTITUDE, ENTHUSIASM, and SPIRIT OF LIFE?

It is so true, that one fails only when one stops trying! If every child were to give up every time he/she fell, no one would would ever learn to walk! I think there are a lot of things we can learn from children, especially babies, because they are unaware and untouched by the WAYS OF THE WORLD. Maybe we need to look for the child hidden in each of us, who has lost the sense of happiness without any reason or limits, and is closer to God!
-Rajalakshmi

What Is Love All About?

I was watching my daughter Shubha make wonderful caricatures and preparing masks as part of her play-pretend, all by herself. She was oblivious to the fact that I was watching her at play.It was fun to steal a peek into her world of make-believe.She never ceases to fascinate me, and when she caught me looking, she was all over the moon and I found huge kisses planted on my cheeks..

The joy our little ones bring is profound. You nurture love and watch it grow. It is a treat for our eyes to see our children frolicking around like there's no tomorrow. Sometimes ,I reminisce my time as a child and wonder if I brought that joy too. What I got I want to pass on and someday I hope, my child will be as proud as I am.

Here's a poem written by my friend, another proud mother, that I liked and wish to quote...

" I'll be your root, so branch out u little one.
the sky is your expanse, reach out to the sun.

spread your sunshine and I'll enjoy your shade.
time goes by but memories dont fade.

I'll hold every falling leaf.
in each a time frozen, happy moments some
and some of grief .

every step u take away,the deeper I'll go,
to the heartbeats resounding of the ones before.

sharing a leaf out of our lives......"

I think that is a beautiful poem!

For a tree to be able to reach out to the skies, it has to be firmly and deeply rooted. The roots may not show, but they are very much responsible for the tree's growth, the fruits they bear and the heights they scale. But the roots have to allow the branches to sway with the wind, enjoy the sunlight and brave the rains. If its leaves are always guarded from the forces of rain, sunshine, thunder and lightning, it will never grow. The harsh forces of nature may sometimes cause the tree to shed some leaves, but it will cause offshoots of new leaves too and make it even more beautiful!!! The roots also have to allow the branches to grow away from them and seek their own space in order for the tree to follow its rightful direction.

It must be more beautiful to watch my little one branch out and spread her branches to reach out to the skies, than be content in the smug knowledge that she is tied down to me. It will be even more beautiful to watch her fly high like a bird towards the stars.(when i let her go?)

Love, in whatever form, is so so beautiful !
They say, in real love you want the other person's good. In romantic or attached love you just want the other person.
The best and true way to love, I guess is to know how much to hold the others' hand and how much to let go. There can perhaps be nothing more beautiful than pure, unattached, unconditional love.

-Rajalakshmi

Lessons from Nature

A bunch of little sparrows in my balcony have taught me a lot about life, about nature, about love. I have watched with great interest this couple of sparrows make and set up their little home. It was indeed amazing to watch them carry straws, twigs, and strands of hay and grass for their nest. Their tiny beaks could carry just a small bit and this resulted in God-knows-how-many trips throughout the day. Every day till their nest was made. But they did it with great care and effort!! When I later peeked into the nest, I was spellbound to see how much material they had gathered to make a soft bed for their young ones. Sometimes the two of them just sat on the balcony sill, as if in deep discussion.

Then,when apparently the eggs had been laid (the nest was at a height, so I had to really climb up on a stool to get a glimpse of the interiors) the sparrows kept a close vigil. They were constantly hovering around the nest and continued to bring a twig or two. But they perhaps got used to our presence . If we happened to go to the balcony when they were around, they just shifted themselves a bit, as if to make way for us. They looked quite secure around us and made no attempts to fly away.

Finally, when the eggs hatched, we could hear them chirp from early morning to evening. and their parents were REALLLY BUSY. They made innumerable, unending, trips to get food for their lil' ones. They got whatever they could pick with their tiny beaks and went back and forth in a jiffy. I wonder where these tiny birds get all the energy from.... such efforts, so much love, so much caring...I put some crumbs of food for them on the balcony sill to make their task easier. Guess what? Everyday, at regular intervals, they sat at that spot and created a ruckus till we put some food there....I never knew sparrows are so intelligent/ sensitive..but this did not stop their trips for food ...they were at it the whole day..... and guarded the nest very fiercely....

In spite of all this love, care and affection they show for their young ones, once the baby sparrows are old enough to fly, their parents don't look back or hover around them or control them or show any concern...but I have seen entire groups of sparrows gather to maybe show solidarity, if a sparrow is hurt or dies.

Maybe this is a perfect example of Detachment. Of how we should live. They truly show genuine love and care as long as their loved ones need it,.( And they don't even expect anything in return).. then there is no bondage.. no holding back perhaps, but being there when they need support. How beautiful.

The sparrows I was watching also had to deal with a dead baby sparrow. They then discarded their old nest, and set out to make a new one...with the same enthusiasm and vigour!!...and started their family again.

This story of the sparrows showed me how life has to carry on with the same spirit even after one is struck by sorrows.

Nature indeed is very beautiful and the best teacher.

-Rajalakshmi