During the months of December 2018 and January 2019, we spent about 5 weeks getting several long-overdue renovation and repair projects completed around the home. The projects involved all sorts of works including masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and some basic landscape designing — pretty much everything. There still remains some major painting work, but that… Continue reading Four Lessons from Home Renovation
When you dig and dig some more to find out why something bothers you so much, it hurts. When you discover, or at least you think you have discovered, the real reason why something bothers you so much, it hurts. When you figure out that the real reason why something bothers you so much… Continue reading When it Hurts
“Attachment is egoism in love.” This is how Sri Aurobindo once defined attachment (The Synthesis of Yoga, CWSA, Vol. 23, p. 329). Perfect definition, if we deeply, seriously and sincerely think about it. Attachment, egoism and love — these three have an intimate connection. Let us start with the most immediate, the first circle… Continue reading Of Love, Egoism and Attachment
The Northeast Monsoon has been pouring out its gifts at the Bay of Bengal — sometimes a bit too excessively. On this day as the rain gods seem to be taking a bit of a break, I find myself recalling and reflecting on some lines from Savitri, which I happened to read last evening. … Continue reading Monsoon Musings
That moment, that morning everything was perfect. Just for a few moments, everything was right, just right, just perfect. Everything was in the right place, as it should be. Nothing was amiss, nothing was wrong. Can it be so? Can it all be perfect? That moment that morning it all was. I had gone out… Continue reading When Everything was Perfect
Talking about and discussing important matters with our friends, acquaintances, social networks etc. has the potential to widen our understanding. But a recent online interaction once again made me ask a question I have often wondered about, why are so many of us so quick to take things personally in a discussion? Even if the discussion is about, say, a national level… Continue reading The Art of Discussion
This simple formula — Wash, Rinse, Repeat — is not only good for our hair, it works wonders for one’s mind and heart as well. Yes, the mind and heart also need some good, regular cleansing. The dirt and dust left over from small, medium and big stresses, the dryness and dullness resulting from all sorts of repetitive and mundane… Continue reading Wash, Rinse, Repeat
If one were to believe the Delhi-centric “national” media, a 20-year-old college student has become a household name in the last few days. That’s another matter that the media which claims to be “national” is neither interested in much news about the ‘nation’ beyond a few blocks of New Delhi nor does it bother to understand… Continue reading Meandering Musings
Once again I am reminded of the need for constantly becoming aware of those countless little, pesky flaws in my nature that stand in the way of making the inner aspiration more sincere and true and complete. Once again I am reminded that the path to becoming self-aware and gaining even a tiny bit of… Continue reading Reminder to Reject
The intricately carved pillars lead you into the chamber of Beauty and Divinity. Beauty in Divinity; Divinity in Beauty. Your eyes want to linger on the details of the pillars, take in every piece of carving and beauty. At the same time the inner quietude pulls you in. Disciple: Is form inseparable from the experience of beauty? Sri… Continue reading Divinity in Details
The new light is here. Bringing new beginnings, new hope, new energy. May the new doors open. May the darkness be gone, and the light envelop the entire space, within and without. May the heart always remember to be in gratitude. May the wilderness and mist of life not hide the onward and upward path. May the path of beauty… Continue reading Prayer in Pictures
First published in Next Future, an e-magazine of Sri Aurobindo Society (July 2016) “The first and lowest use of Art is the purely aesthetic, the second is the intellectual or educative, the third and highest the spiritual. By speaking of the aesthetic use as the lowest, we do not wish to imply that it is… Continue reading An Afternoon at Ajanta
