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Groovy kind of love….By Nayana Gadkari

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A friend of mine penned a beautiful obituary for his late mother. He described his deep bond with his "ma," but what has stayed with me since was a heartfelt account of the love story between his late parents. Love Story…just these words invoke great emotion in us all. For me, there was no greater or more impossible love than the one between Catherine and Heathcliff – the protagonists of the novel by Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights -one of the great works of literature.  It also marked how I went through life, imagining what love was like. It seemed like it should be all-consuming, sometimes selfish, felt and given with wild and occasionally erotic abandon, curls flying, eyes flashing in love and anger in equal parts. Love was, in every possible way, this massive mound of explosive dynamite which, once lit, was supposed to consume, obliterate, and elevate or destroy or perhaps both. But what is love  actually supposed to be? Why do we idolize love that comes with unfulfil...

It’s all backwards by Atul Singh

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  We see it all the time. It’s all backwards. More often than not, what is evident is the exact opposite of reality. The most violent traditions ever, scream their lungs out about being the vanguards of peace. The biggest empty suit and loudest opining person at a social gathering is the one who makes the least sense. The most vigorously virtue signaling social or political entity, is often the most un-empathetic, self-serving, intolerant of divergent opinions. The most “God fearing” men often cause the harshest violence in their homes, in nature and to other beings. It is hard to miss. Pretty much anything worn on the sleeve including kindness, politeness, empathy, goodness, confidence, intelligence often turns out to be a facade. A well worn cloak to hide the the true identity, which is exact opposite of the pretend one. It is a method to drive an ulterior motive, of the religious, social, political or profiting kind. In case of our understanding of the nature of reality, similar...

Eternity…. by Atul Singh

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A piece of eternity, is eternity still like love is, I suppose can a part of anything, ever be less than the whole is a drop of water not wet or a singular ray, not light is a patch of sky, less than itself can infinity be, little or more? is the piece of Divinity in us not The Divine Mother herself through the entire Existence who projects herself forth? can something that wasn’t ever be? can something that is not be anymore? or, do we drift on a raft on the river of time and what is and isn’t are just our shifting gaze upon the shore maybe everything that ever will be, always was and nothing really  comes or goes maybe our senses play tricks upon us walking us through a maze they themselves put forth can something that wasn’t ever be can something that is  not  exist anymore? can anything quite, ever be less than the whole Atul Singh

Gen Z and Me

These days it seems I have forgotten how to speak in English, which is kind of surprising given that English has always been my forte. I mean, I consider myself so lucky I was born and brought up in a big metro. I had access to the best education and studying in a convent school only gave me an edge over so many others who didn’t have this privilege. Being an only kid and born in a time when there was no internet, the only entertainment I had besides playing out in the evenings was – Reading. I loved reading and was a voracious reader.  I also remember vividly, solving crossword puzzles with my dad. I think all this helped me immensely in my student days. I wonder then why is it that I cannot comprehend what the Gen Z kids say these days. I mean, it almost seems they are speaking in some alien language which only people of their generation understand.   For instance, I have always thought Ohio was the name of a state in the US. But my daughter, giving me the same look I give h...

Homecoming

September 25th 2015:   "Apnee marzee se kahan apne safar ke hum hain,rukh hawaon ka jidhar ka hai udhar ke hum hain.."  I closed the door behind the car and nervously walked into the train station. Had been to the station many a times before but today was different. I fumbled with the blue ticketing machine looking closely at the transit options like they were written in French. Holding my pink ticket to the newark penn station I waited anxiously for the train to come My mind was consumed with a whirlwind of "what ifs," the first being, What if I’m on the wrong platform?But soon the train chugged into the station and that trivial what if was laid to rest. I knew my directions. Get off at Newark Penn Station, cross over to the PATH, take the train to the WTC, and then walk down Water Street to my destination. "Was it really happening?" I thought still in disbelief, while the trees and houses slipped past the frosted glass train windows. It was my first day ...

God’s Stepchildren

 God’s Stepchildren? Just to appreciate how dystopian animal sacrifice to please God is… No human being would ever “enjoy” the spectre of an animal running for his life, thrashing about or screaming in pain when attacked, his skin pierced and violence inflicted on it, while other animals look at the scene of violence and scream in agony at the sight.. intheir own way. Now, under the influence of bad doctrines here is what many of us do.  1. We accept that God made everything and that all are his creation. 2. We snatch back one of His “Creation” make a slit on it’s throat for it to bleed to death in pain, because “God” likes it that way; (take away it’s life that God gave it, and hand his head back to God and thereby show our gratitude to HIM that created the Universe and that animal) In sheer scale of being dystopian/distorted thinking;?how far is this from taking someone’s child’s head off and handing it back to the them to show your gratitude to them?? If for 10 minutes we c...

Shut up and sing!

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  R2R2R.. Too many Rs in there? Naah!! that’s how we roll. Rim to Rim to Rim is what a red-blooded adventure really looks like.  Take the most dramatic, unique, visually-imposing, iconic landscape anywhere in the world; combine it with the arduous nature of a 50 mile hike, add 11,000 feet of ascent and descent; block 24 hours from your “oh so busy” schedule; throw in a couple of grown up kids that never want to grow up, put on a tight backpack with necessasities, lace up your dancing shoes and you have the makings of an adventcha!!! one that will get seared onto your memory and soul for eternity.  That’s what happened to us. Really it did, when we decided to hike back and forth from South Rim of Grand Canyon to North Rim and back, in one shot. The basic construct of Rim to Rim to Rim hike is quite simple actually. Start early morning, climb/run down to Phantom Ranch, about 10 miles; refill water, have a bite, make it to Manzanita Ranch about 8 ish miles away, recharge som...

Happy Navratri

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Happy Navratri Folks, nine days of celebration and worship of Her and of a rare and unique occurence in the history of mankind, when an ancient and highly evolved society understood the need to recognize and worship Her in Her nine manifestations.  For highly evolved, secure people who could see the Universe for what it was showing them, It was perhaps easy to bring about their reverence for Her. They could see the most Vital forces of the Universe manifest in her as a mothers, as a wives, as daughters, as artists and even as a fighters to protect Her own. The seers perhaps rejoiced in her glory with eyes closed and the populace, in their daily lives. Needless to say the two came together to dedicate Nine days to Her glory and make this an annual festival. A festival that has no parallel anywhere in the world.  Any society that does not accord respect to it’s women, even revere the feminine force, which is a direct manifestation of the creative energy of the Universe, will rem...

I LOVE MY MOM

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  I LOVE MY MOM I love my mom, though she can be bittersweet, I love my mom, though she doesn't recognize deceit. I love my mom, though she’s stuck in the past I love my mom, though being polished is not her craft.     I love my mom, for how she doesn’t conform, I love my mom, for how she creates her own storm. I love my mom, for how she lets us be free, I love my mom, for how proud she is of me.   I love my mom, even when her words can sting, I love my mom, even when she won’t let me cling. I love my mom, even in every fierce moment, I love my mom, even when she sees me as her opponent     Her love is the blanket that wraps me in warmth, Her thoughts are the wisdom that keeps me from harm. Her inner strength is the driving force of my existence, Though there is a distance between us, Eternal love is what we must discuss.  

Just like that - by Atul Singh

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    Just like that! Just like that, in an ephemeral moment everything changed! time froze the river turned course the diagnosis was confirmed just like that,  everything that could,  changed Just like that in a whimsical moment everything changed! thunder clapped,  lightening struck their eyes locked! just like that in a beautiful moment everything that could, changed Just like that, in an endless moment everything changed! the ground heaved, vast emptiness convulsed through her being the downdraft wailed in her hapless arms, his limp body, stiffened just like that,  everything that could.. changed! Just like that in a delirious moment everything changed heavens erupted Universe conspired the baby yelped, his first little cry just like that, for her,  everything that could, changed just like that just like that…